Ricicli Apparel Interview and Giveaway!

Christina Pezzner takes gently worn, out of date adult size clothing and pairs them down to adorable wares for adorable kiddos. Check out her booth with a few new items that have yet to hit stores this weekend at the Seattle Center!

UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
CP: Always, the big super special one to my son, Anthony.

UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
CP: Baked Brie & crackers with apple wedges

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
CP : Recycled leather earrings from Megan Leone! They look good with everything!



Giving This adorable outfit for a little person away! Leave a comment by midnight tonight!

Ugly Baby Interview and Giveaway!

Unique waterproof art ready for the shower! Come learn a bit about Ugly Baby and enter to win in their 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".
UB: Sadly, neither one of us really listens to music all that much. If you're accepting podcasts though, I'd recommend: Never Not Funny, WTF, Delicious Mediocrity, The Moth, This American Life, Radio Lab and Wiretap.

UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
UB: My first craft show was in Renton. There was a hail storm. In April. We were outside. I think when I signed up for it, the lady who was organizing it said we would be sharing a tent. In my mind -- that was like a circus tent. I giant tent with places for you to go sit down and eat lunch. In reality it was a normal 10x10 tent. I learned a lot that day - like: Bring your own table cover so you don't have to dig an old yoga mat out of the car to put on your table.

UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
UB: We have one cat, Karma. If anyone is looking to own a really loud, annoying cat who sometimes stands on your head in the middle of the night and tries to eat big chunks of your hair -- all the while choking on said hair right in your ear -- please do let us know.

UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
UB: We've got a ton of our popular one-inch Shower Arts. We always run out of these but we invested in a bunch of new one-inch molds so we can make a huge pile of them at once. Super!

UCU: What day of show traditions are you bringing to UCU 2010?
UB: My tradition: Buying way more stuff than I should.
Doug's tradition: Flirting with the ladies.

UCU: If you could sum up your work in one word, what would that be?
UB: Odd.

UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
UB: I like to pick one vendor and buy the majority of my gifts from them -- so my family and friends get all get introduced to something super cool all at the same time. Last year it was Estrella Soaps. Not sure who it will be this year.

UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
UB: We're making lots of soup in our crock pot this year. I'm actually in training for a Crock-Off we're having at work in January. I'm a shoe-in.

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
UB: Gosh. I think it's probably impossible for me to pick a favorite. I have so many favorites. Most recently acquired was a tray of plush tater tots with different facial expressions by Scrumptious Delight. http://www.etsy.com/shop/scrumptiousdelight

Giveaway! Leave a comment by Dec. 2 at midnight to enter in the drawing.
Your choice of any one-inch Shower Art we have at the show and a pack of 12 postcards based on our favorite Shower Arts.

Karen Thurman Interview & Giveaway

Karen Thurman is a Portland based artist who works in felts. She uses the traditional wet felting process to create gorgeous scarves, sweaters and housewares. Be sure to stop by her booth to see her unique wares! Karen is offering up this wonderful felt ornament as a giveaway! Please submit a comment by Midnight tomorrow night to be entered to win!



UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
Karen Thurman: I have a dog and two cats. My dog's name is bee and she is one year old. She is the sweetest dog in the whole wide world. She is a rescue dog and we were told that she is a german shepherd and pointer mix. She has german shepherd coloring and she does point.

One of my cat's name is Esme and she is almost 21 years old and black. I have had her forever and she is amazing. My other cat is Franny. I found her in a wheel well in Oakland when she was a teeny tiny kitten. She is very nice but she has some issues.

UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
KT: I have some new felt Christmas tree ornaments. I make a felt ball and needle felt designs on them.

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



UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
KT: Drawings from my friend, Patrick.

Crystalyn Kae Interview & Giveaway

Crystalyn Kae creates limited batches of handbags in her Seattle studio with details that are not only unique but also functional! Crystalyn is being so kind as to provide a tweed Matinee hobo bag in green as a giveaway! Be sure to comment before Midnight on Thursday to be entered to win!!



UCU: Pick a song that gets you in creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a "UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack".
Crystalyn Kae: I have an embarrassing genius mix of cheesy british pop that gets me in good mood while working in my studio. . .but I wouldn't want to subject UCU shoppers to that. But I would suggest "No one does it" by Department of Eagles. Does that give me better street cred? :)

UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
CK: My first big 'show' was as a vendor at Pike Place market. . nearly 10 years ago. The best bit of advice I was given is to not worry about extra props and booth decor. Your merchandise that should speak for itself. This advice has stuck with me, I still pack light, (especially since I don't own a car) and allows me to put my focused on helping customers shop for the perfect bag.



UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
CK: I will be introducing a collection of new medium-size tweed hobos that are truly One of a Kind - with unique freeform stitching on the outside and fun patterned pockets inside.

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



UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
CK: my grandmother has carried the same leather purse for nearly 20 years, and she has commissioned me (finally!) to make her a completely custom bag. It will have exactly what she asked for, plus a little bit of extra fun that she isn't expecting. I can't wait to see her face when I give it to her.

UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
CK: walnuts from my parent's 100 year old tree in central oregon. there's always an overwhelming plethora of them available and I'm finding creative ways to use them in recipes. . .like rosemary walnut chex mix!

UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
CK: On our first Valentine's day as a couple, my husband made me a HUGE amazing 3D collage of a heart, created from bits of my fashion magazines that he'd cut up.



(Photos by Tonhya Kae)

Slow Loris Interview & Giveaway

Jessica and Arlo are the Slow Loris team. Their motto of "feeling strong and not in a hurry" is indicative of their high-quality, handmade products. Their screen printed designs are created without the use of computers. Jessica & Arlo are kindly providing one of their unique shirts as a giveaway! Be sure to comment by Midnight on Thursday to be entered to win!



UCU: Pick a song that gets you in creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a "UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack".
Slow Loris: We love anything by Dizzee Rascal, get's the printer dancing and the artist drawing!
Especially this new one of his that came out this summer, "Dance Wiv Me"

UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
SL: Probably to bring more change or make things for sale at a price that doesn't involve needing to give change. We've learned to just make tax included in our prices, and deal with all the math later:)



UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
SL: Jessica-Well I have two dogs and a pig, and Arlo also has a dog who often is in the studio. So i'll introduce all four!
Basil Rathone/Bee/OldDog~ Wise, 14 years strong and has very handsome tendencies. Can't seem to remember if he just went outside or wants to come back in..or go back out? Who knows? He sure doesn't.

Zora/theZub/Zubbles/little-little~ Resident Ewok, ankle biter&foot licker. Also an old lady, likes to just sit around and look gorgeous.

Pig-pig/MarnieBiddles/NarnieNAh- Potbelly Pig. About 8 years old, he likes to stare at us through the window and waits for me to throw him my banana peel from my desk. He's practically blind and sniffs his way around the 5 acres of property quite well. He is quite spoiled and has 3 dog houses filled with hay for him to choose to sleep in depending on the weather.

Pele/Pe-le-Le-pe/rrrreppes ~ The youngest of the pack. She talks a lot, and often. Can leap buildings in a single bound, sweetest girl you've ever met, likes to sport a bandanna around the neck (just like Arlo) and was rescued from a California desert when just a wee skinny puppy.

UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
SL: New zip-up hoodies and skirts with new designs, our belt buckles, and art! We're bringing original screen prints. Our flat file is just getting too full, so it's time to clear out some hand printed art!



UCU: What day of show traditions are you bringing to UCU 2010?
SL: Our traditions are actually after the show, we eat out at our favorite places in Ballard! We love ourselves the food at La Isla or Sushi! mmmmmm Sushi.

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

UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
SL: Jessica ~ Jewelry from a Finland Etsy seller I recently stumbled upon. I bought many items for my 3 sisters. Also, for Arlo's birthday, a record player.


UCU: Favorite handmade item you have? It could be made by you, gifted to you or something you picked up.
SL: Jessica ~Hard to say, it's a tie between a painting by my great, great grandmother or the family portrait painted by my father right after i was born in the late 70's. Both equally odd and amazing.

LaRu Interview & Giveaway

Lauren of LaRu is a Seattle-based artist who started a craft group which led to making accessories from her fantastic drawings. All of her pieces are one of a kind illustrations on clay sealed with resin. Lauren is providing this super cool skull necklace as a giveaway. Leave a comment by Midnight Thursday to be entered to win!



UCU: Pick a song that gets you in creative mood or you think would make a great addition to a "UCU Winter 2010 Soundtrack".
LaRu: Lately I have been addicted to the Mike Snow album.

UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
LR: Make a cheat sheet for figuring out taxes! The first few times I would bring a calculator. I taped my cheat sheet to the clipboard I use to fill out credit card slips. It's way faster and convenient!

UCU: If you have pets, introduce them and tell us a bit about them!
LR: I live with my two bunnies (Zim and Madison), a turtle named Tobias (after Tobias Funke), and my boyfriend's crazy cat Xuxa (pronounced Zoo-sha). All the animals like to interfere with crafting :). The bunnies will pick up whatever I am working on and toss it around. Xuxa likes to lay across anything I am working on. She also has a craving for shinny paper...anytime I leave it out she chews it up. I've lost a lot of drawings to that cat! :)



UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
LR: I've come up with a bunch of new designs: foxes, squirrels, crows, and new skeletons. I am excited to see how people respond to them.

UCU: What gift are you most excited to give this year?
LR: I'm not excited about one gift in particular, but I am excited that I will only be giving handmade gifts this year. No factory made things or department stores for me!



UCU: What are you nibbling on as the snow falls this winter?
LR: Reeses and chocolate chip cookies. I can't stop eating them!!

Blue Diamond Stamps Interview & Giveaway

Today we meet Liz of the Blue Diamond Stamp Co. Blue Diamond Stamp Company sells an eclectic line of clear polymer stamps that feature her artwork and other unique found imagery. Each stamp is handmade in my kitchen and packaged in her living room in jewel cases that provide perfect storage and indexing. Using clear stamps in conjunction with a clear acrylic block mount allows for precise placement and easy clean up. Liz is giving away a festive tree stamp! Please comment on this post by Midnight Thursday to be entered to win!



UCU: What’s one thing you wish you had known at your first craft show?
Blue Diamond: Accepting credit cards! My first craft show was back in 2004 and at the time I was accepting only cash payments. In 2005, I was able to start accepting credit cards at craft shows and saw a dramatic increase in sales! Even though there are extra fees involved, I would recommend to vendors to look into accepting credit cards if they do shows at least a couple times a year.

UCU: What day of show traditions are you bringing to UCU 2010?
BD: This will be my third UCU and it is usually a priority to start each day with a gigantic cup of coffee. And then continue the coffee intake every few hours....



UCU: What item are you most excited to be offering at UCU Winter 2010?
BD: I will have a number of new designs this winter. I am most excited about debuting my two new Seattle-inspired stamps. Although I recently relocated to Portland.... I still feel like a Seattle girl!