This week our TeamCB SOTW is Fiona from
Bellecardsandgifts
Fiona is my darling friend, a fellow lover of peacocks, elephants, Moroccan designs, bright bold colours, boho style and of course is a fellow foodie.
We like to interview our team members so to find out more just carry on down the screen
Welcome to this week’s
Shop of the Week,
Bellecardsandgifts, a treasure trove of vintage style trinket boxes and gifts. Find out more about Fiona in our interview…
Describe your “typical” working day or week
A typical day for me starts around 6.30 when I have my first cup of
herbal tea, browse Etsy for new faves and look at my shop activity. I
normally take this time to check my stats, relist any expired orders
and, if I’m lucky(!) relist a sold order.
I am an absolute treasury addict and seem to find early mornings are
the best time to create one, as I sit by my window overlooking the park
and listen to the birds sing and the world slowly wake up. It’s my
favourite time of the day.
My best days to work creatively are normally Monday and Wednesday
when I don’t have college and other commitments to distract me. I make a
list each week of what I would like to achieve and keep referring back
to it as I find more inspiration. I like to sketch out my designs first
although this often develops into something quite different!
Set of 4 Marie Antoinette Coasters by Bellecardsandgifts
At the moment I am working on a series of themed wooden trinket
boxes…. I am photographing and listing my Shakespeare one today. Queen
Elizabeth I and characters from Charles Dickens are the next ones in my
Famous Brits series. Then I want to make a Vintage Olde Sweete Shoppe
box, with candy pink stripes and handmade miniature sweets. I am
thrilled to have just found a gorgeous dolls house miniatures shop local
to me, where I can source gorgeous detail for my boxes.
My Sundays are taken up with doing a stall at the famous craft market
Abbey Mills, where William Morris once had his print workshops. It is a
wonderful place where I love to look at other stalls and find lots of
lovely ephemera for my boxes – like lace, vintage watch parts, beads
etc… so I am thrilled to be selling there myself!
What advice would you give someone taking up your craft for the first time?
For anyone considering starting their own craft business I would say ‘
Be Brave, Be Bold’ and in the words of the Grandfather of the British Craft Industry William Morris –
‘Create For Love, Not Profit’. I believe that if you are passionate enough about what you make, that passion will shine through and the sales will come!
Steampunk necklace heart and angel wing by Bellecardsandgifts
Which piece of equipment would you be helpless without?
The item I could never be without is my pair of small but very sharp
scissors. They are vital for getting great cuts, especially the fine
detail of decoupage. I use them for so many other things too like wire
wrapping and adding glue to small areas. There have been a few occasions
when I have lost them and it’s panic stations!
Tell us about what inspires and motivates you
I find inspiration in so many things, from exhibitions like Hollywood
Costume at the V & A, to finding gorgeous vintage things at flea
markets… basically anything beautiful from times gone by!
Thank you Fiona! We love your style and words of wisdom.
Fiona was talking to Nadine of imyinda and MuntjacVintage
Article published by Erika of
ErikaPrice and
Blucha jewellery
Some more gorgeous things from Fiona
Vintage Sweet Shop Trinket Box Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe
Union Jack Love Sign Steampunk Key
Purple Flower Headband
Peacock Cuff Bracelet
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