Hey there, can you introduce yourself?

Hi, I'm Clare, a designer maker. I live in Broadstairs on the Kent coast with my family and I write craft books.

---

Tell us a bit about the book?

It is a book packed full of ideas to create handmade or painted artworks for your home. It covers a variety of crafts from weaving, collage, papercraft, macramé, decoupage and many more. There are murals, wall hangings, shadow boxes, softie trophy heads, just to name a few!

---

What was the inspiration behind it?

I have already written Book art and Mobile art and this is another one in the series. The empty, white walls in our house and how to make interesting artworks to fill them, without spending a fortune was the idea and inspiration.

---

Which is your favourite project?

Actually, it is the silver spot bike. It's a very simple, clean graphic look and an easy project to create, but one that is a real statement piece. It's in my studio and I don't want to put anything in front of it!

---

What is your craft space like?

I have a studio space at the end of my garden. It has white walls and huge, simple plywood cupboards, built by my very kind husband! I am not a very neat person when working on a project but then I like to put everything away back in its place. I am always torn between a love of a simple, uncluttered Scandinavian style and a love of collecting things. I have some shelves above my desk for books and displaying bits and bobs and a length of plywood above my desk to use as an ever-changing mood board. I collect vintage books and always have a few propped up to admire.

---

Have you always been creative?

Yes, for as long as I remember. My Grandmother was a very clever dressmaker. She also knitted and crocheted and gave me huge bags of scraps to make things with. I was given craft books from a very early age and there was always paper and glue on hand. I still have some of those craft books.The making bit on Blue Peter was always my favourite part of the programme. The one thing I made, that sticks in my memory was Dougal, from the Magic roundabout, made from a washing up bottle of course!

---

When did you first start crafting?

I started making things when I was about seven, sewing, tiny clothes for a 2cm high plastic troll and a mini teddy. I loved making paper dolls and designing all the outfits. I remember the first thing I made when I learnt to knit. It was a cover for a coat hanger and I got a Brownie badge for it.

---

Who are your crafty heroes?

I collect vintage craft books and some of the embroidery books are lovely.One of my favourites is Toys for your delight by Winsome Douglass and Contemporary embroidery design by Joan Nicholson. I taught myself to embroider about six years ago and learnt all my stitches from vintage books.

---

Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere! I love pinterest, especially vintage illustration. My favourite place to be is in a second hand book shop. I often buy books just because there is a lovely pattern on the cover. I love the simplicity and stylishness of Japanese craft as well as the contrasting, bright graphics of contemporary Japanese packaging. I go to art galleries and museums, my favourite being the tiny, Pollock's toy museum. I can find inspiration in old bits of fabric or from on old teacup bought in a charity shop or a lovely bit of old script typography. I carry a sketchbook at all times. Recently I was sitting in a Spanish square waiting for someone.I thought I would draw the church in front of me but ended up drawing patterns taken from all the different wrought iron balconies surrounding the square. I know these will be an inspiration for a design, before too long.

---

What's next for you?

I am working on another book for Cico at the moment. It is a slight change of direction for me, returning to my designer/ illustrator roots. It's very exciting and I am really enjoying working on it. Before I got into writing craft books I was working on some ideas for kits and books for children, something I would like to pursue again. I feel very lucky to be doing what I am doing and that's being creative everyday.

Treat your home as your canvas and adorn your walls with hangings, paintings, stencils, papercrafts, tapestries, hanging plants and more. Make your own decals from wallpaper and turn that beautiful vintage print you've always admired into a work of art in your living room. Wall Art will show you how to decorate a child's bedroom with a jumping hare made of washi tape and how to weave a group of little, Aztec-inspired wall hangings to bring a touch of texture to a bare wall. Update your interiors with these innovative, contemporary projects, some of which can be created in an afternoon. You'll have a great time making 3D paper flowers inspired by iconic Scandinavian prints, simple macrame wall hangings that will transform any space, and moving paper horses that gallop when you pull their tails. All you need to do is find a bare wall and get started!