Figs & Ginger Interview & Giveaway

UCU vending duo Elijah and Rhonda of Figs & Ginger will be coming back for more fun at this weekend's show. They're making the long trek all the way from Asheville, NC, with all of their adorable bunny, birdie and deer jewelry.

UCU: What is your favorite part about Urban Craft Uprising or other large-scale craft shows?
FG: The vendors! Checking out what other people are creating is fabulous!

UCU: What do you like best about crafting/creating your product?
FG: We love it when customers tell us they gave someone special our jewelry as a present and they loved it.

UCU: Is there something you are hoping to shop for, a treasure you'd like to find at this year's Summer UCU?
FG: A good belt that's not made out of leather.

UCU: If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?
Elijah -The power to turn into any animal because then I could do loads of cool stuff like fly, breath under water, run super fast or be incredibly strong!

Rhonda- I would be able to purify anything (think captain planet). like: making my non organic raspberries nice & organic yummy, or making the Gulf of Mexico not ruined by BP, I don't mean to make that sound as dramatic as it does....

UCU: Its summer vacation time. Beach or the mountains?
FG: Beach for vacationing. Mountains for living.

Thanks to the both of you! And thanks for giving us these adorable circle bunny earrings to give away to a lucky reader. Want to be said lucky reader? Leave a comment below. We will select one winner at random and announce this Friday.

Crystalyn Kae Interview & Giveaway

A colorful Crystalyn Kae bag draped on the shoulder of a woman about town is the mark of a sophisticated urbanite. Her line of hobos, clutches, totes and more are not only chic but durable too! Crystalyn got her start making her very first bag back in the 7th grade. She earned her BA in Apparel Merchandising while interning at Liberty of London. She began selling her own designs at the Pike Place Market in 2001. She now sells online, through stores across the country and has been featured in In Style magazine, Cool Mom Picks and Treehugger. I even spotted her work in the movie "World's Greatest Dad".

UCU: What is your favorite part about Urban Craft Uprising or other large-scale craft shows?
CK: I get such a 'high' out of meeting my customers. I only do one or two events a year, so I look forward to the interaction and feedback that I get from my customers!

UCU: What sets your company apart from others who offer similar products?
CK: My specialty is making stylish bags that are functional & durable enough to be worn everyday for years. I enjoy the challenge of making style functional.

UCU: What do you like best about crafting/creating your product?
CK: I love working with new materials to create something beautiful that also solves a need in a person's life.

Thanks Crystalyn! Also thanks for giving us this awesome messenger bag to give away to one lucky reader. Leave a comment below to be eligible. We will select one winner at random and announce this Friday.

Lady Konnyaku Interview & Giveaway

We are only 1 week away from the second annual summer UCU! To mark the countdown we're re-introducing you to three time UCU vendor, Hawaii-born Malia of Lady Konnyaku Designs. Shortly after graduating from UW with a degree in Chinese Malia enrolled in a school for fashion design in Ballard. She says "learning how to sew and make clothing was way more difficult than learning Chinese!"

UCU: What sets your company apart from others who offer similar products?
LKD: Every aspect of my business is done with these two hands; I have no assistants. All designs are comprised of clean unused fabrics, 80% of which are vintage. I offer custom alterations to my local customers. Oh yeah, did I mention that I make extremely solid, high-quality clothing? No crap poop here. Come by my booth, check out the stitchery and see for yourself. Talk to me. How many people can say they are wearing a 100% handmade t--shirt? Be the one.

UCU: What do you like best about crafting/creating your product?
LKD: Honestly, I love working my own hours. Oh yeah, making clothing is very satisfying... watching a heap of fabric turn into something colorful and cool! Seeing the miles of smiles as people try on Lady Konnyaku Clothing at UCU!

UCU: What kind of snacks will you have to survive the long & exciting hours of UCU?
LKD: We bring a little cooler; inside you can find lots of water and spam musubi. We also hit up the lady who sells those delicious blondie brownies.

Thanks Malia! In the spirit of the 90's throwback Lady Konnyaku has been churning out those once ubiquitous chubby hair accessories: Scrunchies. We've got one to give away to a lucky reader. Leave a comment below to be eligible. We'll announce the random winner on Friday.

Lady Konnyaku is also offering free hugs! Be sure to stop by her booth to get yours.

Yet More Giveaway Winners

We've come to the end of Round 3 of our interviews and giveaways and competition for these great freebies has reached new heights! So glad to see everyone getting pumped for the show. Can you believe we are only 8 days from UCU shopping heaven?!
On to the winners...

Danger Peach necklace - Angie
Flutterbudget necklace - Alexandra
Hello Again Monsters monster - Hi, my name is Judy.
Citizen Robin ring - Fairy Godmother
Ugly Baby postcards - Diana
Laura Bucci Handmade cozies - Altered Designs by Tami
Tomonster cards - SimpleTakes
An Original by Thea Starr brooch - Devon
ShellyEtc night light - Cynthetic
Dotted Line Jewelry earrings - k a t

Congratulations you lucky devils! Be sure to stop by the UCU booth July 10-11 to claim your prize. Didn't win this round? Don't be down-hearten. We've got lots of great giveaways we will be posting through next Wednesday! Keep your eyes peeled and keep posting for a chance to win.
Get a jump on Round 4 of giveaways with Fused Glass House's pendant posted below!

Fused Glass House Interview & Giveaway

Rachel of Fused Glass House began her journey creating back in the 80s. Originally formed as Ear Rig her design styles have morphed through the years from simple beading in the 80s to stained glass in the 90s and on to glass fusing and metal-smithy in the last decade. She'll be making the trip up from Portland for our second summer show in just 9 days!

UCU: What is your favorite part about Urban Craft Uprising or other large-scale craft shows?
FGH: I love to talk to people about what I make, get positive feedback. I adore it when repeat customers come up showing off a piece they've been wearing for years, reminding me of different design directions I've followed. It's also feels crucial as a somewhat solitary artist to be part of the community of people who feed their souls and bellies with their creative selves. Shows tend to offer that artist camaraderie piece, the feeling that we belong to a larger whole.


UCU: What do you like best about crafting/creating your product?
FGH: Playing with color, hands down. It's therapy.

UCU: Is there something you are hoping to shop for, a treasure you'd like to find at this year's Summer UCU?
FGH: Several. A t-shirt for my sweetheart, little stuff for my boys, a baby gift.

UCU: If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?
FGH: Today? I'd love to be the hero that takes all the oil from the Gulf waters and sets it back where it belongs in the bowels of the earth far under the ocean, leaving the sea pristine, and its life as vibrant and healthy as can be.

UCU: Its summer vacation time. Beach or the mountains?
FGH: Beach. Sand, preferably swim-able water, tide pools, walks and bonfires. With kids, it's divine, they are happy and both worn and smoothed out by it.

Thanks Rachel! We've got one of Rachel's cute pendants to give away to one lucky reader. Leave a comment below to be eligible. We'll select one winner at random and announce here on the blog next Friday (aka the eve of the second annual Urban Craft Uprising summer show!).

Dotted Line Jewelry Interview & Giveaway

Let's play word association. Ready?
"Dog" makes you think of "cat", right? "Summer" conjures up "vacation" thoughts to be sure. "Dotted Line". Bet you thought "sign on the", huh? Well not anymore! UCU returning vendor Dotted Line Jewels will make you forget all about where your signature goes.

UCU: What is your favorite part about Urban Craft Uprising or other large-scale craft shows?
DLJ: I LOVE the energy that the crowd brings.... it kind of feels like I'm at a big party. A big, crafty party. Events like UCU allow me to connect directly with my customers, which is incredibly satisfying and rewarding.

UCU: What do you like best about creating your product?
DLJ: I love being in my studio. It's cute and cozy, and is full of art that inspires me.

UCU: Is there something you are hoping to shop for, a treasure you'd like to find at this year's Summer UCU?
DLJ: A new skirt from Tina Witherspoon (Glamspoon)!

UCU: If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?
DLJ: Hmmmm.... My friends will make fun of me for this, but I'd have to say 'the ability to be in 5 places at once'.

UCU: Its summer vacation time. Beach or the mountains?
DLJ: Neither. I love to travel, so when it's time to get out of town - I get out of town! This summer it's looking like a couple of trips, one to Japan and another to Italy and Belgium.

That's a lot of international travel! Thanks for answering our questions Annie. Also, thanks for giving us these lovely aquamarine earrings to give away to one lucky reader. Methinks the competition will be stiff for these pretties. Want to win? Leave a comment below. We will select one winner at random and announce tomorrow; so don't delay!

This Charming Candy Interview

Feeling glum that the Sun is hiding today? I cheered up when I read this thoughtful response from vendor This Charming Candy. Read on and put some sugar in your step today. Meet This Charming Candy in their own words:

We are Kate and Susan, the founders of This Charming Candy, and we love watching people smile when they taste our handmade lollipops. Maybe it’s because our flavors are a little more sophisticated than what’s available from mass-production candy makers. Maybe it’s the way lollipops recall a more playful time in our lives.

All we know is that we’re on a mission to bring a little charm to your day in the form of sugar-on-a-stick, and it seems to be working Kate and Susan have been friends for over 10 years and have so much in common it’s scary. We’ve both been mathematicians, librarians, and have escaped fromcorporate life in big high-technology companies before deciding to go into business together. We both love to cook, so it’s no surprise to our families and friends that we’d choose to do something culinary.

But really, we swear we aren’t the same person.

Briefly describe how you got started doing what you do?

Susan: I made my first lollipops as part of a science project, believe it or not. I loved watching the syrup boil, learning how to handle it, playing around with pretty food coloring and coming up with new ways to combine familiar flavors. I started bringing lollipops to gatherings with friends around New Years 2009. Soon I was totally hooked on making lollipops. All the positive reinforcement from my sugar-loving friends sure didn't hurt either.

Kate: I came on board shortly thereafter, running from my latest experience in a big technology company. I spent a lot of time eating the lollipops that Susan was making, being fascinated with watching Susan make lollipops, enjoying eating the lollipops, and wanting to do what I could to make sure everyone I knew did too.

What sets your company apart from others who offer similar products?

We emphasize unique flavors and curating those flavors into themed collections. Our Spice Rack collection is the most popular, with Salted Caramel, Tangerine-Clove, and Vanilla-Cardamom lollipops. Even though most of our flavors are aimed at adults, the beautiful and fun Celebration Time collection -- Root Beer Float, Bubble Gum, and Birthday Cake -- is popular with all ages.

See you Ladies in all your sweetness in July!