Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Meera Lee Patel: I did not go to art school; I graduated from Rutgers University with degrees in English & Journalism.
Pillow by Meera Lee Patel
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar? MLP: I’ll be selling original paintings (watercolor & gouache), along with hand-sewn tea towels, pillows, and a slew of illustrated paper goods.
AS: What materials do you work with? MLP: I work primarily in watercolor & gouache and the tiniest of brushes.
Superfood Tea Towel by Meera Lee Patel
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process. MLP: Every item starts with a loose pencil sketch, followed by a tighter sketch in color. Then I begin blocking large areas of color in, adding light layers until the painting is finished. My favorite part of the process is the last one, where I use tiny brushes to add little flecks of paint that become the detail & life of each piece.
the artist’s studio
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists? MLP: I love the work of Carson Ellis, Diana Sudyka, and Teagan White, to name a few, but the list is pretty long and ever-growing!
We Are Made of Stars Postcard by Meera Lee Patel
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now? MLP: I am reading Crush by Richard Siken for the seventh or eighth time, and listening to Paul Simon perpetually and probably for the rest of my life.
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
MLP: I’m especially excited to see work by Andrew Cho, Betsy Olmsted, and Foxglove Factory.
Thanks for sharing Meera! Follow her work on Etsy, her website, & her blog. Visit her at our craft bazaar next weekend in booth #65
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study? Lauren Rossi: I went to a liberal arts college for my undergraduate degree and followed that up with art school for my graduate degree. I received my Bachelor of Arts from Scripps College in Claremont, California majoring in Studio Art. My Master of Fine Arts was earned from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan from the Fiber Department. After completing both academic programs I spent a year at The Fabric Workshop and Museum as an apprentice before beginning my own studio practice and business.
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
LR: I will be selling products for home: Tea Towels, Napkins, Pillows, Table Runners and Tablecloths and personal accessories: Envelope Clutches and Totes all made from my hand printed fabrics.
AS: What materials do you work with?
LR: I use a variety of materials to make work. To list a few: architecture pencil, water color, India ink, gauche, tracing, watercolor and drawing paper, paint brushes of all sizes, a scanner, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, mylar, emulsion, silk screens, duck tape, spray adhesive, nail polish, masking tape, linen, burlap, leather, cotton and hemp fabrics, digital camera, t-pins, squeegees, water color textile pigment and twine.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process. LR: I keep notebooks and lists everywhere that are a collection of print ideas to be. When I begin working on a new design this writing is translated to sketch and then original drawing. From paper I scan and then trace my drawing using a Wacom tablet, adjusting shapes, adding color layers, rearranging each component until the composition is complete. Each color layer is printed out onto mylar film and then the corresponding screens are “burned,” a process that exposes the light sensitive emulsion coating, transferring the image to the screen. I often proof colorways digitally before mixing ink, and then I print test squares of each color on fabric. There are many steps in the print process, including color tests, registration, scale and the translation to finished object. I love to experiment when I design and print, by considering the repeat to be more like an endless painting, pushing boundaries of the traditional and the process. I usually have an end use in mind before I begin the design and print process, but I have fun in the studio by keeping an open mind about what the fabric could turn into. The last step is to produce the finished products using the printed yardage. I use a number of local sources for sampling and production including sewing, upholstery and digital printing.
Photo Credit: Andrew Nicholas
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job? LR: I get to print and design full time!! And I am so grateful for it. When I am not in the studio I love to spend time with my husband and great dane. I also love to cook (I was a line cook and pastry chef for a short time).
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
LR: To name a few off the top of my head: Marimekko, Lotta Jansdotter, Hable Construction, Hella Jongerius, Studio Droog, Issey Miyake, Louise Bourgeois, Jean Claude and Christo, Draga Obradovic, Joseph Beuys.
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
LR: I am slowly reading “The History of Love” by Nicole Krauss and hope to have my hands on Julia Child’s book, “My Life in France” immediately following. In the studio I am listening to a lot of Mumford and Sons, Ratatat, the Roots, Talking Heads and First Aid Kit Pandora mixes.
Photo Credit: Andrew Nicholas
AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 5 years?
LR: I hope to expand my collaborations with other businesses, employ 2-4 people, begin doing Saturday workshops and have product available in a variety of locations and shops.
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year? LR: I look forward to meeting them all!
A list of a few of my favorite things: Huevos Rancheros, Peonies and Wisteria Vines, flip flops, vintage bangles, pink and orange combination, oysters, artichokes, avocado and mochi ice cream
Thank you Lauren for telling us a bit more about you & your incredible work. Check out this video portrait of Lauren by Andrew & Jenn Richey Nicholas. Be sure to bookmark her website + Visit her at our upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar at Booth #20!
Art Star: What materials do you work with?
Devin McNutt: I make jewelry from vintage tin canisters, boxes and trays. I’ve been collecting these tins over the years by scouring flea markets, yard sales and antique stores. Most of them were manufactured during the mid 20th century in England and Holland and were used to package loose tea, cookies and candy. They now line the walls of my studio and serve as a colorful paint palette of sorts, from which I draw my inspiration.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
DM: I start by breaking down a tin from it’s three dimensional form into flat sheets of metal. Then, based on the printed designs, I select an eye-catching portion, draw a shape to highlight it and cut it out. The edges of the tin are then carefully sanded and ground down to a smooth finish. Holes are drilled and the tin component is then used to create a unique piece of jewelry by riveting, wire wrapping or embellishing with beads and chain.
Devin at work in her studio
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
DM: One of my favorite artists is Alexander Calder. Better known for his famous sculptures and mobiles, Calder is, in my opinion, a wire jewelry genius. Every time I page through my 10 pound ‘Calder Jewelry’ book my brain is flooded with ideas and I can’t stop myself from running to my studio…
jewelry by Calder & Saffron Creations
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job? DM: I’ve managed a bead store for the past 6 years, where I teach classes, help customers design jewelry and do lots and lots of repairs. Recently, I made an exciting (yet scary!) change to reduce my hours at the shop to only one day a week. With my full focus on my business, I hope that Saffron Creations will really be able to blossom.
Earrings by Saffron Creations
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
DM: With my recent career change I have so much more time to do what I really love: make jewelry. This spring, I am excited to have my biggest inventory of work… ever! There is sure to be something for everyone.
Check out Saffron Creations in person at the May 11th & 12th Art Star Craft Bazaar. She’ll be at booth #70!
Rachel Sherman makes impeccably crafted clothing and accessories under the name Malagueta. Her surface manipulation on each garment is pretty amazing. Learn more about her techniques & what inspires her. And be sure to check her out at the bazaar at Booth 48 – all of her items are always neatly displayed by color!
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study? RS: I went to Moore College of Art and got my BFA in Textile Design.
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar? RS: Skirts, tops, dresses, and wristlets….all of which will display some type of surface manipulation.
AS: What materials do you work with?
RS: Lots of jersey and woven fabrics all of which are plain on the surface, nothing printed, and textures are kept to a minimum. Whenever there is any leftover, which there usually is, I save it and use it for appliques, piecing, etc.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
RS: I buy limited amounts of yardage that I first cut into the pattern pieces. Some styles I assemble COMPLETELY before I add any surface detail to them, while others can only be assembled AFTER the pattern pieces are cut then covered with surface work. The techniques I use are found in traditional folk textiles such as Kuna Molas, Rahasthani dresses, and Korean Bojagi cloth. Those techniques are reverse applique (layering fabrics then removing one layer at a time to reveal specific colors underneath), couching (sewing yarn onto fabric with thread, either by hand or sewing machine), piecing (gathering fabric pieces of different shapes and colors and sewing them together to emphasize bold color compostions or using the opaque seams to emphasize line compostions).
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job? RS: Malagueta is almost full-time work, however I do squeeze in block-printing one day a week, the occasional sewing project for someone, then top it off with a samba performance or a gig teaching design to high school students.
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
RS: Chet Atkins, The Might Sparrow, Jorge Ben and other Brasilian Artists. I will be reading Bossy Pants as soon as my sister is done with it.
Local silkscreen printer, Stephanie Harvey is an Art Star Craft Bazaar veteran. We always love checking out her cute & colorful printed t-shirts, plushies, stationary, prints & more! Learn more about her technique, the artists who inspire her & what she is listening to these days. And be sure to see it all in person at Booth #18!
The lovely Stephanie Harvey in her booth!
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study? Stephanie Harvey: Technically I didn’t go to “art” school, but I do have two fine arts degrees. I received my B.F.A. with concentrations in Printmaking and Photography from Rowan University in South Jersey. I also have my M.F.A. in Printmaking from Penn State University.
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar? SH: My booth features all silkscreen printed work, hand printed by me (with alittle bit of help from my studio cat, Buddy) in a workspace just outside of Philadelphia. I primarily make art prints and stationery, but also dabble with small plush creature pillows and tee shirts. Recently, I’ve begun crafting small watercolor illustrations that I sell as giclee prints, badges, and magnet sets. If you like bright colors, hand drawn type, and patterns, be sure to come check out my booth!
Eat Local Food & Drink Local Brew Silkscreened Print
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process? SH: Everything starts with a drawing, on good old-fashioned paper. I sometimes use digital help to clean up or enlarge my drawings and make the layers to burn screens from. However, often times I consume many Sharpie opaque paint markers from hand drawing the layers. In silkscreen printing, every color is a different layer so the preparation can be really time consuming! After I make the screens, mix the inks, and trim the paper, I crank out each print- layer by layer. It’s a rewarding process, watching your work come to life in color one piece at a time.
exit343design HQ
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job? SH: I’m an artist/designer/freelance event photographer by night and weekend and a production assistant at a local screenprinting company by day. I’m continually striving to make the former my all-of-the-time by doing shows like Art Star Craft Bazaar, taking on freelance design projects, selling my work at brick & mortars, running an active blog, and more.
Lily of the Valley & Pansies Flower Cards by exit343designs
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists? SH: I look to contemporary graphic and poster designers, many who do the same craft shows I vend at. I love the bold stylized illustrations of Charley Harper and the sweeping lines and muted colors of Alphonse Mucha. Textile patterns, unique illustrations, and hand drawn type are all artistic components I’m drawn to.
AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years? SH: In ten years, I simply hope to be my own full-time boss. I have many other short-term goals, which will hopefully get me to that point!
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year? SH: Of course! Checking out other vendors’ work is half the fun. I also try to feature all of the great work I see after each show on my blog, thehappysqueegee.com
In no particular order, my 2013 must-sees include:
Atelier Grafico – Gioconda was my neighbor last year and her booth was packed with children having a blast with her creative stamp sets! I’m hoping to beat the rush of youngsters this year and see what new sets she has.
Everyday Balloons – This talented screen printing duo from Pittsburgh also makes the majority of their prints the old school way – by starting with a drawing, not digital. Even their business cards are tiny works of silkscreend art! I always make it a point to stop in and see what new images they created.
Laura Berger – I can’t even tell you how many cards of hers I’ve purchased at this point -too many! Her quirky sense of humor shines in every piece she creates, making her one of my favorite illustrators and stationery creators.
The Wind and The Sail – Laura is so incredibly talented! You have to get to her booth early on to see her full stock of cuddly creatures. Why? Everyone else knows she’s so talented and buys up all her finely crafted (and adorable) plush!
Yardsale Press – Bryan has print and badge dispensing vending machines. Enough said.
Renee D’Amico of Tadpole Creations makes the most darling plush & appliqued bibs, onesies & more! I especially love her little Russian Babushka Dolls & DIY Pirate Doll Kits. Any one of her items would make a great gift for a baby shower or b-day party for a little one. Though I must say, I wouldn’t mind picking up a few of her plushies for myself – I’m young at heart! This will be Renee’s first Art Star Craft Bazaar & we are so happy to have her, so get to know her & visit her at the bazaar at her bright & colorful booth #43!
Renee D’Amico of Tadpole Creations with her Mermaid Dolls
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Renee D’Amico: I attended University of the Arts and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I have a BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Fiber Arts.
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar? RD: Sewn and appliqued baby goods as well as soft dolls and toys for the very small. I create primarily for little ones, however a grown up has been known to go home with a pirate or mermaid for themselves. New this season are DIY Pirate and Matryoshka Doll Kits.
A selection of items by Tadpole Creations
AS: What materials do you work with? RD: Primarily brightly colored cotton fabrics and threads, with stuffing and a bit of fabric paint thrown in at times.
Trained as a painter, I work with fabrics and thread in a way similar to using paint and pencil, using larger shapes of colored fabric, adding outlining and detailing with machine stitched threads.
Babushka Russian Matryoshka Cloth Doll
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process. RD: My creations begin with a basic drawing on paper of a playful idea that I’ve been pondering for a while. When I’m happy with the initial design, I work with paper to create my own patterns and templates, folding and cutting until I find the right shapes. Fabric selection comes next, with experimentation of different combinations until I get to that “ah-hah” moment when I have found the right fabrics to use.
My favorite part of the construction is sitting down to sew at the machine and appliquing the different fabric elements together. I stitch with a variety of different patterns to complete the design with colored thread.
Cloth Elephant Toys with Rattle
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
RD: Tadpole Creations is a full time pursuit.
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
RD: I am drawn to primitive folk artists and Early American Art, whether it be a weather vane painted sign, piece of pottery or portrait of a child.
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now? RD: My teenage daughter playing the theme of “The Avengers” on her viola.
Whale Plush Toy
AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years? RD: That’s a great question, I am always thinking “okay what is the next step?” when it comes to Tadpole Creations. One goal is to have a separate studio and workspace, as I work out of a home based studio right now. I’d also love to be involved in some exclusive freelance design for a larger company in the future.
Organic Gnome Dolls
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year? RD: The line up looks incredible! I am so honored to be included with this great group of craftspeople. My desk is begging for a Cutesy but not Cutesy plush to keep me company while I do computer work. My daughters are really big fans of Inedible Jewelry, I am sure they will be adding to their collection.
Next up in our series of Art Star Craft Bazaar Vendor Profiles is Philadelphia based textile artist/designer, Julie Lange of On 3 Designs. Julie crafts beautiful clutches, bags and purses from her own screen printed fabric designs. Visit her at the bazaar at booth #69!
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Julie Lange: Most recently I worked in Financial Services but I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Chemical Engineering. I worked in the field for over 11 years in manufacturing providing engineering support to everything from Corelle dishware to TV parts to pharmaceuticals. (If you stop by my booth, ask how many of these companies used a form of screen printing. Seriously :))
AS: So where did you learn to do your craft?
JL: I always had an interest in arts and crafts, taking classes on the side at local community colleges, etc. I tried everything – drawing, painting, pottery and frankly, I hated sewing until I took a class as an adult while living in LA…lower Alabama. Then I was hooked and so my addiction to fabric started. More recently, I learned to screen print from Candy Depew at the Candy Coated Center and from Bill Brookover at Fleisher Art Memorial. Screen printing fabrics to use in my sewing projects is my new passion.
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar? JL: I will be selling handmade handbags and clutches. I am introducing some new cross-body bags and jewelry made from fabric too. About 60% of my collection right now is made from original, screen printed fabrics and sewn on the 3rd floor of my home, hence the name, On 3 Designs.
AS: What materials do you work with? JL: I screen print using waterbased fabric inks on high quality quilting cottons, linens and sometimes denim to create all my items. Since I LOVE fabric, I carefully select commercially made fabrics that compliment my original line of fabrics.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process. JL: Each project starts differently. Typically, I create an inspiration board from magazine clippings, or my personal photos. (The pre-pinterest way!) I save a lot of images that I like even when I don’t know what I am going to do with them – people, places, color combos, etc.
If I am printing my own fabric, then, I plan and choose the best method to create the silk screen (stencil, photographic process, etc), often starting with hand sketches or scanned photographic images. I hand screen print in my home studio or at Fleisher Art Memorial.
Each bag is sewn by me using professional sewing techniques that I have learned over the last 18 years. I use multiple layers of interfacings and interlinings to keep the shape of my clutches, even when you carry your cell phone and keys.
new fabrics
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job? JL: Yes! And I love it! About a year ago, I transitioned from a fulltime corporate job to officially launch my business. In addition to my core business, making handbags, I also teach fashion, sewing and textile design to adults and children at Main Line School Night, Chester County Night School and the Eilandarts Center. Occassionally, I take requests for custom drapes and clothing too. It’s been super exciting, a little stressful at times but always fun! Big thanks to my husband and daughter for supporting me through my new endeavor!
Julie with some of her students
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists? JL: My favorite artist is Gustav Klimt, for both his simpler sketches as well as his more popular paintings of women emblazened with shapes, textures, many, many colors and golden metallics. I would love to wear the garments these ladies are donning!
Gustav Klimt
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
JL: Read? I am sewing ALL the time. No time to read though I do have a guilty pleasure…watching Shark Tank on TV Friday eves!
AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years? JL: I’d love to offer clothing items in addition to fashion accessories with a small team of employees helping me to grow the business in to more retail shops.
Julie’s studio – on the third floor!
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year? JL: I am looking forward to seeing Once Lost Jewelry. I was amazed last year by the re-use of materials, making each piece look interesting instead of just recycled. I’d love to have Michelle make me something from vintage jewelry pieces I have in my collection from my grandparents.
Next up in our series of Art Star Craft Bazaar Vendor Profiles is Ashley Landon of The Knotty Owl. Hailing from Rochester NY, Ashley creates hand-cut jewelry (no laser cutting here!) made from local, reclaimed lumber. Find her at the ASCB at Booth #93.
Walnut and Cherry Chevron Necklace by The Knotty Owl
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study? Ashley Landon: Technically yes, I graduated from Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute for Industrial Design in 2011. I worked for the Fine Arts Department in the wood shop however, so I like to think I got the best of both worlds since most of my time was spent surrounded by fine artists.
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar? AL:I will be selling my hand-carved and painted wooden jewelry and adornments.
AS: What materials do you work with? AL: I use found, salvaged, locally harvested, and otherwise locally purchased lumber. My favorite woods to work with are cherry, walnut, maple, redwood, and the fallen branches from a silver maple tree in my backyard. I assemble my pieces with sterling silver and brass chain.
The Knotty Owl Studio
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process. AL: All of my pieces are made from start to finish in my small wood shop and studio, conveniently located in my basement. Every wooden component starts as part of a rough piece of lumber, which I re-saw myself. I absolutely love the “analog” methods of creating my jewelry, and prefer to have hands-on control of every aspect of my process rather than using laser cutters. Once the wood is milled flat, I draw my rough shapes, and cut them out very carefully on a bandsaw. I use a belt sander and hand files to shape each piece, and finish the rest of the sanding by hand. I paint all of the designs on my pieces, apply the wood finish, and assemble the pieces into their final jewelry designs once they’re dry.
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job? AL: I’m lucky enough to call The Knotty Owl my full-time gig, doing the occasional wood-based commission job or furniture repair project on the side. I’m also part of a business partnership, Dichotomy Rochester, and we are preparing to open our first retail store this summer in Rochester, New York.
Carved Raven Skull Pendants by The Knotty Owl
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists? AL: My favorite artists/designers are the husband and wife duo Charles and Ray Eames. Their design principles have significantly informed my creative style, and they’re both incredibly inspiring on a personal level. I’m also and avid fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the fact that he so fully considered his designs from the architecture of each house, to the tableware that would adorn it’s interior. Other favorites are Hans Wegner and George Nakashima.
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now? AL: I’m about halfway through Vonnegut’s Cat Cradle (for the second time), and have been switching back and forth between listening to The XX and every Modest Mouse album made before 2001.
AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years? AL: I plan to eventually expand my wood shop into a space that could properly house a larger collection of tools, and possibly an assistant, to help me keep up with orders while I continually work on new designs. Being in sole control of every aspect of my little business (as many of us sole proprietors are) is so overwhelming at times, leaving very little mental stamina to keep producing new work, and I’d love so much to change that within the next year or two. My main goal is to help my father retire within the next year, as he is my part-time expert sander on the weekends, and we really enjoy working together. The process of starting this business has been such an incredible learning experience and blessing, and I’m content to continue planting the seeds of my business and helping it grow naturally. I’d also like to get back into furniture design and larger scale woodworking projects in the near future.
Spirit Animal Brooches by The Knotty Owl
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year? AL: I’m extremely excited to finally see Horrible Adorables in person (I’ve loved their work on Etsy forever), and Twig Terrariums (I’m an obsessive collector of terrariums), but realistically I’ve been to every vendor’s website over the past week and am thrilled to be in the presence of all of them next month!
Hey there! I’d introduce myself as the better-half of the better half of Art Star, but then Megan AND Erin would be fighting each other over who gets to kill me. Let’s just say that I’m the Official Art Star Helper Monkey, ASCB Artist Concierge, and their 24 Hour Personal Geek Squad all wrapped up into a tidy, Castro-cap wearing bundle of joy. Nice to meet ya.
The lovely ladies of Art Star asked me to pick some of my favorite vendors that are going to be at the Art Star Craft Bazaar this year and present them to you. I have to say, it was very tough to choose. There are so many amazing and talented artists this year. However, the assignment was five vendors and that’s what I’ve got for you. So, without any more of my yammering, here are my picks for Top 5 ASCB 2013 Vendors:
5. B. Goods
Here’s the thing: Amy, who owns B. Goods, is too clever. In fact, when I first saw what she was selling, it made me angry… that I hadn’t thought of it first. Not to gloss over the paper planes, rock/paper/scissors, or mini Polaroid designs she has but, you can get any text that you want put inside a speech bubble (assuming it fits)! Nicknames, inside jokes, memes, whatever you can imagine, she will do. The crazier, the better. It’s my go-to gift when I need something personalized and fun.
4. Meerwiibli by Sarah-Maria
You are a lady that likes clothes that are flipping adorable? Surely, you must know about Meerwiibli! Swiss Miss, Sarah-Maria, designs and hand crafts fantastically cute coats, shirts, dresses, skirts and more. The patterns and fabrics and colors make me SQUEE! I have to say, I do feel a bit left out. More men’s attire, please!
3. Laura Berger
The paintings and illustrations of Laura Berger make me think of a happy time. They also make me think of Adventure Time, by Pendleton Ward, which is never a bad thing. Her style, color palette and the overall perky tone of her work never fails to bring a smile to my face. I’m sad to say that I do not yet own a piece of her original artwork, but that is something that I hope to rectify at the ASCB this year.
2. Spaghetti Kiss
I never leave an ASCB without a shirt, hoodie or tie from Spaghetti Kiss. There are always new and interesting designs and I love the slightly dark, mecha-animal style of his illustrations. Mike, the artist behind it all, couldn’t be a nicer guy. I’m excited to see what he’ll have this year.
1. Twofour
New to the ASCB is Twofour and I was very intrigued when I saw the teaser image on the Vendor page. I can’t wait to get my hands on some of these pieces. The highly graphic designs, bright colors and weathered treatment are very appealing. I could always do with more wolves, rats and skulls. WANT!
We will be posting Art Star Craft Bazaar Vendor profiles pretty regularly now through the big weekend – May 11th & 12th! First up is Cutesy but Not Cutesy. Meet the maker behind the brand – Diane Koss.
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Diane Koss: I started out as a psychology and biology major at The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ. That only lasted about one semester until I switched over to be a Fine Arts Major with concentrations in metalsmithing, photography, and performance art. Unfortunately, there were no classes in monster-making, that came later!
Cutesy but not Cutesy also offers silkscreened monster T’s for All Ages!
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
DK: This year I will be selling my hand-stitched furry monster plush along with fur-lined monster hoodies with horns for infants through adults. I also have screen-printed t-shirts for kid’s and adults, hand-painted dishware, and a brand new line of monster plush called The Grumpsters!
A couple of Diane’s “Grumpsters”
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
DK: All of my traditional monsters are hand-stitched withoutmachines. I usually work in an assembly line-like system where I cut them out all at once, then stitch all of the bodies, then stuff them all, and then add the face, horns, and bird to each one to give them their own personality. I use black thread in order to highlight each stitch that I make, I think it gives them more character and adds to the handmade feel of them. The hoodies and The Grumpsters are all individually sewn on my workhorse of a sewing machine. The Grumpsters have added a whole new level of excitement for my process since I get to piece together their little outfits before stitching them all together!
Cutesy but not Cutesy HQs – where the magic happens!
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
DK: I have been a full time monster-maker for almost 5 years now. It’s been a very long journey as I learn more and more about what works for my business and for me, as an artist. But in the end, the pay off at the end of each year of knowing that I’m able to support myself with my own two hands and a needle and thread is worth every bit of struggle I face.
Diane makes adorable monster hoodies for all ages!!
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
DK: I am completely obsessed with and inspired by Louise Evans of Felt Mistress. Her work never ceases to amaze me. I also love the art of Washington based Illustrator Justin Hillgrove. His monster illustrations are just so incredible. I also had the opportunity of running into Austin based illustrator Graham Franciose while at a show in Austin a few years ago and I have been completely smitten with his work ever since.
“Soaring” by Justin Hillgrove, acrylic on canvas
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
DK: I just started reading “At Home: A Short History of Private Life” by Bill Bryson, one of my favorite authors. And I just started re-watching the entire series of “Felicity” on netflix while I work.
This guy may just make an appearance at the bazaar!!
AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years?
DK: Ideally, there would be a few employees in a well-organized, sun-drenched warehouse space shipping out monsters to all corners of the world. And possibly a store front.
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
DK: Gosh, do I have to choose?! I can’t wait to see them all! I must admit, though, I always love seeing the art of Laura Berger and I might have to finally snag a piece from Horrible Adorables for my new home!
Thanks Diane for sharing this with us! Visit her at the Art Star Craft Bazaar (booth # coming soon!) on May 11th & 12th or her Etsy page. Check out the rest of the amazing vendors selling at this year’s bazaar here.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
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