Fiskarette Spotlight – Southern Fairy

Another week and another Fiskarette Spotlight!!

This week I asked Southern Fairy  (aka Steph!)  a few questions:

*What are your favourite craft techniques?*
Well the obvious favourite of mine is jewellery making as i’m always making something to go with a new outfit or replicating somethign that was far too expensive in the shops… i also love altering things; jars, boxes, beermats..there’s nothing i won’t try to alter…

*What is on your craft desk at the moment?*
Beads, buttons, wires, ribbons, jumprings, pliers, earring wires, my laptop, all my handmade jewellery and a squeaky dog toy that’s been left up here by my dog Dylan.

*Do you have a favourite project you would like to show us?*
My favourite jewellery project would have to be the beady goodness sets I’ve made recently.. I’ve had orders for sets, but mostly the cocktail rings these seem to be quite popular.. though the turquoise set I made is my favourite as the beads are just so fab, they glitter and stand out so much more than any other crackle bead I’ve come across so far!

My favourite papercraft project has to be the card I made for my nan’s birthday..I found the lime and purple paper in a local craft shop and fell in love with the colour scheme to made the card to fit the colours.. the scrabble tiles were used as I didn’t have any lime green buttons and purple didn’t look quite right, I had the tiles to make jewellery with but I thought they would finish the flowers off and personalise the card perfectly.

*Do you have a favourite quote or poem?*
“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”
~ Leonardo da Vinci

*Any hints or tips you would pass on to anyone else?*
Don’t be afraid to try something new or try to replicate something someone else has made, lots of people ask if they can use my jewellery designs to help them learn new skills and I’m flattered that they want to use my work as inspiration. Don’t buy cheap pliers or rubbish beads…if after time you don’t like your old pieces you can take them apart and recycle them.. and good quality tools and materials help make the piece special. Charity shops are a great place to buy cheap old jewellery that can be recycled… or even some major jewellery stores sell pieces with slight defects you can fix for pennies or turn into something brand new!

*Do you have any New Year Resolutions?*
My new years resolution is to enjoy being single and make the most of my final 6 months of uni… if there’s a night out or day trip happening then i’m going to join in… take many photos to keep all the memories.. and generally spend more time with friends and appreciate them for every little thing they have helped me with in recent months

*Do you have a favourite Fiskars product or one you would like to try?*
I’d love a fiskars fingertip craft knife as my poor rotary cutter is starting to die, they just look so much easier to use and guide exactly where you want to cut.

*What makes you smile?*
My friends with all the wonderful things they do, especially the group of lads I go to uni with, I don’t know where I’d be without them. Songs that remind me of good times gone by, an instant pick me up, although sometimes I hear such songs and crack up laughing at the most inappropriate of times.

*Favourite song right now?*
I’m loving so much new music at the moment, there’s so many great albums and bands kicking around… I’m in love with the new Kings of Leon album… but my favourite song right now would have to be the new Lily Allen song The Fear, it’s so quirky and catchy.

*Do you have an burning desire to fulfil any ambition before you reach
your next birthday milestone, eg. 30, 40, 50 60?*
Well my next milestone is 21 in september and by then I hope to be working for an airline or aviation company gaining my experience to become a qualified aircraft maintenance engineer…. by 30 I’d like to be a glider inspector so I could work on large and small aircraft..living outside the UK would also be great!

*If you could take three things with you on a desert island, what would
they be?*
My bead stash to keep me busy… an ipod as i can’t survive without music… and an aircraft to fly and work on

*_Just for fun:_*

*Crocs or slippers – * SLIPPERS

*Savoury or sweet –* SWEET

*Black or white – * BLACK

*Dog or cat –* DOG as I have an 11 month old westie and I’m allergic to cats!

*Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter –* Summer for good gliding and winter for the snow season!

Blog link: http://southernfairydesigns.blogspot.com/
My blog is my space where I can share my work and network with wonderful people.  I’ve made many new friends through it and gained so much inspiration from the fabulous work out there. I designed the banner myself and tried to incorporate the main elements of my life into it.. the colours used are my 3 favourites.. the studs represent my dress sense, anyone who knows me well will tell you I live in my studded belt.. and the propellor and aircraft represent my passion for all things aviation.. my blog is really an expansion on my crazy little world and I thoroughly enjoy blogging, it’s a new way of life for me

Thanks for a little insight into your world Steph…….x

Caroline x