The Blog
Interview with a Crafter – Winkie
• Please can you tell us a little bit about yourself, and what drew you to your chosen craft?
I’m wink, and I’m a creative being. I have always been drawn to the creative side of life; painting, drawing, photography, writing and crafting. I studied Graphic & Web Design and have worked for a couple of design agencies.
• Who taught you how to do your craft, and how long have you been creating?
I taught myself how to crochet during a tough time in my life when I was hospitalized for three months. There was no computer access, so I had to learn from the (bad) illustrations that came with the pattern book I bought. Because of this reason, people sometimes comment on my ‘weird’ way of crocheting 
I learned how to crochet a little over two years ago, and I haven’t looked back since! Crochet is definitely my ‘weapon of choice’ now when it comes to creativity!
• Who are you most inspired by and why?
I find inspiration all around me. Photos, pictures, illustrations, art, music – you name it! I have a weekly feature on my blog where I crochet an inspirational mandala from a photo or something else that inspired me that week.
• Where do you seek inspiration from?
Pretty much everywhere! I don’t really seek it out though; I just get inspired by whatever I see 
• What are you focused on right now?
I really want to make the most of my blog so I’m really focussed on that. I blog on a schedule and try to inspire people on a daily basis. But it’s not a chore for me; I keep it light and fun because I love what I do
• What’s the one actual or technical tool you couldn’t work without?
Oh gosh that’s a tough one… I can crochet/knit/craft with just about any material out there! What I can’t do without though is my creativity. If a day comes along where I just don’t feel inspired (it happens) I can’t crochet what I want to. And if I try, I fail Luckily I’m creative most days of the week!
• What’s your go to pattern that you love to make?
Definitely the standard 12-round flat crochet circle, or mandala! I make one each week (with a few exceptions) and I can do it with my eyes closed and my hands tied to my back. How’s that for bragging?
• Have you got any technique phobias?
Well, I tried to learn myself how to knit, and with the help of some fabulous bloggy friends I managed! But I want to expand my knowledge and try something like fair isle knitting, stranded knitting, whatever pattern calls for a lot of color changes. I tried and failed, many times, but one day I will kick it’s butt and learn how to do it!
• Is there a craft/art medium you haven’t tired but want too? And why?
I have always loved the look of felted items. Needle felt animals are cute but I’m really drawn to wet felted garments like vests or bags. I’ve been trying to get into a workshop to learn how to do it, but usually those workshops are a bit over budget for me, and then I decide I don’t need yet another hobby But I love seeing felted pieces and I envy those who can do it! Oh and also at the top of my list is learning how to spin yarn. Thankfully there are a lot of yarny ladies out there who have the art perfected to a tee and sell their yarn, so I don’t have to make it myself
• What does the handmade movement mean to you?
It means individuality. Anyone can go out to chain stores and buy the same thing everyone else has, or worse, items from a label so they ‘fit in’. But it’s the people who dare to be different and who support handmade that really rock! Handmade items are cherished, often gifted to special people, and let’s be honest; it feels better to own something that is handmade by someone than to own something that is handmade by children in third world countries…
• Anything else you would like to share?
Thanks for interviewing me! It was an honor
You can find me at
www.acreativebeing.com
facebook.com/acreativebeing
ravelry.com/people/winkieflash
Winkie’s answers are un edited by me, so all thoughts and opinion’s are of her own! please don’t use her pictures without contacting her for permission first!.
If you would like to take part in “interview with a crafter” please contact me with your answers to the above questions and photos you would like to share with us.