Handmade Mart

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Q&A with Block Party Press

What is your craft all about?

My craft is about combining some of my favorite techniques into one outlet. When I make my jewelery and art, I incorporate elements of printing, carving, sculpting and painting. I create my own stamps from original drawings and use them to create texture in the clay. I then use paint to add color, texture and dimension. Finally I strategically distress them to give them my signature look.

What inspires you to make what you make?

I am inspired by just about everything around me. I get a lot of ideas from nature, but I'm also inspired by the textures, lines and contrasts found in everyday life. I can also get inspiration from a song lyric or a funny saying, it just depends on what strikes me at the moment. I am fascinated by artistic inspiration, so I blog about what inspires me and my work on a fairly regular basis. http://blockpartypress.blogspot.com

What is your favorite piece/product you will have with you at the Handmade Mart?

My favorite items right now are in my new necklace series called "Out on a Limb". They feature a branch with different items dangling. Each one has a special meaning and all of the latest additions to series were inspired by Spring.

Where can folks find your craft outside the Handmade Mart?

I have an etsy shop, http://blockpartypress.etsy.com and a blog : http://blockpartypress.blopgspot.com and in June I will be in Baltimore at "Pile of Craft" and in July at "Artscape".

Find me at booth #54!

Q&A with Dunsmore Design

What is your craft all about?

For some reason I have always been drawn to fabric and sewing. I work with fabric like painters paint. I am obsessed with it's color, pattern & texture and how you can manipulate it with layering, stitching & embellishing. It's my addiction.

What inspires you to make what you make?

The desire to wear beautiful and unusual things. To be different. I get inspiration by all aspects of the design world, it could be a sofa, a painting, a dress, anything with color & pattern.

What is your favorite piece/product you will have with you at the Handmade Mart?

Some sort of funky handbag, most likely with polka dots.

Where can folks find your craft outside the Handmade Mart?

Etsy shop coming soon.

Find me at booth #31!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Q&A with Jules and Juniper

What is your craft all about?

My craft is one-of-a-kind jewelry made from vintage jewelry, vintage components and vintage textiles.

What inspires you to make what you make?

All things old, beautiful and well-loved inspire me to take vintage and make it new again!

What is your favorite piece/product you will have with you at the Handmade Mart?

I've just received some new vintage enamel chain in really bright colors so I'm sure to have some lovely necklaces made with this special chain.

Where can folks find your craft outside the Handmade Mart?

Check out my blog, www.julesandjuniper.com, for links to my etsy shop and information on upcoming craft shows I will be attending. Also, my jewelry should be available soon at the new DC Mini Art Gallery in the 14th Street Heights neighborhood of DC.

Find me at booth #7!

Q&A with Sharp Shirter

What is your craft all about?

We're in the biz of clothing and accessories. Each year we try to push the envelope a bit more in terms of the styles and items we decide to work with. In the course of the last year we've added hoodies, dresses and vinyl stickers for 15+ accessories.

What inspires you to make what you make?

I'm big on the nature theme. I love to watch the discovery channel in my free time and learn about new animals and habitats. Sometimes I just think up my own creatures...

What is your favorite piece/product you will have with you at the Handmade Mart?

I have a new summer dress that will be coming out just on time (fingers crossed). It has bicycles and is very classy.

Where can folks find your craft outside the Handmade Mart?

I'm online at: sharpshirter.com and in about 40 stores nationwide.

Find me at booth #20!

Q&A with Sugar Paperie

What is your craft all about?

Greeting cards from Sugar Paperie are created from a collection of new and vintage materials with an emphasis on color, pattern, and texture. I strive to create something that is modern yet provides an element of nostalgia. You know, when notes were carefully written (and penmanship was something to be proud of!), stamped and delivered to your home. There’s just nothing more thoughtful and sweet than a lovely well-wish being sent to you.

What inspires you to make what you make?

A devoted collector, I scour thrift shops and estate sales, making it my mission to collect and rescue all things pretty. With these lovely castaways, I create small batches of handcrafted greeting cards that are both cheerful and modern as they show the play between color and pattern.

What is your favorite piece/product you will have with you at the Handmade Mart?

My newest line of cards are teeny tiny. Not only are these little guys economical, but they are so sweet! Their petite size makes them perfect for accompanying a bottle of wine (a thoughtful hostess gift!) or to dress up a charming little package.

Where can folks find your craft outside the Handmade Mart?

Around Baltimore, Hon! Red Tree & The Woman’s Industrial Exchange currently carry my work. Also you can find me at www.sugarpaperie.etsy.com.

Find me at booth #1!

Q&A with RaiyCrafts

What is your craft all about? What inspires you to make what you make?

We're three Ethiopian females who love making jewelry while talking about everything and anything.We usually use traditional pieces from Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal and other African countries to make the kind of earrings and necklaces we like to wear. We make it a point to buy most of our material at fair prices from artisans in Africa. We've been making jewelry for 6 years, selling our work at music shows, craft shows, local flea markets and at our friend's coffee shop.

What is your favorite piece/product you will have with you at the Handmade Mart?

Our new favorite piece is a beautiful bronze necklace with a metal disc pendant, bronze plated filler beads and bright red beads.

Where can folks find your craft outside the Handmade Mart?

We have a permanent display of our jewelry and other items at: Sankofa Cafe 2714 Georgia Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20001. Online at raiycrafts.etsy.com.

Find me at booth #29!

Q&A with Isabel's Rose

What is your craft all about?

It's all about my love of melting glass in a 1900 degree flame. And then making something in glass that no one else is making.Most lampwork jewelry is very conservative, geared toward an older crowd perhaps. Not mine! My designs are based on anime, music, movies, and popular culture. I like to surprise people by, say, sculpting a pretty heart, then adding bleeding punctures! I'll add crossbones to cupcakes and big highlighted eyes to skulls. The best thing anyone can say to me is, "I never liked glass jewelry, but yours is amazing!".

What inspires you to make what you make?

I have been inspired by movies such as "The Nightmare Before Christmas", musicians (often Elliott Smith), kid's cartoons, anime, nature, and the glass itself.

What is your favorite piece/product you will have with you at the Handmade Mart?
Right now I'm completely in the love with the Birdy Birds. I really like the ones that sit on top of the apple trees.

Where can folks find your craft outside the Handmade Mart?

I do a ton of shows on the East Coast, but the best place to find me is through my website and my etsy store, www.IsabelsRose.com and www.LORiOLA.etsy.com

Find me at booth #9!

Q&A with Curls Studio

What is your craft all about?

Curls Studio creates original comic art and storytelling, greeting cards, dolls and more with Carolyn Belefski and Joe Carabeo’s merged powers of design, illustration, photography, and filmmaking. Curls Studio self-publishes the comic strip Curls and the comic books Kid Roxy, Black Magic Tales and The Legettes.

What inspires you to make what you make?

I am inspired by comics, animation, nature, animals, pop culture, films, characters, comedy and retro glamour.

What is your favorite piece/product you will have with you at the Handmade Mart?

I enjoy the comics we've made because it shows our dedication to achievement and advancing comics as a storytelling art form.

Where can folks find your craft outside the Handmade Mart?

Curls Studio is on Etsy (http://cartooncarolyn.etsy.com) and we also travel to comic conventions, such as New York Comic Con, Baltimore Comic-Con, and Small Press Expo. Our blog (http://curls-studio.blogspot.com) is also updated with the latest news on projects, radio shows, comic strips, and upcoming events.

Find me at booth #19!

Q&A with Daisy Lacy

What is your craft all about?

I make clothing and accessories that are cute and ideally funny in some way.

What inspires you to make what you make?

I am inspired by everything around me. I really like scouring thrift stores for inspiration.

What is your favorite piece/product you will have with you at the Handmade Mart?

My favorite piece I will have at the handmade mart is a high waisted skirt. I made it out of a fabric I found thrifting which has hand holding a can of spray paint pattern repeated on it-it's pretty rad.

Where can folks find your craft outside of the Handmade Mart?

I have a store in Adams Morgan called Smash! (www.smashrecords.com) where my goodies can be found!

Find me at booth #52!

Q&A with akamundo.com

What is your craft all about?My work is based on fusing the line between art and craft and creating visually and financially accessible art forms.