Welcome to the 8th interview celebrating the talents of British artists in the field of scrapbooking, photography, mixed-media, art journaling, feltmaking and quilting. Some names you may know and some may not be so familiar but they are all hugely talented.
Brief Bio
Hels has been crafting in one form or another since she was
a little girl when she used to cover herself, her Grandma and every available
surface with glitter and cotton wool. She really got bitten by the papercrafting
bug back in 2003 when she took up cardmaking and scrapbooking.
A chance meeting
with Tim Holtz in 2007 made Hels realise that her true passion lays with
anything inky and stampy. She created her blog, the aptly named Ink On My
Fingers (pinkleart.blogspot.com) in September 2007, and she shares snippets
from her daily life along with tips, techniques, tutorials and artwork. She has
been published in several craft magazines and is currently on the Craft Stamper
Design Team. Hels is a Certified Ranger Educator and has been teaching
workshops for the last three years and she is also a regular demonstrator at
the Alexandra Palace craft show. More recently, Hels has brought her art and
passion for crafting to Create & Craft TV with the wonderful Studio 490 range,
that, in Hels’ own words is “the best range of crafty stash in the world” (she even put on a Jeremy Clarkson voice when
she said that!)
*Who or what are your
creative influences? And why?
One of the most influential people in my crafty life is
Wendy Vecchi. I love her products, stamps and her unique attention to the tiny
details that are a major part of Wendy’s Art. I get a lot of inspiration from
nature too; sunset and sunrise are those special times of day that flood my
mind with colours that get my creativity flowing. Of course, it would be remiss of me to
mention that the main influence in the techniques that I use is Tim Holtz. I have
a passion for all things Distress and really don’t bother to use any other inks
to colour with – in my mind, they do the job I want them to do.
*What is your
preferred medium of creativity? What
appeals to you about this?
I am a Ranger girl at heart and have yet to find a Ranger
product that I don’t like or want to use. Their inks, sprays, paints and
powders are by far, in my opinion, the best in the World. I view things in the Distress palette now
too... so a sunrise would be a smidge of Wild Honey with a smattering of Worn
Lipstick and Tumbled Glass.
*What other areas of
creativity do you dabble in?
Oh how I would love to be able to say that I can knit, sew,
cook and bake. But I can’t... so I don’t even bother trying! I do, however, make jewellery... necklaces
and bracelets, bag charms and baubles... if it is pearly or sparkly it will get
used. I also love Altered Art. I have
got boxes and boxes of old bits of junk in my Room of Stash, all awaiting
alteration; I will get around to them one day!
*What is one of your
earliest creative memories?
Making mud pies and adding pebbles to them to make them
pretty! Seriously! Making Christmas cards whilst watching Blue
Peter on the telly and getting thoroughly covered in glitter and cotton wool.
My Grandma had the utmost patience with me and my card making endeavours. I
remember once making a bluebell card using tiny twists of coloured tissue
paper... ahhh happy days.
*Pablo
Picasso said: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist
once we grow up.” How did you find this
transition worked in your life?
Haha, I never grew up!!!
*How did you find your
creative style?
I kind of stumbled upon it. I started making cards and
progressed from there. Seeing friends
using rubberstamps and ink and loving the results pushed me to explore my
creative side.
*What activity do you
use to jumpstart your creativity?
Ah, when Mr Mojo goes off on his holidays eh? Well, I will for sure tidy up the Room of
Stash. Then I will get a sketch book and draw a few ideas down for tags. Tags
are my “go to” thing to make. Along with
the tag there will inevitably be something Tim Holtz, be it stamps or
embellishments, Grungepaper or Grungeboard. Sometimes if the Mojo is really
taking a long break I will go and make some jewellery... or go for a nosey
online at shops and see what products are out there that I might... ahem, need!
*Describe your style
in using 5 different words. Share your
thoughts about these words.
Mmm, a difficult one ... I think my style is evolving all
the time. Something that I made this time last year is going to be different to
what I make right now. I think that because the world of craft is ever
evolving, tastes change, fashions change, new products arrive in store... and
my own styles vary. I am definitely grungy and inky. I can’t do clean and
simple – I always end up over embellishing it. I am definitely a more is more crafter.
That’s more than 5 words. Ok, I am being good now: grungy,
inky, stamper, floral, distressed.
*Favourite art gallery
or museum?
My favourite museum is not actually “arty”. It is the
National Railway Museum in York. That comes from my background on the railway.
Where you can find Hels
Twitter: Hels_Sheridan
If you were able to ask Hels anything what would you ask? Please add your question to the comments below.
See you next Friday for an interview with Karen Rao.
Another excellent interview with clever people. Well done. I love Hels style. Don't know the next person so looking forward to that. X
ReplyDeleteThanks Tina! x
DeleteThank you Bernice for inviting me to take part in your Friday Feature, I am very honoured. x
ReplyDeleteJust popped over from Hels blog to read this interview. Its wonderful and we need to convince Hels that she is an artist!
ReplyDeleteEmma
haha, never... unless I decide to go all Pablo Picasso on you all lol
Deletehels is an artist extraordinaire and a lovely lady to boot...great to see you featured here...hugs kath xxx
ReplyDeletethank you Kath!!! x
DeleteThanks again Bernice, for an interesting interview. Although we may have heard of your 'guests' and seen their work in a variety of places, it's always good to know a little more! Or am I just nosey? Cheers, EmmG
ReplyDeleteI am the same... love to know more about peeps ... thanks Emm x
DeleteHels is indeed a wonderful artist, but also a wonderful maker of soup xx#
ReplyDeleteThanks Dyan... soup is the best medicine x
Deletekeep makin' that soup... wink, wink. xxx
DeleteI didn't know about this site until the interview with Hels, loving the interviews, thanks Bernice.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview Hels xx
thanks Debs x
DeleteWhat could be better than an interview with Hels!? Loved the questions you asked, bernice, and of course, Hels' answers were great and inspiring. I also view things in "distress" colors... My house is 'bundled sage', my car is walnut stain, and when the sun hits the car it looks like heirloom gold perfect pearls mist was spritzed over it. :)
ReplyDeleteYour car is the best colour in the WORLD!! x
DeleteLovely interview Bernice, question for Hels....can I come and live in your spare room and I will be your crafty slave and clean your room of stash as long as I can play there too! lol
ReplyDeleteKeep making Art
MaggieH
course you can... I shall have it de-spidered in your honour lol
DeleteGreat interview with the lovely Hels, and some beautiful photos x
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon!!
DeleteAWESOME interview with THE one & only...Hels Sheridan.
ReplyDeleteYour art is wonderful...so happy we got to meet!
Thanks so much for the kind words.
MWAH!
Bless you Wendy Vecchi... I am honoured to know you xx
DeleteHels is one stunning crafter and person who inspires all of us to push the creative boundaries harder and get more inky in the process! A true artist. Buttons x
ReplyDelete*blushes* never been called stunning before x
DeleteHels and also Kath (above in the comments) have been my true inspiration, it was they who got me into some serious crafting. Hels' work is just amazing and I see her as an Artist with a capital 'A' even if she finds that hard. A wonderful interview Bernice, great questions too. Anne x
ReplyDeleteaw, am really blushing now... am chuffed that you felt inspired by me though... very chuffed! Thanks Anne x
Deletegreat interview and I would just like to point out that not only is Hels very craftily talented she can make a fantastic choccy cake ( which i missed this year) and a great lasagne, mmmmmmm making me hungry, this lady has lots of amazing talent and being a good friend is also on that list x
ReplyDeleteAndrea.. I know it is you!! Thank you hun x
Deleteoops should of put my name not anonymous, by the way it was me Andrea that wrote the above message x
ReplyDeleteaha, I should have read that first lol
DeleteWhat a lovely interview with one of our best crafters!!!:-)
ReplyDeleteThankyou
Jan Dunham.x
thanks Janet... bless ya x
DeleteGreat to see Hels' featured, I love her art. Will be back to check out the next one....
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen x
DeleteGreat interview with Hels, her lovely work always inspires me want to go and create....well I try to anyway ha ha ha xxx
ReplyDeleteCheers Gillian... bless ya x
DeleteWonderful blog, and what a great interveiw Bernice, I've just arrived from Hels blog, I'm a new visitor here too. You asked brilliant questions and Hels answers were a treat too. I'm not surprised to read about her making decorated mud pies. This brought back memories of my early play times too, great fun making stuff from clay from the garden, it's lovely stuff when your 4 or 5, though thinking now, I must have been a nightmare to wash up ufter, poor mum! I agree nature is the best inspiration for artists so totally understand her love of colour and the inspiration we get from this too. I'm off to read your other interveiws now. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks Alexandra... mud pies rock!
DeleteSuper interview with Hels, who is always such an inspiration...Carole ~ X
ReplyDelete*more blushes!* thank you x
Deletefabulous interview with one of the nicest sweetest most talented inspiring and gowguss ladies i have the honour of knowing. tony x
ReplyDeleteyou say the nicest things Tony... the cheques in the post rofl x
DeleteGraet to see Hels recognised in this way, she is a lovely lady with a big heart.
ReplyDeleteHiugs Joan x
and a big **** too lol Thanks Joan x
DeleteTerrific interview with a terrific lady! Really enjoyed this, thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Barb, bless ya x
DeleteA great interview , hels is an inspiring artist . Whose makes are amazing and inspirational ,
ReplyDeleteTrace x
Fanx Trace... inspiring... am chuffed that I can do that!! x
DeleteA Fab interview and coildn't have picked a great artist.She has inspired me and still goes on to inspire me .You go girl Hels you so deserve this!~Here's to many more years of crafting
ReplyDeleteThanks Jude...yep, plenty more crafting left in me x
DeleteWhat a fantastic blog this is! Came over from Hels's blog but will be sure to read the other interviews.
ReplyDeleteI know that Hels doesn't count herself as an artist but in my opinion she most definitely IS!!!!
Love that Picasso quote, and the response made me chuckle!!
Charli x
Thanks Charli... yep, never grew up, growing up is for old people lol x
DeleteTHANK YOU all for your amazing comments... blushes aplenty here. Thank you Bernice for showcasing me in your interview, tis an honour to be here amongst so many amazing artists... am off now with a hoooge grin on my face!! xx
ReplyDeleteSo, Hels, I hope you realise now that everyone considers you to be an Artist.
Delete