Interview with Ulrike of teufelskruemel

Let's all meet Ulrike, a swapper from Germany who makes adorable handmade goodies like her gnomies! Check out her blog (in german only) and her flickr.

SwapDex: Tell us a bit about you

Ulrike: okay, were to start. I am 29 and mother to two boys (2 yrs and 7 month) which have quite a lot of energy. Our family lives in Germany. Actually, I am engineer and stay home with my kids this year. Crafting is something I do more or less every time since this is just fun and relaxing. Mostly, I am sewing though this will mostly take place in the middle of the night. But I am also a bit painting, printing, making little sculptures or silver jewelry.

SD: How long have you been swapping? How did you first learn about swapping, and what made you decide to start? Do you remember your first one?

U: I am swapping for about 2 years now. The first one was a Christmas swap in a sewing community. I thought it would be fun to join in. It was, so I did some more. I swap quite a lot of totally different handmade items.

Best thing is that some swap partnerships and some friendships developed over time.

SD: What is your range of swapping? Do you stick to swaps hosted by people you know or are you likely to swap with anyone, anytime?

U: A lot of the swaps are only direct swaps just between two persons (e.g. I get knitted socks or handmade soap for a travel bag). I do not always know the people I start swaps with. I join in when the swap itself appeals to me and I think it will be fun to participate. The small swaps are all organized within a dedicated message board or within some sewing communities. At the moment, I am in some swaps on flickr. It is just easier to come together within an organized group and you meet a lot of amazing crafters this way.

I won't swap if I had bad experience with some members and especially if I have not enough time no matter how tempted I am.

SD: What's your favorite swap you've ever been in or hosted?

U: Difficult. I like all my swaps but especially the ones I am currently in as I have tons of ideas what I could make :)

SD: What do you do to make your packages special?

U: I like work carefully, wrapping my packages nicely as if the were presents, adding some candy and a note to the recipient. The best ones are the baby quilts I swaped since I always add a coordinating handmade rattling owl as a soft toy for the baby.

SD: What do you think is the most challenging part of hosting a swap? Any advice for someone who is thinking about hosting a swap?

U: Most challenging for me as a hostess is to find the right time for the swap, for example, it could rather difficult to organize a Christmas swap on short notice in November. Also, if you don't know already a lot of people it might be could to think ahead of time about ways to advertise your swap.