Handmade for the Holidays: Judy Lee

Judy Lee of five and a half


Judy and her husband are the duo behind the lovely little online shop called five and a half. I fell in love with their journals from the very moment I saw them. Handmade, colorful and chock full of recollected papers, they are the perfect place to write, sketch, dream. Judy's new line of journals are delightful, and this time around have illustrated covers! In addition to the earthen journals, the five and a half shop also has holiday card sets featuring collages made with recollected paper and photo journals (Judy's husband is an ace photographer). Currently, with every order of two or more journals, you will receive an extra little treat in your package! I think these beautiful journals would make special gifts for those you love!



When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A set designer. When I was little, I spent hours watching award ceremonies, not for the celebrities, but to see how the stage looked with all the glitzy lighting and scene changes. When I found out that I'd get my big break by painting big cardboard trees for the school play, I changed my mind.

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Describe your perfect morning or evening.

An early bird. The perfect morning begins at 7:30am on Sunday, with lots of sunshine, a delicious breakfast of farmer's market toast, and hours of fun drawing and making handmade goodies.


What is your ideal setup for creating?

Warm morning sun, good music, a cup of chamomile tea, and my craft materials strewn (somewhat chaotically) across the table and floor all around me. And a freshly-made chocolate chip cookie to snack on.

What are two of your most favorite objects in your studio/home?

My beautiful handmade maplewood Shaker chair, which was given to me by my husband as an engagement gift, and my Rotatrim professional paper cutter which I am helpless without.

Which season inspires you the most and why?

I'm most inspired by the winter season because the brisk, cold weather and sharp sunlight make me really notice the shapes and textures of the things around me. Because it's chilly outdoors, I tend to stay home more, and my mind fills up with ideas to try drawing and making.




Tell us the story behind your newest journal collection.

This time around, the journal covers are illustrated. The printed images are based on drawings of little rooftops and buildings I saw when I looked out my window every day during my recent stay in Taipei. An endless stretch of little boxes, stacked one on top of the other, keeping families safe from cold weather and rainy days — there's
something so endearing about the thought of that.

What are some of the biggest rewards of being a handmade artist? Biggest challenges?

It's such a treat to know the names of the people who I make journals for, especially when they share their art with me and I become inspired by their work. And it makes me so happy to hear about how people have been writing and drawing in their handmade journals, using the different types of papers as canvases to give them new ideas and
different ways of seeing things.

I get a bit frustrated when I've been tinkering away on something for hours and then I glue or cut something wrong and have to start from scratch. I'm learning to make use of those mistakes by keeping them in a box and using them later to cut apart and make collages with. I've been pleasantly surprised at the things I've managed to conjure up this way.

Who are some of your favorite handmade artists?

Sharilyn Wright of lovelydesign

Camilla Engman

Keri Smith



If you were to go on a holiday getaway, where would you travel and what
would you do?

I'd like to travel (with my husband) anywhere and everywhere in the world where it's sunny and peaceful, with dozens of quaint little stores carrying handmade, vintage and designy things, and lots of tiny restaurants or cafes filled with delicious food to eat for every meal.

Do you and your family have any special holiday traditions?

A new tradition in our home (my husband and I just got married this April) is to buy a piece of artwork together at the end of each year. Over time, we'll have our own collection of special pictures and treasures.




What is your favorite holiday treat?

My absolute favorite treat (regardless of what time of the year) is freshly-made chocolate cake.

When is the last day to place an order in time for holiday delivery?

To arrive in time for the holidays, orders must be placed and paid for by Friday, December 8th.

Thank you so much Judy!

To visit Judy's shop, click here.

Handmade for the Holidays: mav of port2port press

mav of port2port press


Oh, I could gush for days about the loveliness of mav and port2port press! Her letterpress designs will amaze you;she has such an eye for color and placement. I love that she finds inspiration everywhere. The little stories behind the designs are always so fun to read. Earlier this year mav launched the card society. As a member, you receive two gorgeous letterpress cards with unique designs not sold anywhere else. I could not imagine a more wonderful gift to give (or receive). Beauty and inspiration arriving on your doorstep each month...priceless!



When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

an english professor


Are you an early bird or a night owl? Describe your perfect morning or evening.

early bird big time.
my perfect morning is a bit of lazing in; put the coffee on; get back in bed; bring coffee, toast + some reading material back to bed; take my time; no rushing; easing my way into the day .......




What is your ideal setup for creating?

morning + soft music + no pressure + inspiration around me {online or in magazines or at the library looking at books, etc}


What are two of your most favorite objects in your studio/home?

in my studio ... my letterpress & the artwork i have gotten from friends


Which season inspires you the most and why?

well this has recently started to change to every season! i would normally say Fall but now i just can't get enough of the changes and the sweet goodness that each has to offer. i am super thrilled for Winter to come. i know that i will go out in the first major snowstorm and just party it up like a kid!




What was your inspiration behind creating the card society?

it just came to me. i really like clubs. i have been in the Bacon of the Month Club and the Chocolate of the Month Club and have felt so excited when each month i get the packages ... almost unexpectedly. so i figured, why not have one with cards?




What are some of the biggest rewards of being a handmade artist? Biggest challenges?

rewards are that it's yours; you touch it; you create it.

challenges are getting your name out there & being able to make a living making things. it's better now but still damn tough.


Who are some of your favorite handmade artists?

karin eriksson, stephanie barnes, sharliyn wright, lisa congdon ... the list could go on for days; i adore handmade!




If you were to go on a holiday getaway, where would you travel and what would you do?

i would go to Scotland, Sweden or Italy and do nothing at all but eat pastries & take walks & sit by fires.


Do you and your family have any special holiday traditions?

our traditions have changed since we have added & lost people. i would say one thing we do for sure is sing songs. we always do the 12 days of christmas {horribly most of the time!} and no one ever wants to get "5 Golden Rings.........".


What is your favorite holiday treat?

pizzelles. a lovely italian treat!


When is the last day to place an order in time for holiday delivery?

december 22 {and i would have to add on Overnight Shipping} to receive the gift package. if you would like the first 2 cards with your gift package then the last day to order is december 8.

Thanks mav!
To visit mav's Etsy shop, click here. To visit mav's website, click here.

Handmade for the Holidays: Abby Powell Thompson

Abby Powell Thompson

Abby's handmade items always make me smile. I am a huge fan of her work and just love that she carves her own stamps!! Her designs are amazing...just check out that vintage typewriter!! I often send my friends cards that Abby has made and they fall in love with them too. In Abby's shop, you will find cards, stamped moleskine journals and more. Perfect little delights for the holiday season. :)




When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I really had this idea that I would be something special, some sort of artist-but it was always changing. I remember I wanted to write or illustrate children's books. Then, at about the age of ten, I started reading country Living and Martha Stewart magazines. I wished that I could be a photo stylist or writer for one of these magazines. Boy, I was a dork! But really, it is true.

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Describe your perfect morning or
evening.

Up until about a year ago I was a total night owl. I would do my best work at night, getting ideas when I would normally be going to bed. But recently, I just don't have that kind of energy anymore. I really like to work in the early afternoon. I like to get up and read blogs while I drink some coffee or tea. After a walk and some food I like to put on a record and work-if I have the time!



What is your ideal setup for creating?

If I am trying to come up with a design or if I am drawing, I like to be in silence. I like to be alone and it is really hard if I have to work around people (I just get embarrassed!). If I am stamping or making hairpins, I love to work to music. I sing along loudly and I am sure my neighbors are so over it!

What are two of your most favorite objects in your studio/home?

I have this great pink chair that has wooden arms and legs and a vinyl seat. The paint is chipping and it squeaks when you sit in it, but I really love it. To me, there is something strangely regal about it. The second is a giant, bright green "A" my Aunt gave to me. It used to be part of an old hardware store sign. I love the color and the font. It is inspiring.

Which season inspires you the most and why?

I think spring inspires me most. I love blossoms and green shoots and just the fact that it feels like you can start fresh in the spring. I've always loved it.



Tell us the story behind one of your creations.

I like to carve images of objects that are part of or were a part of my everyday life. My typewriter card, for instance, show an image that has been part of my life for many years. I remember as a little girl playing on some old typewriters. I loved using yellow legal paper and shoving it in the gigantic spool of the very heavy old typewriter. I remember later we bought a more "modern" typewriter that was fun, but did not have as much charm as the old one. "Atop an Underwood" was one of the first Kerouac books I read and it seemed appropriate. A few months ago my husband brought home an old royal typewriter that had been sitting in the basement of his work. I love this machine and knew I wanted to share its image. I took several photos of it and found an angle that worked. After some initial sketches I carved it out.



What are some of the biggest rewards of being a handmade artist?
Biggest challenges?


I like to be able to create something and receive such positive feedback about it. The blogging community is very supportive in that way. It is nice to be a part of giving and receiving goods that someone really thought about and worked hard on. Sometimes it can be very expensive. I am helping support my husband while he is in school. Sometimes I want to experiment with certain media or buy some yarn or whatever and I just can't justify the expense. In a way though-that makes me be creative with my technique and materials. It is also really hard for me to sell my work face to face in shows and fairs. It feels a bit like being on trial-and I don't even know why. Hopefully, as my confidence grows, it will be easier.


Who are some of your favorite handmade artists?

Jen, the photographer behind simply photo is such a huge inspiration. She is the queen of finding beauty in the everyday, which is really what I am trying to do with my prints.

Julie from etui-etui.com. Her cards are breathtaking, the colors, the shapes, and the subject matter all speak to me. She has a great eye.

Alison makes great pouches and purses. She is really friendly and infuses her happy quirky personality into her pieces. They are inexpensive and functional and cute!

Of course I have to mention Natalie Tweedie and Lisa Solomon, two women who create stunning and beautiful visual art and I am so lucky to own a piece of their work!

If you were to go on a holiday getaway, where would you travel and what
would you do?

Oh I am always changing my mind about fantasies like this! Some days I would love to go to Japan with about a million different cameras, eat sushi, shop for zakka and explore all day long. Other times I want to visit Denmark, bundle up in a huge coat and thrift shop while drinking yummy coffee all day long. Really though, I think I would go back to France, explore new place and visit old friends. I was lucky enough to live there for awhile and I really miss everything-the language, the people the food.....

Do you and your family have any special holiday traditions?

On Christmas eve my siblings and I (there are 9 of us all together) would dress up and put on a play about Jesus being born. Now that is the job of my nieces and nephews. Afterword, we all get to open up 1 present.



What is your favorite holiday treat?

My Mom's chocolate cake with homemade frosting.

When is the last day to place an order in time for holiday delivery?

December 12, 2006

Thanks so much Abby!

To visit Abby's Etsy shop, click here.

Handmade for the Holidays: Daphne van der Meulen

Daphne van der Meulen

Daphne is a talented artist who creates wonderful pieces of jewelry as well as beautiful paintings. I adore her pear shaped jewlery collection. I also love the wish tag necklace. On her Etsy site Daphne describes this necklace for us: "This tiny sterling silver wish tag comes on a black silk string. It is an old chinese saying that the person who recieves this tag may do a wish while a loved person hangs the tag around him-her. By wearing it day and night the tag will fall of naturally and the wish may come true." What a simple, lovely gift for the holidays! I hope you enjoy this interview with Daphne as much as I did.


When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Oh, a lot of things…my Mum told me I wanted to be a teacher, but my earliest memories are that I wanted to be a pilot, and then it was an architect and now I just want to be happy, and make a living out of doing things I love.

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Describe your perfect morning or evening.

There are days that I am an early birdie, up in the small hours and enjoying the silence. Mostly during summertime, I think it really depends on the weather, if the sun is early I am too…but than again I like to work late as well…being out and doing while everybody is asleep. That cozy atmosphere when all that is lighted in the room is your work area. Love that too. So, to really answer the question, I think I am both early birdie and night owl…and daydreamer.

My perfect day would be a day spent with friends and loved ones, long talks about art and live. A great dinner cooked in a large kitchen where everybody hangs out, drinks wine. You know, that perfect evening!


What is your ideal setup for creating?

I find this a hard one! There are days that I wake up and a day goes by that I have not listened to any music, I like the silence a lot…the hearing of sounds that go on outside, the rain falling, the wind blowing…all that I don’t notice when I play music. I don't have a ritual that makes me in the mood for creating. I just start, and after doodling around for a while things just go. And If I am lucky and don't have any appointments or other tasks then these are the days that 24 hours is just not enough, inspiration flows like it never ends…





What are two of your most favorite objects in your studio/home?

Huy Nguyen’s model and a piece of painted cardboard that both give me a lot of inspiration.

Which season inspires you the most and why?

That must be autumn and spring! It is hard to choose between these two. Spring is the ultimate creating season since nature is all about that itself during that time. And that can only reflect on us humans. And the autumn inspires me because of the colors, the endless brown, yellow and red tones, the smells, the fresh cool breezes, the light, the twilight and the bright blue skies.



Tell us the story behind one of your pieces.

If I had to choose one piece it would be a painting. They all have little stories, thoughts behind them. It will be one of my Poems paintings. It has a little Poem made by me on it, which says in Dutch:

maybe my home

is there

where I’m not

there

in my own language

with my own habits

The inspiration comes from my own experiences, as do all of my paintings. I am still finding my way of living in another country with other habits and trying to express myself in a language that is not my own. I spent a lot of time making one piece. I often change things after looking at it a few days later. Somehow time does change your mind and your point of view.

What are some of the biggest rewards of being a handmade artist? Biggest challenges?

Doing that what I love is a huge reward, which I often underestimate. A challenge for me is feeling comfortable with the idea that other people like my work and want to spent money for it.




Who are some of your favorite handmade artists?

I’ll skip this one, there are too many!


If you were to go on a holiday getaway, where would you travel and what would you do?

Japan, I would find myself a nice Ryokan to stay with a beautiful Onsen outside. I would join a tea ceremony walk trough a perfectly designed Japanese garden and see lots of architecture from Tadao Ando. I just love that country, it is so beautiful, and the nature is absolutely gorgeous. It shows in all what they design. Oh, and I would drink lots and lots of Sake!




Do you and your family have any special holiday traditions?

Not really, I guess we are not so traditional…we do hang out together during Christmas and since we have 2 Christmas days in Holland it is mostly a long extended weekend with long dinners and breakfasts… Sometimes I wish we had a special family thing, but than again I like it a lot more when we spontaneously have get-togethers!


What is your favorite holiday treat?

That would be something Dutch… ‘kikkers en muizen’. If I would translate that directly you will think I am nuts… Frogs and Mice! But in fact they are chocolate covered sweet marzipan candies and they are only around during this time of the year. Looking so much forward to eat some of that!

When is the last day to place an order in time for holiday delivery?

For jewelry I take the last orders on Dec 4th. I can send them out the latest on Dec 13th. One day before my birthday! Paintings I can send out by Dec 13th but commissions will have to wait untill the next year.

Thank you so much Shari for this interview, I had a fun time doing it! *Daphne

Thank you Daphne!
To visit Daphne's Etsy shop, click here.

Handmade for the Holidays: Jen Causey

Jen Causey

Jen is an amazing photographer who takes the most gorgeous photos. Her photographs are simple, yet full of life;they invite you to see the beauty all around you. Recently, Jen opened an Etsy shop featuring postcards, cards, and prints (of many different sizes) all created from her beautiful photographs. I can't pick a favorite because I love them all!! Her new winter postcard set would make the perfect little stocking stuffer,too. Enjoy!



When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

i wanted to be an archeologist, or some kind of exporer/traveler. i was in a school group, and we went on digs together looking for fossils. i think this has definitely translated into a love of travel and exploring in my adult life.

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Describe your perfect morning or evening.

that's easy---early bird!! i love getting up early and getting things done before everyone else wakes up. my perfect morning is getting up, opening my curtain to see the sun pouring in. brewing some fresh coffee. reading the paper, looking through magazines, or coming up with new ideas.

What is your ideal setting to take photographs?

overcast days are pretty perfect for light. i always use natural light, so this plays a big part. on open room with big windows is ideal.



Which is more difficult in your opinion, portraits or landscape and why?

i think landscape, because sometimes it is more difficult to make it interesting. it is harder to translate what you are seeing with your eye onto film. with portraits, you are working in a partnership, you and your subject. it is a collaborative effort, and with landscape, it is just you working with nature. i think this is why i love still life work, because it is all about how you position the subject and manipulate the angle or objects, order to make it interesting and mean something to you.



What are two of your most favorite objects in your studio/home?

one is a rectangular window i found on the street. it is a double window with one side missing the glass. i have it hanging on my wall as a frame. i just love it!
the second object is a small bowl of nature and trinkets. i have things i have found and am in some way inspired by in the bowl: stones, an acorn, a small ball of yarn, a vintage letter. it sits on my windowsill.

Which season inspires you the most and why?

i definitely find something insirational in all the seasons, especially at the beginning of the season when the changes first start to take place. but, if i had to pick one, it would be winter. growing up in the south, we never got more than an inch or 2 of snow. so being in new york, it is always magical and like a winter wonderland for me every time it snows. i did not start taking snow photos until last year, but i fell in love with all the beautiful things you can discover. i love going out early in the morning the first day of the snowfall, before it has been disturbed. i guess this is another perfect morning for me;)



Tell us the story behind one of your photos.

the photo is one of a snowy bike. i took the photo last year, during one of the first snowfalls of the winter. i happened to be leaning out my bedroom window and i looked out onto the backyard of my apartment building. what i saw was pure beauty. everything was covered in a blanket of snow with tiny little details sticking out. it didn't look real. i liked how there were no longer objects, but forms and shapes. this has inspired me to take lots of photos out of my window, and discover how the backyard magically changes with every season.

What are some of the biggest rewards of being a handmade artist? Biggest challenges?

challenges-finding the time to keep creating. i love making things, but i also have to work my day job, pursue more freelance work, and find sometime to rest. i have more ideas in my head than i can actually make into reality.

rewards-doing things exactly as you want them to be. having people respond to your work and see things the same way you do is really exciting. connecting with other artists and people all over the world is amazing.



Who are some of your favorite handmade artists?

oh there are so many:
port2port
camilla engman
karin eriksson
lotta jansdotter(don't know if she qualifies as handmade, but if love her work)
jen corace
lisa solomon
and so many other hard working, talented people out there.

If you were to go on a holiday getaway, where would you travel and what would you do?

i would love to go to sweden. i am so inpired by all the design that comes out of that area. i would love to explore everything-architecture, shopping, nature,culture.

Do you and your family have any special holiday traditions?

yes, we always get together on christmas eve, drink hot chocolate and go around to look at christmas lights.



What is your favorite holiday treat?

hum... i love all treats, but every year my mom makes all sorts of holiday cookies. my favorites are probably these butter cookies she makes with red and green cherries in them.

When is the last day to place an order in time for holiday delivery?

for those in the usa: dec. 18
for those outside usa: dec 13

thanks, shari!

Thank you Jen!
To visit Jen's Etsy shop, click here.

Handmade for the Holidays: Gracia Haby and Louise Jennison

Gracia Haby and Louise Jennison


Gracia and Louise are the dynamic Aussie duo behind the cool online shop Hammer & Daisy. They never cease to amaze me with their cute bird stuffies, pencil cases, handmade journals, zines, and prints. I love all that they do and I'm constantly inspired by their art. Gracia is a collage master and Louise's watercolor paintings are so lovely! Hope you enjoy this little peek inside their busy world and be sure to visit their shop to find a little treasure for yourself or your friends!




Are you an early bird or a night owl? Describe your perfect morning or evening.

Hammer & Daisy are a pair of night owls, a pair of barn owls from North Fitzroy, Melbourne with many cats in our nest. One of us a natural night owl through and through, the other more recently converted to the peaceful beauty of working late at night. The morning holds many charms but none which can compete with the lure, the magnetic pull, of working late at night. The calm quiet of the night wins every time, hands down. Uninterrupted by distractions, vices and other work commitments, sitting up past the midnight witching hour is the ideal time to transform a brown piece of cotton fabric into a parliament of handsewn owl pinnies, the perfect time to unfold and cut up new fabrics in readiness for tomorrow. Undisturbed, surrounded by our cats Omar and Olive, there are few distractions and many benefits to be had working at this time, folding paper for journals until the eyelids droop and the back begins to sing out for a rest.


What is your ideal setup for creating?

For both of us, our ideal set up is determined purely by the task, though generally, as with our art practice, it is made in silence.

When knotting up several journal spines (a single A4 journal has 164 small square knots which make up its flexible spine, and takes a little over 30 minutes to knot), the last stage in making a journal, the trusty ipod is always called upon. The faster the music the faster one can knot, keeping in time with the music. Gogol Bordello (no surprises there) and old favourites The Clash prove ideal for this part of the process. ‘Theme time radio hour with your host Bob Dylan’ a further favourite work companion in our home based factory… each song introduced with anecdotal facts and informative particulars. Running for exactly one hour, it is a more pleasant way to mark time, two A4 journals knotted to one hours worth of songs devoted entirely to flowers. Talking books are another favourite when working on the more straight forward components of journal making, though generally we prefer the quiet hum of the day for it enables the mind to race ahead and think of new drawings, new plans, new schemes and (for Louise) new motorbikes to research and draw.




Which season inspires you the most and why?

They all have their benefits. Cooler days lend themselves to long stretches of work especially when it is wintry outside and you are tucked up, cozy and dry in your studio, happily tinkering away. Gluing the fabric covers of a pile of new concertina journals whilst people outside walk past wrapped up in woolly scarves, it all makes for a pretty tempting combination. That said the long hot summer/Christmas holidays are also ideal. The days of January seem to stretch for as far as the eye can see. This January we’re looking forward to printing some of our recent collages and drawings for the first time in four colour (as opposed to the usual, more affordable two colour.).



Tell us the story behind one of your pieces.

One piece we are working on right now is a small bluebird stuffie. Similar to the limited edition canaries we made for Craft Victoria’s Yellow Christmas, this bluebird has been especially enjoyable to make as we are making it as a little thank-you meets Christmas present for all our friends near and dear. Little bluebird stuffies will be winging their way to many avid glass doorknob readers (hopefully) before long.




What are some of the biggest rewards of being a handmade artist? Biggest challenges?

By far the biggest reward is that Hammer & Daisy supports the making of our artwork, both collaborative and individual. We set up Hammer & Daisy for many reasons, one of which was to fund the making of our limited edition collaborative artists’ books and other works on and with paper. At present, the two sit well together, they feed off one another. Working on a line of journals allows us time to think about our artwork and to build upon our skills technically. It is also incredibly enjoyable, and seeing one item through from beginning to end, all components made entirely by hand, is without a doubt a thrill. Studying bookbinding in Ascona for a spell (as part of a Freedman Foundation Traveling Scholarship for Emerging Artists in 2002) resulted in us not only being able to bind our own artists’ books but also to start Hammer & Daisy, which has grown from a line of handmade journals to encompass an army of bird pinnies and stuffies and more.


Who are some of your favorite handmade artists?

There are so, so many, especially since we happened upon the rich blogging community of talented souls in January of this year. Aside from all the folk listed in your side bar, here are a few more:

Beck Wheeler

Iggy & Lou Lou

Sticky for the zines

Ramona for crafts and badges

Spacecraft

Nancybird

Jessie Tucker

Dapple Grey

Bencke

And, GeorgieLove.

We also like to swing by handmadelife and Miss Wooly for further crafty links a little closer to home.

If you were to go on a holiday getaway, where would you travel and what would you do?

Anywhere, anytime. A holiday we’d greatly love.




What is your favorite holiday treat?

A favourite holiday treat… lolling in the back garden at the end of a long hot Christmas day to the sound of many cicadas and the gentle hum of a nearby conversation sampled in between Fats Domino’s Christmas album (playing for the umpteenth time).


When is the last day to place an order in time for holiday delivery?

For folk overseas – 15th of December (just to be sure)
For folk in Australia – 19th of December for all online orders or right up to Christmas eve if popping into one of our stockists.

Thanks Gracia and Louise!

To visit Hammer & Daisy, click here.

Handmade for the Holidays: Kelly McClorey

Kelly McClorey


Kelly creates handmade treasures from her home in Cambridgeshire, England. Her background in fashion, textiles, and costume design, as well as her love of vintage fabric and small details, recently inspired Kelly to quit her full time job so that she can spend more time creating handmade items. I love Kelly's corsages and key fobs and think they would make the sweetest stocking stuffers.




When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I was always keen on clothes + drawing. I wanted to be a Fashion Designer for a time...definitely an arty job where I could get to work with fabrics. (I do remember that I also went through a phase at a very young age of wanting to be a maid...probably inspired by Cinderella?!!)

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Describe your perfect morning or evening.

An early bird. A perfect morning for me would start with bright sunshine; I’d sit enjoying it outside with a drink of hot water + lime then make a plan of my projects for the day. Then I’d have breakfast with my husband + a dance with him in the kitchen before he goes to work...followed by a productive session on my sewing machine!


What is your ideal setup for creating?

I like to flick between BBC Radio 2 + 4 in the morning...music + talking. In an ideal world, my workroom setup would be supertidy + I’d have an endless amount of work surface to spread out on!! I like to have some essential oils burning + cats for company when I’m creating too.



What are two of your most favorite objects in your studio/home?

My Grandad’s woodturned bowls + fruits have pride of place in our home. They make me happy on many levels...beautiful to look at, therapeutic to hold + to know he made them is simply the best of all. I also love my pink leather Roberts Radio.


Which season inspires you the most and why?

Autumn has an amazing way of making me feel the need to make things. I think nature is the inspiration...everything seems to turn my head + look exquisite at that time of year.


Tell us the story behind one of your pieces.

My Key Fobs came about once I’d harvested all the lavender in our garden this year. I love the scent. It’s very soothing + I thought it’d make a good use in the car where it can be given a gentle touch to release some relaxation when the traffic gets crazy. I’ve got so many lovely but small bits of fabric + this was a good opportunity to combine them + create a precious little item.




What are some of the biggest rewards of being a handmade artist? Biggest challenges?

When I’ve finished a piece of work however big or small, and I’m pleased with the result, the biggest reward for me is giving it to someone to enjoy. What I find challenging is getting enough time to dedicate purely to making things...but I’m slowly getting there!


Who are some of your favorite handmade artists?

Jenn Docherty’s felty bears + friends creations are so adorable. I love her colour combinations + sweet sweet names for each one. Sally Shim puts pattern + colour together in a way that I can’t get enough of...and her packaging...swoon! Abigail A. Percy’s jewellery is very special. I love the creative process in her work + the way that nature influences her art. Julie Avisar makes allsorts of amazing pieces using mixed media. She explores so many themes + is incredibly inspirational in her use of unusual materials.

I’ve had my eyes opened to many handmade artists from all over the world through visiting + linking from blogs this year. I’m so glad that I stumbled into this community + always look forward to the creative sharing on a daily basis.


If you were to go on a holiday getaway, where would you travel and what would you do?

For me Christmastime is about being with my loved ones so it doesn’t matter where I am as long as I get to spend it with them + be merry.




Do you and your family have any special holiday traditions?

When we were little my Dad would let me + my brother have a “Practice Night” for putting up our stockings, about a week before Christmas Eve. The next morning we’d awake to find them stuffed with boring vegetables!! One year though I do remember we got a present + boy were we excited!

What is your favorite holiday treat?

I do love a mince pie + we warm ours up on the woodburning stove. Mulled wine, cold turkey sandwiches, my Mum’s sausage rolls, roast parsnips + oh I eat vast amounts of Lebkuchen too...so in conclusion it’s got to be holiday food in general!!


When is the last day to place an order in time for holiday delivery?

Last posting days are December 20th for UK addresses + for Airmail to USA December 11th. Please email (kelly@mcclorey.plus.com) me for any other destinations or special orders.

Thank you Kelly!

To visit Kelly's Etsy shop, click here.

Handmade for the Holidays: Blair Stocker

Blair Stocker


Blair makes the most beautiful handmade items from handbags to softies to pincushions. I am constantly in awe of her fantastic creations. If you are looking for a special gift made with love and care, look no further! I hope you will sit down with a cup of tea and slowly savor this inspiring interview.



When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I spent most of my childhood dreaming of living in New York City, having some sort of career in fashion (the exception would have been that one year I would have easily thrown it all away for a date with Leif Garrett). At about 12, I found a collection of Vogue magazines from the 1960's at a yard sale. After tearing off the covers to hang on my wall, I studied each one of those issues from cover to cover. From there I quickly went on to Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, even imported magazines when I could get them. You could have asked me anything about the fashion industry and I wouldn't have been able to stop spouting off about it. I was obsessed with people like designer Mary Quant, 1930's costume designer Edith Head, and Perry Ellis. In my mind, the epicenter for all this was NYC, and at about 13, I went so far as to draw a detailed diagram of what my New York apartment would look like, right down to color themed rooms. Baby blue bathroom, yellow bedroom, specially dyed green shag carpeting, a huge balcony which I'm sure was overlooking Henri Bendels. I still have this picture in my studio. These little obsessions literally shaped my teenage years, college studies, and my post college career. (Although there were those few misunderstood, dark fashion years in college when my idea of back to school shopping was a 10 cent grab bag from Goodwill. I knew that I wanted to be in the fashion industry in some capacity, but I had no idea how I fit in it.

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Describe your perfect morning or evening.

I am definitely a morning person. I've always been chronically early everywhere I go. Friends and family kidded me that once I had kids I'd be late forever more. Now I arrive right one time, but still rarely late. College classes for me started at 8 am every morning and I was dressed and out the door before my roommates even turned over. I was always in the office earlier than many of my co-workers. Now that I am home with my kids, I set my alarm to get up before my family every day. I crave solitude in small doses and my solo morning time gets me ready for the day. Because of all this punctuality and early rising, as you can guess, I'm yawning by 9 pm.

My perfect morning would good coffee, a new, amazingly inspiring craft book or magazine, and about an hour to savor both. Oh, and silence...

What is your ideal setup for creating?

I am very fortunate that my family has given me a room on the main floor of our home that I can call my own. It is an ideal set-up and has made a huge difference in my productivity, organization, and general ability to stay on task when in the middle of a project(s). When I walk into my studio, I see my very favorite things, ones that were given to me or that I've made. Its all there. Even the infamous paper stacks I leave everywhere,. Its all there, untouched by anyone. I have 2 wardrobes full of fabric, bookshelves of all sorts of creative books, patterns, tear sheets from magazines, etc in there. There are two large bulletin boards on the walls that display an ever-changing collage of inspiration for me.

Its an eastern-facing room, and I prefer creating in there when I have the most light, so that's usually morning to early afternoon. I definitely need better task lighting to be able to do more at night, it usually feels too dark and I have a fickle relationship with artificial lighting. Music needs to be playing, or at least some sort of noise. Today that would be probably something like The Smiths, Neko Case, or a good audio book. Although when Ian comes in to join me, we can only play OK, GO.

Having someone to bring me tea and sweets on a fancy tray when the mood struck, that would be even more ideal. I would also ask them to make dinner.



What are two of your most favorite objects in your studio/home?

That's a tough one. There are favorite things that provide their favorite-ness in different ways. I love the sound of my cuckoo clock, paintings in our house done by Peter, the feel of a favorite quilt. It would be a entirely different answer tomorrow, I feel sure. There have been days when my hands down favorite object in the house would have been chocolate...without question.

In the studio, my favorite things would probably be the wall art from my kids. They are always offering up pictures and drawings, covering the walls of my studio with what they call "wallpaper". Those pictures always make me smile.

Which season inspires you the most and why?

I am most inspired by Fall. It has always been my favorite season. The colors, the smells, the difference in the way the sun shines, early darkness, the leaves, I have a love affair with everything about it. Our neighborhood is completely saturated with the scent of the pine trees this time of year and it still makes me shake my head in disbelief that the outdoors could smell this good every day. The changes the season brings really peak my creativity each year, after all, I began my blog in the Fall. Something about knowing everyone is settling in for Winter, school is back in, life having a different cadence, it all feels really good to me.

What is inspiring you right now?

So many things...traditional swiss clothing, tyrolean embroidery, folksy prints, the perfect pairing of blue and green, hand cut silhouettes of my children, the series Deadwood that Peter and I are watching on DVD right now (lots of saddle-y browns and tans), wool felt, scarves, moss, Shanna's (Two Trees) gorgeous smocks, Mav's 2007 calendar, Marie Antoinette, what my daughter Emma pairs up when she picks out her own clothes.

Tell us the story behind one of your pieces.

I think one of my favorite projects was the time I made a large stuffed whale for my son. He was 4 at the time, and the story around it eventually became a piece in The Polishing Stone magazine this past year. We were having a very very tough time with him. Looking back, it was a time full of transitions for him, and not much time to get used to it all. He was acting out, tantrum-y, seemed quite unhappy and unsettled. I sat down one day and made him a large stuffed whale, from one of my Japanese craft books. I probably cried all over that whale, but I was hoping that the end result would be a "friend" he could squeeze as hard as he wanted, whenever he needed to. As simple as it was, it was the most rewarding toy I've ever made, because of the smile and happiness that just washed over his face when I gave it to him. He still sleeps with it, a year later. That was when I started to realize how rewarding it is to create handmade toys. To be able to take something like fabric, and turn it into something that can create that much joy for someone, felt important and special. I'll never forget it.



What are some of the biggest rewards of being a handmade artist? Biggest challenges?

The biggest reward has been the connections and friendships I have made with people who have the same drive to create as I do, without question. If I never sold a single thing I've made, just knowing that there are people I can call friends out there who understand and get it, get the time and care that goes into creating something handmade, who appreciate the process. It humbles me daily. To think that I can converse with these extremely talented people (like yourself) on a daily basis via our blogs, Flickr, emails, it never ceases to make me smile and enrich my soul. The online creative community (both bloggers and those who simply visit and comment) are some of the most supportive people I've ever met.

The biggest challenge is time. I am a terrible manager of time. Having a studio in my home is a mixed blessing, because both sides of my life meet at the studio door. Balancing my creative life with the nuts and bolts, family nurturing side of my life is a constant juggling act. I am blessed to have what time I actually do have to create. I suffer from mom-guilt like so many of us, there are days I feel I'm not giving anything or anybody enough attention. I think I sweat over details too much, and probably don't pay myself enough for my efforts, many of us are probably guilty of that.

If you were to go on a holiday getaway, where would you travel and what would you do?

London. Peter and I spent our honeymoon there (and they told me I talked like Scarlet O'Hara, how cute is that) and I travelled there as a designer. I really love that city. Beaches and resorts are beautiful and relaxing, but give me London over them any day. I'd go thrift shopping, all day, eat some incredible Indian food, then end the day by dancing all night at some fabulous club. The next day, I'd spend half the day at Cath Kidston and the other half at Paul Smith.

sigh.....

Do you and your family have any special holiday traditions?

We are still forming our holiday traditions. Its all such fun for me. Peter and I start the holiday season off by watching 'Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" on Thanksgiving night every year. I still laugh till I cry watching it. With my help, each year my kids hand make holiday gifts for the extended family, and it has turned into a tradition we all look forward to. Santa always leaves Christmas stockings hanging from bedroom doorknobs on Christmas morning (giving mom and dad a few extra minutes before it all gets crazy, thank you Santa), I love hearing them whisper to each other as they meet in one bed to check out what they got. We always eat Sarah Lee Pecan coffee cake on Christmas morning while we're opening gifts, can that be considered a tradition? I'm trying to start a new tradition of getting Mom a new camera for Christmas, but its not really catching on.



What is your favorite holiday treat?

Eggnog with a splash of rum and nutmeg on top. It wouldn't be the holidays if I couldn't sit with family and enjoy one of these.

When is the last day to place an order in time for holiday delivery?

I will accept orders until December 15, and will try to keep the shop stocked as much as possible. Its all up to how fast these two hands of mine can work. If someone is desperate after the 15th, email me, I'd always be willing to try.

Thanks so much Blair!

To visit Blair's Etsy shop, click here.

Handmade for the Holidays: Ashley Baker

Ashley Baker

Ash (aka Sly Fox A) is a handmade artist living in Seattle. She creates wonderful bags, hairpins, scarves, softies, and garden pouches, all of which would make special gifts for your family and friends. I am quite fond of her new messenger bags! I love how her work is inspired by nature. She is an avid gardener and loves to fill her home with flowers.



When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be many different things, but the ones that stand out to me are wanting to write children’s stories, being an FBI agent or something in the healing arts, I had my bought my first massage tool at age 12 and performed reflexology on my dad.

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Describe your perfect morning or evening.

I’m definitely a night owl, my perfect evening would be filled with people I love around me having a wonderful time, with warm weather & a nice breeze, a full moon shining down on us. Just laughing, dancing & great discussion.

What is your ideal setup for creating?

I always have music or NPR going, I have a few different stations I listen to at different times, it’s like my mental clock, I can tell what time it is by who I’m listening to. I also am big on having a clean & organized work space, it’s hard for me to stay focused in clutter & besides the music going I need a pretty tranquil setting. I work best with a few other people or alone, if I’m in a setting with too much going on, I just get frustrated and shut down. I also enjoy having my kitties by my side as I work, they are quiet my companions & lastly I love having some tasty tea to sip on.

What are two of your most favorite objects in your studio/home?

Probably my inspiration board with pictures & art that remind me of my love of creation and secondly my cameras- I don’t think I will ever tire of taking photographs.



Which season inspires you the most and why?

Fall, I absolutely love it. It has a feeling of fresh crispness that just speaks to me in a way the other seasons don’t. I can smell the newness of life when fall is around me. I just get inspired to do so many things in its presence. I love the look of it and the slight spookiness that it carries.



Tell us the story behind one of your pieces.

So I’m going to describe one of the softies I make called “Nekos”, which means cat in Japanese. I made these as sort of a joke, I didn’t really think I would ever sell them. I was inspired to make one by my cat Toby & my love of Japanese animation. I also like the freedom in creating a toy, you get to be fun, silly & imperfections look so much cuter on a toy than a purse! The process in creating one is pretty simple, just trace the pattern, cut it out, put the detailing on the face and body, stuff it & sew it up! The hardest but most fun part is the creative design of what it will look like, such as what theme it should have or what decorations to give it a certain look.



What are some of the biggest rewards of being a handmade artist? Biggest challenges?

For me the biggest reward is knowing I’m doing something I love. I get to do my favorite thing, which is be creative and actually make money for it. Also it’s a moral value to me to be part of a community of people who are against corporate America and don’t want everything in our society to be mass-produced. I feel like I’m contributing to a good cause by creating handmade things, the same with why I only buy handmade things when I can.

The biggest challenge for me is getting others to believe in what I’m doing as much I do. I try to teach others as much as I can about buying handmade versus mass-produced. I think most people don’t get that when they see an ad for a chain store at the mall selling outfits for 25 bucks that probably means someone in Thailand that is treated horribly made it. It’s a tough situation to be so against it yet have no choice in certain things we buy because there is no handmade alternative.
Also it’s easy to get down on yourself if you’re having a slow month, you feel like nobody likes your things and your wasting your time but you have to remember if you love it, nothing else matters.

Who are some of your favorite handmade artists?

This is a tough question because I have many favorites! I’m a huge fan of Jill Bliss, everything she makes is beautiful and has great intent. I love Rebecca Turbow’s handmade clothing, it’s colorful & avant-garde. I sell at two shops here in Seattle, Velouria & Fancy + Pants & both owners, make gorgeous pieces that I adore. Lastly I gather huge inspiration from my blog friends. They all have their own styles and I love each of them.



If you were to go on a holiday getaway, where would you travel and what would you do?

Hmmm…. I think since we have been having such rainy gloomy weather I would want to go somewhere warm, preferably a private beach house in the Bahamas with my sweetie. I would just wander around taking interesting photographs and breathing the sea air with sand beneath my feet.

Do you and your family have any special holiday traditions?

We don’t really have anything out of usual holiday events. We do a tree each year, hang stockings & eat really delicious food. We do have cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning though after we are tired from opening gifts lol.

What is your favorite holiday treat?

Eggnog, always eggnog ;)


When is the last day to place an order in time for holiday delivery?

Well probably the first week of December, I’m pretty busy as is but I could get a few last minute gifts out! I do have some goodies in my new etsy shop that could be ordered as late as December 15th.

Thanks Ash!

To visit Ash's website, click here. For her etsy shop, click here.
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Lined up for tomorrow are interviews with Blair, Gracia and Louise, and Kelly!

Have a great Monday!
xo
shari

Handmade for the Holidays: Lisa Solomon

Lisa Solomon

Lisa is an amazing artist who also has a handmade business called Underdog Ink. She makes delightful jewelry, cool t-shirts, stationery, tote bags and more! In her online shop, you can truly find a gift for everyone on your list. (I am a big fan of her ringer tees!) Lisa is such an inspiration in all that she does. I know you will enjoy this interview!!



When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Hee hee... That depends on when you asked me... For awhile I seriously
wanted to be bank teller because I liked stamping things and filling out forms! teacher was a standard answer [and look! I'm doing that!], so was psychologist.... And for awhile I thought I wanted to be a TV anchorwoman[this makes me cringe now].

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Describe your perfect morning or evening.

Night owl for sure. I think better at night. I also have a different
kind of energy. Perfect evening? There are so many choices here... Nice dinner followed by working on art.... Nice dinner followed by good movie [on DVD/TV- I hardly ever go to movies].... Nice dinner followed by a night of listening to music [on vinyl if possible of course].... I guess the common thread is nice dinner??



What is your ideal setup for creating?

This changes with what I'm working on. I definitely don't like silence
when I'm working. I need some sort of music or noise [npr] to latch onto. I think my brain needs to be distracted in that way in order to really work creatively. Sort of like I'm distracting the part that would think to much -and allowing the other part to just work. I think the worse time for me is around 3pm. It's hard to stay motivated and focused around then [and I crave chocolate/coffee/tea/sugary snack]. An ideal day for working for me:

wake up around 8
Drink my coffee, check email, blogs, computer stuff
Pack up the dogs and head to the studio
Clean up a bit and get organized for the day
Work work work
Lunch
Work work work
Come home
Eat dinner
Check email, blogs, computer stuff
Hang out with hubby
Work work work [and sometimes simultaneously check email, blogs,computer stuff]
Go to bed by 1AM

What are two of your most favorite objects in your studio/home?

Oh this is so so hard. I have so many lovely objects from friends and
family and fellow artists... They all mean so much to me I can't possibly
choose just 2. And I love that I can walk around my spaces and be reminded of those that mean the most to me. I will also say my pets are SUPER important. They ground me in a way that's hard to describe.



Which season inspires you the most and why?

I'd say Spring and Fall. Those feel like seasons of change and growth.
Not that I have anything against Summer and Winter, but they seem more static.

How do you choose designs?

Well... Some I draw... Like the proud bird... And the polka bird - I used
that bird on my holiday cards YEARS ago and wanted to do something else with it. Same with the spring bird. It started out as my holiday card. Some are found images that I've altered from old books, or clip art sources... The rhino bird happened because someone asked me to make a logo for them. That was one of the choices I gave to them that didn't work for the company. I happen to really have a thing for rhinos [and hippos] and I love the symbiotic relationship the rhinos have with those birds that sit on their backs. It's just a nice symbol. So I made a shirt out of it! The great thing is that since it's my business I can just follow a whim... And if it's successful - great - and if it's not... I have some t-shirts I want to wear!

I do have to admit that I'm totally drawn to the bird [and animal] thing with underdog. I think it might be because I don't feel like I can fit them into my artwork - at least not comfortably. But I love them so... I am thinking of doing a few shirts in the Spring that don't have anything related to birds or animals of any kind at all! I guess we'll see.

What are some of the biggest rewards of being a handmade artist? Biggest challenges?

Seeing people love and use your goods or art. Getting an idea and just getting to go for it. Being in charge of your time [well at least some of the time].

Biggest challenge : Making it work financially.... Especially TAXES. They are just a bummer. Also making sure you stay engaged in the world. Sometimes I think I could easily hole up and not talk to a soul for a very very long time. I guess in a way that's why I love the blog world so much. It's a way to stay connected with thoughts and ideas with people who usually share your point of view and interests.



Who are some of your favorite handmade artists?

Again so hard.... I admire so so many folks. Everyone you are interviewing here for sure.... I'm afraid if I start listing I'll forget someone and kick myself later....

If you were to go on a holiday getaway, where would you travel and what would you do?

I love being out of my element.... For me a trip to almost anywhere would be fantastic... Seriously. I think that every place has something to offer you culturally or visually [even the middle of nowhere]. Traveling makes you look outside of what is normal for you and I love that. All of a sudden you really look at the sky.... Or a building... Or the type of light that you are in. If we are talking pure fantasy I'd love to go to France, Italy, Vietnam.... But then again Hawaii or Mexico sounds pretty good right about now [I think I'd love to take a totally relaxing holiday].

Do you and your family have any special holiday traditions?

Hmm... Nothing that really sticks out. These days I like to pull out all these great vintage ornaments that a dear friend gave to us. They span several generations and are just so fun to stare at.... but I can think of a funny story from when I was little.... we didn't have a fireplace where I grew up and so I worried how Santa was going to get in. My dad quickly assured me that they'd leave the door open for him.... So I'd put out the cookies and crack open the door and go to bed. Good thing we were in Southern California where it wasn't cold ! and good thing I never crawled out of bed to check the door in the middle of the night. I think I remember my dad also telling me that Santa would close and lock the door once he visited.... Heh heh.

What is your favorite holiday treat?

Food wise I have to say that I'm the hugest fan of cranberry sauce....And pretty much any kind of cookie :) For me, though, a big holiday treat might be to play in some snow. I've never lived anywhere where it snows so it seems so exotic... I'm sure I don't want to shovel my car out of the snow to get to work, but making a snowman sounds like a good treat to me.

When is the last day to place an order in time for holiday delivery?

Hmmm... Depends on what holiday you are talking about, but... For Christmas... It's on a Monday this year right? So I'd say the 20th for US shipments. I ship priority mail and that should just let you squeek under the wire. For Hannukkah - which starts on the 16th I'd say the 12th if you want it for the first night. For overseas... I'd say the sooner the better? :)

Thanks so much Lisa!!

To visit Underdog Ink, click here.

Handmade For the Holidays: Abigail Percy

Hello friends!

This entire week I will be featuring interviews with independent artists. If you are looking for holiday gift ideas, this will be a great place to find some! I am so inspired by these women. Hope you will be too.

First up is Abigail Percy. Abigail creates beautiful pieces of jewelry by hand. I am so honored to have both a necklace and a pair of earrings that she made. They are definitely favorites in my jewelry box. Her jewels are timeless and elegant. They are true works of art to wear and cherish for many years to come.

Abigail A. Percy



1) When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

All I have ever wanted to do was to be an artist or designer. As a child, and whilst growing up it was always assumed {by me and everyone else} that I would go to art school....and then go on to work in the creative industries. I was brought up in a very creative environment, as both my parents were interested in art - so it was something that came very naturally to both my brother {who is a product designer} and myself.

2) Are you an early bird or a night owl? Describe your perfect morning or evening.

This is a hard one for me, as I am equally happy working morning or night and when I have to get something done I can be productive at both times. However, I would have to say I am perhaps more of a night owl. I can function with very little sleep {which is just as well really!}....so I do often work on very late into the night. {One of the perils of having a home workshop ;))}

I have to say however, that a perfect evening would NOT include any work. A great evening to me would be lovely meal that I had had lots of time to prepare, some nice wine, friends or family, good conversation and some lovely music in the background. What more could you want??



3) What is your ideal setup for creating?

This is something I have actually had to work quite hard on finding over the last year and a half....and am gradually getting it down to a fine art.

I like to listen to music on my iPod, and tend to listen to the one album {that is motivating me at the time} over and over...as the repetitive rhythm helps me to maintain focus throughout the project/day. I don't like to be warm....and am best mid morning to early afternoon and then again in the evening. I also find it easier to create when the computer is off. I like to think it gives off negative energy or something, but in truth I am just too easily distracted by things like flickr and blogs!!!

4) What are two of your most favourite objects in your studio/home?

Ooh, this is hard!! I have so many pieces of art and objects I just love...but, if I had to pick just two I would choose my small ivory elephant {which is just like the one from 'The Secret Garden', my favourite book as a child that my dad found for me at an antiques fair when I was little} and my 14" high antique poster type wooden printing block, which is an 'A' and has the most wonderful patina.



5) Which season inspires you the most and why?

I would have to say, from a colour and form point of view, Autumn. It is just so beautiful. From a personal point of view, I feel happiest in the Winter...I just love the cold - {snow if I can get it!} and the wonderful layers you get to wear.

6) Tell us the story behind one of your pieces.

Well, for me there are generally two types of pieces. Showcase pieces, and then diffusion pieces {or bread and butter pieces as we often refer to them}..

My large showcase pieces {such as the Sweet Horse Chestnut Brooch} have the most amount of design work behind them....and take much longer to make. All my large pieces stemmed from a repeat pattern, which I designed by investigating leaf imagery {drawing, photographing, tracing, enlarging, and stylising} until I came up with a shape I was happy with. I constructed the patterns with the thought in mind of how they would be printed with traditional wooden blocks. The layers of the pattern, and in turn the layers of the brooch represented this.....the piece was designed to be displayed directly on the print, blurring the boundaries between two and three-dimensional applied arts.

Once all the in depth investigation has been done, there are many other designs that 'spin off' from here....these become the diffusion pieces. They are quicker for me to make and are pitched at a lower price point.

The processes used to actually manufacture jewellery are incredibly time consuming...so it would be too long winded for me to describe them all here. However, the main techniques I use are piercing {with a special jewellers saw and fine blade}...soldering {with a hand-torch I fill with butane gas}, carving {I often use an ivory alternative product, which I shape and form with files and scorpers, or engraving tools and then stain it with dye to 'age' it} setting {I set the ivory pieces in backings I make from sheet silver complete with claws that I can push over to hold the ivory in place and protect it from breakage} stringing {I string beads and pearls often on either silk for pearls and small beads, knotting them as I go or Beadalon wire for heavy semi-precious stone beads} and gold plating {I have my own plating tank to do this job}.....it is an enjoyable, if not very dirty job...but I do love all the tools you need for it!!



7) What are some of the biggest rewards of being a handmade artist? Biggest challenges?

The biggest reward is meeting deadlines, and managing to do things you didn't think you would be able to achieve. The period that follows such a time of hard work is great...you feel you could do anything. For me, it is also great to be able to work with your hands every day and develop a relationship and understanding of material that means you get to the point where it works with you, and does what you want it to do.

The biggest challenge, by far, is the financial one. It is extremely hard to be autonomous and make a good living.... especially in the first few years of running your business. It is difficult to adjust to the way of life where how hard and how long you work bears no relation {necessarily} to how much money you make {most of my collections go to galleries on a sale or return basis, so there is a big initial outlay of materials}. Pauper-Ville can be a lonely place ;) Also, the constant struggle for a good work life balance is something I often wrestle with. {I'm not sure if I win either...?} It certainly doesn't come easy when you are working from home.
But, I would say {when I'm feeling positive ;)} that generally the good parts of running your own business out-weights the bad.

8) Who are some of your favourite handmade artists?

The list is so long!!! But here are just some designers and artists whose work I adore and admire...

Karin Eriksson,
Jessica Ogden,
Bettina Speckner,
Camilla Engman,
Lisa Solomon,
Lucienne Day,
Claire Kramer photography,
Dries Van Noten,
Alison Watt,
Louise Hopkins,
Deirdre Nelson,
Mina Perhonen,
Kristin Perers,
Josef Frank,
and of course William Morris..... {I could go on and on, believe me!!}

9) If you were to go on a holiday getaway, where would you travel and what would you do?

If I was going for a blowout experience holiday...I would head for Kyoto, Japan without a doubt...I would drink in as much of the crazy culture, and their wonderful art and design heritage as was humanly possible!! I would love to visit the Gion district in Kyoto, and try to spot some Geisha...but the lure of the textile industry would be a big pull for me, so I would like to see some of the artisan workshops where kimono are made, and the silks are dyed and printed. In addition, a Muji department store sounds too good to miss!! I also love Japanese food, so indulging in lots of their cuisine would be a must for me too.

For a lower key relaxing holiday...heading up to the north of Scotland is pretty darn near perfect for me. Up there I would do nothing but relax and look at the surrounding beauty...perhaps stopping to collect some sea china on one of the numerous beaches.



10) Do you and your family have any special holiday traditions?

Yes, we always tend to go for the quiet family Christmas at home with the big Christmas dinner with turkey and all the trimmings. A tradition when we were small was to get our Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, and put it up as a family, unwrapping all the baubles that had been collected {and made by us!} over the years. We would then settle down in the evening to watch The Snowman, and before heading up to bed {to be read Twas the Night Before Christmas, illustrated by Arthur Rackham} we would lay out a carrot for Rudolph, a mince pie and port for Santa {aka Dad}... and although I am a bit old for that now {sob, sob}...my Mum still sprinkles glitter all over the floor throughout the house to show that 'He' has been...

11) What is your favourite holiday treat?

Christmas lunch...in our house we have Gravadlax {with mustard and dill sauce} on wholemeal brown bread as open sandwiches along with Champagne to sup. I think I love it even more than Christmas dinner itself!....

...should I mention chocolate??

12) When is the last day to place an order in time for holiday delivery?

All orders for commissioned pieces {from the diffusion line} are no longer able to be placed for those in the States.... however, I have some one off pieces in my etsy shop that are ready to ship straight away - the last date for shipping to the U.S is the 13th of December.... so last date to buy is the 11th of December.

If you are in the UK, you can drop me an email to see if we can work something out time-wise, as the last posting date is the 23rd of December.

This season is all about juggling!! ;)))

Thanks so much Abigail!


To visit Abigail's Etsy shop, click here.
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Hope you enjoyed the interview! I know I did! I will be