Interview with Kelly of KEBO

Tell us a little about yourself and when did you start crafting.

My name is Kelly Boulter and I am a 31 year old spendaholic living in Surrey, UK *she says standing up in the circle of addicts*!!! I truly am the worst spendaholic I know (and my friends and family know for that matter!!) and making jewellery really doesn’t help as I am a bit of a magpie, I have to have anything that it pretty and sparkly!!! Because of this I have huge amounts of gemstones and artisan lampwork!! I starting ‘crafting’ about 7 or so years ago when a friend came for a visit from Australia and showed me some cards she had made. I couldn’t believe that someone had made them and then she starting telling me about all the stuff you can buy and that was it, I was hooked!!! I progressed from greeting cards on to wedding stationery and had my own business which used to appear in some of the wedding magazines. After a while, I found I was turning orders away as the thought of doing hundreds of cards in the same design drove me to insanity!! About 3 or 4 years ago, another friend asked me to do a part-time jewellery making course and I thought, why not…big mistake…walking around the bead shops in London felt like I was one of the kids in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory!!!!!!

2. What do you sell in your Etsy shop and how long has it been open?

I have only opened my Etsy shop a couple of weeks ago but I sell jewellery that I have designed and created. My favourite materials to use are gemstones, artisan lampwork and silver.

3. What is your favourite item in your shop?

As I say, my Etsy shop is still very new so there is only a couple of pieces in it…but watch this space!!! I think my favourite may have to be the Murky Waters bracelet or the Candy Corn bracelet. Bracelets in general are my favourite pieces as I never leave the house without a bracelet on, my right arm feels too bare!!

4. What other craft would you like to try?

I have always dreamed of being a painter but alas, I am rubbish at it!!! If I win the lotto I am going to go to one of those retreat places and stay there until I can at least do something that looks like art, even if it is very abstract!!! I also want to learn how to sew and would love to make handbags…as I spend so much on them!!! My mum is a great sewer so I have asked her to teach me….we are just waiting for a day when we are both in a happy and patient mood…it may be a while!!!