Handmade Critters

I'm pleased to introduce you to Cindy Friend. She is the owner of Handmade by Cosmo on Etsy, and she writes a blog. Her Critters come in "Big", "Bitsy", and "Itsy", and they are so sweet.

Cozy Corner Crochets:  What are the names and addresses of your Pages, Blogs, and/or  Shops
Cindy Friend:  Facebook         - www.facebook.com/handmadebycosmo
                         Blog                - handmadebycosmo.wordpress.com
                        Etsy Shop        - www.etsy.com/shop/handmadebycosmo

CCC:  What materials do you work with
CF:   Felt, mostly made from recycled plastic bottles, embroidery thread, buttons, beads, fiber fill,

CCC:  How did you get started and where do you see yourself headed
CF:  I’ve been a seamstress all my life, it seems...clothing, toys, if it could be made with fabric, I could make it.   I love to do hand embroidery, too.  I love the intricate work.  I had been toying with the idea of making some felt animals, then my friend got sick, and I made her a magical unicorn.  She got well, and I learned that I Love making Felt Critters, so that’s what I’m doing now.  

CCC:  Where do you get your ideas
CF:  I have some free patterns I’ve collected over the years, if someone requests a critter I haven’t made before, I can usually find something.  The best part is putting different colors/patterns/textures together to makes something completely unique.

CCC:  What fuels your passion
CF:  Doing well.  Making something for someone and finding out they love what I made.  I love custom orders the most.  I love thinking about and praying for the person I am making it for. 

CCC:  How much time each day do you spend on your craft
CF:  I am lucky enough to be able to work on my Critters while I’m at “work.”  I probably spend 5-6 hours a day on my craft.

CCC:  What would you tell someone just starting out
CF:  If you love it, keep doing it.  Eventually someone else will see how much you love it and then they will learn to love it, too.  And just because you start doing one thing that doesn’t mean that is the only thing you can do.  Do as many things as you love as well as you can.  Just because someone doesn’t like what you do doesn’t mean it isn’t good.  If you love it, it’s good.

CCC:  What gets in the way of you pursuing your dream
CF:  Nothing but myself.  I’m working on that.  Building up a little steam...

CCC:  Who is someone you would like to have dinner with
CF:  Leon Russell (but I’d probably giggle like a school girl if I met him), Carol Burnett, because I have enjoyed her so much, and Betty White, because well, she’s Betty White.  I think that would be a very lively dinner group.

CCC:  What do you do to relax and have fun
CF:  I am happy to admit that I stay pretty relaxed and feel like I have a lot of fun.  I’m happy in a relationship, my kids are grown, my sweetheart takes care of everything...I really don’t have a whole lot of stress in my life, unless I create it, and for that I am thankful.

CCC:  Do you have a favorite crafter that inspires you
CF:  First and foremost would be my mother.  She was the ultimate crafter, and the Crochet Queen as we lovingly referred to her.  She was amazing.  I’m lucky to have inherited some of her talents.  At this particular point in time, the crafters in the Handmade Circle and Artists Loft are amazing.  They inspire me for sure.

CCC:  What did you do “in your other life”
CF:  Back in the day...I was mainly an office girl...receptionist, admin. assistant, office manager...I’m good at it for sure.  What I’m not very good at is dealing with other women that are so career crazy.  My career was being Mom, providing for my kids, the job was a means to that end.  I’ve never been a fan of stepping on other people while climbing the ladder.  I “retired” in early 2006 to help take care of my sweetheart’s father, then my dad got sick, so I took care of him until he was done.  I took a couple years off after that, finishing up the kids and healing myself...and now here I am.

CCC:  Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself
CF:  I haven’t always been as amazing as I am now, nor am I as amazing as I am going to be.
I have a sweetheart, 2 kids, 1 granddaughter, a long coat chihuahua, and a 15 lb cat.