Meet Your Maker- The Corner of Craft

This week on MYM we have the lovely Hannah from The Corner of Craft. I stumbled across her amazing beaded stitch makers on Instagram and knew I had to showcase her amazing work here on KGC blog. If you are looking for a unique gift for that crocheter or knitter in your life (or yourself haha) be sure to check her out! Hannah is so multi-talented, she also makes hand-dyed yarn and has a video podcast on YouTube . Be sure to check her out and show this amazing maker some love <3

Introduce yourself and your business.

My name is Hannah and I have a small online business called The Corner of Craft. I make hand beaded stitch markers and I also dye yarn inspired by the game Dungeons and Dragons, under the name Chromatic Yarns.

How did you launch your business & what made you want to start a small business?

I have wanted to have my own business since my final year of university. Before then, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I set up a shop selling friendship bracelets I'd made, which I quickly found out, wouldn't be sustainable. I couldn't charge what I needed to, considering how long the bracelets took to make... So after I'd started to work at a bead shop and learnt how to bead weave, I set up The Corner of Craft in October 2013! I've always loved created and being crafty, so the dream of being able to work for myself and earn money doing what I love was the draw to starting the business. The name wasn't a creative choice. I had a corner in the flat I was living in, which was dedicated to my crafty stuff. Mario named it "Craft Corner", but that name was taken on Etsy, so I just jiggled it around a bit.

What are some struggles you had starting your business and how did you over come them?

Honestly, the most difficult part for me was getting my name out there. I didn't have many sales for years. I decided to start a YouTube channel to start promoting it more, uploading tutorials and such, and that took off! For a while, I thought I was going to go into doing YouTube full time. Then I got back into knitting and realised my beaded charms would make ideal stitch markers! Having the platform on Instagram and YouTube already established when I changed direction really helped with sales and promoting them. I connected with some podcasters, who also helped my business to grow beyond what I ever thought it would.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

For my stitch markers, I just use and create patterns that I find cute! As for yarn dyeing, I started to play D&D while living in Germany, in 2015. I quickly got hooked and looked for some yarn inspired by the game. All of the gorgeous colours I saw were from creators in the States, or ones that had stopped dyeing. I realised I had my niche! I regularly look through the many D&D books we have, looking at the monsters and spell descriptions, and try to emulate them in my colourways.

What motivates you as a maker?

I'm a person who runs on praise. I think it comes from being a naturally bright child growing up... It means that it can be easy for me to lose steam when I only have me to hold myself accountable. I try to remember to praise myself. Take credit when I've made something beautiful and acknowledge that I'm not a fraud. (Impostor syndrome is real!)

What is a goal you set for yourself as a maker/artist and how did you achieve it?

One of the more difficult goals I try to stick to is to not work all hours I'm awake. Because bead weaving is something that can be done in front of the TV, I find myself doing it from when I get up to when I go to sleep, and that isn't healthy! Luckily I dye yarn in my kitchen, so I have to tidy that away for dinner, but bead weaving can take over my life! I try to stop and tell myself that it's ok to knit sometimes, and have time away from work, but it's easier said than done.

What is your favorite part of being a maker?

I think my favourite part of being a maker is the creative process. Having the freedom to make what I like, when I like, it's a great feeling. It's also wonderful to see people post online when they're using things you've made! It's surreal.

Do you have any tips for new makers/ small business owners?

Persevere. It's a noisy world out there, and trying to make yourself heard through all the other makers can be disheartening. Don't be afraid of changing up what you're doing until you find what works for you. It's too easy to see these big makers sell out in seconds after an update and get down when your business isn't doing the same. Keep going, take good pictures, believe in your work and never undersell your creations.

What are some hobbies or interests you have outside of your small business?

I love to play Dungeons & Dragons! We have a group of 8 that Mario, my fiancé, runs. I play a firbolg Druid called Elen, who is incredibly naive and socially awkward. I also knit a lot, and have recently got back into crochet! Other than that, I love trying new flavours of tea, and Mario and I are both foodies.

Share a fun fact about yourself.

Ooo a fun fact about myself... well it depends on your definition of "fun", but I can't ride a bicycle. I didn't have the patience and perseverance to learn and now I can't do it...