Art Star

Tag: plush

  • Meet The Maker: Jen Gubicza of Zooguu

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    Hello, I’m Jen, and my business is called Zooguu. I live outside of Boston, MA and making things has always been a part of who I am. I have a background in graphic design for the audience of kids and families. For ten years, I worked alongside a creative team designing logos, websites, product design and toy packaging. Translating an object from 2D to 3D is a challenge I enjoy very much. I started hand sewing little creatures as a hobby in the early 2000s, bought my first sewing machine in 2008, and left my full-time design job six months after that to start Zooguu.

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    Zooguu’s original product offering was handmade toys, but in the last few years the focus has moved onto home decor. The faux taxidermy pieces appeal to a wide range of ages and I sell to people decorating kids’ rooms, students outfitting their college dorms, and adults sprucing up their offices with a bit of humor. I love doing craft shows, and meeting all of the people who will be taking our work home. We spend all week sewing, cutting, painting and stuffing, so it’s always a treat to see people react to the work. We get a lot of smiles and laughter in our booth, and it’s a great feeling.

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    The Zooguu studio is located in Nahant, MA, in a historic schoolhouse on an island just north of Boston. I have to say, working every day on a beautiful island isn’t so bad. I used to have a studio at home, but as the business grew, it became important to separate work and home life. I now have a couple of wonderful studio assistants that come and help with various stages of production work, but I still have my hands on every piece. Hiring help has allowed me to get better sleep, meet the growing demand for the work, and have time to dream up new designs.

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    I am inspired by animals, textures in nature, street fashion, pop culture, and the wonderfully supportive community of creative small business owners I have been lucky enough to know over the years. One of the best things about owning a tiny business has been meeting others that are doing the same thing and sharing knowledge and support.

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    Find Zooguu at our upcoming November 19th and 20th Art Star Craft Bazaar or at http://zooguu.com/

  • Meet ASCB Vendor Tadpole Creations!

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    Some of us are born makers. I was fortunate to come from highly creative stock and was raised in an environment that fostered creativity. I was born to a family with kitchen designer parents and a fine artist older sister. Some of my earliest memories are of playing with clay in my mother’s studio or sewing bits of fabric together from her sewing room to make clothes for my dolls.

    A consistent thread throughout my life has been living the life as a maker. I have always made stuff – whether it be with a paintbrush or a sewing needle in my hand.

    Looking back – I have always traversed between painting and various fiber arts.
    My college degree is a BS in Art Education with a minor in Fiber Arts. I worked as an elementary art teacher and decorative painter before the establishment of Tadpole Creations.

    You could also say appreciating the importance of a child’s viewpoint has influenced my life as a maker. This carries over to this day, from the fabrics I choose for a product, to the method of construction.

    The murals, quilts, clothing and critters I made for my own three children when they were very young provided the foundation for the beginnings
    of the Tadpole Creations brand.

    Moo-Cow – the earliest known Tadpole Creation. Made almost 18 years ago for my oldest child.

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    A popular new baby gift from present day – the elephant rattle – tails and seams are reinforced for durability, the ears are corduroy for tactile exploration.
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    A denim whale pillow – having great unisex designs along with classic girl and boy offerings gives my buyers a choice when deciding on the perfect gift.
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    A linen and Liberty of London bunny rabbit toy. Featuring a hand painted and stitched face.
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    My hope is that my creations are the ones that are well loved by your little ones, that some receive the greatest honor of becoming a childhood treasure. Like Moo Cow.

    Home goods are a more recent addition to my line, as I expand beyond the baby goods market. Such as these linen and Liberty of London pillows.

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    My newest home products are hand painted pillows, each is one of a kind.

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    The best part of my job is getting to meet my buyers and hear about the little ones in their lives. I hope that we have an opportunity to meet at a future market!

    xo
    Renee D’Amico
    Tadpole Creations
    Visit her at our Upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar in Asbury Park – Booth #8

  • Meet Renee D’Amico of Tadpole Creations

    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.

  • Awesome new video by Cutesy but Not Cutesy

    Check out this new video by Philadelphia artist & one-of-a-kind stuffed monster maker, Diane Koss of Cutesy but not Cutesy.  I had to share it with you all b/c I think it is AWESOME!  This is the 2nd in what I hope will be a series of videos.  I love this direction that she is going in.  I may have to commission Diane to make my Halloween costume next year.

    see the world without going anywhere. from Cutesy but not Cutesy on Vimeo.

    also check out her stop motion animation that she made with David R. Popolow of  Right Brain Animation http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/monster-compilation-by-diane-koss-of-cutesy-but-not-cutesy-3556/

    Cutesy but not Cutesy will be at our bazaar this year in booth #107, so you can take home a furry friend of your own!

    or visit http://www.cutesybutnotcutesy.com/ to shop now

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