It has been some time since I posted an Etsy interview but I couldn't resist when I saw BritishCreamTea's shop as I really wanted to blog about her items. Also it has been a long time since I interviewed someone from the UK so this was the perfect opportunity :).
S0 here is an Etsy interview with Ouissi, who is 33 years old and has an adorable little boy. She lives in Liverpool which is not so very far away from me :). She is still waiting for her first sale so maybe someone today can make her shop a very happy one :).
When looking at BritishCreamTea, I thought it would be the perfect shop for Christmas stocking fillers and it fantastic that she does custom orders so you should really ask her now with any special requests. Just think, come Christmas day, your all sat around emptying out your stockings and yours will be the most personal with that special little something that will trigger the conversation for hours on what that item meant to that person and how funny it was.
I have choosen items from BritishCreamTea that made me smile remembering....
First came conkers.... how we would dream of owning conkers or even finding a conker tree. My brothers would go places and come back with pocket fulls. They would then sit for hours putting on layers of nail polish to harden them so that they would end up with the best and hardest conkers. Weren't they lucky that they had sisters that didn't care about their nail polish so that they could do this.
Come October the toffee apples were on sale. At the time our local shop used to sell them. I would be so excited and would save my money for that week to buy one. Oh how disappointed I would be when I finally managed to bite through the toffee. The apples always have a funny taste to them and are of a cheaper quality.... it didn't stop me making the same mistake every year and being so disappointed. I was going to buy one this week but had to laugh at myself.... plus the thought of paying 60p for an apple put me off :P.
Growing up, Cornetto's were quite expensive so we would rarely get them, it was so exciting when we did. First we'd pick the nuts off, then the chocolate.... but the best bit was the chocolate at the end, some things never change! I would always open my packaging wrong and find my cornetto end was always broken :(..... I also remember going to Pakistan and it is always so hot in the summer. We sat eating these in the roasting heat..... what great memories :P
I would always go for the purple ones in these ranges of lolly's and I really didn't like the yellow one. I even love them today. Such a bit kid I know
Seeing these maybe you have a story to share too :).....
I better get on and let you read Ouissi's interview....
How did you get in to working with felt?
I love felt. The way it feels, the colours, the strong yet pliable nature. I work mainly with recycled felt made from bottles but have some beautiful, if expensive, wool felt I may use in the future in a higher end line. I was taught to sew by my Aunt, who makes amazing couture wedding dresses, and I have been found sitting hand beading yards of train or front dress panels, so I can sew well in a traditional sense...I just wanted to try something different and felt was it!
What made you decide to create your delicious items for your shop aswell as the not so edible ones?
I love food!! I used to do a lot of work with photographs of cupcakes I had baked so working with food is not a new thing for me. I had been looking at felt food as an art form for a while but most of the food was American, Japanese or Chinese. No-one seemed to be doing British felt food in the same way with the same breadth of items so I decided to sew some just for me. Then I decided to see how they would would sell so I opened my Etsy shop. So far the way they have been received has been amazing!
Do you do custom orders for any special requests people may have?
Yes. I love making new things. If anyone has any particular food they love or that brings back memories let me know...
Are there any other crafts you do or would like to try?
I would love to relearn knitting. I was taught by my mother as a child but have completely forgotten. Luckily she has kindly offered to teach me again when we have time.
What is your favourite childhood memory object?
My teddy Big Ted who now, lovingly patched and re-patched by my patient mother, watches over my sleeping baby.
How did you find out about Etsy?
I found Etsy in 2005 through an artist I knew who had a shop. I opened my first shop in early 2006 selling my cards, paper sculptures and handmade journals. This is my second.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with everyone?
Do what you love and it will show in your work.
Do you have any websites you'd like to share?
etsy shop: http://britishcreamtea.etsy.com
blog: http://ajournalofdreams.blogspot.com
flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ouissi/
twitter: http://twitter.com/britishcreamtea
5 Inky Prints:
Even though the items were felt, my mouth watered.
I love toffee apples when the apples underneath are Granny Smith apples.
She does make great looking things! Very nice interview :D
Wow, that's so funny I should find your blog and an interview with Ouissa. I convo'd her only last week because I found her wonderful items on etsy and they reminded me so much of back home. I was born in Manchester, UK, so not too far from Liverpool but I live in New Hampshire, USA. Her store brings back so many memories of back home, especially as I haven't been able to go back home to the UK to visit now for over 12 years.
great interview! So fun to read too nice shop! :O)
It is definately a great shop and I hope it does well
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