Hello creative folks!
This week the ‘Spotlight’ is on an ardent crafter, Richa Mishra Jaiswal. Let’s hear Richa’s arty-crafty story and see how she got into crafting and what motivates her.
Richa is fond of trying out new craft forms and also enjoys mixing and matching multiple styles in her creations. Richa loves to experiment with alterables but her latest favourites are clay modelling, sculpture paintings and decoupage. She wishes to create a label of handmade products made by rural and underprivileged women.
Read along to find out Richa’s favourite craft forms, her arty-crafty wish, how she describes her style of crafting, what she enjoys most besides crafting and more. Also, catch glimpses of a step by step project by Richa. Don’t forget to leave your loving comments for her.
Rashmi Closepet M.D Itsy Bitsy: What are your favourite craft forms?
Richa Mishra Jaiswal : I really love to learn and explore new craft forms, so choosing one over another would be very difficult. I try to mix and match different craft forms in order to experiment and to create unique projects. My latest favourites are clay modelling, sculpture paintings and decoupage.
RC: If you are granted an arty-crafty wish, what would you ask for?
RM: Being Defence officers’ wife I get to travel a lot and I have noticed that there are many women especially in the underdeveloped cities/ villages and socially backward families who suffer a lot due to their financial dependence on others. My arty-crafty wish would be to create a label of handmade products that can bring about a positive change in the lives of such women by providing them with self sustainable skills that can help them to become independent and help them earn and sustain their family.
RC: How did you come to know about Itsy Bitsy?
RM: I get to stay at remote parts of the country and keep changing my place of residence due to my husband’s work commitment. Most of the times it is difficult to get my required craft supplies. I was looking for online craft shop which can provide good quality products at reasonable rates, variety of products and delivers across the country. That’s when I came across Itsy Bitsy’s website. It’s my favourite online craft shop because of prompt deliveries and awesome qualities.
RC: Tell us about your most exciting shopping experience at Itsy Bitsy.
RM: As mentioned I usually order my supplies online. But I remember my first visit to IB’s physical store in Pune at Seasons Mall. I felt like a four-year-old in a candy shop. I was Super-excited! Not to forget the amazing offers running on various products in the store that day.
RC: What craft products attract you the most?
RM: I love the Wooden alterable! They are very trendy, stylish and easy to work with. I am also very excited to try my hands on the newly launched Paint Pouring Medium and Acrylic Pouring Paints.
RC: What is your ideal crafting time in a day?
RM: My ideal crafting time is after my husband leaves for work and before my kid comes back from school. It’s the ‘Me’ time which I can peacefully dedicate to crafting.
RC: What are your ‘Can’t live without’ craft essentials?
RM: Chalk Paints, Heat Gun and 2 in 1Mixed Media Paste are a ‘must have’ for me.
RC: How long have you been crafting?
RM: As a kid I was always interested in Arts & Craft. The primary reason for choosing footwear designing as a career option was to explore my creative side. After marrying a defence officer, I had to quit my job as we moved to a remote location. Being a housewife, I ensured to find time to follow my passion. However it was only two years back when I started to take my hobby more seriously and turned it into a full time profession.
RC: Which 3 words describe your crafting style the best?
RM: Quirky, Experimental, and Eclectic
RC: Any inspirational tips for newbies and craft enthusiasts?
RM: The only rule of Arts and Crafts is that ‘there are no rules.’ Unlike Math and Science which function on set rules, Crafting has multiple answers to a single question. One must not be scared of experimenting and trying new things. Most importantly as an artist you should be happy and content with your work and creations.
RC: Any tips for fellow crafters to help them organize their workspace better.
RM: (a) Sort and assign a place for all supplies. If possible invest in organisers and a crafting station.
(b)Declutter your workplace. Clutter makes it hard to concentrate effectively on your project thereby hamper your creative output.
(c) Frequently used items should be stored in plain sight.
(d) Establish a central work area; it can be an entire room or just a desk, depending on the project being undertaken. Don’t spread your craft projects all over the house.
RC: What inspired you the most in your creative journey?
RM: My inspirations are my clients. It is the smile on their face and happiness they convey on receiving my handmade products. And of course the subsequent feedback which keeps me inspired, motivated and makes me give my best.
Here is a step by step project by Richa
I am here to share with you a very quirky, colorful and easy home decor wall plate. The process of making it is quite simple and the result is beautiful! Here is a step by step procedure of making the same.
For this, first I took air dry clay (I have taken Monte Marte’s air dry clay in white color) and rolled it evenly into a thickness of approximately 5mm.
Now, I took a wooden printing block from my stash and made impressions on the rolled clay.
I wrapped a quarter plate from my kitchen in a plastic wrap and transferred the clay on the plate to let it take the shape of the plate. Thereafter cleaned the edges by removing the excess clay and left it for drying.
Once the plate was completely dry I gave it a coat of Little Birdie’s chalk paint (Frozen Ice).
To this, I applied Little Birdie’s Antique Gold Metallic Wax. The wax is a beautiful product to work with as it is very easy to apply. You do not need any specific tools or brush for it, just take a little amount in your fingers and apply directly. It has great coverage, so we actually require just a small amount to cover any area. I wanted to cover the entire plate in metallic color and let the blue of the chalk paint peep in through the impression that I created with the wooden stamp.
Next, I added a chipboard sentiment and few flowers and some pollen using fabric glue. You can also use Little Birdie’s gel medium for the same to complete the look.
And……
TaDaaaaN…..!!!
I hope you liked this simple but elegant home decor plate the way I do. I hope I inspired you to try this by yourself.
Also check out the video tutorial for the same attached separately to get a clearer idea of all steps involved.
The links to all materials used are attached below
https://itsybitsy.in/products/mont-marte-air-hardening-modelling-clay-white-500gm
https://itsybitsy.in/products/wooden-printing-block-hand-carved-flourish
https://itsybitsy.in/products/home-decor-chalk-paint-60ml-frozen-ice
https://itsybitsy.in/products/metallic-wax-antique-gold-20ml
https://itsybitsy.in/products/primed-chipboardlive-every-moment
https://itsybitsy.in/search?type=product&q=handmade+flower
Here are a couple of Richa’s other awesome creations:
Many congrats Richa for being the CRAFTER IN THE SPOTLIGHT – ITSY BITSY!!
You will receive Rs.500/- Itsy Bitsy gift voucher & a Crafter in the Spotlight badge, which can be proudly displayed on the side bar of your blog and other platforms. Looking forward to many more creations.
Happy Crafting!!
Love,
Richa Mishra Jaiswal