I’m Claire and it’s just me behind Amelie’s Crafthouse, an online shop selling personalised handmade gifts. I live in urban Croydon in the south east of England with my partner and our 7 year old daughter, after whom I named my business. I have had an eclectic working life from accountancy, administration, payroll and space planning to personal training and sports massage therapy. Now I get to jug
gle motherhood whilst indulging my true passion for the arts, crafts and interior design – I feel very fortunate to be able to do so! Whilst I rarely travel overseas at the moment, I still love to explore and escape the bustle of city life for the peace and quiet of coastal Cornwall and the unspoilt countryside of Shropshire. We are lucky to have family who live in such lovely places! The outdoors, nature, the sea and travel provide an eclectic source of inspiration for my work – from wooden fish, dandelion clocks, gardening gifts, time zone clocks and sporty cycling signs! I love wood, in particular the way that it ages beautifully. I also hate to see waste and so for my work I undertook to use recycled and reclaimed wood, such as pallets and old floorboards, not only for its attractive used quality and also to prevent it from ending up in landfill. I love to experiment with finishes and enjoy combining chalk paints or waxes with acrylics, hand-painting and decoupage. This has resulted in a growing range of signs, clocks, hooks, bookmarks and keyrings. My favourite products are those where I have worked to translate customer requests into truly unique and personal pieces. I have an shop over on Etsy where you will find a selection of unique wooden gifts that can be personalised just for you! Shop: www.ameliescrafthouse.etsy.com
