Say Hello To…Bets and Bobs

Today we meet a Fairy Tale Fair newcomer- Bets and Bobs. We are excited to welcome her and her unique, quirky creations. Find out what shes all about…

“I love nothing more than to see people smiling when they read my cards. Some of them are quite cheeky so there’s often an element of surprise!” – Emma, Bets and Bobs

Tell us a bit about you and what you do/ make….

I work in PR 4 days a week after taking the decision in January to go part time and focus on my creative ventures one day a week. I started making cards and gifts for friends and family and they always commented on how nice they were but I just thought they were being kind. It was amazing when I did my first market a couple of years ago and strangers bought my creations! It has given me a lot of confidence and I love meeting new people at fairs, markets and crafty get-togethers. I mostly produce greeting cards with stamps and stenciled, using typography to make people smile. I also make pictures using sheet music and decoupage that I love as they are all one of a kind. I also enjoy event styling so I have spent the last few summers making weddings look pretty too.

How would you describe your style?

Fun and quirky. I love nothing more than to see people smiling when they read my cards. Some of them are quite cheeky so there’s often an element of surprise!

How long have you been making your craft items?

I did my first market a year and a half ago and since then I have been doing as many as I can – I’m really excited to be joining the Fairy Tale fair in August, as it’s a great opportunity to meet other clever crafty Sussex folk!

Do you have a best seller? If so what is it?

It depends where I am selling. If I’m at fairs and people can see my work then the pictures always go down well and it’s always nice to be able to have a bespoke gift made. My cards always get a laugh though too!

What do you enjoy most about your craft?

I love talking to people that come and see my stall as it’s the best way to find out what makes your potential customers tick. It’s a massive help for the whole creative process too. I keep a little notebook with me to take note of any weird and wonderful things that pop into my head so I love it when I create a card based on my ramdom thoughts and observations and them somebody else appreciates the humour as much as I do!

Do you take part in other craft events (fairs, open houses, markets etc…)?

I have been building up my fair and market presence recently, so it’s really interesting to see the different types of people that go to all the different events in Sussex. I’m working on having some of my pictures and cards at my first open house this Christmas – which is very exciting!

What are your plans/ ambitions for the future? Or have you already achieved them?

Once I have my website up to scratch I’m looking forward to putting some of my PR knowledge into practice and spreading the word about Bets & Bobs. My ultimate dream would be to have my own shop that sells my creations and other designer/makers in Brighton/ Sussex – it’s nice to be ambitious!