clare's craftroom: morning tea with

Cam from Curly Pops !

Coffee or tea ?

Both - but I love a great cappucino. It's one of the benefits of living in Melbourne. So much great coffee everywhere you go.
What is your business ? What do you do ?
My business is named CurlyPops. I make and sell a unique range of textile based handmade Accessories, Lifestyle Products, Crafty Things and Boutique Fabrics. I'm also a Retail Stockist of You Sew Girl Sewing Patterns. For my handmade items, I design my own fabrics and transform them into finished products.

Are you right or left handed ?
Right handed
If you won the lottery what would be the very first thing that you would buy .
Oh gosh, that's a very hard one! There's nothing that I really need that money could buy. It's been a long time since I've had a holiday though, so maybe that's what I'd spend it on.
How long has Curly Pops been going ? How did it start out ?
I started my business some time in 2008. It was sort of slightly accidental after I started my CurlyPops craft blog.
How do manage around your family ?
It's only myself and Mr Limpy Houdini Dog around here. It's lucky that I don't have a family, as they'd probably starve to death while I was carried away with my sewing, or lost for hours playing around with new designs in illustrator. There's not really a routine or a schedule at my place.
When your craft becomes your work how do you relax ?
That's the hardest part about working from home. Work is always there. On the plus side, I love to go out to a nice cafe with friends for brunch or lunch. That's how I relax.
Do you make things and sometimes keep them for yourself ?
I hardly ever keep anything for myself, but I have been trying to occassionally make something just for me. I've made a bigger effort over the last twelve months to challenge myself to make more of my own clothes to keep.
What is your favourite craft ?
At the moment, it's definitely sewing. Machine sewing though, not hand sewing. I love making textile art pieces with the sewing machine.
Describe a normal day for you ?
There's nothing really normal or planned around here. My business has to fit around my medical schedule (I'm currently on the waiting list for a double lung transplant). Most of my computer based designing takes place during the three hours that I spend each day having nebuliser treatment. I also have sketchbooks stashed all over the house to write things down as my brain is constantly whirring.

On the days where I don't have any appointments, I try to get as much sewing completed as possible, but it really depends on what orders I'm working on, or whether I'm making shop stock.

Are your designs your own ?
Yes all of my designs are my own. I've taken it a step further by designing my own unique range of fabrics too.
Tell us something quirky about yourself ?
I have to put my vegies through a blender and hide them.... because I just really don't like them!
What are your plans ? How much further do you plan to take your business ?
World domination.. teehee..

I'm a bit limited in what I can take on at the moment, until I receive that amazing call to tell me that they have some new lungs for me, but really, the sky is the limit!

Where do you sell ?
You can find me via my own Big Cartel Shop, as well as Made It and Etsy. I also have a Craftumi Shop where I sell my very own CurlyPops designed fabrics.