when i first discovered the beautiful hand-made sewn gift cards by Moonmum i was amazed. i've never seen anything like it, her cards are super cute and so unique. i think they are a lovely addition to the giftboxology store.today we delve in the psyche of the famously talented Moonmum (well we ask her a few questions about her inspiration, life and even get some advice about starting your own creative journey)
how did you come up with the idea to make hand-sewn cards? they are so lovely but for me the appeal also lies in the uniqueness of the cards, i would love to know how it all started.
I've been making my sewn paper creations for over two years now (oh how time flies...). I made a few cards just to try on Etsy and the response was immediately really positive. Within the first few months i'd had lots of sales, some great feedback and wholesale enquiries too. I shouldn't say that i was surprised, but i was!
can you tell us a bit about yourself? what other things do you like to do besides making beautiful cards?
Honestly, i'm a fairly typical stay at home mum. My days revolve mostly around my two kids, aged six and three, and running a household. Housework, however, is my absolutely least favourite activity in the entire world and i'll do just about anything to avoid it... i love books, spending time with the kids, playing the piano, tending the vegie patch, wandering aimlessly around the craft-blogosphere and heading out for a good coffee.
how do you get inspiration for your work?
Most of my inspiration comes from children's books actually. I love the simplicity of shape and colour.
whereabouts do you create your work? do you have a dedicated room at home or elsewhere? i understand you are a mum, how do you keep the little ones away from your creations? do they ever raid your creative stuff and swallow buttons etc?
My wee enterprise is run entirely from our dining room table! Our house is fairly small so i don't have a dedicated space for creating which can be immensely frustrating. I am constantly getting everything out, putting it away again, trying to grab whatever time in the day that I can use to work.
Whenever possible I'll try to involve the kids, maybe sorting buttons or choosing colours. Or i'll set up the table so they can work on a project of their own while I work too. This is actually really nice time for me and I cherish it... sitting together, creating and chatting.
No, it doesn't always work and there have been many incidents of peanut butter fingerprints on cards, lego pieces mixed in with my materials, small hands poked into product photos, endless interruptions for snacks, etc. All mum's will appreciate exactly how it goes :)
approximately how many hours a week do you spend making your cards? do you ever get tired of making the same cards or always loving it?
The amount of time i spend on my little creations varies from week to week. It all depends on what everyone is up to, what orders have come in or what i'm working on. I really love making my products and try to change colours or patterns to keep it interesting for myself and sketch up new designs. My little business is a creative outlet for me and a break from the everyday routine of being a stay at home mum. I'm happier and my brain just works better when i can spend time being creative!
which card is your best seller? (i'm guessing the Mother Bird card?!)Absolutely... the birds and mother birds are definitely the most popular cards i make, hands down, and have been since the beginning!
i understand from reading your blog that you sell your cards at markets as well as online and in various other shops, what advice can you give to readers who might be thinking about opening up their own online store or selling at markets?
I think that having a creative outlet for yourself is immensely satisfying and if you can turn that into some extra income then absolutely go for it. There are so many online resources for creative businesses that beginning to sell your work is very simple. Be brave!
Dive in with a few items on madeit or etsy and take it from there. I have only just started doing markets and am really enjoying them. The online world is fantastic and practical for me at this stage, but meeting customers in person and getting them to actually see and feel the product is priceless.thanks Moonmum (Belinda).
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