Meet Krafty Creator Founder Emily
Emily is a parent, of two little boys, and through playing with her children she began her business Krafty Creators. Today, she creates fantastic kids parties, play-dates and “learning-through-play” set ups ~ which have become a sell-out success. To describe Emily’s approach I can only ask that you think of the type of childhood playing, that you dream of for your children. Emily’s scenes are other-worldly and as a mum of two she is able to translate ideas and concepts into bite-size activities, which kids can engage with. Encouraging children to transform into a character ~ become a bunny, through making a bunny mask, or become an explorer, by making their own binoculars etc... this is imaginative play brought to life.
Miriam x
Meet Krafty Creator Founder Emily
As a little background, Emily is a parent of two little boys, now 5 and 3 years old, she started her business Krafty Creators through the play adventures and games, that she created for them at home. Very quickly word spread through Emily’s friends and wider-parent network about her interactive playdates. Overnight she developed a waiting list and began to host parties and themed “story adventures”.
Emily was always passionate about art as a child, always keen to make things and obsessed with every kind of craft kit. She went on to become a student at Central Saint Martins and studied there for 6 years, completing an Art Foundation course, Textiles BA and a Fashion Masters. This led to a career as a Womenswear Fashion Buyer at Harrods Ltd. After, having her two boys Emily began her business Krafty Creators, through playdates and then parties.
As Emily explained “I loved my job but deep down I missed thinking more creatively and then using my hands to turn my ideas into reality. My boys changed this as I found myself making things everyday for them and, more importantly, with them. I felt like I was back at University, overflowing with ideas for my next brief. Seeing how a child develops in the early years takes my breath away, that is how my passion for creative play was born”
What do you love about what you do?
A child’s imagination has no limits, as someone with an art background this is the perfect brief! I have worked on some lovely varied themes. I really enjoy the initial stages of a brief ~ it is literally all I can think of when I first get a project. Finally, I love seeing it all come together on the day and the quiet moments, before the event begins and a small world of adventure has been bought to life. Each child is so wonderfully different, and I enjoy learning and gaining new ideas from how each child interacts with the environments I create.
Bespoke Magic Kingdom adventure party, are you an elf or a fairy? by Krafty Creators
What’s a typical day look like for you, as a busy parent of two?
My youngest wakes anywhere between 5:30 - 6:30am so the days in our cottage can start early, especially as my husband leaves for work at 6.30am. In our house TV is allowed until breakfast, whilst everyone is still waking up. Then we eat breakfast at about 7.30 - 8.00am. We are very lucky to have a village school nearby, so we walk together. Twice a week I then drop my youngest in the village pre-school for their morning play session. These are the days when I can work on my business: prop sourcing and I can squeeze in meetings.
On the days where I have my youngest with me, we often visit local National Trust properties, go to nearby open farms, visit the soft play barn, or meet friends for play-dates in the morning, then have home adventures until the school run. The kid have their tea at 5pm and are in bed by 7pm (if it runs smoothly!). I’m sure so many parents relate, but once the kids are in bed it's the juggle for our dinner and my working day begins. I catch up with my husband, whilst juggling emails.
And, a day in lockdown?
I have tried as much as possible, for us to retain a bit of our daily routine and we start home schooling at 9am. We play the CBeebies weekday cheesy kid’s song ‘give it up for Monday…’ whilst we get ready! With home schooling, and my boys, it has been a challenge to fit in working on my business, but home learning has often accidentally evolved into a Krafty Creators type-adventures. I have been sharing these on Instagram and it has been lovely connecting with other parents, as we all struggle to keep our kids busy.
During lockdown I have also tried to stay active; after about two weeks, I made a pact with my sister to run everyday and we have stuck to it. It has really reminded me of the importance of exercise for mental health; the daily release of endorphins has navigated me through 10-weeks with 2 under 5’s. I feel I have regained a sense of self, in the midst of such a difficult time.
What inspires you?
So many things, I find inspiration for my work every-day. I can be reading to my boys and suddenly get an idea. Markets are one of my favourite places, I always end up taking hundreds of pictures because I am overflowing with ideas. Being outdoors is also a great source of ideas for me. I have a passion for installation art too, scenes and stage-sets. Working creatively again has been a total joy.
Keeping boredom at bay?
Reading… I am not a big reader as I am dyslexic, or as I like to say “made by Dyslexia”. However, I do love reading to my kids. I think reading lots of books at night-time to my boys has helped my reading as much as theirs.
Listening to… podcasts, 70’s and 80’s mega hits, big West End musicals
Watching… This Morning, Loose Women and Killing Eve
How do you re-set and take care of yourself?
A daily walk in the countryside, especially as we have beautiful countryside surrounding our village. Pre-lockdown, I converted a manicure and a pedicure at the same time…. it stops me checking my phone and I can actually switch off. I also love cooking for friends and I’m looking forward to being able to do that again, when lockdown lifts.
What does a family meal look like in your house?
My childhood is full of food memories: my Mum getting a roast chicken out of the Aga, the boiled egg and soldiers that my Nanna would make me, Christmas dinners with 17 people around the table. A lot of what I cook is taken from my childhood. But there is one truly special recipe, which evokes absolute happiness and nostalgia for me. Every Christmas eve, my Nanna used to make us her fish pie. My Mum then did the same for us as children. We now we always have her fish pie on Christmas Eve. Both my sister and I, even requested Nanna’s fish pie the night before our weddings. I cook her recipe often and I always think of my Nanna and the wonderful family memories that it holds for me.
more plans for 2020?
Lockdown has made us look at the world we work and live in slightly differently and it has given me the time to focus on how I see Krafty Creators growing and developing. Alongside my bespoke events, I am currently working on a set of themed adventures which work from home. Clients select from the themes on offer and receive a full running order of the event, what the craft would be, what the room would look like and how to make the props etc. Choosing from: Jungle Treasures, Little Rabbits Garden, Princesses and Knights, or others.
My website will be launching in the next few months which is something I am really excited about as this will showcase what I have done already and allow me to connect with my audience in a more direct and interactive way. We are also planning more exclusive pop-up events, on the other side of lockdown. Working with children and seeing the adventure unfold for them is why I love what I do.