Craft Focus - Jun/Jul (Issue 73)

68 Tell me a little about the origin of The Crafty Kit Company. The business launched in 2012 but I’d been designing and selling kits for a few years before this. My previous ventures included The Bead Shop Scotland, The Wool Shop Scotland and The Handmade Store. With all the raw materials at my fingertips, creating kits for our crafty customers was an easy next step. How did you come to work in the craft industry? It would be fair to say that creativity is in my blood. My dad was an architect and watercolour artist and my mum is always knitting, sewing or crocheting something beautiful. My brother is a potter, and we eat off his amazing tableware every day! My parents worked together running a variety of businesses including an art gallery and coffee shop, so I was always surrounded by people making and doing. I came to the craft industry via a rather circuitous route, with long spells as a restaurant manager and English teacher. I set up a jewellery-making club for the kids at school, and after leaving teaching in 2003 to start a family, I opened my first bead shop. What are your bestselling designs? The product range includes knitting, sewing, crochet and needle felting. Each project is designed to be completely self-contained, with all the materials and equipment included in the box. A few years ago I produced some kits for Cath Kidston and I was lucky enough to be able to chat to her about the products that have sold well for her brand. The nugget of wisdom that she gave to me has stayed with me ever since – anything with a face. All our designs have faces, many with glass eyes that really bring them to life. As a general rule of thumb, the cute factor wins every time. Our bestselling products include the felt puppies sewing kit, our Scottish hare needle felting set and the knit-your- own teddies design. Where does your inspiration come from? I’m a country girl, born and brought up in East Lothian between the hills and the sea. Inspiration is all around me, from the puffins on the Isle of May to the hares and deer in the fields around the village. The trade fairs I attend every year are also a fabulous source of inspiration. These shows are a brilliant opportunity to keep an eye on emerging trends long before they become popular. How does the design process work? Let me give you an example. I knew I wanted to design a kangaroo needle felting kit for an upcoming show on Create and Craft TV. The first thing I did was study images of kangaroos, to familiarise myself with the proportions and colours. The next step was to create a wire armature. I did this by printing an image of the animal’s skeleton, before forming wire to the shape of the spine, legs and tail. The armature is taped at the joints to keep it stable and wrapped with pipe cleaners to help the wool stick. I then begin to build the shape using core wool, finally adding layers of colour and the finishing details. I should add that at each stage, I’m taking photographs and writing instructions as I go. Where can retailers get to see your products? I’m at several trade shows throughout the year, including Spring and Autumn Fair, Scotland’s Trade Fair, Harrogate Home & “Al l our designs have faces, many with glass eyes that real ly bring them to life. As a general rule of thumb, the cute factor wins every time. “ Face time Creativity is in the blood for Jo Lochhead, managing director of The Crafty Kit Company