Spotlight on Hannelore Cossins

 

 Hi, I am Hannelore Cossins 

What is your business called? 
It's  called Astrid's Garden.

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 How did you come up with your business name? 

I lost my baby daughter in 2008 and I named the busines after her.  There is a real Astrid's Garden, it is a secluded bit in my garden where I can sit and relax. 

  

Where are you based?  

I am in Temple Bar, not far from Lampeter

What is your craft? 
I have many, I paint, make jewellery with many different media and I love crochet, knitting and sewing, but I am constantly trying out new things and skills.

Where do you craft? 
I have my main crafting area in the conservatory, but I often just sit in my chair in the livingroom to crochet or to sew and embroider little felt things.

My very messy work table

How long have you been crafting? 
I have been crafting from when I was little. My mum was always making something, whether it was knitting or sewing and I automatically ended up doing stuff with her. I can remember knitting and sewing a complete wardrobe for one of my dolls when I was 9.

  

If you specialise when did you start?

I keep doing different things. I did art and design in school and I did a bit of jewellery for that but I only started seriously designing and making jewellery in 2010. But I still learn new skills and techniques.

What other crafts/skill do you have?

I mentioned painting, knotting crochet and sewing. I also like to play my saxophone (badly) and I like making teaching aids for dyslexic children. I also love my camera.

Have you got any special qualifications or are you self- taught?
Apart from the art and design I did in school I have no formal qualifications.

What inspires you?
Colours, nature other peoples work.

Do you ever get “artist block”?
All the time. Because I have a big family the housework piles up and then my mojo runs away.

What do you do to get out of an “artist block”?
Get some housework out of the way and look through craft books, on pinterest and on some lovely Facebook pages. 

What keeps you going?
I keep going because if I didn't life would get on top of me and I would get rather narky.
What others artists inspire you? I  love the felt work from Ali Scott
love painters like Vincent van Gogh  and the Art Deco artists.

Do you listen to music while you work? 

Often.

What music do you listen to?
I love allsorts. I like jazz, rock and classical.

Where do you sell/exhibit?
I sell online, in my Etsy shop and on my website and I sell in local Fairs.

This is a stall at the Llanrhystyd Fair I shared with Milly Rees .

 I also sell some of my jewellery in Funki Blue in Aberystwyth


 What material gets your creative juices going?
Lots of things but at the moment any wool.

 

What is your all-time favourite creation?
It changes but at the moment this:

 
What do you do if something you make doesn't turn out how you envisaged it?
I put it to one side and after a while I will look at it again. Sometimes I see what I can do to make it work and other times I take it apart and recycle the materials.  

Do you do this full-time, part-time or just as an hobby? 
I do it part time at the moment

Do you recycle?
Yes I do. I recycle materials as I don't like waste and I hate to throw stuff out. I also reuse fabrics etc to make new beautiful things.

Recycled denim necklace

 Do you use materials made by other artists?
Often. I use wool rovings for my felt making, wool for knitting etc and lampwork beads.

Does the Welsh landscape/Culture inspire you?
It does, but I have yet to put some of that inspiration into actual pieces.

What is your favourite colour?
Blues and turquoises

Does it feature a lot in your work?
It does, but I try and make sure I make things in all sorts of colours 

Do you have a favourite subject?
Not really.

Do you have any pets? Do they “help”? 
I do, I have several cats and a rescued greyhound. My daughter's chihuahua lives with us too. They hinder more than help, but I wouldn't be without them.

Did you have new supplies? I will check them out!

 Where have your items been sold to?
I have sold miniature paintings to America, Canada and Belgium and my jewellery has gone all over the place.
  
Do you think you value your work enough- do you find pricing hard?
Pricing is the hardest thing. If you were to price things for the number of hours put in they would be too expensive but finding the middle way is very hard. 

Do you get together with fellow artists?
I would love to, but so far I haven't.
  
Have you collaborated with other artists? 
I have joined a beadsoup challenge, where I send some of my beads off to another artist and somone else send me theirs. It reallychallenges you to work with materials that maybe you wouldn't normally have chosen. 

What was the first thing you sold?
I sold a pencil portrait when I was twelve. The first thing I sold since I opened Astrid's Garden was a pair of royal blue felt earrings.

Do you remember what it felt like?
I was hugely excited, it meant so much to me that someone found my creations nice enough to buy. 

What is your biggest bargain in connection with your craft?
I got a huge stack of wallpaper sample books for free. I have made quite a lot of jewellery out of them but I still have tons left.

What gets in the way of your artistic endeavours?
Life  

What is your favourite tool?
Hmmm that is a difficult question. At the moment my crochet hook, but ask me tomorrow and it may be something completely different.


Anyone else in your family or a close friend who enjoys crafting?
I am trying to get my kids involved, they all have some creative outlet or another. I have a sister and brother in law who paint and my dad used to work in pastels.

Are you on Pinterest, Tumblr or other site?
Yes you can find me on Pinterest, Tumblr and Facebook

Any other links you like us to look you up?
You can follow my blog "Paper, beads and inspiration"


Show us some of your work in progress.

I still need to add crocheted flowers to these bags.

Anything else you want to share?

Yes, if you have a craft skill, share it, if not go get one it is a brilliant thing to do.