Dani and Anne make a variety of things. Anne has always been a whiz with a sewing machine so re-purposing sweaters and making pillows and mitts is something she's done for years. Dani has been making jewellery for about 4 years. She got into it as a designer for an up-and-coming fair trade jewellery company and learned different techniques and then just continued making it as a hobby. Anne has only been making painted skates for several months and is excited to come up with even more ideas. Burlap is a new thing for both crafters and they’ve been learning the best ways to work with it.
Years ago, Anne and Dani were roommates, working on sewing projects and crafts. Last year, they made Christmas urns on a whim for a craft show and were successful. This year, they” decided to go all in and start making all the wonderful things [they] see on Pinterest and want in [their] homes.” Rustic, funky, whismical are themes they try to run with.
Years ago, Anne and Dani were roommates, working on sewing projects and crafts. Last year, they made Christmas urns on a whim for a craft show and were successful. This year, they” decided to go all in and start making all the wonderful things [they] see on Pinterest and want in [their] homes.” Rustic, funky, whismical are themes they try to run with.
Anne absolutely loves artistically altering Christmas skates. The thrill of finding a vintage pair of skates that she can paint and decorate is a great deal of fun for her. Dani loves making earrings the most. It's her “de-stresser, [her] go-to” which brings her inspiration.
The most difficult part of their creative process is prep work. “The beginning of the process, cutting out pieces for decorations. It's so tedious and time consuming, but worth the end result.” Inspired by nature and Pinterest, and working at their dining room tables, they’ve worked at least 5 days a week during recent months. Anne is home in the daytime and puts a lot of work in while the kids are at school. Dani tries to put in at least 2 to 3 hours a night once she gets home from work. They say it's necessary to have enough stock ready for November.
So far, their favourite creations have been their whimsical burlap framed prints and Anne’s painted skates. At the moment, they’re working on burlap silhouette prints.
When not creating, Anne is often running her 4 children to football practices or to the pool for swimming lessons. She enjoys training for triathalons and she is a master baker of sweet treats and yummy coconut curry. Her husband is a contractor. Dani works fulltime as a Marketing and Sales Assistant with the family renovation company. She tries to get to the gym at least 4 times of week to de-stress and bring balance to her life. She is the mother of 1 energetic little boy and a girlfriend to a great guy.
Last year their company was in a home show and they had some additional space in their booth. On a whim, they whipped up some Christmas urns. They went through the forest finding birch branches in the snow, and cut down dogwood and cedar and made about 25 urns in a day. They sold out the first day and made more the second day and almost sold out again. This year, they wanted to put their skills to the test and get their crafts in a show. “We work very well together and bounce great ideas off each other. We are enjoying every step of the process as we get ready for the show.”
Anne and Dani’s advice to other crafters: “Keep up to date on what's trending. On Pinterest there is such an abundance of ideas that people are really into and that are current decorating ideas that you see in magazines and decorating shows. If you make what people are looking for...you're bound to sell more. Be willing to scrap an idea if it's just not working...even if you've put time in it. Love what you do. Don't make something that you'll be cursing yourself for starting in the first place. Be excited about what you create!”
Dani and Anne love what they do, love what they sell and they hope you love it too. Their website is at www.wispofrustic.com and you can email them an order of anything they like. You can meet them at 30 Craft Market on November 28 and 29 at the Peterborough Public Library!