Interview with TopFloorTreasures

Time to get to know some of the Folksy sellers a bit better! TopFloorTreasures, run by Zoe, is a real treasure trove of fabric craft. With gorgeous pencil cases, cushions and decorations, this is definitely a shop to be aware of. To help us meet the person behind the shop, Zoe has answered a series of questions about herself and her work:

We would like to get to know a bit more about the person behind TopFloorTreasures, so, if you were an animal, what would you be?

I’d probably be a cat – most cats love cuddling up to someone and I’m quite a snuggly person so it makes sense to me!

What is your favourite season?

It used to be winter, because I loved being all warm and cosy at home. But now it’s summer because I love going out on daytrips and discovering new places (and let’s face it, daytrips are a lot more fun in the sun!)

Vanilla or chocolate?

Chocolate, definitely, if it’s for eating! But Vanilla Body Spray from The Body Shop is one of my favourite smells :)

What’s your favourite colour?

Red is my favourite, although those who know me always seem surprised to find that out. I hardly ever wear red clothes and there’s barely anything red in my house! I love all shades of red, but the brighter the better.

And now about your work.

How did you get started?

I used to work as a seamstress for Burberry (many years ago!) and was given a sewing machine a few years later. I only got started as a business a few months ago due to my personal circumstances changing which meant I needed to become self-employed rather quickly. My boyfriend lent me the money to get started and here I am! I have always loved arts and crafts and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but until the time came when I just had to go for it, I had always been too scared to start up on my own!

What’s your favourite material to work with and why?

I love sewing and at the moment I’m just using 100% cotton fabrics in prints that catch my eye. I intend to start using other fabrics in the near future, like babycord and canvas. At the moment my favourite designs are Matryoshka designs and Japanese prints, although I’m yet to use them, but can happily spend hours looking at them on supplier websites! And anything Kawaii, it’s so cute and I just love it!

When you need some inspiration, where do you go?

I tend to indulge in a heavy stint of blog-surfing! There are some amazingly talented artists blogging out there. One leads to another, then another, and another and before I know it several hours have passed and I’ve amassed hundreds of ideas in my head. I write down my ideas in a book and do lots of little drawings so I don’t forget them.

What’s your best crafty tip?

Always keep a little bin under your workspace for all the bits of thread and fabric that get snipped off along the way. I still end up covered in bits though! And always count your pins as you put them into your project and count them again when they come out – then you know you haven’t left any in or dropped any on the floor!

What’s your favourite item in your shop?

My favourites tend to change every few days but at the moment my absolute favourite is my Retro Dots zippy case / pencil case (below). I love the fabric which is designed by Patty Young and is called Mod Dots in Paprika. The colours remind me of warm summer days. I could happily keep all of my zippy cases, as I love them all really, but must be good and sell them!