26 April 2012

A Conversation with Kirsty of Hello Lovely


Featuring fun and fabulous jewellery, Kirsty of Hello Lovely makes individually crafted jewellery and accessories to suit all tastes!  Here, she shares with us a look into her creative world...

Who is Hello Lovely?

Hello Lovely is just me, Kirsty! I’m a former policy analyst who specialised in the Corrections & Justice Sector. After the birth of my second son and a move back to my hometown of Christchurch, I decided I needed to unleash my creative side and say goodbye to the stress and pressure of working in the public service. Hello Lovely evolved from my first ‘crafty’ endeavor, Sugar Sugar.
What’s your “handmade groove ?”

Living in a household full of ‘boys’ (including the cat!), Hello Lovely is my chance to do pretty and feminine! I chose jewellery as my primary focus for Hello Lovely because it’s the ultimate in girly – there are such a wide variety of mediums & styles when it comes to jewellery so it is also something that satisfies my desire to be creative and innovative.

What’s on your bedside table right now? (hey, no tidying up or censoring)

Oh boy, what isn’t on my bedside table right now?! A lamp, my phone, the latest copy of Good magazine, various pieces of jewellery & hair accessories, my beautiful Briarwood Make-up Purse, coins, two pencils and a pen, a toy dinosaur and two hot-wheels cars!!

Who are your creative role models? What music, books, images, poetry spark your creative fire?

I don’t have any particular creative role models, but find inspiration for my jewellery all around me… fashion magazines, landscapes, new places and experiences, pretty colour palettes, beautiful blogs, stunning artwork all spark my creative fire. I love to have the house to myself, turn the stereo up loud with my latest musical obsession, and work on my latest concept or idea.


What could you talk late into the night about with like minded people?

My background is in criminology and justice, so I always enjoy a good discussion about developments in that area. To be honest though, I pretty much love a good chat about anything – I have a fairly diverse set of interests!

If you could go to three free workshops/creative events this year which ones would they be? What are they about?

I’d very much love to do a silver-smithing workshop – I really like the idea of hammering out and shaping my own pieces from scratch. I also have some silver art-clay I’d love to know how to use properly. I’ve always wanted to go see the World of Wearable Arts show but I never quite get there, maybe this is the year for it!

How do you balance your creative life with your family, life commitments?

I’m still trying to work this one out! Hello Lovely has taken off at a flying rate of knots so I am trying to be more focused in my work, to have dedicated creative time that doesn’t impinge so much on my family and other commitments.

What is your favourite creative screw-up?

It would have to be a hat I made for my eldest son. After acquiring a sewing machine I put my non-existent sewing skills into practice by designing and making him a hat from ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ flannel fabric – it was far too small when finished and perched upon the top of his head like a little military cap. The sight of it made me laugh until I cried… I gave up sewing anything but hems after that!

Kitchen table or studio?

Kitchen table

Do you have a wish list? Can you tell us what’s on it?

I’d really like my own creative space neatly organized and filled with objects that inspire me – it gets a little chaotic trying to think, plan, and create surrounded by the accoutrements and demands of everyday life!



You can view Hello Lovely products .... here
And follow on Facebook ... here

6 comments:

  1. I have several of Kirsty's pieces already and some twine from Sugar Sugar, now selling through Hello Lovely. Even though the product imagery is amazing, its even better when the actual product arrives. And dealing with Kirsty is fabulous too. Cant rave enough about her! Amanda x

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  2. What a delightful read. Thank you Kirsty for sharing this insight into your life with us. It's always so interesting to me to read of other women's lives, particularly those who create like I do, and how it is for them. Your work is beautiful!

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  3. Lovely pieces! Thanks for sharing!!!

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  4. Thanks so much for the lovely comments (and big thanks too, NZHM for letting me give you a wee insight into Hello Lovely!) x

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  5. Very arty jewels Kirsty, just delightful, cheers Marie

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  6. A Very talanted lady

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