This is part 2 of a new series I’m starting in which I interview the owner of a interesting blog that’s hot in the blogosphere right now.

Mia is the owner of One Hour Craft, a blog filled with tutorials for quick and easy crafts.

1. When and why did you start your blog?

I started my blog as a commercial venture. It is a natural extension of three of my passions in life, crafting, writing and connecting with people. Onehourcraft.com has been going for about six months now. Onehourcraft.com also made sense for me to start because I believe in it. I believe in teaching people that you do not have to go to the market place to find beautiful things. You do not need endless hours, a lot of money and expensive lessons to make beautiful things. I believe that with the right attitude, a few supplies and the right equipment, you can make products much more beautiful and unique than any factory could make. If someone writes to me and says that my blog helped them get started crafting – that is enough. I also have a personal blog (mariabinns.wordpress.com) which I have been running for a year and a half, although somewhat sporadically. I am not that comfortable with giving away a lot of information about my life and prefer to discuss my hobbies.

2. Where do you get the inspirations for your crafts?

I take my inspiration from my life. Firstly, I am obsessed with craft and nearly everything I do from organising a birthday party to making dinner has a creative element, so inspiration is everywhere. Things and people which fill up my creative bowl are; hunting through thrift stores for vintage patterns and ancient craft books, my twin sister, chats over dinner with my best friend Kate, walks along the beach where anything becomes possible, brainstorming with my little girl whose ideas have no limits, tips from my mum who is one of the most talented people I have ever met.

3. What craft/post is your favorite?

I have a few favourites. I loved the humbug party bags I made for the site. They are beautiful and so simple. I also love the kanzashi tutorial. Kanzashi are gorgeous little Japanese fabric flowers. They are stunning.

4. Tell us a little more about your Craft Bag Swap and perhaps any favorites you’ve seen from your readers.

We held our first bag swap at the beginning of the year. People joined the swap. We randomly chose them a partner. Then they made contact with this person and made a tote bag and swapped with their partner. It was a great success and some great photos are at the onehourcraft group on flickr. Unfortunately, my swap partner seems to have forgotten me. Boo hoo.

5. Can you recommend other websites you enjoy?

I have very little time to read other sites. I used to track about four hundred crafty blogs through technorati but now I really only read a few blogs regularly. I read five French craft blogs religiously. I just find that France is about a year ahead of the rest of the crafting world. The other blogs I read are fashionisspinach.com, andreascher.com and annamariahorner.blogspot.com. I wish I had more time to check up on everyone and what is going on, but having a child, a commercial site, a fulltime job etc keeps me from doing this. I am so inspired by the creative women who are on the net.

Visit One Hour Craft.

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