This month's Crafter of the month is on of my fave craft queens, Zoe Bateman from Too Cute to Quit! Her love of pastels and glitter makes us craft soulmates!
-How did you get into crafting?
I don’t really remember a time when I didn’t craft! Growing up we didn’t have loads of money, so we did LOTS of crafting and art at home with my mum, and I guess that’s what first got me hooked! I’ve always made stuff in some capacity, and I probably always will!
-What would you say is your craft super power?
Threading needles and peeling off the back of double sided tape. Totally lame, but I seem to be really good at ridiculously fiddly stuff like that. Oh and telling at a glance where someone has gone wrong on their crochet – with great (craft) power comes great responsibility…
-What made you make craft a part of your career?
When I graduated from university (way back in 2009!) I had a degree in Creative Writing and no real desire to turn that into a job. So I took a job working in retail, and in my free time I would craft jewellery and other random stuff. My colleagues encouraged me to open an Etsy shop and the rest, as they say, is history! When I decided to stop selling products in 2017, I knew I still wanted to craft, and so now I teach craft workshops and work as a freelance craft person (that’s a job right?!)
-Do you have a craft nemesis? That one craft you can’t master?
I actually have two – knitting and sewing. I can do both at a very basic level – if you want a knitted scarf or a fabric zip pouch, I’m your girl. But anything more complex and my brain just switches off. With sewing it’s the precision involved – I will look at something I’ve cut out and go ‘yeah that looks okay’ but the pieces won’t fit together properly!
-Must have craft tool?
Good scissors! Like Emma, I have a pretty epic scissor collection, and they are the tool I use every single day. Different scissors for different crafts is also essential – fabric scissors are just for fabric NOT for also cutting paper/yarn/your fringe! The other tool I use daily is my Cricut Maker – so many things you can do with it.
-What’s your go to crafting snack?
Marmite on toast. Very random, but for some reason when I craft I get a hankering for marmite on toast!
-Coffee or tea?
Tea! I only have caffeinated tea in the morning and the rest of the day I drink rooibos J
-Where do you currently craft?
I’m super lucky to have a spare room at home that I use as my studio – it’s way too small, but it’s so amazing having a space I can make a crafty mess in without worrying about taking over the living room/kitchen.
-Who is your craft crush?
Other than Emma (OBVS) it would probably be Chloe from Cotton Clara, Zeena from Heart Zeena, or Christine from Sew Yeah. Total craft idols.
-Craft career highlight?
Having my moon collar clips worn by Clara Oswald on Doctor Who! Or getting to sell my items at a craft fair in Austin, Texas. Or being featured in my favourite craft magazine, Mollie Makes.
-Where can we find you on the internet?
You can see my makes on instagram (I’m @toocutetoquit) or on my website/blog at www.toocutetoquit.com.
Congratulations! Indeed, it is an honor to be the crafter of the month. But why this initiative was stopped? I haven't seen any more posts like that. Damn the pandemic. Anyway, creative jobs are good, but without a contract they are a bit unsecured. What if you check qualitycontracts.co.uk where you can see contract jobs for your liking?