Interview with PoetessWug2 of Wuglyees

You provide a fairly thorough introduction of yourself in your etsy profile.
In there, you said you taught yourself to crochet because you wanted to learn but no one would take the time to teach you. Do you remember what it was about crochet that seemed so attractive?
I don't remember exactly what it was that drew me to crochet, other than seeing little doilies and lace-looking tablecloths all over my relative's houses. I asked a lot of questions about them and always saw people crocheting...and wallah!...it bit me like a bug! My reasons for wanting to become more creative with it came many years down the road, inspired by my becoming better at it!

Did it live up to your expectations?
Crochet absolutely lived up to my expectations...and then some! I find that there is nothing that I can't do with crocheting if I put my mind...and a little elbow grease...to it! With the right materials I could keep myself busy year round, even though crochet is considered more of a cold weather endeavor.

Are there other crafts you have tried?
The other crafts that I have endeavored to do are many. I knit ALMOST as well as I crochet, but I find knitting to be more tedious and less challenging to my creativity. I marvel at people who love both. (I marry the two in some projects though.)...I also latch hook, sew, cross stitch and write poetry. Poetry and crochet are the two things I find that I can do tirelessly, and I share the most of who I am with those who receive the finished products of.!

Are there other crafts or forms of art you would like to try and why?
The other crafts that I have endeavored to do are many. I knit ALMOST as well as I crochet, but I find knitting to be more tedious and less challenging to my creativity. I marvel at people who love both. (I marry the two in some projects though.)...I also latch hook, sew, cross stitch and write poetry. Poetry and crochet are the two things I find that I can do tirelessly, and I share the most of who I am with those who receive the finished products of.! I would love to try painting some day. It is among those things that I love to look at. I love to see how different artists express themselves. With my infinite love of color, I'd love to one day dabble in canvas brush strokes...maybe even to music! (Music is another love of mine!)

Your shop slogan is "Where nothing is wasted, even the ugly" and you feature items with leftover yarn; How did this idea come about?
I had so much yarn just building up in my house, yarn that had been given to me or was leftover from other projects that I'd bought too much yarn for. So I started making scarves with it. I didn't focus on making them to be perfect initially...I just wanted to use up the yarn so that it wouldn't be wasted! Then my friends and relatives started to say "Why are you making those ugly scarves?!" LOL I didn't pay one bit of attention to them because I thought they were beautiful!...Then I remembered that they had said the same thing about the bear that I had made, my "Wuglyee"! That's where my slogan came from for my shop! "Where nothing is wasted, not even the ugly". And since I had grown to love my ugly little bear, I figured someone would grow to love my crocheted scarves...and other items now! The name of my shop, "Wuglyees" stands for 'WARM, BUT UGLY', which is how I came to feel about my bear who came out soooo ugly, but who warms my heart when I look at him and remember how much work I put into him. That's why I named him "Wuglyee". He's "W" for warm, "ugly" in the middle, and "ee" (or eezy) to love!


What is your favorite thing you've ever made and why?
Naming one favorite thing I've ever made is hard. My Wuglyee bear is a definite favorite, although he's a one of a kind and I am no longer in the crocheted animal business. One of him was enough for me to know that there IS a limit to what I like to do!...This shawl is a favorite and themed blankets (Cats, wedding, Mickey Mouse cross-stitched over a crochet pattern, etc) that I have specifically made or created for friends and family have been favorites. I guess anything I've made where my creative juices were flowing could be considered a favorite! :-))

I've noticed a theme in many forms of art and creation of wanting to be in another world. What is your ideal world and how does you art interact with that?
There are many things about this world that can be frustrating and discouraging, but while I await a world filled with people who only want the best for each other, and who spend their life in service to each other, I will enjoy this one! I work on my own self daily and crocheting helps me to be more patient, open and loving...there is love in every stitch!

What would you say to people trying to find their world?
To all those trying to find out what they are good at, or what they can make money at, I say find out what you love to do! If you do that you'll never be disappointed with your choice, and you'll be happy with yourself no matter what! That's what I have done!

What about others who wish to create? Anything to tell us?
Intellectually, I know that my shop is a business, but I also know that If you focus all your energy on profit it'll be a long, slow journey! So every day I find try to think about something else I'd like to create, or someone else I'd like to share what I've created with! It's making the journey a very happy one for me!

And, Last but not least, where can we find you and your work?
You can find my shop at www.wuglyees.etsy.com . Come by and check out all of my "Ugly" creations! LOL And if you like, leave me a message in the "Contact Wuglyee" section of my home page to let me know what you think! I'd love the feedback, even if you're not buying anything this time around...Also, come and tweet with me on Twitter. http://twitter.com/PoetessWug2

A big thank you goes out to PoetessWug2 for sharing her time and thoughts with us.
If you would like to be interviewed as well, post it in comments, find Hillary on twitter or facebook, or convo us on etsy. I'd love to see what you're crocheting, knitting,...creating!