'Meeting The Makers' with Jeanette from Mi Cottage Crafts

In the world of crafting, where imagination know no bounds, there are artisans who transcend the ordinary to create something truly enchanting. Among these creative souls is Jeanette, the creator behind Mi Cottage Crafts. With an artistic journey that is as inspiring as it is captivating, Jeanette has carved a niche for herself in the junk journal community and the stitching world, infusing her creations with a timeless shabby vintage charm.

Tell us a little bit about yourself……………

I am a middle-aged woman who likes to sit in her craft room and make stuff. Actually I am a ‘mature’ woman who has found her love of crafting/journal making and absolutely loves it. I am married and have five children, four of whom are adults and left the home and a 17 year old, about to complete his schooling. My background is in the legal field.

What or who inspired you to start creating Junk Journals.

I was initially inspired to create journals because a lovely lady by the name of ‘Wenche’ (pronounced totally different than it is spelled) sent me a pennant/banner in a crafting challenge I was having, several years ago. I was so touched by her entry that I went and looked at her channel and found she was making Junk Journals. They were absolutely wonderful and although I didn’t start making them straight away, the seed was sown! Wenche’s channel is called ‘Finally Crafting’.

What is your first memory of being creative?

My first memory of being creative was when I was about 11 years old, I bought some white tiles and wrapping paper and then cut the little Holly Hobby pictures out of the paper and made 3D type pictures of them on the tiles, using rice to separate the layers. I then attached a little velvet ribbon hanger with flour glue. I walked up and down the street and sold them door to door. Entrepreneurial way back then!

In what way does being creative affect your daily life?

Being creative makes me happy, or should I say, I am happy because I am creative. That’s pretty much it, if I’m not being creative then it wouldn’t really be a life for me.

What is your process when creating a new journal and are there any specific factors you consider?

When I decide to make a new journal I usually decide whether it will be neutral or coloured, I will then work out the size I want to make. I generally don’t do themes and I stick to either neutral or floral. I like these types of journals most but I have been known to make a blue or pink journal. Once I have decided on these things, I will then start getting the pages folded and organised. I like journals that can be used and written in or drawn in so lots of pages for this is important. When the pages are ready, I will then start making tags, tuck spots, ephemera and other bits and pieces to start decorating the pages. The cover is more often than not, the last thing I make.

Have you noticed any particular themes or trends recently in the junk journaling community that you would like to try?

I’m not sure what themes or trends are ‘in’ at the moment as I generally just make what I feel like making and I tend to live under a rock most of the time (hahaha). I would like to do a colour series of journals though, like a red journal, a blue, a green journal etc. It would help me use some of my stash up and I think it would be a fun project.

Do you have any unique features that you add into nearly every journal you create?

I add little paper flowers into just about every journal I create. They are fun, they make me happy and are easy to use. Oh and lace………….. I love adding lace in my journals.

Would you say you have a certain style?

Yes, I feel I definitely have a style and I would call it ‘shabby vintage’. It is a very forgiving style and I get to play with beautiful vintage laces and this style also allows me to add ripped fabrics and lots of tea staining. That’s pretty much everything I love using.

Do you have any tips and tricks for fellow creatives that night help them on their creative journey?

One of the most helpful and empowering things I hear when I first started to create on YouTube was that there are no mistakes. We can fix just about anything and also, there are no right and wrong ways of making a journal. Just do it your way!

If you are starting out, try different techniques and see what is comfortable for you.

How do you strike a balance between functionality and aesthetics in your creations or do you create just because you love it and it makes you happy?

Striking a balance between functionality and aesthetics can sometimes be tricky. I always want things to look pleasing and I enjoy using lovely things but I am also quite a practical type of person so I want to be able to use the journal. After using my own journals for a while, I decided I would design my journals the way I enjoy using them. I include lots of writing and drawing space along with lots of little pretty bits. I don’t make them ‘over the top’ though. I feel the cover is where you can have fun and it usually sets the tone for the journal itself.

How do you engage with your community of creatives and how has this influenced your body of work, if at all?

I have some lovely people that have followed along with me from the very beginning and we communicate in the comments and occasionally via email. I do tend to keep to myself within the crafting community and it has served me well over the years. YouTube can be a little fickle at times, one minute one thing is popular and the next minute it is something else, so people come and go and so do trends. I just plod along doing my own thing and make sure I enjoy myself along the way.

Could you tell us of a memorable experience or story shared by one of your customers or subscribers, regarding their journaling or creative journey?

I won’t really tell you a specific story but I will say I have heard from people over the years who have thanked me for my videos. They have said that it was one of my videos that made them think they could actually create something. When I hear that, it makes me very happy and am touched that I have helped someone try something new.

Where do you find your inspiration for your creations and how do you stay motivated to create new and and unique products?

Inspiration can come from anywhere really like looking at a pretty dress can inspire the look of a journal or seeing a lovely paper line can dictate a certain aesthetic. Sometimes I will find it watching someone else on YouTube but mostly I find I just improve upon or slightly change up what I have done before when it comes to journal making and decorating. Remember, everything has been around for many, many years and is just re-done in a slightly different way by many different people so it is quite rare to see something unique and ‘new’.

We all lose our Mojo at some point and it can be frightening to think it will never come back. Do you have anything in particular that you like to do to help you get into creating again?

As for motivation, I find the more you create, the more you want to create. I feel it tends to feed itself, that’s why you shouldn’t stop. Even when you don’t feel you have any mojo, just find something little to do and it will grow. Sometimes, the simple act of cleaning up your creative space will spur on the creative juices.

Where do you create? Do you have a dedicated space?

My creative space is my craft room, and I absolutely love it. It’s not big but it is full of all the things I treasure and enjoy working with.

Do you have a favourite technique or tool?

One of my favourite techniques is very simple, it’s just messily scrunching up a slither of tulle on the side of a page, tag etc. I really like how this looks and it’s effective as well as being soft and pretty too. Oh gosh, my favourite tool? I would have to say that would be my sewing machine. I have always loved to sew and it adds so much to a journal. There are many other tools I wouldn’t be without but my sewing machine is definitely my favourite.

Have you faced any challenges with regards to your creative journey?

When I first set out on YouTube, one of the biggest challenges for me was finding good supplies to use for crafting. I could never find anything at the op-shops and many new items were out of my budget as I had my children at home back then. With time, I feel I have conquered the op-shops and rarely leave empty handed these days. There are also so many onllne stores to purchase from, such as Paper Inspirations (thanks for the shout out Jeanette), so it’s much easier to find what I need.

What are your future goals?

My goal is to make beautiful things and to always try my best and learn as I go.

If you could offer one piece of advise to your fellow creatives, what would that be?

Oh, what good advice do I have? Let me see……………….. If you are a journal maker, be sure to use your own journals before you decide to sell them so that you know how they work. Also, use smiley faces when typing online because emotions are hard for people to read. :-)

What is your favourite quote/ affirmation?

Everything is exactly the way it is meant to be.

You can use this pretty much in every aspect of your life, not just in your creative ventures.

You can find Jeanette here -

YouTube - Mi Cottage Crafts

Instagram - Mi Cottage Crafts

Etsy - MiCottageCrafts

Thank you so much for joining me today and getting to know a little bit more about Jeanette’s world, gaining insight into her artistic process, her sources of inspiration and the stories that each journal she creates, whispers. From weathered pages that seem to carry the whispers of time to beautifully adorned covers that beckon with their elegance, Jeanette’s craft transcends the boundaries of mere paper and ink.

You can find more episodes of ‘Meeting the Makers’, here on the blog as well as over on the Paper Inspirations YouTube channel.

Until next time, I hope you all get a little bit of creative time in.

Sue xxx