TCS Artist Feature - Michele Whittaker

I would like to share with you a shop that has been with The CraftStar for only a few months,

Michele Whittaker from Crochet50

Let's see what great things we can learn about Michele.

pink baby dress

What is the story behind your shop name?
It is just that I wanted a name to relate to my crochet..I think when I went to create my first email, crochet@hotmail.com, it already existed, and they proposed to me some name close to it.  I found that crochet50 sounded nice to my ears. So I kept the name and have had it for around 17 years now. I purchased the domain,and  my email on gmail and hotmail are both crochet50.  Not a glamorous history though.

Where, when, how did you learn your craft?
I first learned to crochet when I was at school. I remember learning to make a chain but the teacher never explained how to do more, so I went to my Godmother and asked her to teach me.  She taught me how to turn and make the treble crochet.  I started to watch what she was doing and then did what she was doing and that was it, I was hooked for life.

Blue shoulder bag

What has been your biggest obstacle, or challenge, to finding and achieving success?
I am not to the point where I can say I have achieved success, it is a work in progress,

Tell us a little about your family life...married, kids, pets, etc.
I am married to the most wonderful man I know. He encourages me and appreciates my crochet work. My kids are grown up now, and my pets are rabbits.  We have a nice back yard so I let them run around since I don't like to see them as prisoners in a cage...Even though they dig holes here and there, it is nice to sit and watch them running around.

Tell us a little bit about where you live....city, farm, suburb.
I live in the Yucca Valley.

yellow sleeveless woman's top

Tell us something about you that no-one else might know.
I come from a little island in the Indian Ocean name Mauritius.

Share your social media links and where we can find you on the internet.
https://www.facebook.com/crochet50.Michele

What advise would you give a new artist just starting out?
Believe in your work and be proud of what you do no matter what and  never ever give up.  If you love what you do, the worse case scenario is you don't sell. No big deal, just don't create a whole lot of the same article.  What I do is make some examples, 2 or 3.  If it's a hit, I'll make more.  If not, I'll keep it for myself or share it as a gift.  It's a win win either way, at least that's how I see it.

And that is Michele's story.  She is offering a 25% discount for our readers, just use the coupon code start15 at check out.

Click on any link above to visit her shop, and I'll catch ya later...
Debbi