Spincycle Yarns

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?

Our business is called Spincycle Yarns. We hand-dye and handspin yarn, as well as write patterns for knitters. We started working together in 2005.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?

Rachel wants... go-go-gadget arms.

Kate wants... magical powers that clean my house while I spin and knit.

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?

One Thanksgiving weekend we watched all three Lord of the Rings movies (extended versions!) while knitting and eating leftovers.

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?

We're offering some mini $5 skeins of yarn.

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?

We have a TON of new colorways. We've been really busy dyeing this year.

Shesho Designs

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?

SD- My business is called Shesho Designs (pronounced she show) founded in 2007. I make handmade one of a kind underwear for men and women. Recently I have started making skirts as well.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?

SD- If I had a superpower it would be to make people happy!

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?
SD- Favorite holiday memory: the year I gave everybody bread for Christmas.

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?
SD- Hmmm...I do not have a $5 dollar item yet, but I'll work on it! I'm thinking headbands!

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?
SD- Mini skirts! They are really fun and unique and look great on! Come check em out!

Special Event

Shelly Engels (one of our fabulous Interns) is having a show Thursday, Dec 3rd. Preview and shop her beautiful work on Etsy here.

Devout

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?

D- I started Devout 12 years ago making silly monsters that made noise and dolls with extra appendages. It worked out so well I kept with it and here I am, many years later.
I make various plush, dolls and fun accessories like scarves, pins, and aprons. Most have a little edge to them, maybe a little spooky or funny but also cute and fun.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?

D- ooh, good question! I used to say the ability to fly but now it's totally super speed. Think about how many dolls I could make in a short amount of time! Wow!

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?

D-The year I got the My Little Pony Stable, ahh, it was glorious! OH, also spending every year with family and friends. I love giving gifts so I get excited every time I have the excuse to. The Holidays make it perfect because I can give everyone something, even if it's an inexpensive item.

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?

D-Yes, I will! I'm planning on having a couple things to offer for this!

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?

D-I'll have a few kits this year, tree toppers, zombie related goodies (nothing says the Holidays like zombies!) and a lot of fun, inexpensive things since I know we're all on a budget. I'll also have some pieces from recent gallery shows for those of you wanting something spectacular and even more one-of-a-kind!

Glamspoon, bohemian chic for women with tenacity...

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?

Glamspoon started in 2005 selling at local craft fairs, and over the years has evolved from refashioned skirts to cashmere dresses and recycled felted accessories. glam.spoon is available in 4 boutiques around Seattle.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?

tough question... probably teleportation since I spend so much time in transit, I could gain like 3 hours a day.

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?

Christmas Eve, 2001 when my husband proposed! I had no idea... and he had no idea that 4 years later I would take over half of our house with my craft supplies!

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?

Yes! I'm still cooking up ideas, but there will be something for $5 in my booth!

5) Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?

This is the year of the capelet - recycled cashmere sweaters with pleated silk and wool skirting, hand placed appliques and as always, one-of-a-kind embellishments.

Orange Box Jewelry

UCU- What is your business and when did it form? Orange Box Jewelry, September 2006

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?

OBJ- I would heal the sick, fight crime, get justice for the oppressed and always remember where I put my keys (in that order).

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?

OBJ- It's more my favorite ritual than memory. Every year, my family tries to wait for Christmas morning to open presents, but my mom is impatient and we open everything on Christmas Eve after dinner. We all go to a candlelight church service together and then get home late and go straight to bed. In the morning, we gorge ourselves on the traditional Maier family breakfast casserole and watch White Christmas in our jammies while sipping coffee.

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?

OBJ- Yes! I will have pairs of Vintage Button Hair Pins for $5.

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?

OBJ- Yes! Vintage Button Hair Pins - these are a UCU exclusive item.

Of Newsworthy Note:

There is much to read about Urban Craft Uprising's lovely vendors...

Slow Loris on CRAFT - here

Wonder Thunder is part of a gift guide in the December issue of Better Homes and Gardens. There's a pic right here.

I Made You a Beard was chosen for ReadyMade Magazine's Gift Guide on Etsy - here.

Happy Squirrel Creations

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?

Happy Squirrel Creations started in July 2008 to spread unique hand made jewelry that features my illustration and design. Plastic (shrink film) is the medium of my choice.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?

HS- I would love to travel time and space

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?

HS- Santa called me to ask what I wanted for Christmas (okay so it was my dad... but I really thought it was Santa at the time because he said he was!)

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?

HS- Sure. I don't know what it will be yet though.

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?

HS- I'm still working on them but yes there will be new item

Shower Art

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?
Shower Art started a couple of years ago when Rosalie decided that taking showers was boring and you should have something fun to look at in there. Doug figured out how to actually make art waterproof and then we set about to encasing all kinds of really sarcastic things into rubber.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?
SA- Stopping time. For sure. Without a doubt. It would absolutely be stopping time. Well, and then restarting time too I guess. But the ability to get things done while other people just stay in suspended animation and don't email you or ask you to do things. Wow. Wow, that sure sounds good. I'm getting way to excited just thinking about it.

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?
SA- Every year Doug and I wear pajamas all day and watch Mystery Science Theater 3K movies. It doesn't get any better than that.

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?
SA- One inch round Shower Arts will be available for $5. Woot! Woot! Woot! Hazongas!

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?
SA- Since our Shower Arts are one of a kind items, they're all new items in our hearts. We do repeat some phrases, but each piece is different. My new favorite snarky phrase is "Go Get Your Almost Equal Pay." I make little pieces with women in business suits next to that phrase and laugh to myself. It's either that or cry. Or do nothing. But of the three - I think laughing is the best.

Dinah Coops Naturally Modern Sustainable Designs

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?
DC- I started my business, Dinah Coops Naturally Modern Sustainable Designs in 2007, aiming to create a collection of useful home products that combine a modern design sensibility and sustainability. Everything I make is hand silkscreened on recycled or rapidly renewable materials and much of it is designed for table and kitchen use, like coasters, trivets, napkins and tea towels

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?
DC- Predicting the future. I worry about a lot of things and I think this would really take the pressure off just to know what’s going to happen.

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?
DC- I come from a fairly frugal western Pennsylvania family, but every Christmas my dad would take a portrait of each of us surrounded by what felt like a huge bounty of presents. This then became part of a library of slides that we could look back through and remember for years, like a wonderful present index.

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?
DC- I want to! I’m thinking about a special pack of hand silkscreened cards.

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?
DC- I’m going to have some new tea towel patterns and pendant designs that I’m excited about. I might even have the start of my next new big project ready to show—but it is a little too early to tell if I will be able to get it far enough along in time. I’m looking forward to the show :)

Karen Thurman

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?

KT- I make hand made felt using the wet felting process. right now i am making scarves, table runner and pillows. i studied textiles in college and have been making felt for years and years. i believe that it became far more concentrated about two years ago. it is most definitely my passion.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?


KT- to be a shape shifter

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?

KT- when i got a kitten for christmas - i was 6. i named her christmas.

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?

KT- yes, two hair ballbles for $5

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?

KT- yes, two items - my new neckerchiefs - a triangle shaped felt scarf, and my new lattice scarves

Holden Lee Tees

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?
holden lee tees originally started when I silk screened a tee featuring my son's art for one birthday party in 2006. With some serendipity, in October of 2008, I found the time to nurture my wee cottage industry and started a more full time effort.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?
HLT- oh, just one...probably to be able to fly. I had recurring dreams when I was young that I could fly, and remember enjoying it very much. Imagine in today's word to be able to float and fly away, avoiding rush-hour traffic and various unpleasantness on the ground. I would be so carefree, well save for contending with the seagulls in my neighborhood.

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?
HLT- There are two, when I was three and got a baby doll that could blink. It was mesmerizing. And more recently, cutting out paper snowflakes with Holden, filling our house with wishes for snow. When we hung the last one, it snowed. Seriously! Now Holden is pretty convinced that he can make it snow on command.

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?
HLT- We love anniversaries, so indeed we will have a $5 item--a set of eight "color-me" cards featuring the images and stories of holden lee tees. The are prefect for artists, young and old, to embellish and share with friends.

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?
HLT- We will have hand silk screened and appliqued iron-on patches featuring our colorful characters. They are great for bags, skirts, covering the chocolate ice-cream that stained your favorite tee this summer, you get the picture. :-) We are also very excited to have a few character plushies that we are adding to our items this holiday season. And, because we are feeling chock-full of holiday spirit, we will be giving away hand silk screened ornaments to those spending $20 or more at our UCU booth.

TrixieBakes

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?

TrixieBakes – all natural moist fudgy to-die-for brownies. Online store launched April 2009.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?

TB- Control the weather and turn Seattle into a sunny warm place

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?

TB- It’s a toss up between eating latkes with applesauce and watching the cat run around with tinsel hanging out its butt.

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?

TB- Individually packaged brownies are $4.00 each.

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?

TB- Newest flavor, just for holiday, is “Merry-Mint: dark chocolate brownie romps around with icy peppermint”

An Original By Thea Starr

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?

TS- An Original By Thea Starr since 2002 & online since 2003

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?

TS- The ability to breathe underwater.

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?

TS- Christmas Day is my birthday so every year I get birthday cake for breakfast I have to say that's my favourite on going memory and something that I really look forward too. Mmmmm breakfast birthday cake!

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?

TS- I'll have a couple- resin bookmarks & mini sampler packs of vintage kimono fabric for small projects or embellishments. Yay for 5 a year celebration of UCU!!!

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?

TS- Yes! I'll have scarves & wraps made from vintage kimono fabric and a new style of extra grippy clips for the finest hair.

Rosy Red Designs

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?

Rosy Red Designs is my creative outlet. I have been making custom fine jewelry professionally for 10 years but I have a secret love for costume jewelry. In March of this year I started Rosy Red Designs to merge my love of all things vintage with my passion for making jewelry. The pieces I create are inspired by vintage ephemera and everyday objects such as salt shakers, radios and cameras. I try and use as many vintage beads and other elements as I can get my hands on. My goal is to create little bits of happiness and bring a smile to some faces without breaking the bank.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?

RRD- Ever since I was a child I have wished for the ability to time travel. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to see first hand our ancestors and be an eyewitness to history? Not to mention take home some souvenirs.

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?

RRD- I have so many wonderful holiday memories. Perhaps my favorite was helping my Grandma Ethel make krumkake, a traditional Norwegian cookie. She would press the scoops of dough into the hot griddle and I would roll the warm filigreed rounds into cones on a wooden spindle. Those simple moments are the ones I try and recreate with my own children.

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?

RRD- I will have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary, Christmas bottle cap pins. Fun vintage holiday images inside a bottle cap protected with resin.

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?

Rosy Red Designs will have a lot of new items for the upcoming show. I have been working hard to come up with new designs that will bring joy and delight.

Can't wait for the show!

Boodlebags

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?

Boodlebags was formed in June of 2008, retail debut in October 2008.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?

Probably flight. Flying is just cool. Maybe invisibility - also cool, and saves on the dry cleaning bills...

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?

Oddly enough, it was the Christmas when my entire family was snowed in for 7 days at my grandparents' house on Bainbridge Island! On top of being stranded, we lost power, and the basement flooded. We played games by candlelight, and when the basement flooded, we worked tirelessly in a "bucket brigade". Finally a few of us rigged up a contraption with an old sheet of formica to redirect the water that was sluicing down the walls into a basin to which we had attached a hose. We ran the hose out the door and into the Puget Sound! We were exhausted, meals were challenging w/o power, and we also had to use buckets of water to flush the toilets. You'd think we'd have been at one another's throats, but in truth it was a wonderful time...I love my family!!

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?

B-Not sure about the $5.00 item - I'm working on it!

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?

B- I hope to add a wallet and small clutch purse to the line, and I'm debuting some new fabrics. I have also modified the "Miranda Bag" with improved pockets, and I'm working on an adjustable shoulder strap for it.

Heidi Pottery Interview

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?

HP- My business is called Heidi's Pottery, and I started it in 2008, after doing pottery as a hobby for many years.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?

HP- Definitely teleportation.

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?

HP- So many great holiday memories! My favorites are probably the ones that involved my two siblings and I sitting around the tree on Christmas morning, looking at the 3 piles of presents, with our parents practically glowing behind us.

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?

HP- I've really been trying to come up with a $5 item, but I don't think I'm going to be able to do it.

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?

HP- I have many new items I will be showcasing! All three of the included photos are of new pieces, and I hope to make more before then as well.

Help Promote the show!

We are busy bee's over here promoting the heck out of this winter's show! I can't believe it is one week from today! As a vendor, you know how busy it get's but let's try to break our record for the 5th year anniversary! As much as we are working, there can always be more! Please send out this press release to your friends, family, coworkers, customers, your kids school, etc. Anything you can do to help is always appreciated!

Urban Craft Uprising Celebrates 5th Year Anniversary with December Holiday Show

Urban Craft Uprising, the largest indie craft fair in Seattle and the Northwest, celebrates its 5th anniversary this year at it's annual holiday show - December 5th and 6th, 2009, at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM both days.

At Urban Craft Uprising's shows, fans can choose from a wide variety of hand-crafted goods including clothing of all types, jewelry, gifts, bags, wallets, buttons, accessories, aprons, children's goods, toys, housewares, paper goods, candles, journals, art, food & much, much more. Each Urban Craft Uprising show is carefully curated and juried to ensure the best mix of crafts and arts along with originality and uniqueness.

Seattle's largest indie craft show is turning 5 this winter! Urban Craft Uprising was started in 2004 to showcase the work of independent crafters, artists and designers - to provide a unique, high quality, hand-crafted alternative to "big box" stores and mass produced goods. We continue to hold high standards, wowing crowds year after year. Since its early beginnings at its first holiday show with just 50 crafter booths and overflow crowds, Urban Craft Uprising now holds the largest indie craft event in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest with its Winter Show. In 2008, Urban Craft Uprising's annual Winter Show saw over 8,000 attendees and over 130 crafters, artists and designers from around the world. In 2009, Urban Craft Uprising held its first Summer Show.

Come celebrate our 5th year with us on December 5th and 6th at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. Tons of special celebratory events will be happening, along with another great holiday experience. We hope to see you there!

Urban Craft Uprising aims to build a local (and beyond) community of artists, crafters and designers by organizing and providing events where indie crafters and artists can connect with their fans. Urban Craft Uprising is comprised of four entrepreneurial crafters : Moxie, Lindsey Ross, Kristen Rask, and Mike Leo, located in Seattle and Portland.


When: Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, 2009
Time: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm both days
Where: Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (on Mercer St. across from 3rd Ave. N)
Admission: FREE!


For further information please contact:
Kristen Rask
Director of PR and Marketing
Urban Craft Uprising
206.728.8008
kristen@urbancraftuprising.com
http://www.urbancraftuprising.com

Sycamore Street Press - fresh, green, and hand printed on a vintage letterpress

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?

SSP- At Sycamore Street Press, we hand print cards, posters, and more on our vintage letterpress using eco-friendly materials and fresh designs. We started around the holidays of 2007.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?

SSP- I'd like to be able to control time. There never seems to be enough of it.

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?

SSP- How can I pick just one? The anticipation I'd feel as a kid when I went to bed on Christmas Eve, the warmth and sense of community I felt in high school when singing in the town's Christmas choir, the year I spent all of Christmas day singing carols at an old folks home, looking around the dinner table on Christmas Eve and seeing so many faces that are so dear to me...

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?

SSP- Yes, we will. One of our letterpress frame mat styles will be offered at $5 (They are normally $15, so this is a BIG discount.)

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?

SSP- Well, we have some new holiday cards and a 2010 calendar poster that we are pretty excited about.

Namu Designs

UCU- What is your business and when did it form?

Namu designs are inspired by my favorite Retro Japanese motifs reinterpreted into Japanese Pop T-shirts. Namu designs are hand screen-printed Wearable Art for men, women and children.

UCU- If you could have a super power what would it be?

ND- The same as the Japanese Anime character named Doraemon. He is a Robot cat from the future. He has a 4-dimensional pocket from which he produces many gadgets, medicines, and tools from the future. Pretty cool.

UCU- Favorite holiday memory?

ND- New Years’ Eve in Japan. A lot of great food, family and tradition. I miss it.

UCU- Will you have a special $5 item for UCU's anniversary?

ND- Yes, A lot of children’s T shirts.

UCU- Got any new items you will be showcasing at the show?

ND- Yes, Japanese Tattoo inspired Flower collection for women's long sleeve T-shirts, Bags and Scarves. Also Ninja and Shinkansen Pictogram collection for Men's T-shirts and bags.