A big congratulations going out to Lyndsey of Mamma With Heart last weeks winner of the Treasury Challenge! Her Treasury Pot you like one the challenge by popular vote! The theme "POT" certainly wasn't an easy theme but I guess that's why we call it a Challenge! Lyndsey was definitely able to overcome the difficulty and pull together one heck of an amazing Treasury, personally it made me hungry! lol
I had the opportunity to speak with Lyndsey about her art, her shop, her hopes and dreams and have compiled it all here for your reading pleasure. I am sure you all know the drill by now so go grab your favorite beverage of choice, sit back, relax and get to know your team mate Lyndsey a bit better!
~ My Interview with Lyndsey from Mamma With Heart ~
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your shop?
I’m Lyndsey aka mamma with heart, I live in beautiful Northumberland with my husband Chris and our 3 children. I love creating and trying new crafts, as well as making felt items, I am also learning to crochet (slowly) and how to make clothes for my children, with varying results. In my shop I make and sell felt goodies for children and for the home. My toys are waldorf inspired, using natural or recycled materials (I sometimes use eco-fi felt, made from recycled bottles as well as 100% wool felt), I make simple toys that inspire children to be creative and use their imaginations.
What inspired you to open your shop?
I’m inspired by seeing other stores and crafts people on Etsy, there are so many lovely handmade items it made me think perhaps the toys that I’ve been making for my children might be enjoyed by others too. The name Mamma with Heart comes from the idea that the toys and items I make are made from safe materials in an environment that’s caring and each item is lovingly made by hand, not rolled off a production line, each item has heart.
Besides designing & creating things, what do you do?
I’m a full-time homeschooling mamma to my 3 children all under 6, they keep me pretty busy.
Where, who or what does your influence come from?
My children inspire me with their original creativity and new ways of looking at the world. I’m also influenced by nature, the colours of the flowers on a summer day, the autumnal leaves, the changing shades of the sea, all have an effect on my work. I love the work of artists such as Dick Bruna (Miffy), Tove Jansson (Moomins), Eric Carle and Quentin Blake.
What inspires you to be creative?
I think it is instinctual to make things, as a wife, mother and homemaker I love to be able to make things for my family and my home. I love the feeling of seeing my children playing with the toys I’ve made for them, knowing the time, effort and love I took to make the best I could for them, I think this shows in the toys and expresses itself to the children when playing.
How do you get out of a creative rut?
My first thoughts are usually the creative talent on Etsy, other artists inspire me to do what I love, I love browsing other people’s stores and seeing the talent out there – of course I can’t resist the odd purchase or two. I’m not usually short of ideas; I keep a notebook by my bed to write down all the ideas that pop into my head at two in the morning when the baby wakes. Although choosing just one idea to make is quite hard, I usually have 2 or 3 projects on the go at once. If I’m really stuck I head to the Northumbrian coast, the North Sea is quite bracing most of the year and a long walk collecting shells or sea glass can clear my head ready to start crafting again.
When did you first discover that you were or wanted to be an artist?
Since being a child I’ve loved crafty things, I trained in archaeology, but felt something was missing on the creative side. Plus my back ached from all that digging, since settling down and having my children my back still aches from picking up toys all day, but I have more time to do crafts that I love. My husband is my main influence and supporter, he is an artist and runs Tookaland (another Etsy store) it’s his creativity that inspired me to try new crafts and follow what I enjoyed.
Can you describe your creative process for us?
I try to plan the designs I come up with, but I’m not great at sketching or planning so I tend to just go for it, get the felt and thread out and cut and sew until I’m done. Often I’m working on one project and suddenly realise how to do another one, or make an addition to a project. When I was making Bonnie (sausage dog in my store) I realized she needed somewhere to live, so she had to have a kennel, and of course a name plate and ribbon collar. A lot of my ideas start small and somehow expand along the way.
What is your most cherished handmade possession?
I have a few. One is a beautiful painting on wood made by my husband, its shows us and our children on route to our country cottage, my dream. Of all the items I’ve made I particularly love a felt toadstool house I made for my eldest daughter last winter, it took me hours to make as I didn’t plan it out first I went with the flow, bit of a mistake, but I know now how to make it easier/better to do. I’m currently working on a smaller version for my store.
Where do you see or want your shop to be this time next year?
Hopefully have lots of happy customers, recommending my shop to friends and family. I’d love to develop patterns for other mammas and crafters to make their own felt creations, one day I would like to have a book published with my designs.
Where would you like to be in ten years?
I would love myself and hubby to be self-supported by our craft/art businesses and living in a cottage in the highlands. I’d also be glad if I can crochet by then!
What is your best advice to newbie Etesian's just opening their shops?
To make and sell what you love, it shows when an artist really loves what they have created. To network, to get to meet other Etsy artists to help each other and ask questions, groups like Etsian artists are a great way to do this.
Where else other than Etsy can you be found on the net?
I have a Blog of new creations for Mamma with Heart along with new ideas, a few tutorials and general crafty ramblings,
I also have a Facebook Page and I can be followed on Twitter.
Do you have any coupon codes that you would like to share with our readers?
Yes! Coupon code HEARTEA and you get 10% discount in my store! Yippee!
I’m Lyndsey aka mamma with heart, I live in beautiful Northumberland with my husband Chris and our 3 children. I love creating and trying new crafts, as well as making felt items, I am also learning to crochet (slowly) and how to make clothes for my children, with varying results. In my shop I make and sell felt goodies for children and for the home. My toys are waldorf inspired, using natural or recycled materials (I sometimes use eco-fi felt, made from recycled bottles as well as 100% wool felt), I make simple toys that inspire children to be creative and use their imaginations.
What inspired you to open your shop?
I’m inspired by seeing other stores and crafts people on Etsy, there are so many lovely handmade items it made me think perhaps the toys that I’ve been making for my children might be enjoyed by others too. The name Mamma with Heart comes from the idea that the toys and items I make are made from safe materials in an environment that’s caring and each item is lovingly made by hand, not rolled off a production line, each item has heart.
Besides designing & creating things, what do you do?
I’m a full-time homeschooling mamma to my 3 children all under 6, they keep me pretty busy.
Where, who or what does your influence come from?
My children inspire me with their original creativity and new ways of looking at the world. I’m also influenced by nature, the colours of the flowers on a summer day, the autumnal leaves, the changing shades of the sea, all have an effect on my work. I love the work of artists such as Dick Bruna (Miffy), Tove Jansson (Moomins), Eric Carle and Quentin Blake.
What inspires you to be creative?
I think it is instinctual to make things, as a wife, mother and homemaker I love to be able to make things for my family and my home. I love the feeling of seeing my children playing with the toys I’ve made for them, knowing the time, effort and love I took to make the best I could for them, I think this shows in the toys and expresses itself to the children when playing.
How do you get out of a creative rut?
My first thoughts are usually the creative talent on Etsy, other artists inspire me to do what I love, I love browsing other people’s stores and seeing the talent out there – of course I can’t resist the odd purchase or two. I’m not usually short of ideas; I keep a notebook by my bed to write down all the ideas that pop into my head at two in the morning when the baby wakes. Although choosing just one idea to make is quite hard, I usually have 2 or 3 projects on the go at once. If I’m really stuck I head to the Northumbrian coast, the North Sea is quite bracing most of the year and a long walk collecting shells or sea glass can clear my head ready to start crafting again.
When did you first discover that you were or wanted to be an artist?
Since being a child I’ve loved crafty things, I trained in archaeology, but felt something was missing on the creative side. Plus my back ached from all that digging, since settling down and having my children my back still aches from picking up toys all day, but I have more time to do crafts that I love. My husband is my main influence and supporter, he is an artist and runs Tookaland (another Etsy store) it’s his creativity that inspired me to try new crafts and follow what I enjoyed.
Can you describe your creative process for us?
I try to plan the designs I come up with, but I’m not great at sketching or planning so I tend to just go for it, get the felt and thread out and cut and sew until I’m done. Often I’m working on one project and suddenly realise how to do another one, or make an addition to a project. When I was making Bonnie (sausage dog in my store) I realized she needed somewhere to live, so she had to have a kennel, and of course a name plate and ribbon collar. A lot of my ideas start small and somehow expand along the way.
What is your most cherished handmade possession?
I have a few. One is a beautiful painting on wood made by my husband, its shows us and our children on route to our country cottage, my dream. Of all the items I’ve made I particularly love a felt toadstool house I made for my eldest daughter last winter, it took me hours to make as I didn’t plan it out first I went with the flow, bit of a mistake, but I know now how to make it easier/better to do. I’m currently working on a smaller version for my store.
Where do you see or want your shop to be this time next year?
Hopefully have lots of happy customers, recommending my shop to friends and family. I’d love to develop patterns for other mammas and crafters to make their own felt creations, one day I would like to have a book published with my designs.
Where would you like to be in ten years?
I would love myself and hubby to be self-supported by our craft/art businesses and living in a cottage in the highlands. I’d also be glad if I can crochet by then!
What is your best advice to newbie Etesian's just opening their shops?
To make and sell what you love, it shows when an artist really loves what they have created. To network, to get to meet other Etsy artists to help each other and ask questions, groups like Etsian artists are a great way to do this.
Where else other than Etsy can you be found on the net?
I have a Blog of new creations for Mamma with Heart along with new ideas, a few tutorials and general crafty ramblings,
I also have a Facebook Page and I can be followed on Twitter.
Do you have any coupon codes that you would like to share with our readers?
Yes! Coupon code HEARTEA and you get 10% discount in my store! Yippee!
Great interview, love the thought behind your shop's name and you live in a beautiful part of the country!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! Your outlook is awesome and I absolutely love Bonnie (the sausage dog)!
ReplyDelete