Visiting Calexandra‘s Etsy shop is like stepping into a beautiful, sunlit garden. Her work is so very cheerful and lovely!
Water Lilly & Organza Bouquet
Q. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Charlotte Alexandra, I’m 35 years old (how the years fly)!. I’m British born and bred, I left home at 18 to study and travel and that’s exactly how I spent the whole of my 20′s!!! I worked in many many jobs, studied many subjects: acting – photography – art – dancing. I lived in London and had a fantastic time. Aged 30 I fell pregnant with my daughter Molly. I’m a single mum (through choice), I never did find Mr Right so I decided to start the process myself and I’m so pleased I did. My life is very full and rich and I know I am very very lucky.
Charlotte and Molly
Q. How did you begin making such lovely things?
I began to make greeting cards to help save up for a trip to Australia when I was 29 yrs old, they sold out and I was shocked! I carried on making cards throughout my trip overseas and sold them along the way. When I returned to the UK aged 30 I soon fell pregnant and rented my first real home, I stared making accessories for gifts as money was low and basically I just fell in love with making things. It just happened overnight and I just got better and better, I am totally self-trained in textiles. I bought books and experimented until I felt comfortable selling things, I sold on a craft stall and kept selling every week. When I had Molly I found Etsy, it was really hard having a new Baby and then finding Etsy as they are my biggest loves!!!! I was very tired that year (07).
Q. Your shop is so pretty! What is your creative process like?
My creative process, well basically when Molly is in bed at 8pm, I light all my candles, put on a good movies, sit down on my lovely plump sofa and just create, I always have hundreds of ideas swimming around in my head so I’m never stuck for things to make, I often let the material dictate its final destination, I have my cup of tea and quite a few chocolate pieces and I’m as happy as can be. I work till the early hours of the morning and love that feeling of peace and quiet.I hand-sew everything as I just never took to using a machine, the process is long and I don’t mind it one bit.
gorgeous one of a kind brooches
Q. What’s a normal day in your life like?
My day starts around 8am, Molly goes to pre-school 3 mornings a week but if she is off, we normally go out during the day. After photographing my work and getting the house in some sort of order, we drive out into the countryside and go to a park or woods (Molly loves running around, she rarely sits still).We go have lunch and maybe pop into a charity shop or two. We get home, have a bath and supper and then Molly goes to bed between 7-8pm. I get to work and then finish around 2-3am, yes I get very tired but I’m lucky in that I’m at home and can take a break when I want to, oh and I drink lots and lots of tea!. I have a lovely house filled with books and toys and fairy lights and painted furniture etc……if very girly and very full!!! I am so lucky to have found a job that I just adore and that I can do at home, I’m very happy right now.
pretty petals
Q. What inspires you most of all?
What inspires me, well flowers are top of the list, oh my am I obsessed with flowers, I love nature in general and go daily to some sort of gardens. We are very blessed in England to have castles and grounds everywhere. Mostly though its just the materials, it funny I don’t actually wear anything I make but I know instinctively what to make from a piece of organza, my friends find that weird. I often look through my textile books or my garden flower books and can get ideas but mostly its just having a great imagination, something that is natural and easy to use.
marina on 
