Featured Zibbeter - NiftyKnits
This week Zibbet would like to introduce you to Heather, the owner and creator of Nifty Knits.
You may have met Heather in Zibbet’s Community Hub where she takes an active part in sharing her ideas and supporting other Zibbeters.
Heather lives in Kent, UK where her meerkats have enjoyed some fame.
All of Heather’s knitted meerkats are her own designs made using her own patterns. She loves a challenge, so if you would like something besides one of her famous meerkats, you can contact Heather about placing a custom order.
Be sure to check her section called “not a meerkat” where she shows and sells other creatures such as unicorns and reptiles. She also has a whole section for Christmas.
We are pleased to have Heather as a member of Zibbet and we hope you enjoy her interview.
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Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Heather, and I live with my husband in Kent, UK, in a beautiful area known as the Garden of England. We have three grown-up children and (much as we love them) we enjoy being empty-nesters! A customer on facebook amusingly described me as a “professional meerkat knitter” and I guess that’s true. The photo shows me with English comedian Harry Hill and the meerkat look-alike I knitted of him, at the finals of his TV show competition in the Spring of 2010 – I was one of 5 finalists from 10,000 entries! -
Apart from being ‘creative’ what do you do?
Niftyknits is my “day job”, but I’m lucky enough to be able to knit on my sofa, in front of the TV. It’s hard, but someone has to do it
I watch an outrageous number of Star Trek episodes each week while knitting, though I don’t *always* wear my uniform sweater. We walk in the surrounding countryside each day and drive to the coast to walk by the sea most weeks. We also enjoy going to local auctions – I’ve just opened a vintage shop to pass on some of my finds before they take over the house! -
What inspires you to do the kind of work you do?
A great deal of my inspiration comes from my ever-increasing social network. I started knitting to relieve the stress from my former life as a teacher; and as the stress dissolved, my creativity blossomed. My first meerkat was designed after watching Meerkat Manor on TV and before long people were asking me to dress them in costumes. At first I resisted, but as you can see from my shop resistance was futile! My tagline is “You name it, I’ll knit it” and I have not yet been beaten. I don’t only knit meerkats, but they are my most requested knit. -
Do you look up to anyone? Who? Why?
In the 3 or 4 years that I’ve been selling online I have learnt a huge amount from other sellers. I admire and appreciate those who take the time to help others along the way, and try to do the same myself. I believe we all benefit from building a stronger community. On a more personal level, I look up to my husband. He does my post office runs, writes my newsletters, looks after my website and is a constant support. Not many men would engage in wool-shop discussions on the correct shade of wool for a lizard, or whether Supergirl Meerkat looks better with or without hair (Thanks Philip!)
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What other passions do you have in your life?
I have a real need to be outside during each day, whatever the weather. I love being in the countryside or by the sea, and often find that if I am “stuck” while creating a pattern the solution will come to me while walking. -
What do you like most about Zibbet?
How long have you got? Most important to me, when I started, was the simplicity of the monthly fee. It’s great to know that we can list as much and as often as we like, without worrying that the bill is going to get out of hand. Now that I’m more established I really appreciate how easy it is to get answers from Jonathan and his team, and the way they very clearly listen to us and are developing the site in a way that enhances both the buying and selling experience. The community of sellers is very friendly and mutually supportive.
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What ‘new’ things would you like to see added to Zibbet?
I would like to see the community linked more directly to our shops or buyer profiles. I’m easily confused, and right now I’m not always sure who I’m talking to!
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How do you promote your work?
Like many sellers, promotion isn’t my favourite part of the job – but “build it and they will come” just doesn’t work. I use facebook and twitter and my blog but try to build relationships first and foremost. Social networks are called “social” for good reason, in my opinion, so I prefer to chat and wait for my virtual friends to ask me about my work, I’ve had several commissions this way. Don’t tell Harry Hill, but I didn’t actually watch his show before being featured – my virtual friends told me about the competition and were behind me all the way. I’ve had other TV enquiries, radio and magazine features since then, so I’d encourage everyone to look out for opportunities and build your networks.I like to feature other sellers in my blog – although this isn’t promoting *me*, it is promoting Zibbet, so it all helps! I send out a newsletter with details of new knits and special offers and share the link to sign up for it at point of sale, on my sites and in my email signature. Right now while my zibbet shop is new I’m making good use of the “sale” feature and offering discount to attract buyers here!
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How would you recommend other Zibbeters make the most of Zibbet.com?
Like much of life I think the more you put in, the more you get out. Get involved in the Zibbet community and help promote the site as a whole – there are so many ways to get Zibbet out there. Of course making fabulous original products and showing them off with great photos and descriptions is important – but not if nobody knows you’re there. -
In the future I’d like to be…
Still happily knitting, but living by the sea! I have a long-term plan to write my patterns out thoroughly enough to sell, but that isn’t going to happen until I’m no longer interested in making them myself – and my “to-knit” list shows no signs of shortening.
Tags: Featured Zibbeters, Nifty Knits
Well deserved Heather! Great to find out a little more about you and your meerkat’s. Helen
You should see MrNifty’s blush right now! Thank you Zibbet
not just for this, but for everything!
Heather,
Your interview is very inspiring! Your outlook and attitude are energizing. Ah, to sit on the couch and knit while watching Star Trek…What am I saying, I don’t knit! Anyway, thanks for sharing about yourself with us. See you in the Community!
Vicki
Excellent Heather! Great reading and getting to know you better. Lori
Anytime I look at one of your creations, Nifty, I have to laugh out loud! They are truly unique and fun! I´m glad your list-to-knit is long!
Your meerkats make me smile. I enjoyed the interview.
*happy dance* bhbkidstyle *laughing out loud* is exactly what I aim for, so thank you!
*taking Nifty for a swirly twirl on the dance floor with a huge green on her face while trying not to bump into the also dancing meerkat bride and groom*
Your creations really are amazing and above all very humorous. They are fun. It was great reading your interview.
I LOVE watching and waiting to see your newest creations! They really do bring smiles to people Heather. What better thing is there? You’re an inspiration.
I gave my letter “F” with a meerkat to my kids yesterday and they were floored and loved it. Learning more about you was great and empty nests are wonderful…don’t feel guilty. I love mine!
well done heather, a great interview. I’m on zibbet as well, but just dont seem to have time to spend on the forums.
I also sit watching TV while I knit, but feel a bit guilty about doing it in the daytime!
keep up the good work, you are a great inspiration to other knitters,
joy xx
Thanks everyone, it’s been great getting to know such a wonderful bunch of crafters
and long may we continue to prosper (that’s very nearly a star trek quote…)
Awww, what a great interview! I “stumbled” upon the fact that you were the featuree today, while visiting your page on the Community - I was intending to send you a message
So, I’ll just say it here ~ I LOVE the fact that you have found one (well, mostly one) item that works for you and you are expanding on the core item by designing around the Meerkat and giving each one a special personality! Thanks for adding so much joy to our world with these little guys, and may your success know no limitations!
Grandmother Carolyn
How awesome! What a great interview, I would love to be able to drive to the sea for a walk! It sounds as though you have found a very peaceful existence and are truly HAPPY with what you do! I love your little Meerkats and greatly appreciate you being willing to help promote other Zibbet folks, as I have been featured on your blog! It’s awesome to be involved in the Zibbet community with such wonderful people as yourself! Thank you for sharing your little guys, and I’m off to check out your “other” items, I thought you only did Meerkats! Hope you have a wonderful day of walking and knitting!
Becky ;o)
Thank you Carolyn - it took a while to settle to meerkats, but if it’s what my market wants, it’s what I’ll knit
But - every now and then I need to knit something else, so Becky won’t be disappointed! Most of my “not a meerkat” knits are originally commissions from people wanting to see if I really will knit anything…
oh, excellent! yay! Nifty!! wonderful wonderful xo karen
Way to go Heather!! Congratulations on being featured.
Hugs,
Judy
Congratulations Nifty!!!
As you watch episodes of Star trek i sit on my couch doing my thing while watching episodes of Dr Who. now don’t forget to narrow the angular confinement beams. Congrat’s!
LOL BeadCasita DrWho would be my next choice. I’ve seen a preview for the Christmas special, can’t wait!
I can relate to the sitting and knitting and watching movies over and over. I am addicted to the instant Netflix. Love your cute creatures. I got a chuckle with the chainmaille suit!
Well Done Heather - Zibbet Fame at last - you so deserve this - I enjoyed reading about the “real’ you, it’s so nice to know what goes on behind the knitting needles and balls of wool!!!
And if it wasn’t for you promoting Zibbet in the first place I wouldn’t be here - so thanks for that one - Hooray for Niftyknits!!!
I can’t think of a nicer person to have been chosen Zibbeter of the Week. It was fun to see your photo and know who’s leg I’ve been pulling since your arrival, Heather.
I enjoy your sense of humour and it was wonderful to learn a little bit more about your life and how you spend your days.
I’m so happy you have joined the Zibbet Community and now in Judy’s new Facebook gang. She’ll be a good gang leader I think :>)
All the best to you over the holidays and in the coming year. Hugs, Faye
Thank you slavetobeads - I spent forever trying to decide how to make that armour!
And ScarlettRose, yay for you being here too!
Faye, thank you. Just as long as nobody thinks Harry Hill (in the photo with me) is MrNifty (he’s been worrying about that!)
Congratulations, Heather!! I’ve highlighted this on my facebook page. Very cool! :c)
What can I say? Heather is one of my fav people here on Z and I’m so happy she was featured! It’s so nice to put a face to the name, so now I know who I’m laughing with all the time. And yes, sometimes laughing at…..the photos of your newest creation!
Congrats, Heather, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer gal!
Kay
P.S. Does Supergirl Meerkat looks better with or without hair?!? Don’t keep us waiting: tell us now Philip saved the day!
LOL Kay! SupergirlMeerkat is still unsure as to her hairstyle (or lack thereof!) but I can tell you one did get beautiful blonde hair at the request of the buyer
Wow, Heather! Congrats on the great feature!
Best of luck to you with your shop here on Zibbet!
It’s nice to see your smiling meerkat faces!
Peg
Thank you Peg
in fact - thank you everyone, so many lovely comments - I’m very pleased to be here!
Loved the interview Heather! I didn’t know you were a trekkie! Haha, my partner is a star wars buff so you and him could exchange words, haha. Your meerkats are the best, but I will forever be a fan of your reptiles! So good to see the face behind the nametag though
A very fun and interesting interview and I LOVE your Meerkats! I also stumbled on this interview and am so glad I did!
*still doing the happy dance* thank you!
I just happened to see this. Congrats o the feature! May you and your meerkats live long and prosper.
Thank you rotemgear, LLAP indeed!
great interview, I feel like I almost know you and would love to sit along side you on your couch and have a chat1