Lust For life: Voodoopickle

Come look what I’ve found…Voodoopickle!

Cool name, cool lady behind the name, and freakin’ fabulous, far-too-cool, funky limited edition handmade and vintage jewellery. Cool x 10000000.

Describe the person behind the label in 5 words…
Quirky, nerdy, creative, ambitious, fun

What is you do exactly?
I run Voodoopickle. I spend my time researching suppliers and stockists, designing and making my kick ass range of jewellery.

Tell us about voodoopickle - what is it? what’s with the name how did you make it happen?
Voodoopickle started last year when I was made redundant from a boring office job that I’d fallen into. I decided that it was the perfect time to do my own thing and so Voodoopickle was born. I started off, buying a few supplies and putting the jewellery I was making up on myspace. I received such a great response that I started a website and everything has grown from there. We now have shops stocking our jewellery and sending out orders and designing and making new stock has become a full time job. I like to think we offer something unique and quirky and I am always looking for new supplies and materials. The name was a bit of a random choice, I wanted something different that would stick in people’s minds. The Voodoo part makes me think of magic and the pickle part means a mixture so Voodoopickle is a magicalmixture. Nothing to do with cucumbers in vinegar

How did you discover your talent for craftin’?
I’ve always been creative, as a child I would knit and sew and I’ve always drawn and painted.As a teenager I used to make my own clothes and jewellery and had a very weird style. After I left school I studied fine art which further fuelled my creative fire. I have always wanted to run my own business and work in a field where I could be creative, Voodoopickle gives me the opportunity to do both. Selling something that you’ve made is the best feeling in the world.

Who or what inspires your creations?
Everything and anything. whatever music I’m currently listening to, what is or isn’t in fashion, vintage, high street , films ,my travels and everything in between. All the cool girls I see at gigs that are rocking their own style and all the great feedback I get from customers and friends

What’s your favourite creation right now?
I’m loving the daisy chain bracelet I’ve been wearing one myself all summer and they sell really well so I’m obviously not the only one.

Tell us about your work space - do you work from home? Do you have a specific space where you create?
I’ve got a studio in my flat where I work. It’s like a little bead haven with drawers and drawers of charms and trinkets. I really get into work mode when I’m in there and spend hours and hours making things whilst bopping along to my favourite tunes. Not a bad day at work really.

What’s a typical day in the life of you?
I like to get up quite early,I spend an hour or so getting ready having breakfast etc. as if I were going out to work. I start work about 9am. The first thing I do is check my emails and reply to any myspace messages. I print off my orders for the day and get them packed up. This usually takes me to lunch time when I stop to eat. I spend the afternoon designing and making new stock for the website, fitting in a trip to the post office to send off everyones orders.I finish work about 6pm, but I’ll usually spend a bit of time on Myspace in the evening trying to promote the website. I do also have a life and I enjoy cuddles with my boyfriend, going to gigs eating out and very frequent cinema trips. I have a great group of friends which I think you have to have if you work from home otherwise it can get a bit lonely.

Favourite…
Colour:pink
Food: chocolate
Place: my studio
Book: lost souls by poppy z brite
Movie: the butterfly effect

What’s next in the life of Voodoo Pickle?
I am currently working on new funky shop friendly packaging and new look for the website. I’m also trying to get a new range of totally hand made jewellery finished and launched.

What’s your advice for wannabee-designer-girls?
Make things that you like. If you like it there are bound to be other people out there that will share your style and it’s a lot more fun selling and promoting things that you wear yourself and believe in. Stick at it, nothing is instant, but if you’re prepared to put the work and time in you will get there.

Finally, the colour pink. Discuss.
The colour my hair used to be!! And the fab pink-world zine.

Go visit! www.voodoopickle.com