Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Flotsam & Whimsy

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Anne from Flotsam & Whimsy

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Meet Anne K. Mulligan from Flotsam & Whimsy

♥ Please tell us about yourself:
I have been an art director for print for over 30 years, but have always loved the decorative arts, especially jewelry. When I was downsized from a corporate job, it freed me up to explore other areas of creativity. I taught myself wire-wrapping with the help of a youtube video and have been making jewelry ever since and just recently taught a class in the craft and branched out into home decor. I love working with found materials, especially anything that's washed up on the beach, which is where my company name comes from. The term "flotsam & jetsam" refers to materials that are either naturally occurring or thrown overboard by the crews of ships. My imagination adds the "whimsy." I continue to freelance in graphic design, but dream of the day when I can make and sell my handiwork full time.

♥ How long have you been in business?
About a year.

♥ Please describe your business:
One-of-a-kind wire-wrapped jewelry and home decor.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
Found materials! I love being able to take a broken bottle, run the pieces through a tumbler to create gems of color and turning them into wearable art.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
Craft shows and facebook

♥ What do you love most about your business?
Making beautiful things that you can hold in your hand. After 30 years doing graphic design, I decided that I had been selling air for long enough and I wanted to actually make something tangible that I could be proud of. It took me a while to settle on what I wanted to make, but once I made my first pendants, one thing led to another and soon I was wire-wrapping everything I could get my hands on.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
As a new site, Craft Café has the chance to see what's been done, right and wrong, by the bigger sites and learn from it.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Make things that make you happy.

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
Hopefully, this will be my full-time job in 5 years.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes, 15% off your order. Simply enter code ccblog during checkout at Flotsam & Whimsy.

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Anne for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit Flotsam & Whimsy soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Linkedin / Website