Interview with SoMO

I wanted to start sharing with you some of my favourite bloggers and handmade friends, so I am going to begin by featuring interviews on my blog.

The first one comes courtesy of fellow S&B, crafty friend of mine, Sarah-Louise.  She has a wonderful blog called SoMO.  Her writing is thought provoking, her photo's are beautiful and her crochet is amazing.  She is certainly very creative.

When and why did you start your blog?

I started SoMO (space of mine own) in January 2012. I initially just wanted an outlet to share and remember my experiences and thoughts, and the things that I enjoy doing, and also crafting that I was doing with my daughter. I maybe had a vague idea that someday in the future I may want to turn something crafty into a business and it may tie in with the blog at some point, but this side of it has never really been a priority for me.

What would you like to achieve with the blog?

I read quite a few blogs that have, at various times, touched my heart, provided inspiration, or helped me feel like I’m not alone when times are rough. At this point, if I can do any one of those things for someone that visits my blog, I’d be happy. In the meantime, it’s a bit of an evolving beast of a journey! I’ve particularly noticed that my content has changed as my little girl is getting bigger and is getting busy with pre- school, playdates and activities away from home. It’s been a natural, gradual change, which is just how I like it.

What do you love most about having your blog?

I don’t think there’s just one thing I love most. I started writing at a similar time that my daughter was reaching an age where I was just getting back a little ‘me’ time, and the blog doesn’t stand alone. I also started my facebook page Space of Mine Own and discovered Pinterest (oh, how I love it!!) My Boards. All these things combined, helped me follow a journey of discovery & rediscovery in terms of crafting and the things I enjoy. I discovered crochet in the Autumn of 2011, and whilst I’ve tried lots of different things in the past (and will continue to do so), this is the one that I’m really loving and has stuck. I’ve also rediscovered how much I enjoy photography and am taking part in a few challenges that help focus my practice, but I guess if I had to pick one, the best thing is that I’ve discovered I actually really love writing...when I can find the time!

How would you describe your style?

My writing style is kind of how I talk in my head ~ a little on the dry side, but with warmth and honesty. My creative style is still (and hopefully always will be) a work in progress, but I love playing with colours and have quite a strong colouristic style. I like how crochet is being modernised and hope to develop my own ranges and designs as I get further along.

You are clearly very creative but if you had to pick one handmade activity which would it be?

Definitely crochet. As I mentioned, I’ve tried many different crafts from cardmaking, sewing, embroidery and tapestry, to painting furniture and making jewellery, but crochet is the only one that has kept my interest and I really want to keep learning and developing.

This weekend you have your first table at a local craft fair, how do you feel?

Petrified! I’m very nervous, but also excited. From small beginnings and all that...

What will you be selling?

Christmas decorations & gifts (or not if you’re like me & just have to have one for yourself too!) There will be pincushions, hair accessories, covered jars (one of my favourites), brooches, coasters and cute flower pencil toppers.

What have been the challenges in preparing for the craft fair?

Time. Being mummy and working part-time has meant that I tend to create in the evenings and it’s invariably been the wee hours before I’ve got to bed. Plus, starting from scratch with no prior ‘stock’ as it were, and deciding on products, pricing and quantity has been tough. Needless to say, the housekeeping has had a solid place at the bottom of the list!

Do you have any recommendations for fellow crafters thinking about selling to the public?

Show your work to anyone who will look and listen, and ask for feedback. My friends and family have been an enormous help with advice and encouragement, and also, posting work as I go along on my facebook page has been great as I can get more impartial feedback just by whether people hit that ‘like’ button.  In terms of selling, I’ll know more after the weekend myself, and I’m hoping to set up an on-line store in the New Year, so I think it’s me that needs advice for now!

Where do you get all your inspirational ideas from?

I love Mollie Makes magazine ~ it’s great for ideas in itself, but also, for finding other people whose work is amazing. I also love Pinterest. I’m just at the point where I can take a pattern but fiddle about with it a little so it suits what I want to do with it, but not quite able to design my own. I think it’s very important to provide credit to any originators though, and I will always do this where I have started from someone else’s pattern.

Which blog is a favourite stalk of yours at the moment?

I’ve become a bit of a blog addict & my Bloglovin’ list grows almost daily, but I always love posts from Rosy Little Things, Bleubird Vintage, Coco Rose Textiles

What is on your creative wishlist?

More time and more yarn!

What is next for you and your fabulous blog?

Well, there’s lots to update once the craft fayre is done. I’ve got loads from the Summer to catch up on and various photo challenges to post up, as well as the progress up to the fayre itself. I’ll be linking to any specific patterns I used or started from, plus how it all went.  I’ve had some product interest via facebook so I’ll be looking into that side of things, and then I’ll be working on developing my own style further into the New Year. 

A personal thanks to Sarah-Lou for taking the time out to talk to us.

If you like what you see then pop along to the Christmas Craft Fair at Broadwater Manor on Saturday 17th November, 12-4pm.

Nice to see you again.

Xxx