Interview with Odd Sox

Time for another Folksy interview, so who is my victim *ahem* shop owner today?

This week I am talking to Shaz, the brains behind OddSox. I love this shop, it's full of sock monkeys! And sock elephants, sock monsters, sock owls... and they're all so cute!

Before I go getting too carried away, I'll let Shaz speak for herself...
If you were an animal, what would you be?

Definitely a domestic cat (and yes I do have one). I love the way they expect to get their own way with everything – and then do. I regularly tell my cat I wish I was him – especially on a Monday morning!

What is your favourite meal?

I love Indian food - we do quite a lot of Indian cooking at home. Occasionally we’ll make a special effort and do homemade onion bhajis, red onion raita & lentil dhal to go with the main meal – gorgeous!

Hot weather or cold weather?

Hot – a bit of summer heat in the garden, perfect.

What’s your favourite colour?

The kind of turquoise the sea is on a Greek island.

And now about your work.

How did you get started?

I’ve always been a dabbler in crafty stuff. My Mum & Gran did lots of knitting and dressmaking so there was always ‘making’ stuff around for me and my sis to mess about with. I remember being very impressed with the French Knitting woolly tails that appeared from our homemade wooden 4-nailed bobbins!

My Sock creatures started a few years ago after getting a fabulous book from my sister called 'Sock Monkeys'. It's crammed full of nutty monkey mugshots and gave me the sock creature bug. I then got a book called ‘Stupid Sock Creatures’ which is a brilliant place to start – it gives you all the basics to set your imagination running riot with your sock drawer! Since then I’ve discovered all kinds of other craft interests because I just can’t stay away from the craft sections in the library and bookshops!

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

I find making sock creatures is endlessly satisfying because I don’t use patterns. I normally take the sock straight to the sewing machine with an idea in my head, which means they’re all a little bit different. So the end result is always a surprise! But… I also love making Amigurumi creatures (Japanese style crochet) it’s relaxing to do and they are sooo cute!

Is there anyone in your life who has particularly inspired you?

If I could apply my My Mum’s determination to my life I think I’d get a lot more done!

What’s your best crafty tip?

Don’t throw anything away until you’ve answered ‘No’ to ‘Can I recycle that?’

What’s your favourite item in your shop?

It’s normally an Amigurumi creature, Clover is my current favourite – it’s always the sad ones I like the best!

Here are Shaz's other links:

Folksy shop http://www.oddsox.folksy.com

Blogsite http://thesockgarden.wordpress.com/

Twitter http://twitter.com/thesockgarden

Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsoxuk/

Thanks Shaz! :)