May I introduce....the DESIGN TEAM!!!

As you may have heard, my very first product launch will take place on Monday, this Monday, the 18th, at 8pm.  Nervous.....oh yes.  Excited....beyond belief.

I am so pleased I am working with Crafters Companion.  They have been amazing, and have turned something that was always bubbling around at the back of my mind, into reality.  As a crafter, I've always had idea's and wanted to create my own "stuff".  Whether it be stamps, dies, embossing folders or a paper crafting kit.  I get idea's when I'm walking the dogs, or driving, or visiting the museum.  There's inspiration everywhere.  However, I chatted to Leann and Sara, and they offered help me bring these idea's out and make them happen....and here we are.  Ready to launch!!

I never thought I'd have a product range - and I certainly didn't think I'd have a design team!!  Whoop whoop.  And what a team.  Over the next few days I'm going to introduce you to the team, and then start sharing their work with you, on here and of course, on TV!

So, may I begin with someone you may already have heard mentioned - from regular emails to C&C, and now to Hochanda.  A chap who started off Nick of Barnsly, to become Nick of Bulgaria (what an incredible life changing move that was......The fantastic

Nick (and Grace, but Grace doesn't actually craft very much)

Me and Nick on his recent visit to Hochanda

I asked Nick some crafty questions:

First, please tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into crafting?

Hello, I am Nick, I'm 45 years old and I now live in Bulgaria. From a very early age I remember my parents always encouraged us to be creative. My earliest memory was making things from Papier Mache, Creating a mix of newspaper and glue, having great fun covering balloons of all shapes and sizes and then that awful wait until it was ready (it always seems like an age to dry when your that young). I can still remember the excitement when the time came to pop them and get creating and decorating.

One thing I always looked forward to was when my Dad got the huge wax pan out, he would fill the bath with cold water, then we would melt all the wax and fill small containers before plunging them into the water moving and tipping them to create the most wonderful sculptures and then decorating them to create something unique. Like most children, we all did colouring and drawing, all sorts of things really, we were very lucky to have grown up without the computers or 24 hour TV.Then came school and work and everything else seemed to take a back seat. 

A friend of mine had started cross stitch and the finished projects looked brilliant. I bought a few kits as I was heading to work on a ship. It wasn't until I had to take an ill health retirement that I truly rediscovered my love of craft, It started off with a card kit and then another and so on. Very soon I added stamps to the mix and so it quickly became my life and helped me through some tough times. My passion for everything craft related soon snowballed and I wanted the opportunity to try as much as I could. There are so many wonderful crafts to discover and try.

Have you got a favourite craft, or do you like doing a little bit of everything?

This has to be one of the most difficult questions to answer (Maybe not I have just seen the last Question). Making something from scratch is what I enjoy the most, starting with nothing but card, inks, paints, wax, stamps etc. Card collections are great and without them I wouldn't have progressed or had the confidence to continue my crafty journey. Knitting is great (Thanks Hayley West) especially the feeling you get when you finish something you can wear. Working with clay is another favourite, by the way how many favourites are we allowed???

What's the most rewarding thing about crafting for you?

Sharing my craft experience with others, either the knowledge or the finished article. There is nothing better than someone telling you they like what you have made. A few years ago I had some of my designs in Joanna Sheen's project books, I was very proud especially when people sent photos of the projects they had completed, It marvellous when someone likes what you do and when you see how you can make a difference. Seeing peoples faces and excitement when you have help them achieve a finished card or project

Have you ever sold your craft work?

It was a few years ago now when I did my first table sale. I can still remember how it felt when I sold my first ever card. There is really nothing like the feeling you get when someone wants to pay for something you have made. Once you have a few people at your stall it's amazing how quickly things disappear. I only did 2 sales as I couldn't spend enough time making the cards and projects to sell. I really miss it and maybe I will do it again in the future.

Finally, what crafting tool could you not do without?"

MY HANDS..........

Can I thank Nick for joining my team, he is such an incredibly talented chap, and I really look forward to sharing his work with you.