VictoryGardenYarn Interview and Giveaway!

First time UCUer Anna Sharp, the woman behind VictorGardenYarn will be bringing loads of lovely knitted things with her to the Exhibition Hall this December 4th and 5th. Enter to win your own Skipjack Cowl by leaving a comment below!

UCU: Pick a song that gets you in creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a "UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack".
AS: Um, I'm actually really boring when I'm in a creative mood...I usually tune in to the classical station on the old kitchen radio and get to work. I guess it relaxes me and lets my mind wander while my hands work.

UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
(Or--If this is your first show, what are you most looking forward to?)
AS: This is my very first craft show! I am really looking forward to meeting people and chatting up anyone who happens to pop by my little booth. I've been sitting behind my computer screen trying to peddle my wares for entirely too long now, so getting to talk to people and help them play dress up with my cozies will be quite fun. And since I'm a former retail queen, I sort of miss interacting with my customers!

UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
AS: I have a boyfriend....does he count?

UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
AS: Gosh, my business is so new, I'm excited to be offering everything! If I had to pick though, it would be my kitschy 'Atomic Christmas Ornaments' and my newest neckwear design, which will be released at the show. (It's a cross between a cowl and a collar...and it has pom-poms!)



UCU: What day of show traditions are you bringing to UCU 2010?
AS: I'll be making traditions as I go since this will be my first show...but I kind of want to have fresh flowers here and there in my booth...I think that might be tradition #1.

UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would that be?
AS: Vibrant. (Or colorful.) (Or cozy.)



UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
AS: Well, everyone usually gets some sort of hand knit or hand crocheted something-or-other from me, but this year they will all be receiving a cornucopia of home-canned goods. I actually think I have one more batch of goodies to can and then all my presents will be taken care of. Phew.

UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
AS: Soup! I love to make giant vats of soup in my big enamelware pot. Then for those nights I'm feeling too tired to cook or have too many cozies or hoops to make, I can yank the pot out of the fridge, throw it on the stove, and heat up some warm yummy goodness with absolutely no effort. A favorite soup would be a white bean/kale/sausage combo...I think that's my Portuguese side coming out!

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
AS: That would be the most amazing ring my boyfriend MADE for me from an old silver quarter. He actually spent most of his lunch hours out behind his office building banging away at this quarter on an old, unused railroad track, all because we live in a tiny apartment with no workbench and there was no way for him to work on it at home without me knowing what he was doing. It makes me all warm and fuzzy whenever I see it on my hand...which is every day. But then again he also made me a set of wooden knitting needles...so I guess we have a tie for favorite handmade item!

Get It! Get It Get It! Leave a comment before midnight on Thursday (Dec. 2) to enter!

Belle Epoch Interview and Giveaway!

Dana McCoskey (DM) is the girl behind Bell Epoch. Inspired by travels, colors and nature she creates innovative jewelry that she is bringing with her to Urban Craft Uprising on December 4th and 5th.



UCU: Pick a song that gets you in creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a "UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack".
DM: When I first read this question I accidentally misread it as “pick a song that gets you in the mood” and blushingly, my first thought was Al Green. But after I reread it properly as “creative mood” the easiest thing to say is that I have been listening to a lot of Nightmares on Wax DJs shows and wefunkradio.com while at work in my studio this fall. I really love all types of music from country to jazz to hip hop; so I hope to hear an eclectic mix at UCU. As for a song to nominate for the show, I think you should definitely play James Brown’s “Soulful Christmas”.

UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
DM: That my girlfriends and I were not going to get to hang out while trying on jewelry, casually drinking pinot noir; but instead we were going to have to work our butts off, with no bathroom breaks or food, for hours!

UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
DM: I have no pets. I do however spend a lot of time with wild birds. In addition to trying to make life more beautiful by pursuing my creative passions, I have traveled the world to work with bird research and rainforest conservation. Animals give me great joy and I hope that one day if I become less of a traveler and more of a homebody, I will have a really awesome dog to hike with.

UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
DM: I am excited to bring my natural feather hair pins to Seattle. They are cute, inexpensive and make great little gifts.

UCU: What day of show traditions are you bringing to UCU 2010?
DM: I am not very traditional. Day of show I’m usually just drinking coffee, helping customers, and looking around the other booths to find handmade items that I want to take home.

UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would that be?
DM: Earth. I think about this planet everyday.

UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
DM: I made my sisters really cute lockets that I am super excited about.

UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
DMI: live in the rainy valley and really, really love food. But when I am in the snow it is usually because I have traveled into the mountains with my snowboard or skis, and there I typically have a half frozen granola bar of some sort in my pack to nibble on.

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
DM: My sister Michelle makes handmade alligator scarfs. I love mine because it is so unique and cute, that whenever I wear it I meet the most interesting people who also admire it and want to talk to me.

And we are giving this adorable necklace away!


The "Three Little Birds Necklace" is made with brass, ruby zeolite, moss agate, and smokey quartz.

Please comment before midnight on Thursday (Dec. 2) to enter!

Amanda Fiebing Interview & Giveaway

Amanda Fiebing is a local artist who works in fibers creating ethereal mushrooms, terrariums and even colorful garlands. Make sure to stop by Amanda’s booth to wish her a successful first UCU show! Amanda is graciously giving away a set of 3 of her mini garlands! Please comment before midnight on Thursday (Dec. 2) to enter!



UCU: Pick a song that gets you in creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a "UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack".
Amanda Fiebing: Panda Bear and Bjork have been in heavy rotation in my studio. But if I were to choose one song for the UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack it would be James Brown’s Chonnie-On-Chon or Goldfrapp’s Rocket.

UCU: If this is your first show, what are you most looking forward to?
AF: This is my first Urban Craft Uprising! I’m looking forward to what is sure to be a crowd of sweet people looking for great unique gifts.



UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
AF: I’ve got two little grey Persians named Ben and LuLu. They are my studio helpers for sure.



UCU: What items are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
AF: Mini Garlands! What could be more cheerful and up-lifting than candy-colored felted garland? Bright, fanciful and just for fun. They are simple decorative pieces that add a dash of color to rooms, windows, holiday and party decorations and gift-wrapping. My garland also comes in larger sizes for larger spaces and projects. And I will be accepting a limited amount of custom orders for the holiday season.



UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would that be?
AF: Lovely

UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
AF: I’ve been stalking my fellow UCU’ers online so I can use my breaks efficiently and do my Xmas shopping during the show. I am most excited about buying all handmade for friends and family.

UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
AF: Snow or no, when winter rolls around I revert to my Scandinavian roots and I head straight for pickled herring on Triscuits. Also, Turkey.

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
AF: I made the mistake of packing “light” for a summer trip to Iceland which resulted in scouring of the Reykjavik for a sweater. I found a vintage handmade Icelandic wool sweater at the Kolaportid flea market. Its definitely one of my favorite possessions as it reminds me of the trip of a lifetime.

Fable and Fury Interview & Giveaway

Combining the romanticism of Victorian chic and curiously wayward subjects with modern techniques and materials, Fable & Fury creates unique jewelry and wearable art. Woodland creatures, peculiar portraits, and follies of nature appear in imaginative vignettes, cameos and silhouettes intricately crafted in black and satin finished stainless steel. Jennifer is kindly providing this Stag, Ravens and Leaves necklace for the giveaway. Please comment before midnight on Thursday (Dec. 2) to enter!



UCU: Pick a song that gets you in creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a "UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack".
Fable & Fury: "Possum of the Grotto" by Rasputina

UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
F&F: I wish I'd known how rewarding, fun and stress-free vending at a craft show could be. Instead, I spent a number of anxious nail-biting weeks prior to the show worrying for nothing!!

UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
F&F: Opal, my one year old blue torbie kitty, is a sweet lil' cracker. She chirps and coos like a Tribble from the old Star Trek episode. She loves to get soaked in the rain, and often in the middle of the night while I'm sleeping, she pins my face down with her front paws and kisses me to pieces. Her cuteness is quite unbearable.



UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
F&F: An ornate woodland scene neckpiece, detailed with a stag, ravens and oak leaves.

UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would that be?
F&F: Askew



UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
F&F: An antique humidor for my boyfriend's cigar collection.

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
F&F: Sara Lanzillotta's siamese twin plush "Zombaby." I adore everything I have of Sara's!!

Devout Dolls Interview & Giveaway

Sara Lanzillotta of Devout Dolls handcrafts one of a kind creations that are both cute and creative, with a touch of the macabre. Sarah is offering up a Chirpy Birdie as a giveaway! Please comment before midnight on Thursday (Dec. 2) to enter!



UCU: Pick a song that gets you in creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a "UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack".
Devout Dolls: "Gut Feeling" by Devo, "Super Jellyfish" by Gorillaz, "Charlotte Mittnacht" DeVotchka, "Mishto" by Gogol Bordello

UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
DD: How much of everything to bring, this would include stock, change and bags! You just never know what to expect. My take on it now is, it's better to have too much then not enough.

UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
DD: I have Rubin Monkey Bean the Chihuahua, his other name is Grandpa. He's kind of grumpy and, for being so tiny, he has a very large personality and an even larger bark. He's very sweet and cuddly though too. I also have Momo the cat. A black and white kitty who's not so friendly but we love her anyways.



UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
DD: I'm pretty excited about my new stuff, unicorns, Chihuahuas and taxidermy pins (made of fabric, not animals).

UCU: What day of show traditions are you bringing to UCU 2010?
DD: That would be the "oh god I'm not ready freak out dance". It's all the rage among crafters right now. You start running around in circles and it involves a lot of foul language. Just the thing to get your heart pumping and ready to go!

UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would that be?
DD: creepycutetastic



UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
DD: homemade vegan soups with homemade bread

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
DD: Ooh, that's a hard one, I have so many, currently is an amazing sweater my friend Hansi knit for me.

Tender Loving Empire Interview + Giveaway

Based out of Portland Tender Loving Empire seems to have their hand in a bit of everything. From artist collective to record label this diverse group will be heading out to UCU this year with an exciting new compilation, Friends and Friend of Friends Vol.III. One lucky follower will take home a copy free of charge by entering in our giveaway.

UCU: Pick a song that gets you in creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a "UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack".
TLE: You can't ask a record label that question and get a simple answer. Here's a whole list!
Some of our favorite Tracks:
"Juniper" by Y La Bamba
"Wake (Keep this Town Alive)" by Finn Riggins
"CPR- Claws Part 2" by Typhoon
"Tallest Building in Hell" by Jared Mees and the Grown Children (A very uplifting, cheerful song, despite its title)
"Hoop + Wire" by Boy Eats Drum Machine
"Monkey Play" by Gratitillium
"Opposite People" by Hosannas
(In fact, if you'd like to put our Friends and Friends of Friends Compilation in the playlist mix, we'd love to donate an extra one. DIY music at a DIY Craft Fair seems fitting to us!)

UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
TLE: Our new kitten, Mabel, definitely deserves mention. We tend to have a little bit of trouble waking up in the morning to work after late nights seeing local bands around town. Thusly, Mabel has filled a much needed role in our family: the alarm clock. At the first hint of sunrise, she's up, ready to play, licking our noses and pouncing on our feet under the covers. Its hard to wake up on the wrong side of the bed when your day starts with a purring fuzzy face in your face. Thanks for the motivation Mabel!

UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
TLE: Aside from the brand new Friends of Friends and Friends compilation that we're offering up to the UCU blog giveaway, we're super excited about our new hoodies! Both of our hoodie designs are printed on the COZIEST American Apparel hoodies to keep you extra warm during a Northwest Winter. The latest design features a Geometric Forest designed by TLE's own, Jaclyn Campanaro. Little spherical clouds drop crystal-shaped raindrops over a conical evergreen. Our Rose City Bird's Nest hoodie is back by popular demand as well. Stop by our booth to try one on and check out our other new tshirt designs as well!





UCU: What day of show traditions are you bringing to UCU 2010?
TLE: Online, and at the Tender Loving Empire store in Portland, our CD's sell for $10 + shipping. But at UCU, we offer all of our albums on a sliding scale to help you take a chance on new music you may not of have heard of and fill stockings on a budget!

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
TLE: Cartoon Monster's Sail Boat Automata http://www.etsy.com/listing/49916468/hand-crank-boat-in-a-box-automata-indigo This is the one item we will be bringing from our brick and mortar shop! Turn the crank and the little boat sails the sea! It's the perfect gift for anyone at any age. Stop by our table at UCU to see it in person.



And they're giving this away! A copy of their new Friends and Friends of Friends Vol.III. Leave a comment and it could be yours!

Hidden Talents Unveiled : Nov 30th

Check out Hidden Talents, coming up on November 30th in downtown Seattle! Please RSVP if you are interested in coming!

Giveaway Winners---ROUND 1!

Congrats to all of our pre-Thanksgiving giveaway winners! Winners were chosen via comment number through Random.org. Please find us at the UCU Booth at the Winter show to find out how to claim your awesome prize!

For all those who didn't win this time around, keep commenting! We have a ton of great giveaways coming up in the next week leading up to the show!

-R&L Goods notebook set: Elena (Comment #4)
-Texture Clothing mitts: Barrie (#21)
-Matthew Porter print: Jen (#1)
-Debbie Weiss Maude bag: k a t (#8)
-Cakespy mug: Angie (#15)
-Secret Stash Salts: Tara (#4)
-Foamy Wader Roxie necklace: Mo (#12)
-Bunny Lee print: Dawn Edge (#2)
-Danger Peach necklace: Sarah (#4)
-Rakka Deer cards: wastedpapiers (#1)

Ladies & Gentleman Studio Interview + Giveaway

Jean Lee and Dylan Davis are Ladies and Gentlemen Studio, specializing in “good things”. They are graciously providing one of their L&G Daily Affirmation mirrors! The mirrors are one-of-a-kind vintage repurposed mirrors each with a positive phrase laser etched. L&G believes that we all need some encouragement to get ourselves through the day. The mirror is made with wood frame painted in gold. Dimension: 7" x7".



UCU: Pick a song that gets you in creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a "UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack".
Ladies & Gentlemen Studio: Journey- Don't stop Believing

UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
(Or--If this is your first show, what are you most looking forward to?)
L&G: We're looking forward in seeing the response from the people attending the show, since it'll be our first time at UCU and also doing a craft show for our studio!

UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
L&G: We don't have a pet, but would like to get some ducks....they're the new chickens!
UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
L&G: We're pretty excited about our vintage one-of-a-kind Daily Affirmation mirrors. Also we're excited that we'll be officially launching it at UCU!



UCU: What day of show traditions are you bringing to UCU 2010?
L&G: It's our first year, so we need to think of a tradition. But an idea to start a tradition is to make some hot cider or ginger milk tea for ourselves and whoever wants some!

UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would that be?
L&G: Cleverly-nostalgic.

UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
L&G: Our Chalk-It-To-Me piggy banks, since we got some friends with babies or young kids, and think they'll really enjoy the use of it.

UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
L&G: Homemade marshmallows or dark chocolate covered pretzels

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
L&G: Our favorite handmade item as of now is our Chalk-It-To-Me Piggy banks. Essentially this product was our baby where we were part of the whole process from start to finish. It was like giving birth to it without the physical pain. We're pretty proud of the fact that we're able to materialize our ideas and actually make it work! It also has a special sentiment for us in a sense that it symbolizes the possibility of making our dream happen in pursuing our own creative studio/business!

This Charming Candy Interview

Today we meet Kate and Susan of This Charming Candy. They make unusual and delicious lollipops of all colors and flavors.

UCU: Pick a song that gets you in a creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack.
This Charming Candy: Constructive Summer by The Hold Steady. We know it's not summer, but we love that song!

UCU: What Item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
TCC: Our Greatest Hits collection! We've taken the most popular flavors from all the collections we've sold and brought them together in one place! It's an easy way for customers who haven't tried our lollipops to sample the best of the best.



UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would it be?
TCC: Delectable. No wait, delicious. No, um, yummy. It's so hard!

UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this year?
TCC: Kate: I've been enjoying some mulled cider with the mulling spices from World Spice. It's perfect as I relax at the end of the day in front of the television with my husband.
Susan: Honeycrisp apples from Merritt Apples in Mt Vernon - the best honeycrisps I've ever found.

Get The Goods!

Hello all you woderful people who have been reading interviews and entering in giveaways. We decided that Turkey Day was a good day to pick us some winners! So, all postings before Thanksgiving will close Turkey Day at 10p.m. After you have had your dinner, pie and wine glance over the posts to make sure you have your name on all the goodies that you adore. Check back on Friday evening and see if you have a special something to pick up when you come shopping this December 4th and 5th at Seattle Center!

Blonde Chicken Boutique Interview

This Blonde Chicken passionately makes sustainable and colorful yarn from her home in Johnson City, TN. Stop by her booth and give her a Seattle welcome this December 4th and 5th at Seattle Center.

UCU: What day of show traditions are you bringing to UCU 2010?
BCB: I always start the day with the biggest coffee I can find. That, and my lucky striped kneesocks!

UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
BCB:

Beauregard is my bagle pup (beagle + basset), who serves as security and (sniffy) investigations.


Andre is grumpy middle-management + complaint department.


Stella is Vice President of Cute and Counselor of the Nap.


UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would that be?
BCB: Squooshy. Fun. Colorful. (I can't pick one!)

UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
BCB: I'm crocheting little lucha libre dudes for my little brothers. They are totally into wrestling right now and I love that I can give them a handmade gift that they'll really play with!

UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
BCB: Peppermint mochas, gluten free sugar cookies and many many apple crisps.

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
BCB: For my wedding, my husband's grandma's best friend gave us a crocheted throw. We snuggled under it for the first few years of our marriage and now I keep it in a maple chest. I just love it to pieces.

Rakka Deer Interview + Giveaway

Today we get a chance to meet Rakka Deer, a local artist hailing from Bremerton and showcases a range of subjects from Star Wars characters to Kermit the Frog. Kris is generously offering up a set of 5 cards with envelopes. The cards include a mixed media paintings of a Beastie Boys cassette tape, an Atari Joystick, a Maneki Neko and Optimus Prime as well as one card of Inigo Montoya drawn on "Hello, My Name Is..." stickers.



UCU: Pick a song that gets you in creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a "UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack".
Rakka Deer: "I Sink, I Swim" by Seabear. It's not a super current song but it works for me every time.

UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
(Or--If this is your first show, what are you most looking forward to?)
RD: UCU isn't technically my first craft show but I'm going to treat it as such since it's such a freakin' behemoth. So, in that regard, I'll say that I'm really looking forward to the energy that such a large crowd has. We could power Seattle with UCU crowds for, like, what? A year at least!



UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
RD: My BF and I have four cats. I'll introduce them: Ms. Peel, Ava, Fujiko Mine and Clouseau but I won't tell you much about them because I could very easily slip into crazy cat person territory and bore you. (If you really want to see photos of my cats though, come by my table and you can see the ones on my phone.)

UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
RD: New cards and paintings from my latest 365 blog Stupid F--king Awesome!



UCU: What day of show traditions are you bringing to UCU 2010?
RD: Oatmeal for breakfast? True but dull.

UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would that be?
RD: Smarvelous? Great. Now I have that song stuck in my head.



UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
RD: Probably some Doctor Who stuff that I'm making for my nerd friends in the UK. NEEEEERDS!! (I love them though.)

UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
RD: British chocolate. It's what I get in exchange for the Whocrafts. I think it's a fair 'cause Brit choccies are where it's at.



UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
RD: I have this fantastic skull that my friend Noah made that I adore. Also, a very happy plush onigiri that I bought on Etsy. There's no way that you could eat rice that smiley!

Material + Movement Interview

Heather Kraft is the designer behind Material+Movement jewelry designs. Her Incarnate Anew line uses porcelain pieces with gold and silver findings. This will be Heather’s first show so let’s give her a warm welcome!

UCU: Pick a song that gets you in creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a "UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack".
Material + Movement: "What Kind of Woman Is This" By Buddy Guy. I'm a sucker for blues.




UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
(Or--If this is your first show, what are you most looking forward to?)
M+M: As my first show, I'm most looking forward to sharing my work with so many people!

UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
M+M: At the moment I am petless, but wanting! Most of my life I've had dogs, and I've been thinking about names for the next dog I am able to have. Some include: Georgia, Hossa, Herman, and Edwina.

UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
M+M: Some necklaces from my Heirloom collection. They are beautiful compositions comprised of 14 pieces or more of vintage porcelain. They are more like wearable sculpture!



UCU: What day of show traditions are you bringing to UCU 2010?
M+M: This one probably isn't new, but a buffet of snacks! A good days work isn't complete without an array of nuts, fruits, and chocolate.

UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would that be?
M+M: Providential.

UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
M+M: Brussel Sprouts. I'm not kidding, those things taste amazing.

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
M+M: A skirt I made from my mother's high school tennis team shirt. Vintage cotton is oh so soft!

Danger Peach Interview and Giveaway

Danger Peach is the maker of some dangerously adorable bags and accessories. Get to know her better before you stop by her booth Dec. 4th and 5th when she returns to Urban Craft Uprising.



UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
DP: I just recently adopted a 9 year old Schnoodle named Oscar from Old Dog Haven. He is sweet and funny and is so snugly he makes it really hard to get out of bed in the morning. Were BFFs!

UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
DP: I have some new embroidered art pieces and embroidered accessories that made me giggle a lot while making them! You will have to stop by my booth to see what the are! :D



UCU: What day of show traditions are you bringing to UCU 2010?
DP: I always make treats and bring them to some of my favorite venders for a little sweet pick me up.

UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would that be?
DP: Cheeky!

UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
DP: When it gets cold I always crave a soy peppermint mocha. Mmmmmmmmmm.

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
DP: Gosh that's tough, I have so many that I love I'll have to name a couple. I have an abstract painting that belonged to my Grandparents. It hung in their dining room and as a kid I was always drawn to it's colors and textures and when no one was looking I would run my fingers over it! For my Birthday my sister gave me a felted finger puppet she had made that I had been crushing on for a while. He has braces and I named him Caesar, like the salad.



GIVEAWAY.GIVEAWAY.GIVEAWAY.
Leave a comment to have a chance to take home this funky necklace!

Help get Moveable Type on the Road!

Kyle Durrie of Power and Light Press, a letterpress studio based in Portland, Oregon has a dream to build a mobile print shop in the back of an old delivery truck and tour the country sharing the art of printing. Kyle has started a Kickstarter campaign to support the Moveable Type project. More information can be found here. Please check out the details and consider supporting it!

Elisa Shere Interview

Today we'd like to introduce Elisa Shere, maker of beautiful jewelry with recycled, non-mined sterling silver that was processed in an earth friendly refinery!


UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
Elisa Shere: wish I would have known how much fun being part of the indie craft community is! My first show was Pile of Craft, put on by the Charm City Craft Mafia in Baltimore. I've met so many friends through that show and all the other shows I've participated in. I can't wait to meet all the great Seattle crafters and shoppers.

UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
ES: I have two wonderful canine companions, Ladybug and Louie. Ladybug is a basset/beagle mix and is super sweet, but oh so naughty. And Louie is a Jack Russel Mix. He's very polite and protective. They both came from the shelter and are just the cutest things - and they make great studio companions.

UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
ES: I'm very excited about my new ceramic line. It combines my two passions, ceramics and metalsmithing. Each piece is made entirely from scratch, and include handshaped ceramic centerpieces with my own original drawings.



UCU: What day of show traditions are you bringing to UCU 2010?
ES: Well, my crafty friends and I have a tradition of hiding a toy spider in each others show stuff, so perhaps the spider will make its way to Seattle this year!

UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would that be?
ES: Unexpected

UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
ES: I haven't done any shopping yet, but plan to stop by Sam Trouts booth for a tee shirt for my husband and Steel Toe Studios for one of their key chains.

UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
ES: Pizza to eat and hot cocoa to drink :)

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
ES: I love my Circa Ceramics mug. They are a crafty duo out of Chicago who make amazing retro graphic ceramics.

Bunny Lee Designs Interview + Giveaway

Bunny Lee of Bunny Lee Designs is an imaginative artist specializing in beautiful things. For the giveaway she has kindly contributed a 9"x12" limited edition print of her drawing "Gabriel" (pictured at bottom of this post).

UCU: Pick a song that gets you in creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a "UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack".
Bunny Lee Designs: Good Intentions Paving Co. by Joanna Newsom

UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
BLD: I wish I would've known how important and how difficult it is to catch a potential customer's eye.

UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
BLD: My new line of Christmas and winter greeting cards and gift tags

UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would that be?
BLD: Beautiful

UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
BLD: I'm pretty excited to give all of them, because I've decided to only give my own products this year. I haven't yet decided on any particular gift though.


UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
BLD: Am I doing this way too early? I haven't even seen my breath fog yet. I've been eating mass amounts of PB&J this month. The best one I made was Adams no stir creamy with Bonne Maman Fig on Milton's Whole Grain Plus, lightly toasted in the oven.

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
BLD: Dulce, my beautifully caramel colored weird alien head thing plushie. Made by Coco Howard and bought by her son for me.