Interview with Lorraine Craig Mackie

Hi, everyone!  Mitzi again, as your host. Welcome to the 4th installment of my Designer Interviews.  I'm glad you can join us. :D  Today, I'd like to introduce you to Lorraine Craig Mackie.  Everyone, please meet, Lorraine!

Lorraine Craig Mackie

Mitzi: I remember that the first card I saw from you that was made with one of my digi's was "Shades of Blue" (Orchid Fairy with Detailed Butterfly Wings), which got me so excited. I loved the monochromatic coloring in shades of grey, with beautifully subtle rainbow colors in the wings. And with the embellishment you gave to the card, the overall visual impact was breathtaking - opulent and elegant. I've read that you've been coloring/paper crafting for about 7 years. How did you get started?

Lorraine's gorgeous card with "Shades of Blue"

Lorraine: I came into crafting seven years ago when my mother who was already an avid paper crafter introduced me to it. Crafting and in particular paper crafting is a brilliant way to lose yourself, I often sit at my desk to colour an image for example and look up at the clock only to find that its the early hours of the morning.

Mitzi: I also remember when I saw your cover photo on FB of your work space. I recall I had one of those jaw-dropping moments (followed probably by a drool...). It's every crafter's dream space! How long have you had that awesome setup? And about how much time, on average, do you get to spend there every day?

Lorraine's crafty haven - beautifully organized and with plenty of bright natural light to work in

Lorraine: Oh, that's lovely of you to say so, Mitzi. My little craft area or as I call it "my crafty haven" is where I've been crafting now for 4years, before that I crafted at our dining table which really wasn't very practical, so I decided to get rid of the table, get a desk and what was our dining room has now become "my crafty haven." lol

Mitzi: My humble art studio became a nursery, then my child's room. ^^; I'll just have to build an addition to the house to reclaim my studio space. Next question. When you're not coloring and crafting, what do you enjoy doing?

Lorraine: When I'm not crafting I like to read mostly crime novels, I love to listen to music, spend a little time in the garden and go for walks either along the beach or in the surrounding countryside.

Lorraine's card in gorgeous autumn color scheme with "Red Poppies"

Mitzi: My gosh, how lovely! *jealous of walks along the beach* Your wonderful attention to detail probably got a good start when you picked up crocheting, knitting, and embroidery, as you mention in your bio. What is the biggest, or the most time-consuming, project you've ever tackled in one of these types of crafts?

Lorraine: Hmmm, I would have to say the most time consuming project I've ever tackled was the lace doily dressing table set that I crocheted for my Grandmother when I was about 11 or 12 years old....The crochet hook was so small and the thread was so fine....my Grandmother was so thrilled with them and they had pride of place on her dresser until she died only a few years ago.

Mitzi: What a lovely story! I just knew you would be the type of person who had the patience to complete a very demanding project even at a young age. Next question. Are you a cat person or a dog person? (Random, I know. But a crazy cat lady must ask this every time she interviews someone.)

Lorraine: I love all animals really but I adore cats both domestic and big cats.

Crazy Cat Lady: *nods happily*

Lorraine's stunning take on "Along Came a Spider"

Mitzi: Moving right along, but the next question is just as random. Do you like ethnic food? If so, what is your favorite dish?

Lorraine: I prefer plain & simple dishes, but I do like to try most foods... I'm not a lover of hot and spicy dishes like vindaloo or chilli's but I do like some aromatic dishes like a creamy Korma or stir fry's.

Mitzi: You sound a little like me. I was raised on a very traditional (everyday stuff, nothing fancy, but almost exclusively of whole food and healthy) Japanese diet, but am totally adventurous when I have the opportunity to try something new and different. I'd try any food at least once ... or a bite (may spit it out later lol). OK. Next question. What is your favorite art tool and why?

Lorraine: This is an easy question. My colouring tools (you see how I got around that one lol), namely my alcohol pens and my pencils.

Lorraine's beauitful limited palette card with "The Green Fairy"

Mitzi: And you use them with such grace on your projects! They love you. ^^ Now just for fun, when you were little, what did you want to be when you grow up? Everyone gets asked this question, too. ;)

Lorraine: I wanted to be a hairdresser/stylist and when I left school that's what I trained to be.

Mitzi: With what I've seen you do with paper crafts, I bet you were an extraordinary hair wizard! :D Last question. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you like to go visit?

Lorraine: Now this is another tricky question.... Hmm let me think... well, up until only a few years ago, I would have said I would have loved to go Island hopping around the Greek Islands, but now that I'm an avid crafter I would have to say that I would love to go to the CHA* in America. *Craft & Hobby Association - Their big convention takes place in Anaheim, CA, but they also have events in other locations.

Mitzi: Their convention would be fun to attend! :D I'd love to go there some day, too. Hehe, maybe someday, we'll be hugely successful and we'll all be there. That would be so fun, wouldn't it? Well, Lorraine, thank you so much for your time today. I had fun getting to know you, and I hope everyone did, also. Now, I will present the readers with some more of Lorrain'e beautiful creations.

Stunning card made with "Yukionna"

Pretty in pink with "Stardancer"

Magical and otherworldly mermaid with "La Mer" 

Acetate wings detail makes this card with "Girl Flower Butterfly" extra special.

Thank you, again, for joining me today on this interview. Next Monday, I will introduce you to Alyce Keegan in the Designer Interview #5. Hope you can join us! Till then, happy coloring!!