For today’s craft interview please welcome Annie from AnniesMiniatureFlorals.
1. Firstly, please introduce yourself and tell us a little about where you are based, for example in which country and part of that country? 
My name is Carole Anne Farber..But everyone calls me Annie..I am a whopping 56 years old..but the spirit and mind of a 23 year old..body is exactly 56 or older. I have always loved being creative..always have looked at things in a way many people don.t….asking myself what could I make out of this.
I had lived in Spokane,WA for 8 years and then returned back to my roots with my husband a newly retired disguntled postman..we bought a wonderful big house with an inground pool..and lived there almost 3 years.. but the countryside was calling us again..so we sold our house and moved to the country…I said I would do this on the condition that I had a craft room..all to myself..and I do..Its wonderful looking out onto our acreage and doing what I love to do the most. Making miniature Floral arrangements…1:12 scale on up…and I also paint.. and crochet..so many things to keep me busy..Plus I have 2 beautiful daughters and 2 wonderful grandchildren.. hoping for more..I live now in a small town called West Point, Ia and we both feel at peace here..
2. Please tell us a little about the nature of your craft/crafts
My craft is very unusual..I found my niche as they call it. I make miniature floral arrangments for dollhouse collectors, to make their rooms have a sense of home with florals. I also make floral arrangements and Bridal Bouquets.. and even a Funeral for a poor dead doll on the story based website www.roeville.com and another website that also did a story with their dolls, I did the Floral Decor for them ..and also alot of ebay sellers to display with Handmade designer Fashions.
3. What first interested you in your craft?
I first got interested in making my miniature florals after inheriting a dollhouse from my brother in law.. and had alot of fun buying furniture and wanted some floral arrangements to complete my rooms. I was in shock what they charged for the clay made arrangements and being a Floral Designer decided I am going to try and make my own. So I bought a book on making paper flowers, mulberry paper, all the tools needed to shape the petals..they were adorable and people were impressed by them..at that time i was selling on ebay myself.. clothes and things around the house..etc..and thought I would try selling the miniature displays on Ebay. They sold so well and requests were coming in for larger barbie size. The Silkstone’s, Fashion Royalty..I had never heard of these Dolls.. but heck yes I could make them bigger for that scale..and requests came in for the 16″ dolls..and Replicas of Princess Diana’s Bouquet and Princess Grace..So Annies Miniature Florals came to be…I retired as a floral designer mainly because the shop closed down..but continued with a friend of mine to do weddings and things on the side. So I went from being a life size floral designer to a miniaturist..and it is so fun and challenging when you get a request for something..Like the casket spray and wreathe for a funeral..or a complete wedding right down to the pew bows, I Am a complete Doll Florist.
4. Did you have any formal training or have you learnt by yourself as you have gone along?
The only training I had was thru the flower shop..composition, color , I never went to school for floral design..I just have a knack for it I guess. I learned by doing.
5. How did the idea for your business/website come about?
I had a website about 4 years ago..and I did’nt find it feasible for me to continue with it, so I just sell in
www.Etsy.com under the name rubysweetpea after my grandaughter, and nannieannies. I sell on
www.Ebay.com under seller name anniesflorals, I like the interaction you get and the repeat clients and doing custom work for them.
6. How long now have you been established?
I have been doing this for around 6 years now..miniature scale.
7. How do you find inspiration and where do you locate your materials?
I find inspiration from watching WE tv Bridal shows..magazines..mostly I just look at my vase and do what I want to do with it..I go to alot of flea markets and purchase miniature vases..under 1″ tall to 4″ work best for business..I find some really neat things.. and since my hands aren’t as good as they were I was lucky to find a lady in Canada that makes paper flowers and she does them to the scale that I need..8mm to 14mm..And I am always looking for tiny little filler flowers or I dry my own like Liatris or yarrow and I use a Florist spray to keep them from crumbling.
8. Do you do your business/website on a full-time basis or are you also working whilst you get it up and running
I do my business whenever the mood strikes me.I make quite a mess so I usually do it when I know we have no company coming so I dont have to hurry and clean it up..I am organized as far as color of florals…sizes of vases.. but once you get started and you are in the mode..I usually have to spend a day getting it all back the way it was.
9. Tell us a little about your typical day and what is involved in running the business/website
I start out my day by reading emails..to see if I have a any custom orders from clients..then I go to my selling websites and see if I have any that sold that day and if I do I get it ready to ship out.
10. What advice would you give to others who are considering running a craft based business/website
Dont go overboard at first, try a few things out. If they sell you may be on to something. Join in on Etsy’s forums and chat rooms, get your name out there.
Make the time to correspond with your clients, let them know how their custom piece or pieces are going and send photos. Try and make new pieces each week, so your customers don’t see the same thing week after week. I have business cards made up for all 3 of my shops and send one in every mailed out item.
11. How do you sell your wares – through craft fairs etc or through your own website and or Etsy or other shops?
12. Finally, if people want to learn more about your business/website do you have a Facebook page or Twitter profile where they can learn more?
I have a facebook page where I share alot of my cards in a album so take alook..
And Please visit my Blog..not really knowing yet how to do it but there are photos on there also
Tagged as:
art of crafts interview,
making miniature flower arrangements,
miniature florals
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