Archive: Profile

May 1, 2012

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Things About Arwen O'Reilly Griffith

Today's 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, comes from our very own Arwen O'Reilly Griffith. My favorite thing about Arwen is her energy. Whenever I need support from the Craft team, Arwen always sends lovely notes that are positive and encouraging. And when I have the chance to see her IRL, I am struck by how sweet and calm her vibe is. Now, I know she might not feel cool and collected all the time, but it's so inspiring to know people who project such wonderful qualities. Of course, it's not all about personality- Arwen is also talented at a multitude of things, including gardening, sewing, and baking. She has a back-to-the-earth sensibility, with a modern aesthetic. It's a perfect combination.

One Project You Are Particularly Proud Of

1. I am famous, to myself at least, for starting projects and not finishing them, so it's really quite incredible that I finished this Hawaiian applique quilt for a friend's baby (though he was a toddler by the time I was done)! It was a ton of work, and it's clearly the work of a first-time quilter, but I think it's beautiful.

Two Mistakes You've Made in the Past

1. Trying to multitask too much.

2. Thinking I can finish things more quickly than I actually can. (Oh wait, I still do that!)

Three Things that Make Your Work Unique

1. My background (in photography, history and literature, and editing).

2. My eclectic sensibility (I'm equally drawn to modernist design and Victorian kitsch).

3. My obsession with plants.

Four Tools You Love to Use

1. My vintage Singer sewing machine. It's beautiful, a work horse, and simple enough that even I can fix it when it breaks.

2. My Garden Works angle weeder. It is perfect for getting out those stubborn weeds with tap roots, like dandelions and small thistles, and is useful when planting seedlings or transplanting, too.

3. My iPhone. It takes surprisingly good photos and video (and entertains my toddler when I'm desperate).

4. The Internet. While I sometimes curse its magnetic pull, it is full of inspiration, information, and ideas.

Five Inspirations:

1. My godmother, Rosemary. She taught me that a beautiful home is a work of art (and always in progress).

2. My son and husband, who are both incredibly creative in their own ways (which are totally different from mine).

3. My garden. It's always there for me and always needs work!

4. Textiles. I am constantly astonished and delighted by centuries of creative design that I see around me in the most ordinary places and objects.

5. Vintage craft and DIY books. I love seeing both how timeless and dated they can be!

Arwen's tintype portrait was created by photoboothsf.

April 24, 2012

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Things About Sarah Kate Creations

Sarah Kate is fresh to the world of craft blogging, but a veteran in the world of making things. Like most of us, she has always been the creative type, and it was a small spark that led her to launch her Etsy shop and blog called Sarah Kate Creations. She recently attended the inaugural Craftcation and came home filled with inspiration. And of course, having a platform for her creativity wasn't enough for her- she just announced that 10% of her proceeds every month will go to a deserving charity. Sarah's beautifully designed cards and delicate jewelry are great, but I think my favorite part about her fledgling career is her heart.

One Project You Are Particularly Proud Of

1. I am proud of a recent project that sprung out of a school assignment in my Graphic Novels class (Yes, I am in a Liberal Arts program). We were assigned to create a short graphic novel and I decided to base mine on the recent Primus song "The Last Salmon Man" which is about my hometown, Bodega Bay. This song inspired a block printed comic that includes scenes of the Bodega Head. The comic was the first time that I combined block printing with color pencil detail, a style that I really like and have been perfecting since.

Two Mistakes You've Made In The Past

1. Not giving myself enough artistic credit - Coming from a family of accomplished painters and artists I often didn't give myself the artistic credit I deserve for my many crafty products. I didn't hold my collages and adventures in mixed media in the same light as my father's oil paintings or friend's drawings. Today I have come to embrace the idea that even though I may not be working in a traditional medium my crafts are truly art.

2. Over booking myself - I am constantly spreading myself to thin which often leads to me becoming stressed out, grumpy, and over worked with none of my endeavors receiving my whole attention. I am graduating college this May and my post graduation gift to myself is to take life easy. I am going to allow myself to only have a couple projects at a time rather than the five or so I usually have. This is a mistake that I still often make, but that I acknowledge and am working on.

Three Things That Make Your Work Unique

1. The medium of block printing - Every block print that I make is a unique and special print, due to the very nature of block printing itself. Although I aim for continuity in my cards, what draws me to the medium is the beauty and uniqueness of each individual print.

2. My simple, clean aesthetic - I love glitter and bright colors, but I like to keep my work clean and clear, without too much clutter. Of course, you wouldn't know it if you saw my workspace.

3. The patterns in my jewelry - I try to incorporate intricate seed bead patterns in to my hand strung necklaces, at first glance these patterns simply blend in with the necklace, but if you look closely the detail in the pattern is intricate.

Four Tools You Love To Use

1. Embroidery floss - I love to embroider fun little designs on pillows and clothing. My first ever embroidery project was a peace sign patch in high school that I still keep tucked away with my floss. Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Jenny Hart, which was very exciting, I absolutely love her work.

2. Fabric - My father sewed when I was young on a 1920s Singer, I used to love to sit and watch him and listen to the machine. He would let me use the machine for simple projects, like pillowcases. He would also print on material or use fabric to create playhouses for my brothers and I. This is when I fell in love with fabric and the many things you can do with it, including sewing, printing, shredding and dyeing.

3. Embossing Powder - About two years ago I discovered embossing powder and a heat gun and I became obsessed. I love the clean finished look it gives a product and how it allows you to use glitter cleanly.

4. Seed Beads - Seed beads are another item that I fell in love with in my youth. My mother loved bead weaving and would meditate with the tubular peyote stitch for hours. When I was about 10 or so I started my first tubular peyote stitch, a pretty blue background with a vine of flowers curling around the tube. Needless to say, my patience waned after only a few inches, but later when I started bead weaving again the skill came back to me immediately. I love seed beads; there are so many colors and shines, from matte to iridescent.

Five Inspirations

1. Parents - As you may have guessed my parents inspire my artistic capabilities and nurtured my creative tendencies in my youth. They are very inspirational to me when it comes to my craft.

2. Ocean - I grew up so close to the ocean that when I was seven I was allowed to walk down to the bay by myself. I love the ocean, its smells and its unknown powers. It is so majestic, how can it not be inspiring. I love to think about the creatures swimming and growing in its depths as well as of the waves lapping upon the shore. I love the ocean on a rainy day when its waters rage and terrify and I love the ocean on clear cloudless days when it twinkles blue and endless. Unfortunately, I hate the wind.

3. The Forest - After I left the ocean we moved 10 miles over to the forest and I like to tell people that I grew up where the ocean meets the woods, because it is true. As a child I loved to sit in a tree with a good book, feeling the gentle sway of the branches, which I would always pretend was the tree breathing. Today I love to take long walks in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve where the trees are like giants and I feel like an Ewok.

4. Live Music - I am a huge music fan and find nothing more inspiring than a good live show. I love to dance and feed off the energy of the band. This inspires a certain kind of freedom in me that allows me to have confidence and to create. Often I will leave a show full of creative energy.

5. People - This may seem kind of vague, and it is. I am inspired by lots of people, including my family and friends, but also by people in general, their cultures and customs. People's cultures and customs inspire me with new art forms and styles, and also remind me to keep an open mind when it comes to life and art. I love to create when friends are around and am always open to their ideas and constructive criticisms (although this does not mean that I always take their advice). I am becoming more open to random people's ideas and advice as well through my growing social media outlets.

April 3, 2012

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Things About Hurley Winkler

When I found this 5,4,3,2,1 submission in my inbox, I lit up, and I am sure you will too after reading about Hurley Winkler. One goal she has for herself in 2012 is to start a blog, and I cannot encourage her enough. Plainly stated, the world needs more imaginary kittens, hot pink converse, and Reggae Pizza hats!

One Project You Are Particularly Proud Of:
1. I'm always the most proud of whatever I am working on at the moment. Currently, I am knitting a reggae pizza hat for my boyfriend. I am nearly finished, simply adding the finishing touch: knitted dreadlocks.

Two Mistakes You've Made in the Past:
1. Being afraid of trying new things. I should always be willing to add some sparkle to my crafts with new methods.

2. Thinking that I am too young or not knowledgeable enough to start a craft blog. The craft world is so open and welcoming... I need to take advantage of that in 2012 by joining in with a blog!

Three Things That Make Your Work Unique:
1. I knit in my tiny dorm at the University of North Florida.

2. I like waking up at the crack of dawn to knit for a while before taking on the
responsibilities of the day. Most college students find it a bit strange that I am such a morning person.

3. While I knit, I pretend that there is a precious kitten playing with my yarn on the ground. Pathetic, I know.

Four Tools You Love To Use:
1. Jumbo pom pom makers. I think pom poms are the sickest things ever. They should be added to everything in the world.

2. Waverly by Bernat brand yarn. The yarn is extremely soft and the colors are absolutely lovely. I constantly find myself cuddling up to the yarn instead of knitting.

3. Lantern Moon needle cases. I treated myself to one on a November visit to Knit Culture Studio in Los Angeles. They are gorgeous and I want every fiber artist in the world to own one.

4. Lion Brand Thick 'n' Quick yarn. I used it all the time when I first started knitting. I always recommend it to new knitters because a nice scarf can be thrown together quickly with a skein of Thick 'n' Quick and 9 mm needles. Instant gratification is encouraging!

Five Inspirations:
1. Amy Karol. Her blog, Angry Chicken, is my favorite blog in the great big Cyberian world. Not only does she inspire me in a crafty sense, but she really makes me want to be a mother someday. I save links from her site everyday.

2. Becky Stern. She takes a unique approach to crafting and she just seems like a cool, smart, easy-going chick. I'm a bit obsessed with her emission spectrum scarves.

3. Several musicians keep me stitchin' away: Wilco, Sufjan Stevens, Radical Face, and Belle & Sebastian.

4. My best friend, Zoie. She is constantly creating amazing things and does a great job with pushing herself to be creative.

5. My boyfriend, Alex. He thinks crafting is cool and always seems interested in whatever I am working on at the moment. He encourages me to try new things and he's always up for a trip to the craft store... swoon!

March 20, 2012

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Things About Jennie Walker

Today's 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, is a bit unique, in that it was submitted via email. Jennie Walker wrote out her answers and attached photos to the email. It's brilliant, and is a great way for crafty non-bloggers to participate. I for one would like to thank Jennie for thinking outside the box. Luckily, though, Jennie does have a blog. It's called alittle-vintage, and is filled with her unique creations. The personality in her dolls is beyond charming, and I can imagine that Jennie is too!

One project you are particularly proud of:

1. The Hottie Challenge - we had to design a hot water bottle cover to be exhibited in Melbourne and sold to raise funds for research into heart and lung transplants for the Margaret Pratt Foundation. I chose to do some free motion sewing and a bit of fabric paint. The result surprised me and I was so thrilled to be a part of the crafting community raising funds to save lives.

Two mistakes you've made in the past:

1. Second guessing what I'm doing - try not to analyse too much, if you have an idea - just go for it.

2. Listening to negative opinions of what I'm creating (my mother). You need positivity and encouragement along the way. Just because someone close to you doesn't 'get' what you are doing - don't let that stop you from creating what you were meant to create! (not going to Art School would be another - because of no encouragement)

Three things that make your work unique:

1. The faces I paint on the dolls. I think they are unique, in that they are mine. Not like any other doll faces I've seen (so far!)

2. There is alot of making it up as I go along. Things usually seem to work better and turn out better than I had hoped if I go with the flow.

3. Making the custom made dolls from peoples sentimental fabrics, make them quite different. There don't seem to be many other toy makers around who will take your personal items, sentimental/special/important fabrics and trims - and turn them into something to treasure and hug every day.

Four tools you love to use:

1. Free motion foot on the sewing machine - I love to draw with the sewing machine!

2. Airaisable pen - to sketch out on the fabric what you're going to sew.

3. Snipper scissors - so you don't have to put your fingers into scissors every time to cut the thread.

4. Tiny paint brush - to get the eyes just right.

Five inspirations:

1. TV/Movies  - the characters, the make up, the hair styles, the different eras...

2. Internet - flickr, etsy, blogs - the encouragement, friendship and positive re enforcement you get from other bloggers is immense.

3. Colour - the main component in deciding how and what to put together. Colour is huge in what you are creating.

4. Children - their influence comes from another place - innocent and honest. My daughters have the freedom to create, that I didn't have and I love it!

5. The fabric - anything with a history is perfection. It is wanting to be made into something and appreciated once again.

February 21, 2012

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Things About Robyn Wells

Robyn Wells of robayre is a crafter and graphic designer with a unique aesthetic and fun sensibilities. Robyn is a self-described inspiration junkie, and she finds inspiration in the simple things. Yet her work is anything but.

One Project You Are Particularly Proud Of

1. I am proud of my Artomat contributions. If you are unfamiliar with Artomat, it is an organization run by Clark Whittington, where he converts old cigarette vending machines into art vending machines. Contributing artists (AIC or Artists In Cellophane) create original works that are small enough to fit through the machines and then sold in tons of machines world wide. I have created two sets of 50 original miniature paintings. The second series started as 50 original collages and then I built 50 miniature canvases and recreated the collages as original paintings. I also made this video when I released my second set. It's been a while since my last contribution and I'm so ready to do it again. I've started cutting the wood to build my frames. I also have multiple concepts for other artomat series' as well and would love to finally send in prototypes for them.

Two Mistakes You've Made in the Past

1. This is really hard for me. I rely so heavily on my natural instincts when it comes to my art making. It is so rare that I scrap a piece. Take a long break, yes, but throw it away, no. A bad piece is just a piece under construction, or a learning experience and it doesn't drag me down . I may look at pieces from my past and cringe, but they were part of the development that got me to where I am now. I guess one mistake would be not trusting in my own instincts when I was younger. I think that was a product of Art school, sadly. It was like you have "it" or you don't. There was no education on how to develop and find your own style and confidence in your own vision. Thanks to art teachers at the community college level first, I knew there was always room for development, and talent isn't something you are born with. But with the competition and cliques at University (even among the teachers and students) it was really hard to ask for guidance and find a niche that fostered comfort and creativity.

2. A second mistake I've made maybe, was not sharing my artwork and online presence (website, blog, etsy shop, etc.) with my coworkers when I started working at my current job 7 years ago. At the time I was fresh out of school, not confident in it and was afraid that it would be awkward. Instead I feel like it is an area that I have to tiptoe around, so it's awkward anyway. I've long suspected they may know, but I'm not going to be the one to bring it up. It's made it kind of uncomfortable for me when I do, or would like to do, certain things, such as my art show. Instead of promoting it and calling the local newspapers, sending out postcards, etc., I tried to keep it hidden and was terrified that someone might find out about it. Isn't that funny? I think I present myself professionally enough online, so it's not that I'm afraid of being fired over content of my blog. I think it was more of a fear that they might judge me, or ask me about my art and I wasn't confident enough to represent myself. I started this paragraph off saying "maybe" it was a mistake, because as I said in the paragraph above this, it was the right thing for me at the time, and I wouldn't change it. I have grown so much in the last decade and if I were to start a new job tomorrow I'd be up front about it and hopefully be able to share this area of passion with others.

Three Things That Make Your Work Unique

1. The combination of my spontaneous and innate aesthetic,

2. use of color,

3. and, design/composition make my work recognizable as my own. Recognizable even across a body of work that contains photography, printmaking, jewelry making, collage, painting, bookmaking, and fiber art. The fact that a number of people have told me they have recognized my work as being mine before they saw for sure, is a HUGE source of pride to me. This is because it was a struggle for me when I was younger and I really doubted I'd ever reach such a place.

Four Tools You Love to Use

1. A camera, whether it be on my phone, digital camera or even an instant.

2. An empty book, or blank sheet of paper.

3. A Rapidoliner, which has been discontinued for years, but I bought a HUGE amount before they were gone forever.

4. Paintbrush and paints.

Five Inspirations

1. My Flickr favorites. Flickr is constantly a source of inspiration and community for me. The thing that I love so much about "favorites" in particular is that it is a concentration of images that called out to ME specifically, saved all in one tidy place. Look at my flickr favorites and you will get a glimpse into what I see as beautiful. Look at another person's flickr favorites and you will see their unique vision as well. It's just an interesting thing, to use other people's artwork to make something that represents me. Just looking at my flickr favorites makes me happy and so over the years I have been making wallpapers for my desktop computers (at work and home) using them.

2. My surroundings. The flat midwest prairieland. Katie wrote this nice post a couple weeks ago about it.

3. Art supplies and materials. My heart just starts racing at the thought of visiting a craft or art supply store.

4. Nothing inspires me to want to create something of my own, more than when I'm away at work. The challenge is trying to retain that drive and inspiration once I get home, mentally and emotionally exhausted by the day.

5. A clean studio space and drawing table. Like many artists, I have the tendency to make a mess. I love making messes, but it's so hard to want to start something new with piles of supplies, and shards of paper covering my work place.

February 14, 2012

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Things About Green Horned Unicorn

Antonia of Green Horned Unicorn has an amazing sense of style. Her use of colors and textures makes her work both warm and uplifting. And while reading her responses to the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 questions, you can't help but get the sense that she is well-grounded in her creative endeavors. Bonus- Who doesn't love a girl with a scissor addiction?!?!

One Project You Are Particularly Proud Of

1. The Rolled Paper Frame. I created the project as a challenge to myself to use my stacks and stacks of magazines for something good. Not only did the frame turn out well, it was the first project of mine to ever be published in a magazine (Simply Handmade April/May 2011). How fitting that a project made from magazines be published in a magazine!

Two Mistakes You've Made in the Past

1. Over-committing & setting unrealistic deadlines for myself. There are simply too many ideas running amok in my head. Too many things I want to explore, try out and accomplish. I set my sights high, usually unrealistically high, and often find myself overwhelmed and even stressed because of the expectations I set for myself. In recent months, I've forced myself to cut back and slow down in a lot of areas, including my creative endeavors. While this is a difficult thing to do, I'm much more at peace which, surprisingly in the end, allows me to be even more creative. Who knew?

2. Being a perfectionist. That darn perfectionist in me just won't stop rearing its ugly head. It's one of those traits that can be both my best and worst, often at the same time. Because of it, I strive do always do my best in everything, which is usually a good thing. Unfortunately, even when I've done my best, I have a hard time accepting that. When I complete a project I always find myself looking back and finding flaws — little details that could be better. I have to work very hard to accept things for what they are, and see the beauty in the imperfection.

Three Things That Make Your Work Unique

1. Use of bright, bold colors. No matter what type of craft I'm creating, I tend to lean toward bright, bold colors. Many of the compliments I receive regarding my projects are directed toward my choice and use of color.

2. Avoiding trends. While trends certainly make their way into my work, or at least influence it, I strive to stick with my personal style and create pieces that are more timeless as opposed to trendy.

3. Keep it simple. For the most part, my style is somewhat simple. When you look at my work, it may not appear to be that way at first glance, because the simple designs are brought to life with color and small details.

Four Tools You Love to Use

1. My Macbook. While it's nearly four years old, and my digital files long ago filled it's poor memory to the brim (and overflowed to an external hard drive), this has been the best computer I've ever owned — hands down. I use it daily to make digital creations, edit photos and search for inspiration. I couldn't live without it.

2. Adobe CS5 Design Suite. I couldn't do what I do without Photoshop and Illustrator. Love, love, love.

3. Hot Glue Gun. Seriously, what can't hot glue hold together?

4. Scissors, rotary cutters and paper trimmers. I probably own at least 10 pairs of scissors, each with its own unique use. I have two handheld rotary cutters (one always has a straight blade the other a scallop) and six different paper cutters. I'm almost embarrassed to admit I own that many cutting tools!

Five Inspirations

1. Pinterest. What a wondrous site it is! I know I have been guilty of getting lost there for hours upon end.

2. Blogs. I subscribe to hundreds of blogs through Google Reader. I start each day with a cup of tea and a screen full of inspiration.

3. Color & pattern. Just a glance at a wonderful pallet or pretty pattern can ignite my creative fire. I love to peruse fabric stores, scrapbook stores, clothing stores and home design stores for inspiration.

4. Magazines. From crafts to food to design, I find inspiration by simply flipping the pages of a magazine. You never know when a project, article, or even an ad will trigger your creativity.

5. The world around me. There is inspiration in everything, you just have to know where to look.

January 2, 2012

Against the Grain: the Sculpture of Michael Rea

By Garth Johnson

As somebody who teaches art to college students, one of my (many) mantras is you have to make art about things that actually interest you. As much as this may sound like a no-brainer, it actually comes as a shock to many students who think they have to fit into a mold or conform to a specific career path to "make it" as an artist. Michael Rea (pronounced "Ray") is living proof that an artist can prosper by establishing a direct link to their fantasy world. The 36-year old Chicago artist is constantly churning out epic carved wooden sculptures like a weaponized time-travelling suit of robotic armor made for Stephen Hawking that is currently on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Rea's day job involves running the wood shop at Northwestern University's art program. I can only imagine how cool it must be to learn to operate power tools from a renegade wood sculptor who specializes in creating wooden space vehicles and giant weapons instead of a cranky old cabinetmaker who is missing fingers. Piece by piece, Rea is gradually making the fantasy world of a twelve-year-old boy into a reality.

Read full story »

December 27, 2011

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Things About Rachel Le Grand

Rachel Le Grand is amazing. Her work is diverse, but she clearly imprints her personal style on everything she does. How? With a well defined color palette, a love of vintage, and stunning photography.

One Project You Are Particularly Proud Of

1. My craft room. It was a fun challenge to work with this space. I ended up finding the perfect shelf that fit inside the closet with a removable desk, too! A sliding drawer under the desk store my laptop, so I can have a clear desk for crafting. There's a 12 inch by 12 inch space to the left just inside the closet where I hung shoe storage to store my yarn stash. I repurposed jars of all shapes & sizes to store my many different craft goodies. I sewed a tablecloth for my sewing table. I took an ugly old chandelier & painted it pink & hung it up in a corner. I made tissue paper pompoms & hung those up, as well.

Two Mistakes You've Made in the Past

1. The first time I tried to sew on bias tape to arm holes & a neckline, it didn't work out at all, so that project was completely abandoned.

2. When I tried using fabric spray paint on brown polyester (you're suppose to use it on light colored cotton), it was a hat, so I ended up covering it with fabric instead.

Three Things That Make Your Work Unique

1. Repurposing.

2. Using vintage materials.

3. Being gluten-free (I do a lot of homemade gluten-free baking).

Four Tools You Love to Use

1. My DSLR camera (Sony alpha-330)

2. Quilting ruler.

3. Bamboo knitting needles.

4. Rice long straight pins ~ they're from Denmark.

Five Inspirations

1. My children.

2. Craft books & magazines.

3. Craft blogs

4. Vintage shops/flea market

5. Other people's photography (flickr, etc).

December 13, 2011

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Things About Mixed Martial Arts and Crafts

Mixed Martial Arts and Crafts might be one of the best blog titles of all time. It follows the life and projects of Vanessa, a creative and ambitious crafter and dedicated blogger. Vanessa seems to be able to knit just about anything. Oh, and she paints and sews too.

One Project You Are Particularly Proud Of

1: This would have to be my first finished pair of socks. They fit just right and I feel really proud for not only finishing them, but figuring out the tricky parts like turning the heel and knitting the gusset. Unfortunately, it seems like every other sock that I cast on starts off with the best of intentions and ends up not working out for one reason or another.

Two Mistakes You've Made in the Past

1: In my personal life and my crafting life, I keep making the same mistake over and over again. I don't trust my instincts. I tend to ignore that little voice that says, "Something's not right." Whether it's a stitch count that's off or a situation that I really shouldn't be putting myself into, I am amazing at talking myself out of listening to the warning bell. I'm getting better at listening to my gut, though!

2: Another repeated mistake that's in my crafty and social life is not attempting something because it seems to be too hard. Writing it down makes it seem so silly. Just because it looks difficult should be reason enough to try

Three Things That Make Your Work Unique

1: It was made by me and therefore has my stank all over it. It's a pleasant stank, I assure you.

2: I tend to disregard things like gauge, needle size and yarn weight and just dive into patterns so my finished object looks nothing like what it's "supposed to".

3: I fix most of my glaring mistakes but sometimes, I'm too lazy to tink back if a stitch count is wrong so I'll just increase or decrease all willy nilly to get where I need to be. My February Lady Sweater (which still needs buttons) is full of these "design elements" in the body of the sweater. No photographic evidence yet, I'm still trying to make it fit me around the chest. It never will so I probably need to give up on that.

Four Tools You Love To Use

1: Knitting needles! I love knitting more than I do crochet, to be honest.

2: Needle and thread to sew things. It's amazing what a few stitches can do.

3: Yarn! So many weights, so many colors, so little time.

4: My computer. Last year, I tried sharing a laptop with the husband and while it was OK for a while, I've missed having my own personal laptop. I'm not crazy about the Mac I'm using but it was very nice of my niece Olivia to give it to me when she upgraded. My next laptop will most likely be a PC. I miss Windows!

Five Inspirations

1: My family. Good or bad, they're constantly pushing me to do what I dream of and to keep moving on. From my husband to my parents and my nieces and nephews, I've got a great safety net of love and support.

2: National Geographic. Their photos are always amazing and what better way to figure out good color schemes than to look at nature.

3: Martha Stewart makes me feel like I can do anything and have it come out perfectly. And that is a good thing.

4: The American Museum of Natural History. It's my favorite place on earth and their textile collection is remarkable particularly in the Hall of Asian People as well as the Hall of Plains Indians.

5: I'm going to cheat a little here and put in two things for this last one: Anne of Green Gables and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. They are two of my favorite books and are a source of comfort. Every time I reread them, I find something new both in the plot and in myself too.

December 6, 2011

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Things About Kydel Makes

Knitters never cease to inspire me, and Kydel Makes is no exception. Her work is creative and ambitious. It is also beautiful, feminine, and well made. She is a great example of a crafter who is self-taught, which even if you don't knit, there is much to be learned from her unique experience.

One Project You Are Particularly Proud Of

1. I would probably say it's my School Daze pom pom hat. t is not knit in a conventional way since it started life as a cabled cowl. The ribbing is done later and it has a contrasting cast off edge for a bit of snaz. I kinda like it.

Two Mistakes You've Made in the Past

1. Not going to uni and buncking off most of college so I have no actual qualifications in anything. I was in a band with 2 other girls at the time. All I wanted was to be a guitarist in a rock band. It didn't work out and I left at 26 years old. Too old to be studying since I had to support myself. I really should have went back to school but I thought things would just fall into place. They didn't. Now I'm doing what I really want to do but with no training or real skills.

2. Getting into debt and running away from it. It's kinda scary when every time the phone rings it's someone wanting money from you. I tend to avoid the phone if I don't recognise the number.

Three Things That Make Your Work Unique

1. Sometimes Terry thinks up the ideas. "Make some green gloves with a red bow and red ends" ... Ok.

2. I knit as I go. I usually don't have much more than a sketchy plan in my head and go from there, writing down what I just did as I go. Sometimes I get too carried away and forget to write things down for too long. Then when I have to write out the pattern for release I have to knit little sections again to see what I did. Dur!

3. I never do gauge swatches. I know I should. I know I should learn how certain yarns knit up and what size it will be etc...but I don't. I just want to make things. Swatches feel like a waste of my time when I could be making something else. You can slap my wrists now.

Four Tools You Love To Use

1. My bunch of bamboo circular needles (16 in), esp my little fatty (10mm).

2. My tatty row counter. I don't use it lots but when I do it reminds me of my Nana since it was hers and she died 10 years ago. A month or so ago, Kaden took it and dropped it in a glass of fizzy pop. It came back really sticky and hard to turn. I won't buy a new one though until it can't do the job any more.

3. I have a lot of vintage straight needles which were also my Nana's. I don't get to use them too much because I tend to knit in the round, but when I do get to use them they're lovely.

4. James C Bretts 100% pure merino. It is so soft and feels almost like silk. It's my favourite yarn to work with.

Five Inspirations

1. Nature. Strange as that might sounds. There is a lot of things out there that give cause for inspiration.

2. Films and TV. Lots of inspiration can be taken from what others are wearing.

3. The internet... kinda like above.

4. Other designers. Some people say they don't look at other designers so they don't steal ideas accidently but I draw a lot of inspiration from them. I also check around on ravelry when I have an idea to make sure no-one else has had it first (which is a nightmare when they have cos my idea is wiped).

5. My son. Sounds corny but some of the things he likes to wear are an inspiration to make him something a bit better. Cheap jumpers or hats can be re made into something better.

November 29, 2011

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Things About Lindsey Bailey

Lindsey Bailey is a brilliantly ambitious artist. Her work is grounded in the techniques of traditional crafting, but lives in the realm of art galleries and installations. Her current project has her collaborating, but unlike most high artists, she is working with elementary school students! The pieces are not static, instead they are performance based. Yet even Lindsey's work that wasn't created with the help of 75 children is filled with life and color and vibrant whimsy. I would like to encourage you to support her efforts and support arts education by visiting and contributing to her kickstarter campaign.

One Project You Are Particularly Proud Of:
The one I am currently working on: Deliciously Happy. I am collaborating with students from 3 schools on an installation being featured at Belmont University. The schools are in 3 different areas in the city, so each of the schools bring a distinct approach to the project. All of the work is performative: the 4th graders are making bobble heads, the 7th/8th graders are making a carousel book where they can actually become part of the pages, and the 9th/10th graders will be working on paper puppet animations based on human interaction and movement. I am creating pieces that directly respond to their work. So, I will be incorporating a lot of costuming and set-making elements: fingerweaving, googly eyes, and large paper mache' objects. And, working with 75 youth: everyone brings a unique perspective to the project, making for exciting conversation and creative energy!!
A short video about the project can be found here: http://kck.st/unJK6l

Two Mistakes You've Made in the Past:
Only 2? Ha! This is a hard one.
Creatively, I roll with the punches. So, I can't really think of anything that I would've thought of as a mistake. I tend to look at everything as "happy accidents", rather than mistakes.
For me, this question is less about creative mistakes and more about personal choices: not doing something again that you made the mistake of doing in the past. So, here are my answers:
1. Listening to people tell me that I should get a "real job" and stop trying to make creative work all of the time.
2. Having a "real job".

Three Things That Make Your Work Unique:
1. Sense of humor (through color and shape)
2. Collaboration (I love working with lots of people!)
3. Craft-based elements (Hobby Lobby is my best friend.)

Four Tools That you Love To Use:
1. A glue gun
2. A drill
3. A staple gun
4. Watercolor brushes

Five Inspirations:
1. Youth. The imaginations of my nephews and my students are so diverse and naturally creative. It's so important for this type of thinking to continue on, as they age.
2. Music. Music is such a visual source for me. When I play music while I am working in the studio, I can completely visualize where the pieces are going and what the final product will look like.
3. Friends. My friends are very creative. I love to watch my friends make things and have shows. We all work so differently, so it's really great to see how we each approach a project.
4. Nature. Lots of the shapes that I work with come from plants, flowers, and sea life. Of course the shapes play very different roles in my work, but everything is always based in nature. I spend a lot of time looking at things in the world.
5. Color. I am very inspired by color. I like a lot of color, all at once, in various shades, values, and textures. I can see a color and know exactly where it belongs in my work and can recreate it.

November 14, 2011

Starting Your Own Craft Biz? Q&A with Craft Inc. Author Plus Contest

Meg Mateo Ilasco is a designer, illustrator, and writer who started her first business in 1999 making handmade wedding invitations. A serial entrepreneur, she's since launched three businesses, including her housewares, gift, and stationery line, Mateo Ilasco, in 2005. She is the author of several books, including Creative, Inc., Craft, Inc. (check out our Craft Inc Contest below!), and the Craft, Inc. Business Planner. She is also the co-founder and creative director of home and lifestyle magazine Anthology. Meg, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, generously gave us her time with the following interview.

Read full story »

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