Meet the stallholders...

Rebecca Brumstead

Have you always been a 'crafty' person - how did you start making things to sell?

I have always been crafty since I was a child, my Mum used to make all sorts of things with me and at the age of 7 she taught me to knit and do cross stitch. Cross stitch was the main thing I did until 8 years ago when I was pregnant with my first daughter and I took up card making which I then sold to friends and family. But as the years went by I noticed that there were a lot of people that made their own cards so I decided to find another craft. So a couple of years ago I got into jewellery making. And then last year I really got into beading, another craft my Mum introduced me to! In fact it was because of Mum asking me to look for something on the internet for her that I found the baubles, fell in love with them and decided to give them a go. I decided to start selling just to get back a little bit of what I spend on supplies, and to give my partner's credit card a bit of a rest!

Tell us a bit about what you make...

Mainly I make beaded bauble covers, which are all different shapes and sizes. I also do hair clips, childrens bracelets, earrings, mobile phone/ bag charms and other Christmas decorations. I have lots of ideas so there may be other items on the day. This is the first time I have actually done anything to sell them other than to friends and family. I always try to find something that isn't often seen and am always willing to try new designs.

Meet the stallholders...

Pauline Sfendilis

Have you always been a 'crafty' person - how did you start making things to sell?

I have always loved 'creating' things and was French knitting, making pom poms and knitting from a very early age. I married a Greek man in the early 70's and went to live in a Greek community where all the Greek ladies would sit around crocheting and it was a case of joining them or feeling very left out!

In those days it was table cloths, bed spreads and the like but these days I crochet bags, back packs, scarves and beanies (which I design myself) and jackets, tops and cardigans. About 9 months ago my son-in-law asked me to crochet him a scarf and a beanie, and after he had worn them to work a flood of orders came in from his work mates, and it really took off from then!

Meet the stallholders...

Sarah Miner
Have you always been a 'crafty' person - how did you start making things to sell?

I have always loved drawing. I originally left school to go to art college and study medical illustration, but the course folded and I ended up with a career in biological sciences. Since having the children I have gone back to my first love of art, as I can fit it around school runs etc! I love the outdoors and walking and just drawing the scenes which inspire me. I realised I should do more with my art when it was received very well at a school Christmas Fayre. My next milestone is to organise a web site to sell online.

Tell us a bit about what you make...

I produce mainly landscapes and seascapes of East Anglia and the Isle of Wight (where I grew up). I use colour pencil, a medium which suits me as it allows fine detail and beautiful colours through layering, although the pictures do take a long time to complete! I sell my work mainly as limited edition Giclee prints, in presentation mounts, sealed and ready to frame, but also take commissions.

Meet the stallholders...

Apryl Brincklow from Blue Daisy Glass

Have you always been a 'crafty' person - how did you start making things to sell?

Yes I've always been crafty. I used to love making cereal box doll's rooms as a child and I have fond memories sitting doing crochet with my nan. I have tried many crafts but since buying a huge kiln have narrowed it down to ceramics and now glass. I have now found the right craft for me and the glass has taken over my kiln, my home and my life!

I started selling things when I needed money to buy more glass. I started selling to my family then the PTA persuaded me to try a stall at Christmas in the school. This went well so my New Year's resolution was to start selling online in 2010. I think the only New Year's resolution in my life not broken by February!

Tell us a bit about what you make...

I make jewellery, mostly pendants out of glass. Pieces of glass are handcut and then layered into a sandwich style lump. The layers can include confetti shards, strings and the fabulous dichroic glass, something originally developed by NASA. The pieces are then heated in a kiln until they 'fuse' together into one mass. The glass is very slowly cooled and finally the kiln is opened - the best bit! The edges round and the pendants have become smooth and very tactile.

I also teach 'Beginners fused glass jewellery workshops' in Great Bromley. They cost £25 for a 2 hour class and the participants create 2 pieces of very wearable fused glass jewellery.

Links:

Shop on Folksy: http://folksy.com/shops/bluedaisyglass

Meet the stallholders...

Graham Hunter - StationerHave you always been a 'crafty' person - how did you start making things to sell?

I've always been interested in art - especially painting, but had never really considered making anything myself until fairly recently. I started making cards mainly as a hobby and as a lot of my friends were getting married and having children I gave them cards as gifts - which led to people wanting to buy them for themselves!

Tell us a bit about what you make...

I make various greeting cards and card accessories like gift tags and name cards etc. I also do wedding invites and stationery on a be-spoke basis. Everything I design and make is all done by hand using simple classic materials. I approach my crafting like a bit of a glorified artist really! I'd like to think that the person who receives one of my cards or invites would want to keep it a little longer on their shelf or mantlepiece that a normal store bought card!

Links:

www.graham-hunter.com

Meet the stallholders...

Cristy Poole

Have you always been a 'crafty' person, how did you start making things to sell?

I started making my jewellery about 4-5 years ago and I was self taught. I gradually learnt the different designs over this period until I was confident enough to sell them when I thought the quality was up to a professional standard I wanted. It's just a hobby but I need to sell some of my work just to get the money back for the beads and materials I use. I sell my items at very competitive prices, this gives everyone a chance to buy something and I hope remind them of my work.

Tell us a bit about what you make...

I make a wide range of different items from beaded rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces and these are my own designs that are different from the normal jewellery that is sold.

Meet the stallholders...

Glenn Godden from Steampunk Glass

Have you always been a 'crafty' person, how did you start making things to sell?

I've always been a 'crafty' person, I used to do a lot of woodwork and guilding, but it wasn't until I found glass that I really found the medium that was 'the one' for me! It didn't take long before I had more beads and marbles than I could ever need, so I started offering a few to see if other people would be interested, and it snowballed from there!

Tell us a bit about what you make...

I use a process called 'lampworking' (also called flameworking) where I melt glass directly in a flame to shape it. Sometimes, for beads, the molten glass is wound onto a steel rod, but I prefer more free-hand work these days. That way I can make more organic shapes, such as my nebula pendants. I also make a lot of marbles which I love putting designs into. They can take anything from 35 minutes to an hour and half depending on how complex they are, and offers a unique challenge to pack as much detial into such a small area. Also I like the 3D quality, it really is a medium unlike any other that I've ever explored.

Links:

www.SteamPunkGlass.com