Hey, I’m Carl — maker, experimenter, and lover of all things hands-on and handmade.
Strange Sparks is where I share my creative journey — the wins, the mistakes, and all the weird little projects in between. It’s part blog, part behind-the-scenes diary, and part encouragement zone for anyone thinking “Maybe I could do this too?”
My background’s a bit of a mix — I was a professional dancer for years, then retrained as a web developer, and now I run a handful of handmade shops from home. It’s been a twisty path, but it’s taught me that creativity can take you in all sorts of unexpected and brilliant directions.
These days, I’m focused on building and growing three small, handmade businesses:
- 🎀 Stranger Ties – quirky, handmade bow ties that let personality shine
- 📍 Odd Onion – bold, fabric-covered buttons and bright little ideas
- 🧵 Hang Fab – fabric banners designed to show off enamel pins and more
Strange Sparks is my space to document what I’m making, share tutorials or thoughts, and hopefully help spark a few ideas for you too — whether you’re starting your own shop, picking up a new craft, or just feeling creatively curious.
✨ What You’ll Find Here
- Honest reflections from the creative trenches
- Handmade projects and tutorials
- Experiments that didn’t quite work out (but taught me something anyway)
- Tools, tricks, and small wins that keep me going
Got a shop, side hustle dream, or just love creative things?
You’re totally in the right place. Welcome to the spark zone 🔥