Good Luck, The Craft Channel

Good luck to everyone involved at The Craft Channel!

(Specially to my good friend Dawn Bibby!)

At the Craft Channel Launch

Last Thursday I attended the Craft Channel launch event for magazine editors, bloggers and designers.

Invited by the lovely Dawn Bibby who is going to be one of the main presenters and craft expert.  Very much the masterminds behind the channel, Julian Ballantyne and Debbie Greenwood did speak very eloquently at the launch about the exciting new possibilities for the channel.

It was so nice to see Dawn. We have been very much in contact the last few years but seen each other rarely as we live quite far apart.

I have to say that Dawn looked very excited and happy!

Goodie bags were given out with lovely things inside.

And Paul Wayne Gregory was there demonstrating how easy it is to hand finish truffles with his homemade kits soon available from The Craft Channel. They are as delicious as they look!

One of the things that has made me very excited about this channel previous to the event was this video showing Becky make a amazing quilled version of the Craft Channel logo. Well, it is as beautiful in real life!

The detail is incredible!

And there she is Becky Seddon at the studio ready to film a show full of gorgeous woodlands creatures designed by her.

Some of the guests recorded a little VT. Of course I volunteer without thinking! Somehow I don't think they will use my piece!

After the launch event, I stayed a bit longer in the company of Dawn, Wendy Rhodes and Becky and made a couple of cards with the new products from Dawn (left) and Becky (right).

The studios look so nice! Amazing quality.

And looked who I found filming! The uber talent that is Andy Skinner. Can't wait to watch him!

If you are wondering how to watch The Craft Channel, well here you have some options. I will be tuning in online (as I watch all my telly) at www.thecraftchannel.com this Monday 14th of September at 8am!

Dawn, Julian and the whole team, I wish you all the very best!

Craft Conversations with the Pros: Dawn Bibby

Who else should start the Craft Conversations with the Pros series but someone that every paper crafter in the UK will know: Dawn Bibby!

(To read more why I started this series click here)

Since 2007, I have been quite close to her both professionally and personally, so I have seen her in many situations that people can only guess. I consider dawn a close friend and one of the few people who actually has gone out of her way to help me.

August 2007, in her house making samples together.

Without further ado, here you have her story.

Dawn, when and how did you start in the craft industry? 

Well I guess I started as a child drawing images and making cards but I really started making and selling cards when I was about 23 (25 years ago) when I was doing craft fayres and shows. I began making cards and selling them which then led me into selling the supplies for people to sell their own. I then couldn't find all I wanted so started designing and working with companies to produce them.

It was whilst at a show a lady said she thought my demonstration was very good and had I thought of selling on TV ? She gave me a contact and QVC and well the rest is history I guess! I was the first person in the UK to take rubber stamping and paper crafting on to TV. 

And it was a battle believe me ... The buyers couldn't understand why anyone would be interested in pieces of paper and rubber stamps. And they down right refused to buy sticky dots for at least a year!!

What type of job did you have at first? Did you started as a creative straight away?

I started in this industry at 16 I guess when I went to college studying textiles and fashion. Specialising in knitwear and surface pattern design  My first proper industry related job, while I was still at college, was in a knitting and sewing machine shop - Hobkirks. I demonstrated machines and helped advise and teach customers. While working there, I designed knitwear and started to sell my designs into shops and privately 

After a while, I became disenchanted with my role and in particular the pay, so I decided to go for a higher pay working in a compact disc factory - Phillips and DuPont. I was still designing and selling and ran party plan through family and friends.

I then took 18 months out and became an au pair in Switzerland. I ended up designing for a boutiques in Zurich and doing private orders there too.

At the age of 21 I came home and set up my first proper business (with the help of my beloved mum) on the enterprise allowance scheme. I built my stock and started supplying stores and attending shows. I soon saw the potential for supplying product rather than finished items and set up a little mail order company - Topaz Crafts. Armed with finished garments and cards plus the fabric paints, glitters and stamps I toured the UK attending shows and selling. Hence my meeting the lady whom gave me the contact number for QVC.

  At a QVC craft event in London Olympia 2009  

Well my career developed more into creating TV shows and selecting product for them. Still designing but building a team of people to execute those shows, which included product selection, formatting kits, creating finished samples, planning the shows and then executing the live show on TV.

Approximately, 4 years ago I joined Create and Craft where I became more of a craft expert presenter.

  

What would you do differently? 

Take more time to live and not be as career focused. Also listen to my head more than my heart. One should always follow your gut instinct and, sometimes, I did not!

Is it hard to work full/part time in the craft industry? Can you name your major challenges you face? 

For me, working in this industry is a passion and a lifestyle choice. There are never enough hours in the day to do everything or create everything. If you are dedicated and passionate it's a wonderful industry to be in.

However I don't think we ever really get paid for the time and effort put into projects or work and to many people they cannot see value in the time spent creating. After all, it's just a card! Or just a handmade item, why should we be paid an hourly rate for a knitted jumper that took 72 hours to make? Get my drift? Or even £5 for a card that maybe took an hour and a half to make. 

But we do it with love and passion and, nowadays, more people are respecting "handmade" and thankfully valuing it more.

Your proudest moment and achievement?

I think my proudest moment was the very first time QVC ran an advert with my profile and name in it! I was so excited to be given that opportunity and rang my mum screaming down the phone  Mum was my biggest fan and without her I could not have achieved any of this.

What do you think is more important to make it in this industry: creative talent, hard work or luck?

Creative talent gives you the passion to succeed, but then you have to put the hard work behind it. If you work hard and are talented, people will notice then the luck comes to you - it's the Law of Attraction. 

What is your favourite project type (mini albums, cards, layouts, home decor...) and colour? 

My favourite projects constantly change - right now I'm loving knitting and making bracelets.
Favourite colour pink but I don't always use it in my creations. I'm quite into turquoise at the moment. 

Where you go for inspiration?

Inspiration is all around me - nature is the best! and also, fashion. The colours and trends are always to be watched as they translate into every area of our lives.

What is next for you?

What is next for me on this incredible journey ? Well now that would be telling.... I'm currently on a well earned break and busy designing and creating and will soon be setting up a Facebook page selling some of my handmade creations. 

But I will be back working in the industry from September! so you must keep your eye on my official Facebook page and Twitter.

EDITED: On the 28th of August, Dawn Bibby announced that she is to be one of the presenters at the new The Craft Channel,  saying:

I am very excited to be working with people who are not just brilliant and talented people, but some of them are also very old and dear friends.

And finally, Do you remember when we first met? Any good/bad impressions?

When we first met Paula - I think it was in Amsterdam on a craft event. I thought you were lovely , a little bit flustered but so full of fun and love for crafting. We soon became good friends and you shared your love of exquisite dark chocolate - introducing me to Hotel Chocolat!

May 2007, in one of the QVC prep rooms

Paula's version:

I met Dawn in Amsterdam at a trade event. I remember clearly how nice she was with me and anyone else who speak to her. Soon after that she asked me to do some work for her and from then onwards we became close friends.
I feel that Dawn is one of those few people who actually listens to what you say even if you do not think she does. It is a rare quality!

You can read and hear a lot of things about Dawn Bibby. Not everything you read out there is true.

You can Find Dawn online here:

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube

You can read other Craft Conversations with the Pros here:
Dawn Bibby | Pete Hughes | Kath Stewart | Karen Burniston | Jane Gill | Alberto Juarez

Rich look

I will be the first to admit that this richer look is not one of my signature looks. But there were bits and pieces that I had left over on my desk, I decided to make a card using them.

The butterflies are from Dawn's collection, Amore. The papers are old SEI. I think still looks a bit odd that I did not put three butterflies, but I run out of the smaller size!

A photoshoot with Dawn

It was really unplanned, like most of the portraits I take, just have the camera and sometimes a cooperative subject. The light was golden and matching Dawn's tanned skin, so I thought I better catch the moment.

Dawn had finished doing her weekly show at QVC and then had a business meeting. And before we went to Gabriel's Wharf for dinner -my half successful suggestion- Dawn sit in for a quick snaps. I love taking portraits of all of my friends, although most or them are not as patient as Dawn, so when I have the opportunity I click away.

Dawn's Residential

This time i took the time to take some photos and make a slide show. I hope you like it!