I would like to say a huge welcome
to Stephanie
Stephanie Pearce: BerryNiceCushions and BerryNiceCrafts
• Tell us a bit about you:
I live in Cheshire with my husband and boxer dogs. We have a son who is getting married this year and a daughter at university.
With the support and business advice of my husband I was lucky enough to give up work eighteen months ago to fully concentrate on and expand my business.
• How did you decide on the name for your blog & shop?
I decided to brand my personalised cushions a few years ago when I started to be asked to make them for work colleagues and friends of friends. The name of my handmade business is a play on my surname at the time, Berry, so my cushions became ‘berrynicecushions’.
The craft supply arm of my business is an expansion of that, ‘berrynicecrafts’. I started this as I wanted to fill the time in between sewing projects and because I saw a challenge in sourcing and supplying new and different buttons and other craft items.
• How long have you been blogging? Why did you start?
I’ve been blogging for just over a year, from when I built my website, www.berrynicecushions.co.uk, via create.net, and it had a blog facility on it.
I look on it as an opportunity to let people know a bit about me and what I’m working on. I also thinks it gives customers more confidence in you as you can share news and projects and be interactive.
• What is your favourite item at the moment?
Thats a hard one as I like everything!
I guess my favourite at the moment is the handmade buttons. I’ve only recently started making these and they’ve proved really popular. I try and make ones in popular fabrics (gingham and spots) and ones that are slightly different from the norm, either by adding lace or ribbon to the fabric or by using unusual fabrics (tweeds, vintage, japanese linen).
I offer buttons that are personalised with initials and have recently produced a large order of these for a customers wedding.
They are quite ‘fiddly’ to make but I quite like this aspect and I think this would also apply to the felt hair accessories and appliqué bags I make.
• What made you start ….?
I’ve always been interested in arts and crafts and could knit and sew from an early age. I can remember my mother teaching me how to embroider flowers and daisies onto linen.
I love knitting baby clothes and make all my own cushions and soft furnishings. My cushions came about as I couldn’t think of a gift to buy someone so thought I’d make a personalised cushion and it just grew from there.
• Where do you get your inspiration from?
I keep a couple of folders with patterns and templates and cut outs and also a few blank sketch pads for ideas. I tend to draw several versions of something then play with fabrics and colours and let the final product develop organically.
I love quilt books, craft books and magazines and of course pinterest.
I go to all the big craft shows to see what’s new and what’s trending.
• What other things do you like to do in your spare time?
I’m lucking to live near a library that runs craft courses and love the wet felting one!
The local high school runs an evening course called Textiles where you cover rag rugging, patchwork, beading, embroidery, batik, fabric painting, quilting etc. This also a good opportunity to meet other people with the same interests and swop ideas.
I quite like pottering around in our garden, when we get the good weather!
• What would be the one piece of advice would you give to a new blogger or a person setting up their own shop?
Start small and build your unique brand and customer base.
Thank you ever so much Stephanie
I couldn't pick a single item to love because I love them all.
I'll hope you'll all join me in thanking Stephanie and visit her sites.
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.crochetaddictuk.com/search/label/Guest%20Blogger" title="Crochet Addict UK Guest Blogger" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRur25qxOdBBanPHEmwr0p3HM8D4TzJNy4enlWqVoyVqaVEIX1dcJHxtswbWHQd865VFIl85fTQRsL4HJRyKLEEFKrR18gdzvc_BLiRpuKerQz-paNhzA3V9gI6Q6GfPVo9cq2gkAvIWo/w326-h229-p-no/" alt="Crochet Addict UK Guest Blogger" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
I would like to say a huge welcome
to Stephanie
Stephanie Pearce: BerryNiceCushions and BerryNiceCrafts
• Tell us a bit about you:
I live in Cheshire with my husband and boxer dogs. We have a son who is getting married this year and a daughter at university.
With the support and business advice of my husband I was lucky enough to give up work eighteen months ago to fully concentrate on and expand my business.
• How did you decide on the name for your blog & shop?
I decided to brand my personalised cushions a few years ago when I started to be asked to make them for work colleagues and friends of friends. The name of my handmade business is a play on my surname at the time, Berry, so my cushions became ‘berrynicecushions’.
The craft supply arm of my business is an expansion of that, ‘berrynicecrafts’. I started this as I wanted to fill the time in between sewing projects and because I saw a challenge in sourcing and supplying new and different buttons and other craft items.
• How long have you been blogging? Why did you start?
I’ve been blogging for just over a year, from when I built my website, www.berrynicecushions.co.uk, via create.net, and it had a blog facility on it.
I look on it as an opportunity to let people know a bit about me and what I’m working on. I also thinks it gives customers more confidence in you as you can share news and projects and be interactive.
• What is your favourite item at the moment?
Thats a hard one as I like everything!
I guess my favourite at the moment is the handmade buttons. I’ve only recently started making these and they’ve proved really popular. I try and make ones in popular fabrics (gingham and spots) and ones that are slightly different from the norm, either by adding lace or ribbon to the fabric or by using unusual fabrics (tweeds, vintage, japanese linen).
I offer buttons that are personalised with initials and have recently produced a large order of these for a customers wedding.
They are quite ‘fiddly’ to make but I quite like this aspect and I think this would also apply to the felt hair accessories and appliqué bags I make.
• What made you start ….?
I’ve always been interested in arts and crafts and could knit and sew from an early age. I can remember my mother teaching me how to embroider flowers and daisies onto linen.
I love knitting baby clothes and make all my own cushions and soft furnishings. My cushions came about as I couldn’t think of a gift to buy someone so thought I’d make a personalised cushion and it just grew from there.
• Where do you get your inspiration from?
I keep a couple of folders with patterns and templates and cut outs and also a few blank sketch pads for ideas. I tend to draw several versions of something then play with fabrics and colours and let the final product develop organically.
I love quilt books, craft books and magazines and of course pinterest.
I go to all the big craft shows to see what’s new and what’s trending.
• What other things do you like to do in your spare time?
I’m lucking to live near a library that runs craft courses and love the wet felting one!
The local high school runs an evening course called Textiles where you cover rag rugging, patchwork, beading, embroidery, batik, fabric painting, quilting etc. This also a good opportunity to meet other people with the same interests and swop ideas.
I quite like pottering around in our garden, when we get the good weather!
• What would be the one piece of advice would you give to a new blogger or a person setting up their own shop?
Start small and build your unique brand and customer base.
Thank you ever so much Stephanie
I couldn't pick a single item to love because I love them all.
I'll hope you'll all join me in thanking Stephanie and visit her sites.
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.crochetaddictuk.com/search/label/Guest%20Blogger" title="Crochet Addict UK Guest Blogger" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRur25qxOdBBanPHEmwr0p3HM8D4TzJNy4enlWqVoyVqaVEIX1dcJHxtswbWHQd865VFIl85fTQRsL4HJRyKLEEFKrR18gdzvc_BLiRpuKerQz-paNhzA3V9gI6Q6GfPVo9cq2gkAvIWo/w326-h229-p-no/" alt="Crochet Addict UK Guest Blogger" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
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I think it's awesome that you do these!! Keep up the great work!!
ReplyDeleteI have forwarded your wonderful comment to Stephanie.
DeleteThose buttons are amazing!!
ReplyDeleteI have forwarded your wonderful comment to Stephanie.
Delete