Frances McNaughton demonstrates sugar fairies and making sugarcraft flowers the soft way, and provides workshops to branches of the British Sugarcraft Guild, National Sugarart Association and other sugarcraft clubs.
She holds regular classes at her studio in Tunbridge Wells in many aspects of Sugarcraft.
An Interview with Frances
Where were you born?
Portsmouth
What is your educational background?
Convent in Portsmouth until I was 9, Convent in Bromley until I was 11, then Grammar School in Bexhill-on-Sea (I was advised to choose a different subject instead of Art at 'O Level' as they thought I wasn't very artistic!)
What first got you interested in craft?
I loved making cakes and sweets as a child, and it developed into cake decorating and sugarcraft over the years.
How long have you been crafting?
Since I was a child, but I've been doing it as a business, self-employed since 1987.
Where do you get your materials?
I run my own webshop for most of the items I teach, but any odd things I tend to get from online sugarcraft shops.
How/Where did Search Press discover you?
I introduced myself at a book show, and showed them my first self-published book 'Modelling Fairies in Sugar'
What were your first thoughts when asked to write a book?
Very excited that Search Press had faith that my work was good enough!
Has publishing a book changed your life in anyway?
It gets my work out to more people and more countries, and has resulted in opportunities to work for different groups who may not have heard of me before.
Any tips for beginners?
Keep Practising!
What is your favourite craft tool?
'Jem' Petal veiner tool - lots of different uses in one; friller, small rolling pin, smile tool, glitter sparkler....
Have you travelled for your craft?
I have been to New Zealand (ten different demonstrations over two weeks), Australia (three different demonstrations and two workshops over a week), Ireland - Cork & Dublin for demonstrations, workshops and exhibitions, Rotterdam for classes and an exhibition, Scotland, Wales and various places all over England.
Where does your inspiration come from?
Some inspiration comes from toys - I try to adapt models and make them from basic shapes to simplify them.
