44th Street fabric has on on-going Blog Giveaway for FREE fabric and other goodies. Just play the “Find Jaso” game and you are entered to win! You will look for our owner, Jason, in one of our listings (with many hints-it isn’t hard to find him)! The current Blog Giveaway is for 4.5 yards of Love U fabric from Moda (9 half yard cuts). http://tinyurl.com/yegjcz5

Gloria’s amazing threadwork and scarves are featured in the story, and Kara’s unique shrines are featured.

Go read the blog post here.

What is your name?
Helen Reich

What is your Etsy shop?
Empress Barrettes

Besides your Etsy shop, do you sell anywhere else?
I am currently selling at 2 bricks and mortar stores in the Milwaukee area: The Sparrow Collective, and the gift shop at the Boerner Botanical Garden.

How long have you been making art/crafting? What was the first thing you remember making?
I have been making art very sporadically throughout my life, and my most recent project (my etsy shop) is the first time that I really worked at it and developed. I made my first barrette only about a year ago, my first bobby pin flower probably 8 months ago, my first headband a few weeks ago. The first thing I remember making as an adult, though, was a fabric collage Carnival mask.

What kind of fiber arts do you do?
I make formal and whimsical barrettes, hair clips, bridal headpieces, headbands. Most of the hair clips are flowers, but I’m starting to do some birds. They all use fabric, and many use beads or ribbon.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
I think my favorite thing to make is flower hair clips that have been modeled after existing flowers. I have a botanical fixation, left over from my Master Gardener training.

(Click the below link to read the rest of the interview and see more pictures)

What do you think is the strangest or most unusual fiber arts item you have made or been asked to make?
I made a yellow duckling hair clip as my submission to the first ever Handmade Challenge www.handmadechallenge.com . Birds don’t fit the medium quite as easily as flowers, but some can work, and I have some plans for a penguin.

What is your favorite place to work?
I work at my dining room table, where there’s lots of light available!

What inspires you? Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes frequently from the fabric that I have in front of me, but also from the neighborhood gardens, garden catalogs, and my imagination.

Tell us a bit about yourself- where do you live, what’s your job do you have a spouse/children/pets, any other hobbies, that kind of thing.
I live outside Milwaukee, and I work as a musician in the viola section of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. I’m single. In the summer I’m part of the crew on a large-ish racing sailboat. I like to travel and watch movies, go to concerts, perform concerts, buy jewelry.

Tell us one quirky thing about you (or one thing no one knows about you).
I have played viola in both a Baroque chamber music ensemble and a fusion band. Music written between 1600-1775 and music written yesterday. I miss these ensembles very much.

Do you have any advice for other fiber artists? Have any craft room, storage, or other tips?
I find that if I have a construction problem or design problem, it’s best to leave it for a while, and let the solution come to me while I’m watching TV or taking a shower, or something.

What is your name?
Stephanie A Smith

What is your Etsy shop?
Strings and Things http://www.StephanieASmith.etsy.com

Does your shop name have a meaning?
Not really. I just really liked it. The name sounded fun and I like to think that everyone is having fun with their Art.

Besides your Etsy shop, do you sell anywhere else?
I, also, have a small shop on Artfire. I’ve been working on my Etsy shop so much that I haven’t had a chance to really kick it off there, yet. I sell in person, as well, and love to barter when I can afford it.

Do you have a website or blog?
My blog is: http://stephanieasmith.wordpress.com

How long have you been making art/crafting?
Oh, since I was a little girl. My family has always been creative.

What was the first thing you remember making?
Besides natural little kid crayon scribbles (which, I think are really cool), I remember when I was about 7 sitting on the hearth at my grandmothers’ house as she taught me to embroider little flowers. She is no longer around, but I’ll always treasure my memories of her.

What kind of fiber arts do you do?
Everything! And, if I haven’t tried it, I am going to! I tend to work in phases. Right now, I’m really into spinning and working from raw fibers up through the process. I’m absolutely in love with the experience and it consumes every waking spare minute. Often, up to 14 hours a day. Eventually, I’ll slow down. I’ll bring out my beads, my silk threads and my sewing machine and dissolvable fabric. Or, I’ll take out lengths of undyed silk or cotton yardage and make dyed backgrounds for my Art quilts. Currently, I have just started playing with needlefelting on the side.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
My favorite thing to make would be whatever I am working on at the time. I totally get fixated by the process.

(Click the below link to read the rest of the interview and see more pictures)

What do you think is the strangest or most unusual fiber arts item you have made or been asked to make?
I would say, cat sweaters out of dog fur.

Where is the craziest or most interesting place you’ve ever crocheted, knitted, felted, spun yarn, etc?
I once worked on my embroidery in the middle of the Majave Desert on a camping trip.

What is your favorite place to work?
I love working in my living room. There I can do something that I love while at the same time be surrounded by people that I love. It is a really comfortable space to work from.

What inspires you?
There is no telling, but no missing it when inspiration hits.

Where does your inspiration come from?
I really can’t say. I’ll just get an idea or a picture in my head or pick up a fiber or fabric and just ‘know’ what I want to do with it. Sometimes, things work out like the idea in my head and sometimes they don’t, but it does tend to just be ‘instinctual’.

What is your favorite color?
I don’t have a favorite. Colors are beautiful. It would be like picking just one instrument out of an orchestra.

Do you tend to work with that color, or do you find yourself working with other colors?
The more color options that I have the more freedom that I have to express myself. I love having all the colors that I can have available.

Do you prefer a specific type of fiber?
Ask me again after I have tried them all.

Is there any other kind of art (fiber-related or not) that you’d like to learn?
I just started on needle felting yesterday. I’ll like it more when I stop sticking myself so much with the needle.

Tell us a bit about yourself- where do you live, what’s your job do you have a spouse/children/pets, any other hobbies, that kind of thing.
I’m 37. I grew up in Monterey, CA and I’m the oldest of 7 and the Mother of 4.

Our entire family has loved to create and produce art from generation to generation. For real Art, you should see one of my Grandfathers’ sketches! I wish that I had a picture on hand to share!

Currently, I live in South Carolina with my Honey, Dwain, and our children, Jade and Emerald. Our dog, 3 cats and our angora rabbits. We are looking on getting some angora goats very soon.

I love to paint, bead, write science fiction, spin, knit, crochet, quilt, sculpt and so far I have not found a single crafty stone to, yet, leave unturned.
I, also, keep a blog at:
http://www.stephanieasmith.wordpress.com

Tell us one quirky thing about you (or one thing no one knows about you).
I don’t like for my food to touch on my plate; unless, that are meant to be eaten in the same bit. Pudding just doesn’t belong on chicken.

Do you have any advice for other fiber artists? Have any craft room, storage, or other tips?
Start organizing your supplies from the beginning, before your stash get to big. Chaos is too easy to achieve.

What is your name?
My name is Amy Harbison.

What is your Etsy shop? Does your shop name have a meaning?
My Etsy shop is Peacebird Studio. The name evolved from a nickname “windbird” and a quote by Sadako Suzuki “I will write ‘peace’ on your wings and you will fly all over the world.”

Besides your Etsy shop, do you sell anywhere else? Do you have a website or blog?
My blog http://peacebirdstudio.blogspot.com documents and highlights my dyeing adventures.

How long have you been making art/crafting?
I have been crafting in one form or another since early childhood.

What kind of fiber arts do you do? What’s your favorite thing to make?
I hand dye hemp blend fabrics. I love low water immersion dyeing fabrics and creating unique clothing and accessories.

(Click the below link to read the rest of the interview and see more pictures)

What inspires you? Where does your inspiration come from?
I find inspiration in color, color combinations and textures everywhere.

What is your favorite color?
All colors have their place in my heart, but purple, specifically plum is my ultimate favorite.

Do you prefer a specific type of fiber?
Hempcel is a heavenly fabric to dye and sew. It combines the drape and soft hand of linen with the durability of hemp. Hemp silk is lovely, too.

Is there any other kind of art (fiber-related or not) that you’d like to learn?
My other passion in progress is teaching myself intricate wire wrapping of semi precious stones to create unique jewelry.

Tell us a bit about yourself- where do you live, what’s your job, do you have a spouse/children/pets, any other hobbies, that kind of thing.
I live in Daytona Beach, FL with my husband who is an artist of the painting variety and our two adopted stray cats. We share our studio space and inspire curiosity about what and how the other works. My blessing-and-curse-quirk is my attention to detail which makes for high quality work, but also obsessive compulsive tendencies of seeking perfection. I have explored and will continue to try different forms of creativity not only to create things, but also to recreate myself. I taught myself to crochet to learn how to relax my hands in the flow of maintaining proper tension. I learned to use tiny seed beads to teach myself patience. In low water immersion dyeing fabric, I am learning to give up the notion of complete control in creation. Some call it muse, inspiration or serendipity; there is an unpredictable quality of surrender of the self to the process of creativity.

What is your name?
Melody Tuli

What is your Etsy shop? Does your shop name have a meaning?
Oh Baby dotcom
Generally “Oh” is the first thing I say when I see something adorably cute on a baby, toddler or child. “Oh…that’s cute, or Oh how sweet!”

Besides your Etsy shop, do you sell anywhere else? Do you have a website or blog?
http://ohbabydotcom.bravehost.com
Yes. I have a website which I created myself having a background in computer graphics and web development, before I began selling on Etsy. My website isn’t really set up for sales yet. So I’m currently selling on Etsy.

How long have you been making art/crafting?
I’ve been artistic in some form or another since I was a child. My father was also very artistic. He taught me from an early age to make things rather than buying them.

What was the first thing you remember making?
Probably a handmade mother’s day card which my father helped me produce.

What kind of fiber arts do you do?
I design and create hand knit and crocheted items for baby, toddler and children.
Sizes from newborn to children.

If different from the previous question, what was the first fiber art thing you made?
I believe when I was a child, I crocheted rug for my mother using recycled plastic grocery bags.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Designing my own patterns and creating cute Tunisian crochet knit jester hats.
I found a love of this Tunisian (Aka: Afgan Stitch) this year.

(Click the below link to read the rest of the interview and see more pictures)

Where is the craziest or most interesting place you’ve ever crocheted, knitted, felted, spun yarn, etc?
I don’t know how interesting but probably in public it would be a doctor’s office, or hospital waiting room.

What is your favorite place to work?
On my sofa in my family room, generally while listing to something on t.v., or the radio.

What inspires you? Where does your inspiration come from?
New fashion trends, colors, the season.
Or just some new idea for collections in my head. I may first sketch my piece out in Photoshop so that I won’t forget my design idea. Then later go and create it.

Do you prefer a specific type of fiber?
I like the 100% cottons. But for selling and my buyers wear I’ve been working in acrylic.
I’d also like to try some alpaca and wools soon.

Is there any other kind of art (fiber-related or not) that you’d like to learn?
Oh YES! I want to learn the Fair Isle pattern in knitting and also to make fine cables, someday. I want to learn it all. I love learning new patterns.

Tell us a bit about yourself- where do you live, what’s your job, do you have a spouse/children/pets, any other hobbies, that kind of thing.
I’m a south Florida transplant from the Hoosier state. My husband, kitty and I have lived here for the past 16 years. I first began making baby items for my family and friends. We don’t have any children and for me I received a great joy from making others happy. I also enjoy herb gardening, women’s tennis, cooking, computer graphics and genealogy research.

Tell us one quirky thing about you (or one thing no one knows about you).
I talk to my cat and I just know she understands every word I say to her.

Do you have any advice for other fiber artists?
Do what you love doing, perfect it and stick with it. Don’t get too discouraged like I do from time to time. Research and see what the latest trends are, but also stay true to your art and what you like.

What is your name?
Leisa Rich

What is your Etsy shop? Does your shop name have a meaning
richmade- It’s pretty simple – made by leisa rich – but also “rich” as quality, abundance of valuable resources, full of good ideas and creativity!

Besides your Etsy shop, do you sell anywhere else? Do you have a website or blog?
I am a professional artist and art educator. I exhibit around the world, have been featured on a PBS t.v. special on artists and have been published in books, magazines, etc. My art website is at www.monaleisa.com.

How long have you been making art/crafting? What was the first thing you remember making?
I started sewing at age 11. I still prefer the Bernina Minimatic I still have that was the machine I learned to sew on! I don’t remember the first thing I made, but I do remember the point at which my Mom refused to teach me anymore… when I started sewing tubes onto a bat wing coat! I am 49 years old, have been a designer for an international clothing company, did hats and woven sweaters for famous t.v. shows in the 80′s and 90′s, have been teaching since I was 15 and have a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Education in Art and a Master of Fine Arts. I’ve raised kids and worked while getting the last two degrees!

What kind of fiber arts do you do? If different from the previous question, what was the first fiber art thing you made?
My main preference is free motion stitching, but I have done everything associated with fiber arts. I love it all!The first non-functional thing I made was a massive woven sculptural piece.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Right now I am working with vinyls a lot in both my art and in my items I sell in my etsy shop.

(Click the below link to read the rest of the interview and see more pictures)

What do you think is the strangest or most unusual fiber arts item you have made or been asked to make?
I made an 18 inch high top hat for the lead singer of a band once, but the strangest thing I have been asked to make (but I didn’t do it!) was an S&M outfit for a man.

Where is the craziest or most interesting place you’ve ever crocheted, knitted, felted, spun yarn, etc?
IN the hospital room of my father when he was dying. I have an incredible art piece about his death, part of which was crocheted in that room.

What is your favorite place to work?
In my studio…but I dream of a bigger studio one day!

What inspires you? Where does your inspiration come from?
Nature is my biggest inspiration but I am influenced by my fear of what the future holds for humans, too.

What is your favorite color? Do you tend to work with that color, or do you find yourself working with other colors?
I love all colors!

Do you prefer a specific type of fiber?
Cloth, vinyls and thread are what I work with most, but I love mixed media!

Is there any other kind of art (fiber-related or not) that you’d like to learn?
Glass blowing would be incredible! I’d love to take a class at Pilchuk and work with the real glass blowing artists.

Tell us a bit about yourself- where do you live, what’s your job, do you have a spouse/children/pets, any other hobbies, that kind of thing.
I live in Atlanta and teach art at several arts centers, run the after school art classes at a local private school, as well as teach art in my studio to several private students. I have been married to my true soul mate for 23 years and have two daughters, one is 22 and lives in Canada, the other just turned 13! We have three cats (don’t get a third cat…it puts you over the kitty litter edge! ) My other hobby is vegetarian cooking.

Tell us one quirky thing about you (or one thing no one knows about you).
I don’t like any noise while I am working in the studio- no music, nothing. I need silence in order to create!

Do you have any advice for other fiber artists? Have any craft room, storage, or other tips?
Park one car out in your driveway if you are lucky enough to have a two car garage…’cause that’s extra storage space in there! Husbands grumble about that kind of thing, though Seriously, do your art or craft because you absolutely love it, strive for everything but expect nothing, be original…above all, be original! And, as I am having to learn, be patient with Etsy. I have only made one sale, and I ship stuff regularly all over the world to customers…but despite trying to do everything recommended for Etsy to “make it” I still have only had one sale!

What is your name?
Sarabeth Parido

What is your Etsy shop? Does your shop name have a meaning?
Sarabee Designs. I was always called Sarabee or SB growing up, so when it came to picking a name for my shop, it was pretty easy!

Besides your Etsy shop, do you sell anywhere else? Do you have a website or blog?
I sell at local art shows, or as of Labor Day weekend I will have officially. I do have a blog, http://www.sarabee.wordpress.com

How long have you been making art/crafting? What was the first thing you remember making?
I learned to knit when I was 8, but I’ve always had my hand in something crafty as far back as I can remember. The first thing I can remember knitting was a baby scarf… I don’t think I actually gave it to a baby… it was just skinny and short and I was a little too ADD to continue with that project! I learned to spin just this last year and cannot stop! My father built me a kick spindle and I spin on it exclusively. I would love to learn the actual spinning wheel… but I really love learning new techniques on my kick spindle and making it my own “thing”.

What kind of fibre arts do you do? If different from the previous question, what was the first fibre art thing you made?
I knit, spin and dye my own yarns as well as make point protectors for your knitting needles called “Poke-Me-Knots” (the idea for these came after I literally pulled a needle out of a friend’s backside after she sat on her project… not fun… she wasn’t badly hurt, but it broke skin!). I also build and paint my own drop spindles.

What’s your favourite thing to make?
I really enjoy spinning, but I also enjoy making the “Poke-Me-Knots” because each are so unique.

(Click the below link to read the rest of the interview and see more pictures)

Where is the craziest or most interesting place you’ve ever crocheted, knitted, felted, spun yarn, etc?
I knit everywhere I go… the car, the doctor’s office, but maybe taking it to church was a bit much?

What is your favourite place to work?
My fave place to work is definitely snuggled up on my couch.

What inspires you? Where does your inspiration come from?
Nature. I live on a beautiful farm in Kentucky and there’s no lack of inspiration there. From the bluegrass, to the wild daisies and definitely the sunsets.

What is your favourite color? Do you tend to work with that color, or do you find yourself working with other colors?
I guess that depends on the day… today it’s clover green… tomorrow it may be fiery red… which having no set favorite I guess helps me not to get too attached to any one colorway.

Do you prefer a specific type of fibre?
I have fallen in love with spinning soy silk…but nothing beats a buttery soft merino.

Is there any other kind of art (fibre-related or not) that you’d like to learn?
I would love to learn to weave and it always seems as if there are new stitches and projects to learn to knit! And of course, I’d love to learn to spin on a wheel… something about that will make me feel like a true fiber artist.

Tell us a bit about yourself- where do you live, what’s your job, do you have a spouse/children/pets, any other hobbies, that kind of thing.
I live in central Kentucky with my husband and three boys ages 5,3 and 10 mos. I am a stay at home mom, which I love. I’m able to work with my etsy shop and my babies all at once… although I really have to watch the balance on that! We have two dogs and a kitty and live on my father-in-law’s 180 acre farm. My husband is in grad school, but is a 5th generation tobacco farmer and raises a small crop each year. We lived in the Chicago suburbs for 8 years, so this farming lifestyle is quite a change of pace for us. My father in law raises cattle on our farm, but someday I would love to start raising some fiber animals as well.

Tell us one quirky thing about you (or one thing no one knows about you).
hmmm… I’m one of those who can’t have her food touch… some foods that “match” in my definition, can… but most… cannot. Friends of mine even bought me a divided plate as a gag gift… but I use it.

Do you have any advice for other fibre artists? Have any craft room, storage, or other tips?
I’m still learning… I’ve told many of you in private messages that I look to you guys like rockstars… like I should be asking for autographs I have learned to keep roving away from kitty claws, at least if you want to list it and not spin it. Not enough can be said for networking and meeting local suppliers and customers. I love that that I have been able to take a hobby and make it into something I love to do from home.

What is your name?
Linda Wunce

What is your Etsy shop? Does your shop name have a meaning?
Lil Bit of Heaven Fiber- The name of my farm is Lil Bit of Heaven, and I use the letters LBOH when I would register my baby llamas and shetland sheep. The name is already know in the llama world, so naming the store was just a given.

Besides your Etsy shop, do you sell anywhere else? Do you have a website or blog?
I do sell my fibers at Greenberry House in Meadows of Dan, VA., my fibers are also on Leslie’s website of her store. I do have a blog, just started it a couple of weeks ago. It is http://lbohfibers.blogspot.com.

How long have you been making art/crafting? What was the first thing you remember making?
I have been doing crochet most of my life. My grandmother taught me how as a child. The spinning, knitting and dying yarns I have been doing for over 15 years.

What kind of fiber arts do you do? If different from the previous question, what was the first fiber art thing you made?
As I mentioned I do spin, knit and crochet. I am learning how to weave now. Also I do make custom hand carded batts. The first fiber thing that I made was a crochet scarf.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
I love making socks. They are easy to carry around so I can knit while I wait. Making a sock is fun and you get something really great in a few days.

(Click the below link to read the rest of the interview and see more pictures)

What do you think is the strangest or most unusual fiber arts item you have made or been asked to make?
Really have not done anything strange yet.

Where is the craziest or most interesting place you’ve ever crocheted, knitted, felted, spun yarn, etc?
Fall Fiber Festival (October in Orange county VA.) Sitting down, knitting something easy and getting children and men standing there staring at me. They are trying to figure out how I am working the “string” into something that can be used.

What is your favorite place to work?
I do all my knitting in the evening. The one quite time that I have. I get my two big dogs at my feet and my Jack Russell beside me. My daughter says I look like something from the past.

What inspires you? Where does your inspiration come from?
What inspires me. Knitting magazines of course. I see a project and figure out how to work it. The outside also is a place to pick up ideas on dying fiber. Putting colors together that look like a bluejay. I really never know what colors I will use until I set down to get to work.

What is your favorite color? Do you tend to work with that color, or do you find yourself working with other colors?
My favorite color changes. All depends on what colors just grab my attention. I work in all colors, even ones I my not like at first. I like putting odd colors together and then seeing that it really does work.

Do you prefer a specific type of fiber?
I do loving working with llama and shetland wool. Of couse having a farm with 19 llamas and 16 sheep, you get a lot of wool to work with. Then I really do like working with sea silk. That yarn knits up into great socks. But I have tried all kinds of fiber and the only one I really stay away from is mohair. It is just to fuzzy!

Is there any other kind of art (fiber-related or not) that you’d like to learn?
I really want to get good at weaving. Finding time to work with the loom is my problem. But I really do want to be able to make cloth and then sew it up into something really great. Sewing with a machine is second nature to me, and designing something from my own fiber would be really cool.

Tell us a bit about yourself- where do you live, what’s your job, do you have a spouse/children/pets, any other hobbies, that kind of thing.
I live in central Virginia, just south of Fredericksburg. I have a farm but do not live on it now. I have a caretaker that lives on the farm and does all the daily work. Had to leave because of health issues and now I live about 10 min. from my farm. I have never had a job (out of the house). Raising my 4 children was my main job. When I left the farm I retired from raising children (youngest is 20, oldest is 35) and decided to work fiber full time. I have my 3 dogs that live with me. One is a border collie mix, lab, mix and my jack russell. They are my shadows now as they follow me every where. They have even found ways to lay next to me while I am spinning and not hit by the moving wheel. So I am a fiberholic and I love it!

Tell us one quirky thing about you (or one thing no one knows about you).
I don’t know if it is quirky, but I love staying home and doing things I really like do. Not one for traveling. Did enough of that while I was married.
I like my cottage home, working in the garden and working with fiber.

Do you have any advice for other fiber artists? Have any craft room, storage, or other tips?
Advice for other fiber artists, hum. Do not be afraid to rip out anything that is just not coming together right. I have ripped a sock apart when I have found stitches wrong. You just start over again. Space is something you will never have enough of. So don’t worry about it. My loom is in my dining room, I spin in my bedroom, store extra spinning wheels in my walk in closet. Beside my couch is a huge basket with my knitting. People will get use to see all that stuff, and it does not bother them..