Kirri has an eye for creativity and style with her handmade charms, pins, hair accessories and much more. Her pieces and fabrics remind me of springtime, which is right around the corner (YAY!). My favorite spring-like item is her fabric wreath with cute birdie pin!
kirri raper
Random Facts About You?I LOVE buttons!!! You can NEVER have or use to many!!!
I have a pet cat and rabbit, who make working from home a lot less lonely!
My favourite smells are freshly cut grass and freshly washed sheets!
Yes it's sad to admit but I love hoovering! Which is actually quite handy when your house is covered in cottons and threads!
What got you started crafting?
I started crafting 12 years ago when I got diagnosed with a long term illness when I was in secondary school. Before I was ill I was a lot more academic than artistic. I was taken out of school as I was too ill to attend and had a home tutor who visited for a few hours a week. I have never wanted to give in to illness and needed to keep enthusiastic about a subject. That's when I found art and crafts. It was a subject that i could work on for very small periods of time and could pick up and put down and work on from bed.
Over the years my passion has grown into pure love for the subject and has helped me slowly regain my life. I still have ups and downs, but my art gets me through!
What is your source of inspiration?
I find inspiration in everything in life from the trees outside the window and in the park, to the cakes I love to bake! I am also a very nostalgic person and love to work on the theme of memories. Using reclaimed materials lets me trap peoples memories into the work i make.
I see texture and colour before i see the item as a whole. I have to admit i'm one of those people who walk around shops and have to touch everything!
What have you made recently?
Recently I have been designing a range of textile wreath designs. Each wreath is unique as I have been using vintage and recycled textiles so the item will never be able to be reproduced. Each wreath contains around 800 individually pieced pieces of fabric, this makes the process very time consuming, but I feel the over all effect is well worth all the time I put in! These are items that can be treasured for years and passed down the family. Producing more memories!
Where do you sell your crafts presently?
I have sold work in small galleries, craft sales, charity events and my newest outlet is my Etsy store.
I love selling at all these outlets, but I do love charity events as it's my way of giving something back for all the support I have received over the last 12 years.
Why are handmade crafts important to you?
Handmade is so much more personal than mass produced! As I always say, every stitch I sew is sewn with love and passion. We are such a throw away society these days it really does make me sad. The mass produced items we buy are so soul less and why do we love to all be and have the same items as everyone else? This makes us oh so boring.
Find Me
LocationNorth east of England
Email Address
kirri raper
Personal Website
http://maxollieandme.blogspot.co.uk/
Store Website
http://www.etsy.com/shop/maxollieandme
http://www.facebook.com/maxollieandme