M20Qs 10 – Cupcake

I’ve had a bit of a break on this blog from my regular 20 Questions feature – I think doing it once a week wore me out and kind of put me off. So I’ve decided to start this up as a monthly feature from now on – so if you want to get featured, please feel free to download this questionnaire, fill it out and send it back to me.

This month I am interviewing The Cupcake Lady.

1. What is the name of your business and how did the name come about?
My business is called ‘cupcake’. The name came about when I was thinking of a Christmas present to make for my boyfriend’s little nephew, Louis. I knew that he liked baking cookies and cakes with his mum and a giant cupcake seemed to be the answer.

2. Tell me a little about your business – what is it that you make and sell and where are you based
Louis would have been a bit disappointed if he tried to eat his giant cupcake and would have lost a few teeth in the process. I make handmade money boxes from white clay. The money box selection ranges from cupcakes, cake slices, ice lollies, ice cream cones, doughnuts and apples to penguins, turtles, welly boots, toadstools and greedy-bugs (or ladybirds). I live and work in Edinburgh.

3. What inspired you to start your business?
I started going to pottery evening classes a couple of years ago. After going on 4 or 5 different courses it got to the point where there wasn’t anywhere else in my flat to put another bowl or vase. I decided that if I was going to continue I would need a project which would involve selling pieces at craft fairs. Cupcake started off as my evening class project and has become so much more than that in a relatively short period of time. The first money boxes I made were for my nephews and niece. I wanted them to each have something which I had individually handmade for them and which they would hopefully keep for years to come.

4. How long does it usually take for you to complete a piece?
The time it takes to make a piece varies from one money box to another. Using the cupcake money box as an example, it takes me about two hours to do Stage 1. My money boxes are coil and slab built, which is Stage 1 of the process, including adding any detailing. The money boxes are then fired in the cupcake kiln. The next step is to glaze, which can usually be completed in about half an hour and then the money boxes are fired again. All in all, each cupcake money box probably takes about two and a half hours to make (excluding the firing time).

5. Where do you work?
Until very recently I worked from home, out of my living room. It didn’t take long for it to feel as if the cupcakes were taking over and I knew I needed a separate cupcaking space. I’ve moved into a studio space at Coburg House, Coburg Street, Edinburgh and I love it. Coburg is home to artists across a broad spectrum of work types, which includes ceramics, jewellery, mosaics, painting, photography, silversmithing and textiles. The Coburgers have all been very friendly and have made me feel very much at home.

6. What would be your dream project?
A joint commission for Disney for a bespoke version of the money box selection and a stop frame animation movie (see my answer to question 7). Cinderella will go to the ball!

7. What is the most challenging piece you’ve ever made?
I started using some of my money boxes to make short stop frame animations, which feature on my website. I’ve never done anything like that before and it has been very much a process of learning as I go. I kept things as simple as possible at the start, using just one money box and keeping it very short. I’ve moved on and my biggest challenge has been making ‘Penguin Magic’.

It’s the longest animation so far, lasting the full length of the soundtrack and using four different money boxes and a variety of props.The animation is made up of over 250 individual digital photos and took about half a day to edit.

Click here to see more videos from the The Cucpcake Lady.

8. What is your favourite thing to do when you are not crafting/working?
I love cooking. My whole family is made up of foodies and we’re always swapping recipes. My sister Alison makes homemade (edible) cupcakes, which she sells at food fairs. My other sister Cynthia has recently started making homemade hot pepper sauce from her own secret recipe, which she is selling at craft and food fairs. My mum is the best cook in the world, oh I fancy one of her chicken curries with roti and rice right now.

9. Who are some of your favourite crafters/artists/designers?
Milomade of course! I enjoy reading the blog and seeing your new creations. I especially love your spoon rings. Henry Kondracki is my favourite artist. Henry is based in Edinburgh and features a lot of the local sights and landmarks in his paintings. One of my favourite paintings by Henry is this winter scene across the Meadows.

10. What inspires you / where do you get your inspiration when you are designing/creating your products?
I am always on the look out for new ideas, whether it’s a colour that draws my attention, a line in a song or a book. I’m always cutting out images from magazines and collecting cards, anything that sparks my interest. I saw this selection of bath soaps the other day and loved the quirkiness of having a cupcake in the bathroom!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cupcakehq/4106569416/

11. What are your favourite blogs and what online site do you visit a lot?
I read the Martin James blog on myspace and the Milomade blog. I love music and visit myspace a lot.

12. Where do you source your materials/supplies?
I use a site called Great Art for clay, glazes, brushes and sculpting tools. The colour of any particular glaze can change slightly or significantly depending on the type of clay you use, the temperature of the kiln, and the number of layers of glaze that you put on to a piece. It’s taken some time to come up with the cupcake colours, that I think work well and that’s why I tend to stick to this site, as I know what I’m getting.

13. How do you balance your day job [if you have one] and your crafting enterprise?
I have the benefit of flexible working hours and the studio is a very short drive from the office, so it’s handy if I’m heading straight there from the day job. My evenings and weekends are spent making my money boxes and it’s great to leave the office behind and totally immerse myself in something completely different. My work colleagues have been very supportive and a good chunk of my initial sales came from them.

14. If you could have any super power what would it be?
My super power would be the ability to dominate the world (cue evil laugh). No, actually my super power would be the ability to teleport myself wherever I felt like going. It would save a lot on plane tickets and petrol would reduce my carbon footprint by some way.

15. What is the last book that you read and enjoyed?
I haven’t read a book that I enjoyed more than To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. I love the film as well, with Gregory Peck playing Atticus Finch. Childhood/poverty/privilege/family/racism/humour/warmth/courage/morality all play a part in this wonderful book.

16. What is the last film you watched and enjoyed?
I watched Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock at the weekend. I’ve seen it a few times, but I don’t get tired of watching it again. No-one else captures suspense better.

17. If you won a million on the lottery tomorrow what would you do with the money?
It would be the usual, quit my day job, help out my family and have a massive party. I would buy a house with my own studio and gallery next to it. Even with all that money, you’ve got to do something productive. Must remember to buy a ticket at the weekend.

18. Where can we find your products for sale or see your products online?
You can buy my money boxes at craft fairs, by contacting me via my website or at:

Word of Mouth Café – 3a Albert Street, Edinburgh EH7 5HL
Coriandr – http://www.coriandr.com/shop/cupcakehq
Misi – http://www.misi.co.uk/handmade/cupcakehq.html
For more information visit the cupcake website http://www.cupcakehq.com

19. Any advice for other crafters out there who may want to start their own business?
Talk to as many other crafters as you can. I joined the craft forum recently http://www.craftsforum.co.uk

Speak to other crafters at fairs and try to get feedback about their experiences and any tips or advice they are willing to give. I’ve found that the crafters I’ve met are quite open to this. As for starting your own business, be organised, keep a very close eye on your costs, have people around you that you can trust and rely on for advice and straight talking. Try to make a bit of progress every day. I’m always writing to do lists which help me to focus and prioritise.

20. What is your favourite recipe – savoury or sweet – care to share it?
Lemon Posset – this recipe is not for the faint hearted as there is a LOT of double cream, but it is deliciously indulgent and very easy to make. This recipe serves 6.

Ingredients
600ml/1 pint fl oz double cream
150g/5oz caster sugar
2 large lemons, zest and juice only

Method
Place the double cream and the sugar into a large pot over a low heat and bring to the boil slowly. Boil for three minutes, then remove from the heat and allow to cool. Add the lemon juice and zest and mix with a wooden spoon (do not whisk). Poor the lemon cream into six serving glasses and refrigerate for three hours. I like a wee sprinkle of lemon zest on the top once the posset has set.

Many thanks to The Cupckae Lady for taking the time to answer all my questions.
All photographs taken with kind permission from the cupcake website.

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Do you want to get featured on this blog? ‘Milomade 20 Questions’ is going to be a regular spot on my blog which will showcase other crafters/designers/artists who work predominantly with recycled, upcycled and reused materials. If you are interested in getting featured then please feel free to download this questionnaire, fill it out and send it back to me.