Interview: DIY Youtuber xLausa

I remember finding Laurence on Girlscene. She was asking for tips for her DIY YouTube channel. This was about one year ago. One year later I’m still a true follower of her DIY video’s because I love DIY.

I wanted to know more about her. So I interviewed her for Balletbalm because she makes very fashionable things. Even better: with cheap supplies!

Here it is. It’s a bit long, but I hope you don’t mind. It’s a really nice interview.
In bold are the questions, in normal are the answers.

Hello Laurence.
How are you doing?

I’m fine thank you!



xLausa / Laurence herself

 You have an interesting YouTube channel, haven't you?
If you have interest at DIY, tutorials, drawing and making stuff, you’re at the right address. My channel has refreshing and new tutorials about crafting yourself. It’s all about making something with cheap supplies, I don’t like it when something gets too expensive. That’s why I use old materials, in this way they also get a second life!

Can you please tell my readers something about it?
Well. I craft stuff, using old materials. Sometimes I use new materials, but that’s rare. The cheaper the better, that’s what count for me.


Peacock Earrings

How did you came on the idea to start making video’s about this?
Once upon a time… No, it wasn’t like that. It was in 2009, last year, when I created my first video. But before that I did a lot of research: how can I make a video, how to edit, what music should I use, what are people’s interests… It’s not as at easy as you think, sometimes you make something really ‘shitty’ and you get a lot of views. Sometimes you put a lot of effort in a project and you only get 100 views. YouTube and its viewers, a funny thing.

Now, back to 2009. It was right before I started my college. I was very nervous to start school, but also very bored. I couldn’t go anywhere because school could call me any time to visit and so… very complicated. A perfect timing to start my first video. My first video was ‘Vintage necklace’, which I made up myself. I didn’t want to get a lot of views, I just wanted to help people who had the interest to watch it, but no hurry.

It actually came out as the best video I ever made, or that has the most views in all my projects. I still can’t believe it. The views are still rising each day.


The vintage necklace

Since when have you been crafting?Hmm, that’s a difficult question. I guess I have always been crafting, since when I was little. When I couldn’t have something I wanted, I just made it myself. Like doll houses, pizza tents and more. Believe me, it’s sometimes much more fun when you make it yourself than you just buy. Most stuff I made back then were toys.

Now I make other stuff.

Did you learn yourself to craft?Of course! Everyone has a bit crafting in their blood. If something is broken, you fix it. Even the easiest things can be seen as crafting, like taping an old book that’s been ripped.

But, how older you get, how more complex you’re working. You use different gadgets, materials… You try and you fail, but if you don’t try something out you have already failed at the beginning.



Earlier I heard from you that you didn’t want to go to the art academy, but your crafting skills are beautiful. Why is this?
Well, I chose to become a kindergarten teacher. In that job you need to use all your creative skills to teach and help your children. But… because I do those studies it’s impossible to do other things, like going to an art school. It’s sad, but I know one day I will do something like ‘art school’. I’m sure that there are schools that teach when your ‘old’ and ‘wrinkled’.



Message in a bottle hanger

 So what are you doing for daily life?
Most of the time I’m thinking. Strange but true. Thinking about new stuff, watching, deciding. In my job as a kindergarten teacher you always have to think how to make new things, how to learn something to a child and why. It always needs to have a reason why to do something in front of a class.

When I’m home, I start doing school work. Which includes a lot of crafting. At the moment I’m busy with my ‘Sinterklaas’ stuff. It takes a lot of time, but it’s fun. Between those things I make new stuff for my YouTube. You can’t let your subscribers down too long or they will unsubscribe.

Next to that I have to give a lot of attention to my boyfriend, but I don’t really mind that. He’s lovely and he supports me a lot!



Deco Ceam Ring

You also have a blog. What do you post on there and how frequently?
I mostly post when I have something interesting to post and when I have time… that means I rarely post. I’m always surprised when I see that someone is following me, I never update!

Why should my readers go to your YouTube channel and read your blog?I always try to come up with something new, something nobody makes. I’m always busy trying to find out what people like and even remake the favorites, like my vintage necklace 2. I always like to help people, that’s the reason why I started my video’s. I want to give them ideas, help people with problems and even help with making presents.

I see every view and subscribe as a support for me. Every view means people have interest in what I do. I often see pictures of people who used the tutorial to make the project themselves and that’s such a boost! All those little crafters, I love them one by one.

I have still a very long way to go, a long way to reach more people, but I’ll get there! With the ups and the downs.

Pucca Hairband

Can we already hear something about your ideas for your movies in the future, or will you keep that as a secret?

Hmm, I can tell you that I already have a long list with ‘to do’s’. I keep all my ideas in a book which is called ‘Only good ideas’, very appropriate. I never know what I will make next, because I don’t have a fixed order. I make what I want to make at that time. That’s also the reason why I can’t tell a lot about it.

But I’ll give one hint for the next video and that is the word ‘Balloon’.

Thanks Laurence for joining us today!Click here for Laurence’s DIY Youtube Channel called xLausa.

Click here for Laurence’s blog.