Meet Georgina Curtis from Georgie’s Little Makes
Like so many, Georgina Curtis is a mum and a maker, combining her small creative business with bringing up two small boys, fitting craft between cooking, playing and caring. After her children were born, Georgie started feeling that she had lost herself a little, while also experiencing the anxieties of being a new mum, so she began channelling her fears and worries into making. As people started buying the things she was making, her confidence grew and her online shop Georgie’s Little Makes became a way not just to make a little extra money but also find a community of supportive, like-minded people, and a way to regain her own identity and maintain her mental wellbeing. Georgie talks to fellow Folksy seller Julie Rodway from Dreamtime Treasures about her fabulous felt creations and her family…
Get 10% off Georgie’s Little Makes during February 2020 with the code FEB10. Shop Georgie’s Little Makes on Folksy – folksy.com/shops/GeorgiesDesigns
Craft is escapism and an exciting opportunity to create unique items from my mind. I get such enjoyment seeing the items I have imagined come to life.
Georgina Curtis, Georgie’s Little Makes
Hi Georgie! Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you do?
Hi I’m Georgie, I’m 30, I live in Eastbourne with my partner and our two boys and I make lots of different items using felt. I’ve always been very creative and felt the need to be making something. From a young age I watched my nan knitting and creating beautiful items for us.
Your products are so cute and your accessories so colourful and appealing. What prompted you to start your business?
With having two young children I seemed to have lost myself a little. After I had Noah it was all quite a shock to me and then when I got pregnant with Ezra I started feeling more anxious, so I started channelling those anxieties into my crafts and began making things I found people actually wanted to buy, which was amazing. It’s grown from that.
I started channelling anxieties into my crafts and began making things I found people actually wanted to buy, which was amazing.
Georgina Curtis, Georgie’s Little Makes
Why did you decide to work with felt? What do you love about it as a material?
I’ve always enjoyed getting creative and have tried so many different crafts and materials. I only really discovered felt about a year ago but instantly fell in love with it. I love how versatile it is, the texture and how easy it is to work with.
Your sewing is very neat. When and how did you learn to sew?
Apart from a little sewing in my textile class at school I haven’t really been taught properly. My first few months of using felt and sewing were extremely messy and if I was struggling I would use YouTube videos to see if there was an easier way. I still have a lot of learning to do and sometimes make mistakes or find I’m not happy with a piece and then start it all over again. My nan taught me how to use my sewing machine and if I had more space I would love to start using it again, but for now it’s just the hand sewing for me.
I first wanted just to make things children and adults could feel a little love for. I’ve since moved on to making items like my garlands as I’ve realised that decorations are great for stimulating little minds and imagination.
Georgina Curtis, Georgie’s Little Makes
What’s your favourite source of inspiration?
The first items I started making were soft toys for my boys because, growing up, soft toys were so important to me. Even now, I have a massive love for teddy bears! My little boy Noah is very attached to his ‘bear bear’ and this relationship is so sweet and magical that I first wanted just to make things children and adults could feel a little love for. I’ve since moved on to making items like my garlands as I’ve realised that decorations are great for stimulating little minds and imagination. I guess a lot of my inspiration is my boys and my partner who always supports and encourages me.
At the moment this workspace is perfect because I can be a mum and make at the same time.
Georgina Curtis, Georgie’s Little Makes
Tell me about your workspace. Do you have a dedicated space at home, a studio space or do you work anywhere around your home?
The dream would definitely be to have my own workspace or even, one day, studio (big dreams) but for now I have my little corner in the boys’ playroom, which sometimes spills out into the rest of the house! At the moment this workspace is perfect because I can be a mum and make at the same time. Some days I only get to make for 20 minutes at a time but there are other days when I can easily get lost in creating for an hour or two. Noah now is enjoying ‘helping’ me work, and it’s lovely to be able to share that with him.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
Georgie’s Little Makes is my time away from being a mum and also away from my other job (my partner and I live in and run a hotel). The thing I love most about running Georgie’s Little Makes is that it’s mine – I can do it at my own pace and it fits around the other things going on. I hope that, as the boys get older and I have more time, I will be able to push my little business further and on to bigger things.
The thing I love most about running Georgie’s Little Makes is that it’s mine – I can do it at my own pace and it fits around the other things going on.
Georgina Curtis, Georgie’s Little Makes
What advice would you give someone starting a business?
Social media, for me mainly Instagram, has been amazing. It’s helped me feel more confident about the things I’m making and there’s a lovely crafting community, supporting and promoting each other. The planning and pricing is something I’m still learning and sometimes I make a few mistakes, but doing some research around how other similar sellers price their products helps – and then you can work it to suit you. Photographing my items can be a stress, as I don’t have lots of professional equipment, but I try to make sure I have a good background, then I wait for a bright day and take as many as I can.
Social media, for me mainly Instagram, has been amazing. It’s helped me feel more confident about the things I’m making and there’s a lovely crafting community, supporting and promoting each other.
Have you done any craft fairs or do you prefer to keep your business online?
I’ve only done two craft fairs, as finding the time is hard for me. The first was absolutely awful and I only sold one item! The second was amazing and I sold so much! I think it really depends who’s coming through the door that day and if what you’re selling is what they want or like. For my second fair I had a bigger variety of items, so maybe that appealed to more people. I think, for me, online selling is what I prefer.
The first craft fair I did was absolutely awful and I only sold one item! The second was amazing and I sold so much! I think it really depends who’s coming through the door that day.
Georgina Curtis, Georgie’s Little Makes
What does craft mean to you?
Craft is escapism and an exciting opportunity to create unique objects from my mind. I get such enjoyment seeing the items I have imagined come to life. I love seeing my craft creations being enjoyed by other people too and also like seeing what other crafters make. I think for some people craft is just part of them and unless they are creating, then they don’t feel 100% themselves, and that’s what it feels and means to me.
Get 10% off Georgie’s Little Makes during February 2020 with the code FEB10. Shop Georgie’s Little Makes on Folksy – folksy.com/shops/GeorgiesDesigns
Meet the Interviewer
The maker asking the questions this week is knitwear designer Julie Rodway from Dreamtime Treasures. Read our interview with Julie here – https://blog.folksy.com/2020/01/21/dreamtime-treasures-knits
