We head to Oakdale, Connecticut to meet Hanna No H who loves making her own versions of beautiful overprices jewellery!
Featured Member Interview
How did you find CO+K and why did you join?
I was bored one summer day a few years ago and I decided to look for ideas for something to do. Low and behold, I found Cut Out and Keep, and I loved that it was a community of crafters and a great place to share my ideas, too! Whenever I get some free time, which is decreasing rapidly lately, I like to come here to get a little inspiration.
What projects are you currently working on?
Right now things are a little slow, as my school work and school activities consume all of my time (SATs this weekend, woo!). But, I do have an Evernote notebook full of ideas and hopeful projects to start soon. A goal of mine is to make more “me” time, which would involve getting to sit down and create.
Stats
- Joined
- April 4, 2011
- Location
- Oakdale, Minnesota, United States
- Projects
- 0
- Featured Projects
- 0
- Favorited
- 0 times
What does your craft space look like?
Well, my craft “space” is generally where I feel like I can get the creative juices flowing, which means that it could be my couch, the “workbench” downstairs, or even my bedroom desk. So, I guess you could say I can’t really take a picture of my space since I don’t really have a definitive area.
Which tool or craft supply do you use the most?
I am attached to my needle-nose pliers. Not only are they crucial for jewelry, but I find myself using them in other projects, and even every-day applications, like holding a miniscule screw while I try to put a pair of eyeglasses back together again.
What do you craft along to?
No matter what my mood, a classic Disney movie is always welcome background noise for the latest project (it helps that I’ve seen all of them several times, to the point when I recite the lines for most of the movie). I also am obsessed (which is not a word I use lightly) with the TV show NCIS, so my ultimate best day would be having a great project to work on along with an NCIS marathon. As for music, it completely depends on my mood. Some of my favorite bands/artists include The Black Keys, Matt & Kim, Arctic Monkeys, Billy Joel, Elton John, Queen, and The Beatles.
Hanna's Most Popular Projects
Favorite Craft
I am definitely a fan of jewelry making. I’ve taught myself the basic techniques, but I want to take it farther. Recently I have been watching a lot of videos on wire-wrapping and other wire manipulation techniques, so I hope to incorporate that into my next necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc. Still, though, my favorite thing to make is “knock-off” Anthropologie jewelry. There’s something so satisfying about taking one of those ridiculously priced but oh-so-beautiful pieces and replicating it for yourself (and for much less!).
Hanna's Top Crafts
If you could learn one new craft or make anything, what would it be?
I would love to be able to know my way around a sewing machine. I can kinda-sorta hand sew (to make, like, a phone case or something), but other than that I am quite helpless. It would be awesome to be my own tailor and adjust my clothes to fit me right. I also have wanted to get into thrifting, and being able to alter those finds would enhance that experience. But, I also want to be able to take some fabric and transform it into something that is wearable and beautiful out of my own creation. I think, in that way, sewing can be a kind of magic, taking an unassuming length of fabric and turning it into my new favorite dress. Corny, I know.
Who are your crafting heroes?
I’m not really “current” on big-names in the crafting business. This is going to sound geeky, but I would have to say my grandmother. That woman was the definition of a hoarder, except all her stuff was craft materials: fabrics upon fabrics, buttons, zippers, beads, sequins, threads, paints, mosaic pieces, and tote bin after tote bin filled with wondrous things. She was the best seamstress around, and I feel like I owe it to her to at least keep some of that crafty-blood flowing, even if I don’t necessarily make clothes. Plus, my great-great-grandfather (okay, I don’t really know how many great’s, but it adds to the story) designed the old Gulf oil company logo, either the very first one (created around 1920) or the next one (created around 1936).
Hanna No H's Favorite Projects
I love the Metal Stamped Cuffs by Thepotatolarcenist: They’re simple, yet indefinitely customizable! I have been eyeing metal stamping recently, so I might just have to get my own set of stamps and make some of these babies. I absolutely adore the Paris Map Purse by Sonya Style: I have maps from trips that I’ve taken that would be perfect for this project! If only I had any sort of sewing knowledge… I know that many members have created projects detailing how to screen print with freezer paper, but this Freezer Paper Stencils tutorial by Can Can Dancer is one of the most recent ones. In the summer, my friends and I have a little workout group which we made T-shirts for. I have a feeling this years’ T-shirts will be the nicest yet!
And finally...
Make sure to follow Hanna to keep up to date!