Craft Focus - Jun/Jul (Issue 73)

69 PROFILE Gift and the British Craft Trade Fair. I also attend a variety of consumer shows including Country Living and Kirstie Allsopp’s Handmade Fair. Our website carries a full range of products and I make regular appearances on Create and Craft. How often do you launch designs? This is a great question. Before appearing on TV, I would launch products twice a year to coincide with Spring and Autumn Fair but now, we have new items every month! The demand for newness is great, and every TV show requires at least four products. This is really keeping me on my toes in terms of planning ahead. We’ve redesigned our packaging to allow us to bring products to market very quickly, including some limited- edition kits. Felting and crochet are huge at the moment. Have you noticed an increase in the popularity of these crafts? Our very first kits were themed around crochet. These have remained popular, but it’s not a collection that we intend to grow in the near future. Personally, I love crochet – everything from the humble granny square to tiny amigurumi toys. However, you have to know how to crochet before you pick up a kit. Needle felting on the other hand is truly easy-peasy. The basic technique couldn’t be simpler, and anyone can have a go. The sharp needle is the only barrier when it comes to this craft – it’s not really suitable for young children. The results that can be achieved from poking some felting wool with a barbed needle are truly incredible, and it’s also a very addictive hobby. All of this, and the fact that the materials required are inexpensive, has contributed to the popularity of felting. What’s your take on the British craft industry – is it an inspiring sector to work in? I’ve been a part of the industry for a long time – I guess you could say I was brought up in it. I have always loved being surrounded by inspiring, creative people. It was an absolute pleasure to attend the British Craft Trade Fair recently – what a wealth of talented people we have in this country. What’s coming up next for The Crafty Kit Company? We’re busy working on prototypes for our next product range, to be launched in June. I can’t divulge any details, but it definitely involves needle felting! “Inspiration is al l ar ound me, fr om the puff ins on the Isle of May to the hares and deer in the f ields ar ound the vil lage. The trade fairs I attend every year are also a fabulous source of inspiration. These shows are a bril liant opportunity to keep an eye on emerging trends long before they become popular. “ The Crafty Kit Company +44 (0)1620 860 907 craftykitcompany.co.uk