Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

I live on the Monterey Peninsula with my husband and two daughters. I love riding my beautiful blue fixed gear bike, hiking, baking vegan treats and making just about anything. I cut paper and I sew many things. I started turning my papercuts into screenprints a year ago, and I print on organic t-shirts, my handmade bags, pillows, etc. In this way I have found I can combine my art with my crafting. I also started creating creatures as a way of using my stock of random fabrics (when everyone learned i took up sewing the donations started piling up) and so, 6 months ago menders and cubed animals were born.

How did you first get involved with crafting?

I loved to draw as a kid, which led to building things. Making something my mom was going to throw away or scrap wood from something my dad built into something beautiful. Then my mother and sister bought me a sewing machine when I was 16 and opened a new world to me. Then a couple years ago I discovered papercutting and that set even more in motion. I feel like everything I make now is inspired by the various forms of art I enjoy, which is probably why I make so many different things.

What are your favorite materials to work with? Do you have a favorite color palette?

I love rescued fabrics and paper. And I love every color. My art shows and crafts are all very colorful. There’s not a color I don’t like in it’s correct place… except hunter green. Hunter green has no business existing. (And that’s not because I’m a vegan. It’s an awful color, unless you’re an evergreen. I fully support trees of every color.)

What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

I draw inspiration from the people and things around me like anyone does. I don’t think I could narrow my life inspirations down to a couple, because I try to see as much as I can in the world and that’s what drives me.

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working?

Pinback’s “Autumn of the Seraphs”. One of my favorite albums of all time. It never bores me.

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them?

Swoon, solely an artist, but she does amazing things with paper. Ghost Patrol, because his style is incredible and I am always excited about seeing everything he does.

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?

My main focus for this year is just to keep working and I definitely have some new projects in the works. Like always, I’m excited to see what comes up next.

Check out Emily’s website @ http://www.tomorrowssky.com/

How did you first get involved with crafting?

I always liked doing crafty things growing up but my mom, who is an unbelievable artist was always very busy with her work to show me much. So i always had lots of supplies but no real direction. When I met my now husband at 15, another amazing artist, he pushed me and supported me to try out everything that interested me. I started hand sewing creatures from the video games he makes as little gifts for him. Once my confidence grew I started designing my own creatures and he bought me a sewing machine for my 22nd birthday. I signed up for Etsy on the eve of my 23rd birthday and I’ve been chugging away ever since. I never thought sewing would be the creative outlet I would excel at and would turn into my passion and now career.

What are your favorite materials to work with? Do you have a favorite color palette?

Fleece is my favorite! So many colors and variations of fluffy nubbiness, you can make anything with fleece! I tend to stick with muted colors and I really have to watch myself at the fabric store to make sure I’m not leaving with all tans, light teals, pinks and browns.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

My inspirations are definitely my family, my husband make the most amazing creatures and worlds, he has definitely shown me that my imagination is limitless. Also my niece and nephew, when I first started sewing, before they were born, it didn’t even occur to me that children would like my work. they take me to a place that is simple and fun where ideas run wild.

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working?

I actually prefer TV to music when I’m working. I’ve been watching the entire series of Buffy the vampire slayer while preparing for San Francisco Bazaar and i love it! But if I must listen to music then definitely something I can sing along to, Fiona Apple, Spinnerette, Hole, Aretha Franklin, Etta James…you get the idea.

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them?

I love Elsita! Her ability to bring her amazing style to everything she touches, all of her pieces have their own world like they’ve been around forever. And of course Heidi Kenney, she’s amazing! her skill and work ethic is what i aspire for, I wish i could hang with her for a day and learn how to properly organize my life.

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?

I would love to make a coloring book this year and expand the world of The Poilus!

See everything that is exciting from Danielle White at :

http://www.danielleorama.net/

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business. I make journals by using the covers off of books the library has discarded. Each journal is then so different and distinct. It makes it fun finding the covers and thinking about who is going to be interested in that particular one makes each day’s production very satisfying

How did you first get involved with crafting? I am not all that sure what I do is even crafting. In any case, I was working in a bookbindery, and I could not stand to see all the usable paper either being tossed out or recycled, and I would rescue it & turn it into notepad or journals for my friends. My friends kept telling me I had made some great journals and that I should try to sell them. I didn’t care for the wholesale business, but when I discovered the craft circuit, it really changed my life.

What are your favorite materials to work with? My favorite material is the paper. There is something about it. All the different types and qualities. I have been fortunate, because I have managed to get most my paper from the recycling bins of printing companies. Because of my success, I have recently had to start buying paper, which has become kind of fun. To chose the right color & texture, and I go to great lengths to find those that have the lowest environmental impact.

Do you have a favorite color palette? I guess I like pastels. No, maybe the hues around the purple. I don’t know. My walls in my room, and my workshop are white. I think that might tell you something.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life? I recently started drinking, and that has been a big boon to my inspiration in life. I think music and nature are where I find myself.

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working? It doesn’t matter, because no matter what I am listening to, someone changes it. Preferred are NPR, Giants baseball games and bootleg Beatles.

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them? I like so many of them. I like their ideas and creative way of seeing the planet. I enjoy that, more then their finished products.

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business? I really need to set up an e-store. I don’t even have one and I am getting orders from all around the world, places like Nigeria. I mean, I must be making a great journal.

For more information see the site a fan created for me:

www.recoveryourthoughts.com

or email me: doug@recoveryourthoughts.com

How did you first get involved with crafting? For me it all started with Barbie. It’s kind of ironic that this doll that we perceive as being really fake and plastic and almost an imagination killer should be the very thing that made me the crafter that I am today, but I’m not too proud to admit it! She’s definitely not the role model I’d choose for my own kids, but for me she was less of an ideal to aspire to and more of a stand-in, just the right size to model my creations. I didn’t want to look like her or live in a pink house- I wanted to build a Barbie-scaled five story townhouse, complete with an art gallery and atrium. My parents encouraged my craftiness from the start. My mom was constantly pushing me to use my imagination, to make things rather than buy them and to use the resources at hand to make my environment beautiful. Those are the same skills I use today.

What are your favorite materials to work with? Hands down, fabric. I’ve been a fabric lover since childhood when I’d cut up my aunts’ old prom and bridesmaid dresses to sew with. They used to hide the scissors from me when I’d visit. I no longer cut up people’s clothes, but I still retain a quiet obsession with scissors. Vintage fabric is my favorite, but I’m really picky about the vintage stuff I take home. I just don’t have room to keep everything I like. I also really like vintage inspired florals, but I’m constantly trying to restrain myself from over-using them in my work because I want the cuteness of my things to be balanced between the pattern in the fabric and my arrangement of it. It’s really easy to get caught up in a cute motif and forget that it’s just one element of the product.

Do you have a favorite color palette? I LOVE aqua. I like to surround myself with aquas, yellows, white, and pinks. Together they make really soothing and refreshing combination that can be played with by altering the proportions. When my husband and I lived in San Francisco our kitchen was black and white with touches of aqua, pink and yellow, like a candy shop. Our work studio now is all aqua with white trim and hints of yellow and pink. It’s very cool and relaxing. I like that I can play with those colors and get a huge variety of effects. Of course my crafty products are where I get to play around with colors and patterns. At the moment I’m in love with brown in combination with any other color. Brown is my new black.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life? I’m inspired by environments. Sometimes they’re places I’ve lived or visited, but often the inspiration is based on the idea of a place in time, like the idea of a candy shop, or the idea of an overgrown garden. For that reason I just eat up photographs and illustrations of beautiful places. They add to my creative inventory. There are so many incredible lines and shapes in beautiful buildings and gardens that really fire up my creative engine.

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working? I like to make mixes to listen to all day long. My mixes are full of lots of romantic stuff like Emily Loizeau, The Decemberists, and Mirah mixed in with more rock-tastic stuff like Sleater-Kinney, The Gossip, and Gang of Four. For quiet time I listen to Yann Tiersen and for pumped up crafty time I listen to M.I.A.

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them? I’d have to say that my number one favorite artist has to be Elsita. It seems like everything she touches becomes beautiful. I love that she plays in all manners of creating; she’s got her fingers in paper cutting, illustrating, jewelry, and fashion. Maybe one of the reasons I love her work is because it’s rooted in fantasy and story telling, both of which motivate my own creativity. It amazes me how prolific she is. Not only am I constantly blown away by her poetic and fresh imagery but she is an absolute inspiration as woman and as a fellow.

Latina. I love, love, love her style blog. The poses and backgrounds in her photos remind me of dioramas or giant oil paintings.

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business? I just started crafting full time and I’ve got lots of plans for the coming year. Later in the year I’ll be starting a joint project with my man, Eric of LRHB Industries. The idea is to have Polly Danger for my sweet and flowery side, and what we’re calling the Department of Danger for our shared structured and architectural side. I’m really looking forward to expanding my range of goodies!

Blog: http://www.pollydanger.com/blog/

Shop Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=73559

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

My name is Laurel and I own Penguinbot.com. I create funky and original knit and sewn purses, tote bags, and housewares. My unique designs are well-crafted, bright, bold, and 100% handmade. I started PenguinBot officially in October of 2008, and I’ve been taking custom orders since 2007. San Francisco Bazaar at the Maker Faire will be my first craft show, and I’m very excited to meet other crafters and new customers!

How did you first get involved with crafting?

I’ve always enjoyed creating things. My first foray into selling my wares was in 3rd grade, where I set up a small booth at my elementary school’s annual craft fair and bake sale. I sold bookmarks I’d stamped and embossed. I didn’t pick up knitting and sewing until I graduated from college. I started knitting because I wanted something to do on a road trip other than reading (so I could talk to my friends). I decided to start sewing because I was pretty sure that if I could figure it out, I’d be able to make skirts just as cute as ones I liked in trendy stores. I only made a few skirts before I got hooked on making bags. I started making purses for friends, then friends of friends, and then eventually started selling purses and totes through my blog.

What are your favorite materials to work with?

My favorite thing to work with is all the beautiful cotton prints I’ve found from great fabric artists like Amy Butler and Joel Dewberry. It must be, since my stash of fabric is a bit out of control. I also enjoy working with vinyl for structural parts of my bags, and using vinyl cut-outs for decoration. I continue to be amazed at how a single strand of yarn can be transformed into a gorgeous piece of fabric (or just about anything you want!) with just a set of knitting needles.

Do you have a favorite color palette?

Right now I really like rich browns with aqua, teal, or pink. I also love orange and rust hues, especially when combined with red or burgundy. While these seem to be the colors I seek out on my own, I often come across great suggestions from customers in custom orders, and am always inspired by the great combinations I find in my fabrics.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

I draw inspiration from the fabrics I find. A cut-out on a vinyl bag can be inspired by a leaf on the fabric I’ve chosen for the lining, and sometimes I’ll find a great color combination I wouldn’t expect to work. My first vinyl-bottomed tote bag was inspired by beautiful fabric my sister-in-law gave me. It had a white background, and knowing how hard I was on my bags, I didn’t want to make something that I would ruin by getting dirty the first time I sat it on the ground. In my life I draw a lot of inspiration from my family.  It can be hard to balance the demands of a day-job, a family and PenguinBot, but I look forward to the prospect of turning my crafting into a full-time endeavor. It makes for some long days (and nights), but I’m driven by the thought that hard work now will get me where I want to be in the future.

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working?

Upbeat music like the Shins, the New Pornographers or Spoon helps keep me moving, and I listen to a lot of NPR and baseball (when spring rolls around).

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them?

I love Jessie Oleson of Cakespy. Aside from having super cute paintings of desserts, her blog is always informative and funny. Jessie also encouraged me to start doing craft shows and answered some questions I had about getting started in them. She was incredibly warm and welcomed me into the crafting community, and her enthusiasm is infectious.

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?

PenguinBot is fairly new, but we’ve recently launched a line of items for the kitchen that we’re working to expand. We also have some new handbag designs in the works and we’re always finding new fabric to use on our tote bags, so keep an eye on us!

Shop: http://www.penguinbot.com/store

Blog: http://www.penguinbot.com/blog

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/PenguinBotcom/67190841717

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

Binary Winter Press consists of Cody Vrosh and Sheatiel Sarao. Cody draws, Sheatiel writes, and we both do design.  Originally formed to publish our first book, The Irrelevant Redemption,  Binary Winter Press became the vehicle for a variety of our arts.  Now its the banner underneath which we sell books, apparel, prints and original art.

How did you first get involved with crafting?

Cody was the sick child of a poor family, not much else to do but build with tinfoil and felt.  He grew up drawing on anything he could, and was eventually able to uprade his materials.  Getting into the DIY punk movement in his teens allowed for a broader range of media and ideas to apply his eclectic set of talents to.  Sheatiel was also often left to her own devices and the mercy of her imagination as a kid.  She always knew she’d do writerly things, but when she opened up her first blank Photoshop file, it was love at first pixel. Her

visual work is mostly digital, but on occasion will bravely pick up a pencil.

What are your favorite materials to work with?

Wood, Water & Fire.  Check us out, you’ll see what I mean.  For silkscreening nothing beats 100% cotton and water-based ink.  We both design quite a bit with our computing robots.

Do you have a favorite color palette?

Sheatiel likes muted tones that remind her of autumn and fading dreams.  Cody likes muted and pastels but always needs a sharp, bright color make himself feel whole.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

Everything. There is a crushing amount of beautiful things in the world. The hard part we find, is deciphering it all. Our stuff is an amalgamation of all the things we love, from animals to astronauts. We find technology to be delicate and graceful. We especially have a soft spot for displaced technologies, old typewriters and gearwork machines that once upon a time seemed so futuristic that are now obsolete. We feel sad for them and try to rescue them whenever we can.

 What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working?

Sheatiel: VNV Nation, Babyland, lots of synthpop and electronic for momentum.

Cody: Lately, K’naan, Arcade Fire, Martina Topley-Bird, and Son House for painting.  Arctic Monkeys or Lady Sovereign for Screenprinting.

 Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them?

Emonic, who’s a good friend of ours because we first liked his art, then discovered he was a really nice fellow (Emonic.net).  UglyGerbil’s Fyne Crocheted Monsters, because she’s awesome

(http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5597789).  Numerous others.

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?

2 new books coming very soon, new art, new apparel designs.  Don’t ever stop creating.

Thanks so much!

Cody Vrosh

www.binarywinter.org

www.binarywinter.etsy.com

www.myspace.com/binarywinter

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

My name is Jacob Vaughn and I’m an artist living in San Francisco who runs a one-man, independently owned screenprinting and leatherworking shop called Project TransAction. Project TransAction features high quality handmade leather belts and cuffs, as well as screenprinted accessories and limited edition hand screened t-shirts.  Each item is designed and hand-crafted with the utmost attention to detail, and in the most earth friendly way possible.  The politics of small, local, and independent business are intrinsic to TransAction’s mission, and learning and educating others about the importance of shopping indie and being an informed consumer is viewed as vital. TransAction strives to work with the most socially responsible companies available, with the intention of creating affordable, thought provoking goods that people can feel confident investing in Eco-friendly, fresh, and indie.

How did you first get involved with crafting?

The leatherworking aspect of PT specifically came about when i was flipping baseball gloves on eBay to supplement my income. I started deconstructing them to make dog collars, and became very interested in the challenge of properly manufacturing leathergoods. I find this type of work very relaxing (and the hammering is a major stress reliever!) and decided to combine it with screenprinting to create exciting, unique items that only get better with time.

What are your favorite materials to work with? Do you have a favorite color palette?

I (obviously!) love working with leather, metal, and ink- there’s a certain richness and timeless quality to these materials that I find very satisfying. I’ve also been known to dabble in photography and filmmaking, and have been collaging a bit in my recent work.  I prefer a neutral palette but have been doing my best to make room for bright colors in my designs lately.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

Family, society, film, public transportation, pop culture, other artists, vintage advertisements, science, documentaries, things i read, love.

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working?

Aesop Rock, Mos Def, RJD2, Tracy + the Plastics…anything with a good beat. I tend to “shake it” a lot when i’m by myself in the shop.

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you

love them? I’ve seen a lot of really great artists at the local events in SF- I think anyone who keeps passion alive in their work and helps to re-create a strong local economy with a sense of community is worthy of my thanks and respect. Josh McPhee and the crew at JustSeeds.org are doing some amazing political work with all kinds of printmaking. Also, there’s a great collective in Philadelphia called Art In The Age of Mechanical Reproduction that is definitely worth checking out.

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?  Always! I have some new skinny belts and ties as well as studded wallets that will be available at all upcoming indie sales. I’m also planning to have at least 6 new shirt designs available soon, so keep an eye out!

Jacob Vaughn Gushue

http://www.project-transaction.com

” It’s newer than new, its you-er than you, its now-er than now, and

it’s wow-er than wow. ”

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

I own a small store in Seattle, Washington called Schmancy. I focus on vinyl toys, plush toys and art. I curate an annual show titled ‘Plush You’ which there is a book for titled Plush You: Loveable Misfits to Sew and Stuff. This August my book/kit, Creature Crochet comes out with Barnes & Noble and then my book, Button and Stitch, comes out this fall/winter.

How did you first get involved with crafting?

I have been crafting for as long as I can remember. I have been participating in craft shows for 16 years now which is really crazy. I still love doing craft shows as it’s a great way to meet people, fellow crafters and test your product.

What are your favorite materials to work with? Do you have a favorite

color palette?

I love to play with color and try to do so as much as possible. I like to do a lot of different crafty projects but I am trying to stick mainly with sewing at this point. It would be nice to master at least one skill.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

Everything. I love reading blogs, going grocery shopping,books, all my talented friends, shopping (window shopping that is), etc.

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working?

hmmm that is a hard question. I like so many bands and it really varies on my mood.

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them?

Moxie- she’s hilarious and has a great style

Coco Howard- her work is beautiful

Heidi Kenney- her work is adorable and she is a total work horse

Ryan Berkeley-that man is talented!

Snaggs-always amazing.

The list goes on and on. It’s hard to pick favorites in my line of work. I see tons of great stuff!

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?

I am really excited to be part of this year’s San Francisco Bazaar! After that I will be gearing up for Urban Craft Uprising here in Seattle.

Schmancy

1932 2nd Ave

Seattle, WA 98101

You can see everything Schmancy has to offer at www.schmancytoys.com

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

My name is Cathy Pitters and I run Bossa Nova Baby out of my crafty wonderful pink basement in Portland, OR. I started my business way back in 1999 right after my son was born and I was looking to work at home. I started out doing more children’s items but as my son got older I was thrilled to move more into adult clothing and accessories. I like using recycled and vintage items in my work – I use vintage fabrics to make my skirts and embellish second hand sweaters with Gocco screen printing and topstitching.

I also run a monthly craft fair here in Portland called Crafty Wonderland with my friend Torie Nguyen from Totinette.com. Her and I are also one half of the women’s collective Portland Super Crafty who all wrote a crafty how-to book entitled Super Crafty back in 2005.

How did you first get involved with crafting?

My Mom is very crafty and was always making wacky craft projects with my sister and I when we were kids – candles out of crayons, painted rock creatures and, my personal favorite – ashtrays out of shells! So being creative and making things has always been part of my life…but it wasn’t until I moved to Portland and had my son that I started feeling like it was a great option for me to make things and sell them to make a living.

What are your favorite materials to work with? Do you have a favorite color palette?

I LOVE my Gocco printer! Buying it changed my life and changed the types of things that I make. I am very much of a textile person – I love sewing and working with fabric – particularly vintage fabric. So mixing the screen printing with the fabric has brought so many creative possibilities!

As for colors, I’m drawn to vintage color shades of turquoise, pink & green. And black is always a standard.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

I’m very inspired by vintage things. I scour thrift shops and estate sales for significant junk that will inspire me – colors, graphics, fabric patterns or even clothing styles.

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working?

I have a pretty regular rotation of several albums that I listen to on my record player when I’m in full production mode and getting ready for big shows – “License to Ill” by The Beastie Boys, “Under the Big Black Sun” by X, and “London Calling” by The Clash. Kind of a weird mix but just right for getting me moving.

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them?

Heidi Kenney of My Paper Crane (www.mypapercrane.com) – She was the first person I saw making that style of fun plush food. Her stuff is so amazing and creative and she’s got a great style. Plus, I’ve got a real thing for plush food with faces!

Rebecca Pearcy of Queenbee Creations (www.queenbee-creations.com) – she is such a great example of a small crafter who started her business out of her living room and now runs a pretty large and successful business selling all over the world. She does all her work at her studio here in Portland, OR and works really hard to buy local and sustainable materials. Plus she is a super nice person!

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?

I’m going to the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn the weekend after Maker Faire (Yikes!) and have applied to do both the SF and LA Renegade fairs. I’m hoping for a fun and prosperous Summer!

I have some new designs in the works – screen printed fabric jewelry and some new themed 1″ button packs. Fun!

StitchandDestroy.blogspot.com

My Blog about Crafts, Junk and Cupcakes

BossaNovaBaby.etsy.com

Clothing, Art & Oddities for Young and Old

Crafty Wonderland.com

Portland’s Monthly Art + Craft Extravaganza!