We continue our series of posts interviewing “recycled art” crafters & artists. This week, we interviewed Elisabeth Hinze (alias Ronja Lotte) from the blog Nur much as she is one of our most followed crafters and she brings very good ideas & inspirations to the Recyclart community. If you think you deserve to be featured in the next interview, please, drop us an email.
Tell us a little more about you? Who you are? Where are you from?
My name is Elisabeth Hinze (alias Ronja Lotte) and I am a DIY-Blogger from Hamburg, Germany. Since I was a kid, I never wanted to be anything else then an author and work with books. So I went to the university after finishing school and studied Literature and Linguistics. Well, and then life happened. After only writing academical papers for several years and working in jobs that had nothing to do with writing, I gave up on my dream. Then last year I started my blog www.nur-noch.blogspot.de and what started as a hobby became very quickly my life and the best thing that ever happened to me. At last I am writing and I can even work in my Pyjamas. Life can’t get any better.
Why do you craft?
In nature I am very introvert and tend to overthink everything. When I am crafting, I just enjoy working with my hands. Another thing that I really love is to customize my own world. When I need a present for a friend, when I want a new shelf for my flat or a new dress for the summer, I just create it myself – with the materials I want and without the stress of running through a dozen stores.
How did you learn?
My father taught me to use all the essential power tools like drills, electrical saws or my beloved Dremel. When I wanted to learn to sew, I bought the cheapest sewing machine that I could find and for months I worked myself trough every sewing tutorial that I could find on the internet. I also did the same when I taught myself how to use Photoshop or when I started to photograph. I am a big believer in always learning.
Since when are you working with recycled & upcycled materials?
I started when I discovered the whole concept of Upcycling, about two years ago.
What are your can’t-live-without essentials?
My power tools, my photo camera, my cats and my bottle cutter.
How would you describe your style? Are there any crafters/artists/designers that you particularly look up to?
I would describe my style as a “modern vintage” – a fusion between modern Scandinavian design and vintage elements.
How is your workspace, how do you make it inspiring?
I work at home and my workspace is everywhere. I need a lot of light and clearness when I work so I painted my wood floor and the walls white and decluttered my flat.
What sorts of things are inspiring you right now? Where do you look for inspiration?
I always feel inspired by both the traditional Scandinavian country style and the more modern Scandinavian designs of today.
When do you feel the most creative?
At night, when I should sleep.
We live in such a mass-produced, buy-it-now society. Why should people continue to make things by hand?
There are so many benefits to making things by hand that this isn’t even a real question for me: Buying a mass-produced item can never be the same than making a unique custom designed item yourself.
What is your favorite medium to work in?
I can’t stop working with old bottles and wood. I never get tiered of smelling wood or sanding a perfect glass cut.
What are your tips for people who’d like to start crafting?
Don’t try to be perfect and always try something new.
What is your favorite thing to do (other than crafting)?
Shopping for materials and home décor items at flea markets and thrift stores.
Anything else you would like to tell to the “recycling community”?
Right now I am working on my first craft book, together with the talented designer and author Kajsa Kinsella. The book will feature lots of Upcycling projects and I am crossing my fingers that we can find a publisher.
To finish, we’ve seen that you have an active blog. Since how many times are you blogging? Is that a full-time job or just a hobby to share your personal creations? Any websites that our readers should not miss?
I am blogging since June 2014 and although I started my blog as a hobby, it is now my full time job.
Thanks a lot Elisabeth for this interview! :)
To see all the posts by Elisabeth, it’s here.
This is a really interesting interview. I found myself agreeing with so many things that Elisabeth said. I too am at my most creative at night when I should be asleep. Those that craft with recycled materials see a project in pretty much everything.