This week I have an extra special interview blog with the amazing Sarah and Alex who own The Bothered Owl. They are both Aussies living in London who joined forces to create a great handcrafted business using both of their skills to the max.
When I first read their blog I was really impressed with how they work together as a team, when they both have different home lives. Sarah juggles running the business with children and Alex manages to create some amazing jewellery whilst working in a museum. So I thought it would be interesting to find out how their partnership works!
When did you start crafting?
Alex:
I can’t remember when I started crafting but I used to do tapestry and long stitch as a child. I was also interested in beading and making knotted friendship bracelets and also enjoyed origami. I learned to knit when I came to the UK in 2004. I’m from the sub-tropics in Australia where it’s a little too hot to knit for most of the year. Sarah and I used to meet for knitting time when her older daughter was very tiny. I have only been making Lego jewellery for a year, so it’s still quite new for me. I have always liked quirky items of jewellery and thought that Lego Men earrings would be a good start and it has grown from there.
Sarah:
Back in the misty dawns of time… My Mum taught me to knit on the backs of two soup spoons when I was very tiny. I knitted a really ugly green and gold Australian sports flag. At some point she bought a sewing machine and one of the first things she made on it (apart from clothing for us) was a patchwork quilt for me. It was very simple, a pattern of rectangles, bright floral cottons mixed with blue and white polka dots. Over the top she appliquéd some parrots she cut out from another piece of fabric. It was gorgeous and fabulous and brilliant and she made it just for me, which as the eldest of 6 kids was a huge thing for me. I was hooked. I remember her painstakingly teaching me to backstitch and spending hours making hideous clothes and bed things for my long suffering doll.
In your fabulous ships you have so many gorgeous things made using a variety of materials. Do you both make everything of have you got different skills?
Sarah:
Different skills. I’m in my element with a big pile of fabric and a pair of shears. Give me a needle and thread over a pair of pliers any day. I admire Alex’s skill at making jewellery because it baffles me how she can get the wires to bend so perfectly and precisely. I can’t do that! I think she feels the same way to an extent about the sewing although I also think she’s more willing to learn than I am. I did teach her to put a zipper in a while ago and she even made a couple of zippered purses for the stall.
Alex:
Although Sarah and I have different skills that we apply to the business, we also have similar skills – we are both very keen knitters. I am keen to improve my sewing skills. Before leaving home I did a sewing course. It was lots of fun, but there is still a lot to learn. I’m confident enough to sew in a straight line!
Which are your favourite items?
Sarah:
My favourite items to make are the sunhats and the knitting needle envelopes. I love making custom hats for people, it makes me really happy! They feel very sculptural. I’m extremely proud of our knitting needle envelopes because I haven’t seen anyone else selling/making anything quite like them. We only have one of them in the shop at the moment but I’m busy making them like crazy at the moment in preparation for the upcoming Knit Nation, so there’ll be loads on sale then.
Alex:
I like the bracelets as I can put anything on them, and they allow me to be very creative. With my museum training the shrunken heads style bracelet (featuring Lego heads) is a particular favourite of mine.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Alex:
The Lego is so varied that I tend to let it inspire me. Other people also give me inspiration. For instance someone asked me to make a pair of Lego tile cufflinks for them for their husband. I already had Lego men cufflinks in the range but I hadn’t considered making tile cufflinks before. They proved very popular at craft markets and now the Science Museum is stocking them.
Sarah:
That’s a really difficult question! Our knitting range was inspired because I got sick and tired of losing my needles in my bag and tangling my yarn on things. The sunhats came about because my nephews in Australia needed new hats and I had some fabric lying about. The other bags tend to just be random spur of the moment things, ‘I feel like making a bag that looks like this’ and off I go and sometimes it works and sometimes it really doesn’t. Or I see a couple of pieces of fabric and something about them just pops together and I’m off. At the moment I’m chafing a bit to make something new because a lot of what we’re doing at the moment is about making the same items over and over, to make sure we have enough of them.
How do you juggle family/work commitments with running a craft business?
Alex:
I am currently only working a couple of days a week in a museum job so I have quite a bit of time to devote to the business. I’m also lucky to have an incredibly supportive boyfriend. He lets me play with Lego, and schlepps the boxes. What more could I ask for? But honestly, Scott helps with the books, comes to craft fairs, suggests fabrics we should buy and tries not to vacuum up too many Lego pieces from the floor.
Sarah:
The balance between work and family is really hard for me. I have two very young children, one aged 4 and a half and the other has just turned 2. I’m at home with them full time, I gave up being a secondary school teacher to be a Mum. Combining that with starting our own business has been a bit of an awkward mix at times. I feel terribly guilty at times that they both have a fairly wide knowledge of the early works of the Disney corporation and sometimes I think if the older one hears “Just let me finish what I’m doing and I’ll be with you in a minute” one more time, she may explode. They’re both very patient with me, for people so small. I do try to keep my work in the daytime to a minimum but sometimes it’s just not possible, particularly when getting ready for a large exhibition.
Where do you see your business in a years time?
Sarah:
We’re waiting to see how the next few craft fairs and exhibitions go before starting to really make plans. Ideally it would be nice to find a few gift shop and knitting shops interested in taking on some of our wares. We supply IKnit in London with stitch markers and bags and the Science Museum sells Alex’s jewellery. It would be nice to have some regular orders rather than constantly working towards shows. We just need to sit down and figure out how to make it happen!
Alex:
I would like to do more knitting shows, we are booked into three shows before the end of the year and also do larger focussed events that we can apply our creative skills to. Also, as Sarah mentioned having our items stocked in other outlets. Having my jewellery at the Science Museum is an incredible thrill. I’d love for other museums to sell it as well.
What advice would you give to someone starting a career in crafting?
Alex:
Using social media such as twitter, facebook and having a blog have been an excellent starting point for getting our name and what we make recognised by people. It is a fine balance with not making it too personal and not giving away trade secrets but you need to do more than advertise what you are selling by sharing the experience that you are going through. Pick a slightly quirky name. People are coming upto us more and more at markets saying that they know us by name, even if they’ve never met us or seen our stuff. If someone remembers your business name, it’s a great start! And finally, love what you do. If you love it, you’ll think it’s worth spending hours of your spare time (and money) developing your business.
Sarah:
It’s bloody hard work but if you’re passionate about what you make, go for it. It will be frustrating at times, you’ll find yourself still working at 1am and eating toast for dinner because you were so busy making stuff that you forgot to cook, but it’s worth it for that feeling when someone hands you money in exchange for something you made yourself, with your own two hands. In terms of practical advice, be as cheerful and friendly as you can at craft events, even if you’re having a rubbish day. Negativity gets you nowhere, people sense it and it puts them off. Even if you don’t make tonnes of sales at your first few markets, you might give out cards or meet some one who will give you a tip about another market and so on. You never know what will come of even your worst day by far!
The Bothered Owl has shops on Etsy and Folksy.
I hope you have enjoyed meeting the fabulous Sarah and Alex from The Bothered Owl and seeing their amazing work!
Friday Focus, July 2010, Shopping | Anna | 
July 23, 2010 6:47 pm | 
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