Hold on to your buttons, Crafty Crafters, there's a new glue gun in town and she's bringing a world of crafty chaos with her.
Crafty Crafty has been crashing through the craft world leaving a trail of glitter glue and yarn ends in its wake since 2007 and after our recent makeover we thought it was about time we branched out. Two new CC writers have been recruited to the CC Crew and here's the first of them to be put in the sequinned spotlight.
- Name: Emma Toft
- Craft alias: The Fastener
- City: London
- Website: www.thefastener.co.uk and www.toftymakes.com
- Crafty Kung Fu master of: sewing, mixed media and amigurumi crochet
- Theme tune: The Indiana Jones theme tune whilst zipping along on my sewing machine or wielding my crochet hook at lightening speed.
- Little known fact: For the past 10 years I've been making creature costumes for the film and TV industry. I have helped to make creatures for the Harry Potter series, Batman, In the Night Garden and X Men.
Describe yourself in one sentence
Button-obsessed, wool-covered, glitter-hoarding crafter who may or may not be involved in graffiti.
Earliest craft memory or first thing you made
I've been crafting for as long as I can remember. I used to craft when I woke up early before my parents every morning, pretending I was a Blue Peter presenter. I remember waking my mum up very early one morning to ask her what her favourite animal was so I could make her a card.
I was about seven when my mum brought me a very basic sewing machine and I made a pillow case. I was amazed that I could make something that I thought you could only buy and from then on there was no stopping me. I was hooked.
Proudest craft moment?
Being part of the team that made Iggle Piggle from In The Night Garden and seeing parent's faces when I tell them that!
Most shameful craft fail?
I made a jumper for my boyfriend. (I know - the sweater curse, but it didn't stop me!) Thankfully my boyfriend is still with me, but the jumper came out far too small and alas is shoved in a drawer somewhere having never been worn.
Three craft heroes and why?
Ron Mueck is amazing. He started off making creatures and worked on Labyrinth among other films and now makes the most stunning lifelike sculptures for galleries around the world.
I love that Banksy has brought graffiti to the art world finally, that he's now a household name and that people are taking more notice of street art because of it.
Rob Ryan's work is also very inspiring. It's so intricate and delicate and makes you feel all gooey inside!
(Above: The Fastener's Handmade Heroes for the Knit the City Book launch)
Current craft project?
Resin buttons for my craft fair in a few weeks. Buttons, Swarovski and washi papers have completely taken over my house, much to my family's delight.
Dream celebrity to craft for and what would you craft?
It would have to be Lady Gaga. Some of my colleagues have worked with her on her living dress but I was working on something else at the time unfortunately. There's no limit with her, so working with her would be fascinating. I'd definitely have to make something out of wool, probably with LEDs incorporated and an element of animatronics.
(FYI Emma designed the How to Make Lady Gaga's Meat Dress Tutorial over at The Guardian)
Craft skills you'd like to learn:
I've yet to dabble in glass craft - fusion, stained glass and blowing. Im eager to try it but I'm a wimp when it comes to fire so I probably wouldn't do very well!
Craft weapon of choice if zombie apocalypse happens
My pattern wheel. A small wheel with metal spikes all around. I dare the zombies to take me on with that in hand!
Anything to add?
The craft community is brilliant and I'm so thankful that I am able to make stuff every day. I'm excited to be contributing to Crafty Crafty and look forward to writing about crafty goodness.
Come and see me in a few weeks at The Duckie Christmas Market and say 'Hi!' or wave at me on Twitter or Facebook.
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Emma's first foray into Crafty Crafty writing will appear tomorrow. Welcome to the team, Button Queen!
See Tofty Makes and The Fastener for more of Emma's crafty stuff or stalk Emma's crafty shenanigans on Twitter @thefastener and @toftymakes, Facebook, Flickr and Ravelry.
Keep your crafty eyeballs peeled for our next new writer. She's rather fabulous too...
[Images via Emma Toft]
