FEATURED SELLER - ANDY VE EIRN

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Yael Scharaby and I live in Tel Aviv, Israel. I recently married my high school sweetheart in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. Our newlywed existence would be pretty calm if we didn’t have a charming and hyperactive dog. I graduated from Shenkar College of Design a year ago and immediately began to work on my own textile brand. Most of my clothes are hand-knitted on a manual machine, as I enjoy overseeing the entire process — from the manufacturing of the fabric to the final piece.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I am currently working on new pieces and promoting my brand in local stores and on Etsy. In addition to the creative aspects of my work, I still have a lot of work on my Etsy shop as well as general business promotion. When I do have a free hour or two I love spending some time in the kitchen, cooking and baking.

What would be the title of your memoir? 

Hard Work Pays Off. I truly believe in that phrase as a way of life, and implement it every day. I work very hard in all aspects of my life, and I feel confident results will come.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Basic and simple geometric shapes are my greatest source of inspiration. I love minimalism and clean lines that create beautiful shapes. On principle, I always design clothes I would be happy to wear.

What does handmade mean to you?

Handmade to me is taking my dream, my vision of how a piece is meant to look, and turning raw material into a beautiful product with passion and hard work. The final piece makes me happy and proud, and is designed to make the wearer happy and beautiful.

Who has been most influential in your craft?

My grandfather was an extraordinary person and a gifted ceramics painter. He kept many of his paintings in a small cabinet, and every time I visited he showed me one and I would do my best to copy it. He passed away during my first year at college and my brand is named after him.

When did you know you were an artist/maker?

When I was younger, I wanted to become a lawyer, but a casual stroll in the mall changed my plans. I noticed a woman sitting in a shop, embroidering peacefully. It was so inspiring that I instantly knew that this is what I wanted to do with my life.

How would you describe your creative process?

I look around me all the time to discover the world’s beautiful patterns. Even the simplest things, like sidewalks, or the shades on buildings, inspire me. I then process these views into patterns which I later try to knit. The knitting process is very time consuming, and it usually takes a couple attempts until I am satisfied.

If you could peek inside the studio of any artist, designer or craftsman (dead or alive), who would it be?

I would love to visit the workshop of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni. It would be a dream come true to watch the work of two of the greatest knitwear designers of all times. Their patterns and colors are marvelous and I feel every minute would be instructive, inspiring and meaningful.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?

A few years ago my mother gave me her wedding dress, which she sewed using an embroidered-lace tablecloth and a white sheet. To me, it is the most beautiful and valuable dress in the world!

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

I try to distract myself with other activities, although it is not always easy. I always enjoy baking and going for long walks on the beach with my dog. If this does not help, I drive to my parents’ house and spend a few hours with my mom, who always knows how to cheer me up. These breaks are usually very invigorating and provide all the creative fuel I need.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

I hope to be a successful and well-known designer, still as excited about each garment I create. I would also like to expand my business and create a full textile lifestyle collection — menswear, bedding and stationery. In my private life, I look forward to having children, and I am sure they will be an endless source of satisfaction and creation.

more info : here

FEATURED SELLER - JM CRAFTWORKS

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Jim .For the last 5 years, I’ve sold primarily online, marketing my handmade woodwork. I’ve concentrated on a limited production of small intimate items, many produced to stock my shop on Etsy, but I spend a large amount of my time producing individual custom works requested by individual clients.

I received my Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of North Texas.  While there, I was granted a teaching assistantship, was a member of the university craft guild, American Crafts Council and the College Art Association.  I participated in the NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) annual meeting held at the University of Northern Colorado. While at North Texas my exhibition record included juried competitions such as the 10th Annual Prints, Drawings and Crafts Exhibition, Little Rock, Arkansas; 67th Annual Texas Fine Arts Association Exhibition, Austin, Texas, and the Texas College Art Show, Austin, Texas.  During this time I also worked as assistant manager of the university Crafts Studio where I supervised student workers and taught classes.

I received my Bachelors of Fine Arts degree at the University of Houston.  As an undergraduate at the University of Houston, I was awarded an art scholarship, taught introductory art under the supervision of my major professor and was elected President of the University of Houston Craft Guild.  As chief officer of this guild, I organized annual crafts sales, conducted the guild’s meetings and scheduled the guild’s activities.  In my senior year I joined ten other artists in opening Center Gallery in downtown Houston.  This was organized as a co-op featuring fine arts and crafts.

I’ve always enjoyed the creative process and like to work with enough freedom to allow objects to end up substantially different than the initial idea. Most of my work is with wood, and I avoid endangered exotic woods and concentrate on reusing materials from mostly salvaged or re­cycled sources.  Much of this material is flawed; when I find a flaw, a knot, or a rough edge, I design a piece to make the best of it. 

My focus is on limited production and I intentionally work on a small, friendly, and intimate scale.

"The idea was to eliminate everything unnecessary, to make the whole as direct and simple as possible, but always with the beautiful in mind as the first goal." - Greene and Greene

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I have a collection of cameras; I maintain a garden, growing produce for our family; and I’m active in a bicycling group here

What would be the title of your memoir? Why?

“Unfinished Business”

Because there’s never enough time to do all the things you’d like to do.

Where does your inspiration come from?

The work I do is pretty traditional so there’s a large body of work out there to draw inspiration from.  I spend time in the library and online to keep up with trends in the craft & design worlds.  And I enjoy letting a piece of wood with all its flaws and individual character lead the way in how a design should go together.

What does handmade mean to you?

It’s artistic work that counters the “big box” stores and their cheap mass-produced goods.  It’s offering an alternative to low quality items by working with the individual to produce a customized solution to their needs and crafting that with traditional techniques to produce work that can be kept in use for years.

Who has been most influential in your craft?

There’s a par­ticular aesthetic that I use as inspiration for my functional pieces, early Arts & Crafts and American Shaker.  These styles were known for their understated simplicity and austerity; they’re a good match to combine with today’s minimalism.

American Shakers designed their furniture with care and believed that utility was the first tenet of good design.  There was no ego involved, no conscious effort to produce works of art.  Austere utility is beautiful in and of itself, and works of art were inadvertently produced.

William Morris, the 19th century English Arts & Crafts designer argued that art should meet the needs of society and that there should be no distinction between form and function “Good citizen's furniture, solid and well made in workmanship and in design having nothing about it that is not easily defensible".  “I do not want art for a few, any more than education for a few or freedom for a few.”

Charles Rennie Mackintosh, from Scotland - "The craftsman of the future must be an artist"   He was an Arts & Crafts designer very influenced by Japanese design.  This style was admired by Mackintosh because of: its restraint and economy of means rather than ostentatious accumulation; its simple forms and natural materials rather than elaboration and artifice; the use of texture and light and shadow rather than pattern and ornament. Gustav Stickley, Charles & Henry Greene and James Krenov are influential in my work too.

When did you know you were an artist/maker?

I grew up listening to my father working in his woodshop and learned early on to make things with my hands.

How would you describe your creative process?

When I start on a project, I start with the usual techniques, but like to stop from time to time to consider what path to take and if I can end up with something new in the piece, I add that to my list of solutions.  I’m especially glad when a project ends up considerably different than the original idea.Other artist’s studios?

I would love to visit the studios of James Krenov and Sam Maloof .Both developed their own very personal approach to design and produced inspiring work for years.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?

My major professor in graduate school gave me one of his pieces as I was finishing.  I’ve always kept it in a place of honor in our home.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

I keep a journal and notebook, as well as records of past projects.  Reviewing these reminds me of designs I wanted to try out but didn’t have the chance to put into work.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

I plan to continue with my one-person shop for as long as possible.  There’s no predicting what changes might occur in the future, but as long as the internet exists in its current form and I’m able to connect with others around the world and work with them to provide personalized handmade items, I’ll stay in the marketplace.  I enjoy what I do.

more info: here

FEATURED SELLER - DONKEY + LEMON

Tell us a bit about yourself.
We are Alli and Ben,  a Portland, OR based married couple who creates items for donkey + lemon. "Alli does most of the making for the shop" -Ben
Apart from creating things, what do you do?
When we aren't making things for our etsy shop we are recording new songs for our band, Fou Fou; eating delicious vegan food; or playing with our siamese/persian kitty, Zuzu!

What would be the title of your memoir? Why?
"Stop Thinking. Sometimes thinking gets in the way." - Alli
Where does your inspiration come from?
"From the images I have found in my dreams." - Alli

What does handmade mean to you?
"Real."
Who has been most influential in your craft?
"Ben!" - Alli

When did you know you were an artist/maker?
"When I was five years old I dug up 'Indian Clay' in the back yard, rolled it into little balls, and painted them. Thats where it all began" - Alli
How would you describe your creative process?
"An idea pops in my head and I gather the supplies and do it" - Alli

If you could peek inside the studio of any artist, designer or craftsman (dead or alive), who would it be?
"What ever studio Andy Warhol had beside his 'factory'. If he didn't have one, then his house" - Alli

What handmade possession do you most cherish?
"Before my great-grandmother passed away we began working on a flower garden quilt. It is only partially finished but I will complete it in time." -Alli

 How do you get out of your creative ruts?
"Moan and groan. Then I realize that I just have to wait it out. So I drink lots of coffee and hang out with Ben and Zuzu." - Alli
Where would you like to be in ten years?

"Where ever I am." - Alli

      more info : here

      
     
      
      

FEATURED SELLER - DESIGNFROG

Tell us a bit about yourself 

My name's Einat Burg, I'm 30 year old designer from Tel-Aviv. I graduated from the Kalisher College Design Department in 2000, with a strong focus on stage costumes and accessories, I founded the label FROG in 2000 and opened my own studio. My designs stands out with her singular collection of hand-made theatrical scarves, created by using special knotting technique. My clothing items uses layers to fit and compliment any type of figure, by playing with winding and wrapping the geometrical and versatile designs. The name FROG comes from the inspiration from animal’s life cycle metamorphosis, as my creations go through metamorphosis throughout different processing techniques, changing fabrics to unique designs, rich in texture and shape. My creations characterize by their ability to changes their look and mood according to the way they are being worn. All the items are versatile, have no sizes, and can upgrade and personalize any outfit. FROG collections are sold in boutiques around Israel and selected stores in the US, Australia Italy and Germany.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

A part from creating things i am having an actor boyfriend and two dogs. we are leaving together in a beautiful apartment in Jaffa near the beach which is a quarter of Tel Aviv where Arabs and  Jews are living together and we are among many artists as musicians, painters and many others that we are working with and influenced by.

What would be the title of your memoir? Why?
The  title of my  memoir will be “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” (Albert Einstein)I believe that we have to dream and imagine cause this is the only way to achieve,to create and to see and find the love that hiding in people and in material.

Where does your inspiration come from?

My inspiration is coming from animals, weather, the way people behave, nature and human nature, the nature of the material, old woman sitting on a bench and the all the things that i did not discovered yet.

What does handmade mean to you? 
Handmade means to me express all the range of your emotions, fantasies, love, longings, rages, frustrations. To be alive?
Who has been most influential in your craft?
The most influential in my craft is the designers comme des garcones and yohji Yamamoto.

When did you know you were an artist/maker?

I know I were an artist when looked for a name for my brand and finally found it.
Please describe your creative process.

I describe my creating process as an intensive and stubborn dialog with the material.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?

The handmade possession i most cherish is a wool carpet my grandma did 50 years ago...

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

I am going to breath fresh air coming from the sea and just stairing the horizon. 

In ten years, where would you like to be? 

I would like to live in the country and do things i have never think i am about to do...

more info: designfrog