jaykirbyties

It’s no secret that we LOVE DIY here at Polka Dot Central. We live it, breathe it, struggle with hot glue and stick ourselves with pins. It’s also no secret though that there are some times we wish there were people who did it for a living, and could produce a handmade, bespoke item for us that didn’t take hours!

Of course there are those people! They are what we like to call The Professionals – DIYers who have made a living from making fabulous items for your big day that could save you time and money without losing that handcrafted touch. We will be sharing their stories and showcasing their work. We love DIY and taking on a project or two (or six) for yourself, but we’re also big advocates of outsourcing to the professionals so that you can to preserve your sanity!

To kick off, we’d like to start with a little something for the Grooms, with the lovely Jay Kirby from Jay Kirby Ties!

What was your path to crafting handmade items?

I was tired of spending exorbitant amounts of money buying ties that I knew cost only a fraction of the price to make. So I decided to start my own business where I could have total control over the creative process while also keeping overheads low.

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Where do you find inspiration?

Constant sources of inspiration come from characters in books, films, photographs and the people around me.

What is the most common question you are asked by couples?

Does this go with a white dress?

What is your favourite colour palette?

It changes all the time. This week I’m partial to anything with majolica blue.

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Do you have a favourite style of wedding (rustic, vintage, modern, classic etc)?

My personal favourite is classic with a contemporary twist. I try to evoke that philosophy when I’m designing each one of my handmade creations.

Share with us your top Etsy store pick!

My purple seersucker ties. Not only are they eye-catching but the unique texture of the seersucker cotton will keep you cool and dry. Its like having air-conditioning for your shirt.

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What is your DIY advice for couples?

Plan for the worst and hope for the best. DIY is all about trial and error so always make sure you have plenty of time in case things go wrong at first instance. Nothing is worse than waiting up until the last minute to start your DIY project.

What is the one tool you can’t do without?

My battered high-school calculator. I’m always using it to calculate invoices, incomings and expenses. Its fair to say I’m using it much more now that I did in my school days!

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Some great advice and gorgeous ties from the lovely Jay Kirby! To have a browse through her other handsome ties and pocket square combos, or to request a custom item for your groom, head to her online store!

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