Jen Owens Images

Since I started attending Craft Fairs this year I have bumped into some truly amazing and talented people in and around Glasgow and Edinburgh so I though I would dedicate some blog posts to them. 
I shouldn't just keep them to myself now should I!?

First up is the beautiful and talented Jen Owens.  Jen was across from Lucy and I at our first ever ever craft fair at Morningside Makers Market (we'll be back there soon!) and we couldn't help but notice her smiley face.  It wasn't long before she came over to say hi and we've kept in touch ever since!

Name:
Jen Owens

From:
Originally Buxton in Derbyshire, now live in Edinburgh

Occupation:
I’m Marketing Officer (Design & Publications) for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, which is great fun and means I get to be creative all day – bodes well for the evenings and weekends when I have time to be crafty!

Favourite colour:
Purple. When my parents moved in to their house in Buxton back in the 70s they said the whole place was painted purple from top to bottom and it took them ages to redecorate it with different colours. Could never understand why – I would love a purple house!

Favourite animal:
Humpback whale – got to see 2 when Mr O and I travelled to Oz in 2008 – first time I’d ever seen whales, was a very exciting moment for me.

(Kapow aside: I have a bizarre and unnatural fear of whales you know! Terrified of them!)

Favourite band:
Hmmm…tough one. I’d have to say The National.

Favourite book:
These questions are too hard! White Teeth by Zadie Smith, but very difficult to choose.

Shop / Business name:
Jen Owens Images

What you make:
Handmade collages using printed photos I’ve taken of landscapes or scenes. I also make greetings cards with real streetnames on them, like ‘John Street’ or ‘Emily Place’ – it’s become a bit of an obsession trying to find new ones. I can’t go anywhere without Google-mapping first!

How did you know you were crafty / artistic?
Sounds a bit cliché, but I’ve always made things, cut up things, stuck things together. My dad’s a silversmith so my sister and I grew up helping out him and my mum on his craft fair stall – I guess I’ve just always been surrounded by craft makers. I’d love wondering around the fairs and seeing all the various stalls.

What was the first thing you ever made?
At nursery I made a Father Christmas out of a toilet roll tube, red tissue paper and cotton wool. It still goes on the Christmas tree every year!

Do you have any formal training or who taught you what you know?
I pretty much taught myself by trial and error. There’ve been many frustrating moments!!

How did your craft business come about?
I made a couple of collages for our walls at home, then progressed to making one of Edinburgh Castle for a close friend’s birthday present. Another friend was round for a cuppa one night, saw it, and decided to commission me to make another as a wedding present for a friend. It kind of continued from there…

Where and when do you do your crafting?
Whenever I can! The weekends get filled very easily, as do most evenings. I find myself sticking a film on the laptop (one that I know really well so that it won’t distract me too much!), settling down at the kitchen table and crafting away.

Tell me something surprising about yourself:
Not many people know that I’ve got Grade 8 cello - my big achievement when I was 18 (along with passing my driving test!)

Which Folksy / Etsy shop can you not get enough of?
Pants and Paper – love the purses.
I’m also a big fan of Konnie Kapow! Many a happy family member there have been thanks to your ‘And you thought you were special’ birthday cards!
(aw thanks Jen!)

Why is handmade / crafting important to you?
So many reasons – I find it very therapeutic: being able to become engrossed in making a collage or batch of cards and the amazing buzz when it all comes together. I get very tetchy if I can’t make time to do creativey-type things (just ask my hubby for proof of this!). And the community – getting along to a craft fairs and meeting new people – everyone’s so nice!

Is it just me or is crafting really hot right now?
It so is! I thought it was just me thinking that!  I think there’s a real excitement and accessibility come about from being able to purchase handmade, original goods. Why would you go to Clinton Cards when you could go to a local craft fair? 

Tell me why I should buy something from you!
Because you’ll get something a little different and totally unique!  A lovely woman at a recent craft fair told me that I “painted with photographs” – it put the biggest smile on my face. Plus the streetname cards – I’ve got so many of them now they’re really hard to market as a group, but if I’ve got your name, it makes for a really special gift card.

Ok! You’ve got me convinced! Where can I find you?
Lots of places!:
Website: http://www.jenowensimages.com/
Blog: http://www.jenowensimages.blogspot.com/

Folksy: www.folksy.com/shops/JenOwensImages

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jen-Owens-Images/239339426558?ref=ts

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jenowensimages