Etsy Around the World: KoolKookyKreatures

This week's featured seller has such a fun shop filled with all kinds of creatures! Be sure to read her interview and then check out more of her creations in her Etsy shop!

Who are you?

My name is Vikki Chatfield and I am the owner of Kool Kooky Kreatures

Where are you located?

I live in Devon which is on the South West of England. A fab place to be because I am surrounded by wonderful countryside and the beautiful coastline.

If you have you ever visited North Carolina, what do you remember about your trip?

I have never visited North Carolina but I imagine its a lovely place.

What do you create?

What don't I create would be easier...lol! Ok, I paint, I knit, I sew and I make Kreatures from fibre and fabric (hence the name). I LOVE colour and so that plays a big part in my creations.When did you start creating?Ever since I could hold a crayon in my hand I have been creating. I remember being about three and making headbands and t-shirts for my teddy from scraps of material that my mum left lying around. She was a seamstress and there was never any shortage of fabric and thread lying around. The button box was my favourite and I am still obsessed by these wondrous items. I spent hours making things for my toys.

What inspires you?

Dreams, mythology, monsters, my children, stop motion films, music, poetry and a nice cup of tea :)

Where do you create?

I have a small studio but my work tends to migrate all over the house! I have things on the go in every single room (my poor DH has to stumble and trip his way around the house to get anywhere).

How do you envision your creations being used by your customers?

I imagine my monsters sitting by computers, on shelves, being carried around in rucksacks. My felt pins have adorned bags and collars and hopefully they brighten the day of anyone who sees them.

What do you do when you are not creating?

I sing!!! I am a member of a local ladies chorus "The Chordettes" and I am the bass section leader. I also read, read, read! There is a pile of books by my bedside that are being/waiting to be read. I also love showing other people how to make/create art and therefore giving them a means to express themselves.

Etsy Around the World: greygoat

Who are you?

My name's Kate and I run Grey Goat.

Where are you located?

Chester, England. It's an old Roman walled city on the Welsh border.

If you have you ever visited North Carolina, what do you remember about your trip?

I've never visited, but would love to - especially the Appalachian area. When I read Bill Bryson's A Walk In The Woods, I was ready to pack my bags and go!

What do you create?

I design and make luxe lingerie and clothing for men and women.

What is your favorite place to visit in your hometown?

Chester isn't a large city, but it is a very old one. Probably the best thing to do is walk the walls of the city - about 1-2 hours - they circle most of the central town and you can walk along the top, passing lots of interesting parts of the city - the Roman amphitheatre, the famous Eastgate clock, past the river (grab an ice cream here), the Roodee racecourse, along the canal, past the 20s Odeon cinema and the cathedral. Every building you pass has a history, from Tudor timbered boutiques to the haunted Spud-u-like with its Roman hypocaust in the basement!

Why did you choose your medium?

Fabric has a tactile quality that just can't be matched for me by anything else.

What is your next project going to be?

I have 101 projects in my head! I keep a notebook with loads of designs in, I'm aiming to introduce at least one or two every month. I would like to do more art-to-wear, and I'm working on a series of beautiful one-off dresses inspired by flowers.

What is you most popular item that you create?

Probably my Ria scarf tops. I think they work because they're simple, but each one is completely one-off - they're made from vintage scarves, so they can't be duplicated, and I match them up according to mood, colour, size and pattern and choose ribbon to match. They're a good price for a unique top and fit and suit most people.

What do you do when you are not creating?

I work full-time and dream of clothes.

--To learn more about Kate, check out her web-site.

Etsy Around the World: halfanacre

This week's featured Etsy seller is from England, and not only was she willing to share her crafts she also gave a peek into her studio and her favorite place to vacation. She also shared her memories of visiting North Carolina!

Who are you?

I am Anna Hull. My three children are now in school and its time for me to re-discover myself and get back to what I really want to do!

Where are you located?

I live in West Sussex, England, in a little village called Ifold. It is very small with one shop!

What do you create?

I design and paint wooden decorations in funky fun colours to cheer up your home.

Why did you choose your company name?
We are named after a quote heard on the radio. It was from a 1950s gardening programme: 'No matter how small one's garden one should always set aside at least half an acre for wildflowers'. Names are really hard, we used to be called Bluestar-red but it wasn't working for us so we are now Half an Acre.

What inspires you?
Colour - always, and the desire to surround myself with interesting things. My house is a very colourful place to live!

Where do you create?

I've take over one room of our house. I love it! I have shelves of paint pots piled up, unpainted stuff, my collections of things, such us unusual beads and marmite jars, the phone, the computer, an irritating rug that keeps moving around, some applecores and half drunk cups of coffee. I hang my stock on the walls - its the best way to keep it safe - and its looks fabulous too!

What is your favorite place to sell your items?
I really enjoy being online - I've only sold two things through my Etsy shop so far but I haven't had it very long. I'm involved in some other exciting online projects and I love the freedom the internet gives me. I've had enough of standing behind tables on village greens trying to sell to people who just aren't interested!

Have you ever been to North Carolina?

Actually I have! Many times! I travelled there with an old friend years ago, before I was married. We hired a car in New York and drove there because someone told us it was nice! We ended up on Ocracoke Island and stayed a while! I met a guy there and spend several summers living and working there with him. Apart from the mosquitoes its was heaven. I remember seaching for sand dollars at low tide, the smell of the wood of the boardwalks, my footprints glowing with phosphoresence at night on the beach, the wooden, stilted houses .... now I think about it my fish would look great there!

What is your favorite place to visit in your town?
My favourite place is not nearby at all. Our nearest proper town is 20 mins away so i'm going to go further afield for my favourite! Its a place called Seaview on the Isle of Wight. My family has had a flat down there for about 30 years and we go every summer. It is a stone's throw from the beach. My children catch crabs and fish whilst I beachcomb for hagstones to make my stone wreaths. Last year we caught 986 crabs! The hagstones I find on the beaches there are used in my stone wreaths.

How do you envision your creations being used by your customers?

All our wooden things are designed to simply hang on the walls of your home. I'd love them to be cheering up the walls of homes across the Atlantic - perhaps one might end up in a beach house on Ocracoke!

What is your next project going to be?

I'm going to start making some cards - based on the snakes, fish and lizards - just a few to see what happens. I love to make anything so if its not successful I will still have had a great time doing it!

--If you'd like to read more about Anna's life and work, check out her blog. Don't forget to visit her Etsy shop to see her items too!