Feature Friday - Booties by Dannie

Happy Friday everyone and this week I have the pleasure of introducing Danielle Mansell from Booties by Dannie.

Describe what you do,when you started doing it and what made you decide that was what you were going to do.

I crochet baby booties & hats as well as collectable movie and tv characters, such as Star Wars and the Angry Birds. I started out just making a pair of baby booites for my son who was probably 9ish months and after many mums asked me to make them some I started taking things more seriously.

What makes you different from other people selling/ doing the same craft?

I think that the style of my baby booties sets me apart for the "norm". I make retro trainers, Uggs, Doc Martens as well as other well known styles. I also crochet what I love and what I would love to put on my own child. 

The crochet dolls that I make, I haven't really seen anywhere else. Some of the patterns I use, with the permission of the designers and others, like Harry Potter, I have designed myself. 

Where do you get your inspiration/ ideas from?

With the baby booties, I make what I find fun. I also try to watch trends so that I can imitate what adults are wearing to help stay on trend. The same goes with my crocheted dolls, I keep note of up and coming trends and try to be ahead of them.  

Do you do this as your business full time or is it just a sideline.  If you don't do this as a job would you like to?

I am self employed and look at this as my full time job outside of caring for my son, who is 2. My work hours revolve around him and housework. I can often be found at 1am crocheting and enjoying the silence.

Where do you make your items, do you have a craft room/ studio?

I generally work on my sofa. All my yarns are sorted into plastic tubs that are easy for me to transport when necessary.

Where do you sell and how do you market yourself?

Well I sell wherever I can without trying to spread myself too thin. I have my own website, http://bootiesbydannie.com. I also sell on Folksy and Etsy. I am also looking for established craft fairs to sell at.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

I hope that this will be a proper full time job that I have honed to a well oiled machine. I hope to have established enough connections that I will no longer have to promote so hard and have people come to me.

Do you have any advice for people out there who might want to start a craft hobby/business?

Do what you love, stick with it and don't be led astray. If you really want things to work, and you want to be the least bit profitable, then listen to feedback good or bad. Oh and promote, promote, promote!!!

And finally one last random question - if you could take one thing to a desert island what would it be and why?

Hmmmmmmm how about a flock of sheep. That way I would have a never ending yarn supply!

You can also follow Dannie on Twitter or "like" her on Facebook