I have much love for this cute little shop (Krize Smilins) and what a wonderful place to get something for Valentine’s Day for your bestie (or yourself)!
Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx with Life With Tigers
October 26, 2011
For today’s Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx, I interviewed Karen Brazell from Life With Tigers (Etsy Shop). In addition to living with some tigers (okay, 3 cats), Karen makes and sells cat toys, the most adorable dolls, soft sculpture, greeting cards and art prints. As a cat lover, many of her creations are cat-themed, but that’s not all Karen creates. There’s stuff for dog lover, mushroomphiles, robot fans and more. Everything is cute as cats though!
Onto the interview…
What’s the name of your business, what do create and sell and how did you get your start?
My business name is Life with Tigers. Around my house, the phrase “that’s what you get when you live your life with tigers” was muttered frequently, especially when it involved cleaning up after mischievous felines or after stepping on the dreaded early morning hairball. When I started my craft business in 2007, I felt that “Life with Tigers” was the perfect name for my project, especially considering I was making cat softies as well as toys for cats themselves. Today, in addition to cat, dog and robot softies, I make greeting cards, art prints and the infamous Severed Leg Catnip Toy!
What’s something you’ve learned as an adult that you wish you knew as a kid?
That no matter how cool it is at the time, you will look back on your current haircut and cringe.
Share something silly about yourself.
I have about 13 nicknames for each of my cats, sometimes changing by the hour depending on what they are up to. I also am a total klutz in the kitchen and cannot be trusted with the stove, ice cube trays or with anything that can be dropped. If it can be spilled, I WILL find a way to spill it spectacularly.
Were you an arty craftsy kid? What other types of crafty stuff to you do?
I was a very craftsy youngling! I made comics out of cut up magazines, made a life size alligator piñata, silk-screened my own pants in high school and always told myself “i can make that” to talk myself out of spontaneous purchases. In addition to sewing, I absolutely love to build things out of found materials. Metal, paper, wood, LED lights? Check. Goggles, clamp, reciprocating saw? Double check!
Cats or dogs? Hot or cold? Day or night? Coffee or tea? iPod or vinyl? Vanilla or chocolate? Summer or winter? Half-full or half-empty?
Cats, day, coffee, iPod, chocolate, winter, half-empty.
Do you have a favorite type of cookie and do you have a recipe you can share for it?
For me, the fresh-baked, chewy chocolate chip cookie is the way to go, but I have a soft spot for Hydrox sandwich cookies (how can you NOT love a cookie named after atomic elements). In fact, as a kid my family called me Karen Two Cookies. No recipes to share, as I am a cookie-buying girl (see klutz above).
What’s better all the money in the world or all the free time?
All the free time, for sure. I currently maintain a 9-5 job as a web designer in New York City, so my evenings and weekends are consumed with Life with Tigers work, as well as work for another business I am a part of, Ink and Sword, where I sell some of my Pet Care Public Service Announcement design prints with another artist/designer Jed Dore, my business partner.
What does indie mean to you? You can give a literal definition, choose to be a little esoteric or a combination of both.
I’ve always been a big fan of doing things myself. It was never a statement against the evils of “the man” or anything, but it was because of the satisfaction I get when working with my hands and creating something that never existed before, or repairing or re-purposing something and giving it new life beyond its intended purpose. If this idea fits me into the indie mold with like-minded folks, then consider me molded!
Share 3 things that you are crushing on right now from other indie artists/crafters/designers.
Right now, I am crushing on the jewelry of Jenny Topolski. I spent a very rainy weekend at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn this year sharing a tent with her, and I stared at her acorn necklaces for hours. Got one of those, but missed out on the sperm whale bones necklace, which is awesome.Wendy over at I Heart Guts has made me smile this week. Her plush internal organs are so fun. The bladder plush is life size and says “urine good hands”. Right up my alley, really.I’m also excited to go to Renegade London this October and find Robin & Mould so I can snatch up one of their sleepy dog pillows for my feline staff to nap on!
Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx with Love, California
October 19, 2011
I interviewed Christin Morgan of Love, California for today’s Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx. Christin makes and sells fun those fun I {heart} state pillows that you’ve being seeing around….and if I lived anywhere else besides Delaware, I might buy myself one. Please don’t do the old joke us Delawareans have all heard an million times—Dela-where?
Btw, I also come up with my best ideas in the shower. See what I’m talking about below. Anyway, onto the interview.
What’s the name of your business, what do create and sell and how did you get your start?
Love, California. I make state pillows, state ring bearer pillows, constellation pillows and messes. This all started a couple years back on a coffee table in Glendale, CA after trying my hand at sewing Christmas ornaments.
What’s something you’ve learned as an adult that you wish you knew as a kid?
You know, I can’t think of anything. I guess you learn things as you’re supposed to. If I had understood how to drive and dodge cars on the LA Freeway at 5 yrs old, or how much taxes would take from my income at say age 12, I’d be even more neurotic than I already am. Childhood should be simple.
Share something silly about yourself.
I sit in the shower and pretend I’m under a waterfall. It’s where I come up with my best ideas.
Were you an arty craftsy kid? What other types of crafty stuff to you do?
I was! These days I really enjoy painting and figure drawing.
What’s better all the money in the world or all the free time?
Money. Free time usually costs something.
What does indie mean to you? You can give a literal definition, choose to be a little esoteric or a combination of both.
Indie is a label that makes you sound cool… and I use it daily. I first associated the term with music only. I blushed a little when I realized I was an “indie designer”.
Share 3 things that you are crushing on right now from other indie artists/crafters/designers.
1. Hitree’s Modern Felt Pillow
2. MirabelleCampa’s Leather Cord Bangles With Silver Plated Tubes
Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx with Specks & Keepings
August 10, 2011
I came across Hillery Sproatt’s lovely wares at the 2011 Pile of Craft in Baltimore this past June. I was just so enamored with her double-sided soft dolls and her soft sculpture mobiles. I decided then to interview Hillery for my Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx interview series.
Specks & Keepings is the name of Hillery’s shop where, in addition to her soft sculpture prints and drawings, she also features the work of other artists who are all just a perfect complement to her own goodies. It’s a lovely place…be sure to visit after reading my interview with Hillery below.
What’s the name of your business, what do you create and sell and how did you get your start?
Specks & Keepings is an online shop that specializes in handmade objects and design. It is a showcase of thoughtfully made goods that aim to inspire a simple lifestyle that is carefully shaped and chosen. The shop currently features the work of seven artists from all over the country, including myself. I make prints, drawings, and embroidered dolls & mobiles. I have been making things for as long as I can remember and I received my BFA in fine art in 2007.
Share something silly about yourself.
I am a bit clumsy and I am scared of almost everything, especially of tripping on the stairs.
What three things would you want to be able to have if you were on a deserted island? Beyond the basics of survival.
I would want my family (for good company), my dog (I think she could help me hunt) and my granola.
Were you an arty craftsy kid? What other types of crafty stuff did you do?
I was always making small dolls and books when I was young. My mom is a clothing designer, so I grew up in a house filled with textiles and other ongoing art projects. It was a very inspiring environment.
What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst?
I love when people find a special place in their homes for my work. The downside is that I haven’t a business background and have yet to master how exactly I use my skills to make a living. With that said, I work part-time as a nanny and love that work as well.
Is your home messy or organized? Which one do you think is ideal and why?
I think my home is mostly organized. It helps me focus and relax when I can see what it is I am doing.
When did you get your start and what made you decide to take the plunge?
I worked with my mom designing, producing and selling her wonderful women’s apparel, Rebe, since I was fifteen. I think it was through working with my mom and helping her grow her business that I decided to start Specks & Keepings.
What’s been your biggest accomplishment so far?
This is a hard question as I feel as though a lot has been accomplished since Specks & Keepings first launched in April 2011. I think I get the most joy whenever I get a customer who is so excited to have stumbled upon beautiful things made by the hands of another. It is a wonderful feeling to make something that brings someone else happiness.
Share 3 things that you are crushing on right now from other indie artists/crafters/designers.
1. I love Elizabeth Rayman Yong’s collection of handmade knit sweaters, Primoeza.
2. I am always taken with Renilde De Peuter’s embroidered works and mobiles.
3. I think Annie Larson’s knit works are fantastically playful and inviting. I would love a sweater.
Of course, there are lots more things being made that inspire me. For updates about the shop, new works and other artists that excite me, visit my blog.
highlights from the art star craft bazaar
May 17, 2011Over the weekend I visited the Art Star Craft Bazaar, and as always it was a good time. The weather wasn’t all that nice and I really felt bad for all the vendors and the performers, but I didn’t let a little rain keep me away. In fact, I forgot my umbrella and ended up getting soaked, but nothing was going to deter me from some indie shopping!
I did end up making a few purchases, mostly for myself, but I did buy a necklace for my sister from J Davis for her birthday present. For myself, I bought some earrings from pear and peacock, a bracelet from cold picnic a print from cayetano valenzuela and some more earrings from species by the thousands and lauren markley.
Here’s some more goodies that I had my eye…
Indie Fixx From Across the Pond: Plush
May 05, 2011
Who said toys are just for kids? Let me introduce you to some of the wonderful plush and textile creatures currently being brought to life in the UK.
I just love the creatures from the Monster Workshop of stitches and glue, aka Paul Vincent. I would quite like to adopt them all although I must confess that Knutt is definitely one of my favourite. Which one will you give a loving home to?
Another very talented creator worth checking out is Holly Stanway, who brings to life some rather wonderful creatures under her design label, A Little Stranger. Seriously, who wouldn’t want a Blue Faced Bunny-Yeti or Zombie Bunny to call their very own.
I have fallen in love with more of hirsute chaps than I care to admit in recent years. Largely thanks to the amazing characters created by the delightful Louise Evans, aka Felt Mistress. Follow their adventures and mayhem on the Felt Mistress blog, where you can also get a sneaky peek at work in progress.
Meridian Ariel may originally be from your side of the pond but we are claiming her and her wonderful dolls and their stories as our own.
Did you know that Fish Boys are the librarians of the depths? I wonder if one of these fabulous creations by Lisa Aaron of Lou Lou and Oscar could be tempted to come and watch over my extensive collection of books.
More true to life than some of the other wonderful creatures we have met are Abigail Brown’s hand stitched birds. I am completely transfixed by their intricate beauty.
- Michelle Duxbury helps runs a rockin’ indie boutique called Rocket 59. Read more about her on the contributors’ page.
