NAME: Claire Burgess
BUSINESS NAME: Claire's Craft Corner
INSTAGRAM: @claires_crafty_corner_
YOUTUBE: Claire's Crafty Corner
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WORK.
I worked in Education from the age of 21. For the past 15 years I have been working as a Specialist Autism Practitioner. The best job I have ever had. However, I had to make a decision early in 2021 about what truly makes me happy. Fuelled absolutely by the Pandemic. It made me evaluate everything in my life. What truly made me happy was creating. I decided to quit my 9-5 job for a 24/7. This allowed me the freedom to go from two You Tube videos a week to three. I create videos using Epoxy Resin, Acrylic Eco Resin, Wood Turning and so many different crafts in between. Whatever I learn, I share it with my Subscribers. This includes my mistakes. I like to keep it real and strive for handmade with love, not perfection. There are so many things I would like to dabble in such as Pottery, Macrame and Silversmithing. However, for now, I am truly dedicated to Epoxy and Eco Resin work.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CRAFTING?
I have been creative since I was tiny. I started with colouring books. My Grandma would always bring me a new colouring book whenever she visited. I moved on to drawing and painting by the age of 13 I used to paint so many things including my bedroom walls. I also started sewing from around the same age. I didn’t have a machine but I liked to make cushions. At 20 I got my first home and that is where my love for Interior DIY started. I built my own kitchen and tiled my own bathroom. I made a huge wooden headboard and made my own lampshades.
TALK US THROUGH YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS. WHERE DO YOU GET INSPIRATION FOR YOUR PIECES?
Inspiration for me comes from so many places. If I see a particular resin technique, I want to try it myself. I often worried that I just didn’t have the imagination to develop and create original ideas. Having a brand new original idea that nobody has ever had before is rare. However, this past year I truly feel like that imagination is in me and I have been creating the best work I have ever done lately. I also get inspired by my friends and subscribers. Quite often, one video will naturally lead on to another idea.
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING HURDLE YOU' VE ENCOUNTERED WHEN USING GLITTERS AND PIGMENTS IN RESIN?
Resin has a mind of it’s own. We all know this. Glitters and pigments are not the hurdle for me. The hurdle for me is my own patience or lack of. Glitters can sink. However, I know that if you leave your Resin to thicken up, they won’t. Do I wait ? no ! lol
HAVE YOU EVER TRIED SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT WORKED OUT WAY BETTER THAN YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD?
I try not to place too many expectations on the outcome of my Resin work. I have a picture in my mind of what I would like the outcome to be however, Resin often has other ideas. Lately I have been loving the Resin and Mixed Media. The ‘shove it all in’ technique. The results have blown my mind. I am currently working on something out of my comfort zone and one of my Patrons told me this is when I do my best work. This truly made me want to explore more outside of my usual.
YOU'VE RECENTLY STARTED WORKING WITH SEA GLASS AND FOSSILS, HOW ARE YOU INCORPERATING THEM INTO YOUR WORK?
Sea Glass is fascinating to me. I know it comes from broken bottles and goes through a journey of being naturally tumbled in to a smooth piece of beautiful. I have only ever found one piece. In Scotland back in September. This is the reason I would love to try my hand at silversmithing. The thought of finding Sea Glass and transforming it giving it a new life in a necklace is just so exciting. This is what inspired my latest video of creating a Sea Glass Necklace but from Epoxy and Silver Pen. A dupe on the real thing if you like.
IF YOU HAD TO PICK, WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE HEMWAY COLOUR OR PRODUCT?
For me it is the Hemway Red. The Hemway Red Glitter is and always has been my favourite. It is the purest of reds. It was also the very first Glitter I ever used from Hemway 3 years ago. Next in line would be the mixed chunky glitters. My favourite being the chunky Tiger Black Glitter. I have created some beautiful work with that Glitter.
WHO ARE SOME MAKERS WHO INSPIRE YOU?
There are four makers, creators and artists who inspire me:
Sarah from Uplift Furnishings. Sarah shares all of her upcycling work on her Instagram. Not only is her work stunning she is totally hilarious and fun to engage with. Her work also reminds me of my home DIY days which I cannot wait to return to.
Mark from Shopdog Workshop. Mark creates and turns the most stunning wood and resin spheres (and other things) on the Lathe and I just hope to be able to do this one day. I am too scared to turn resin but I am going to try it again soon.
Toni from Dunn Crafts Decor. I met Toni online around 3 years ago and we have become such good friends. We even took a girlie shopping weekend together pre-covid. Toni introduced me to the world of mixed media and Rae Dunn. Toni's work is absolutely next level beautiful. She incorporates so many mediums into her work and was on the design team for Prima. I could watch her create for hours.
Lindsay Creative shares her love and work for Silversmithing. Her jewellery is just stunned and I love seeing her work process in her workshop in the USA. She is also super friendly and adorable to engage with.
I want to mention another 200 makers and artists who inspire me also and engage with regularly. I appreciate them all and I just love the creative community.