Wednesday Artist Profile - Gock's Frocks

We were walking back from the library a little while ago and I realized that I hadn't done my Wednesday artist profile yet - oops! At the same time I was thinking about how nice Ms. B looked in one of her new summer outfits, and thought - oooh, kids clothes, that's fun!

Which led me to thinking of the absolutely delightful Kristen of Gock's Frocks. (Even if she is a Yankees fan, lol...) I love the clothes she makes! For example...

Check out that beautiful skirt! Made with gorgeous Moda fabric - I love those colors (perfect for red-headed Ms. B! Hmmmm.....) And, as an add-on, she can make you a custom shirt to go with the skirt:

Great outfit. (And absolutely darling model!)

How about a three piece outfit?

I love the detail! The ruffles on the pants, the coordinating kerchief, it's fantastic.

OK, one more item. Something for my little walking man:


So adorable!!

One last thing - if you would like to check out her wares in person and you live in the New York area, visit Vida's Market on May 31! It runs from 10 am - 7 pm and is at Wallace Hall in Saint Ignatius Loyola Church at 980 Park Ave. (between 83 and 84th Streets) in New York City. For more information about the Vida's Market, visit its website. And to learn a little more about Kristen, visit her blog!

Wednesday Artist Profile - Amanda Sainsbury

Finally, another profile! I've been having severe motivation problems now that the weather has gotten nicer... Even finding it hard to get my rear over to my studio. (Not good! This is when I should be building up inventory!)

I've seen Amanda Sainsbury's work around Etsy a bit lately - she has a really strong design sense, in my opinion, and her work catches my eye every time.

5 Small Knitted Buttons. Aren't they neat? And aren't her colors great? (Maybe that's why I like her work so much, I love her color sense.)


She makes trim in all sorts of lovely colors, too!


Or how about a selection of knitted beads? In purples, too - purple is sooo the color this year. :)


She also makes fabric that you could use to make something fantastic... (She has some Orange Circles fabric that just really appeals to me. Go check it out.)

OK, one last photo of some of her yummy Spring Knitted Buttons...


Lovely shop. And outstanding photos, don't you think? I've been noticing that the overall quality of photos on Etsy seems to be improving... Or maybe there are just enough experienced sellers now that the folks that wind up on the front page are just all doing a stellar job with their photography. It's great to see!

Follow- Up On the Time Question - and a Teaching Question

First of all, a big apology to anyone who was looking for my Wednesday artist profile this past week and missing it... I was just swamped (and, let's admit it, completely lame). But, for a special treat, I'm planning to profile a weaver this coming Wednesday!

She is lucky enough to live near here!

So, folks, thanks so much to everyone who commented on the previous post. I took all of your advice to heart, as well as some wonderful advice from the EtsyFAST folks, too - and put it to good use at yesterday's Open Studios at Western Avenue Studios.

First of all, despite kind of a record low turn-out (it was kind of a yucky day here yesterday, it didn't surprise me that not a lot of people showed up) - I sold four pieces! I was tickled!


So, this scarf, among others, has a new home. (Always had a soft spot for this one - I wear it's twin sister that has a threading error in it - I took the colors from a painting that my daughter made.)

Secondly, I think I came up with a way that works for me to answer the dreaded "time" question. First, I changed my attitude and decided to attribute the question just to curiosity. Especially since during Open Studios my loom is right there, often with work in progress on it, of course people want to hear about the process. So, I spend a lot of time giving a quick run-down of the warping process and how a loom works to folks - it's really wonderful to see how interested people are!

And, when they ask the time question, I usually give a bit longer answer, based on some of the replies I got here, actually! Something like: "Well, I've been weaving pretty steadily for seven years now (funny how as a weaver that makes me a neophyte, but non-weavers think that's a long time, lol), when I first started it probably took me about 3X, though I didn't time myself then. Even a year or so ago, it took me about 2X. I've gotten really efficient in the past year and a half since I've started selling, though, and have my time down to X. Unless I make mistakes that need fixing..." (I'm a typical NorthEastern Yankee fast talker, so that goes by faster than it looks.)

OK, if you've made it this far - I have another question for you! Do you have people ask about you giving lessons? I'm amazed at how many people ask me if I teach when they come through during Open Studios.

I'm thinking that for the big Lowell-city-wide Artists Open Studios in late September that I'm going to bring my little four-shaft loom over, too, and set it up with a sample warp and let people have at it. We get a lot of kids through, too, and I think they might get a kick out of that...

I would love to teach someday, but at the moment, at least, I barely have enough time to weave! Maybe when both munchkins are old enough to be in school.

Any teachers out there? Do you give private lessons, one-on-one, or do you teach groups? I imagine it's a lot of work, but also really rewarding.

Anybody who happened to read my Endnotes column in Handwoven will probably realize that Rita Steinbach, my teacher at the Worcester Center for Crafts, was just crucial in giving me that push that I needed to move into designing my own work. (Thank you, Rita!!) Anywho, I would love to hear about your experiences!

Wenesday Artist Profile - JeMSjewels

And now for something completely different... I love my fiber friends, but I thought it might be nice to feature a different kind of seller this week. Mindy's shop, JeMSjewels has really managed to catch my eye.


Isn't that a lovely necklace? It's a Made to Order Mother's Day Birthstone Necklace. You let Mindy know the birthstones that you want included (for your kids, hubby, yourself, whomever you wish), and she'll make you a lovely, custom necklace!

(Are you reading this Carlos? HINT HINT! January, April, February and another January...)

Next up, a bracelet that really appeals to me, too:

Jade and Pyrite bracelet. I'm a sucker for jade, for some reason, and circle motifs get me every time, too. I like that the clasp on this bracelet has a swirl design, too... Another piece I'd love to own!

Another necklace that I really like -

A really strikingly simple design. Love it! Buy it here before I do! :)

Well, I was going to stop there, but then I noticed this necklace:

Yup, more jade. Chunky carved jade and moonstone necklace (yes, I really am a sucker for jade...). It even comes with matching earrings! Beautiful!

Mindy, by the way, is a stay-at-home-mom like myself. As she puts it "But every piece of jewelry I make is my release from poopy diapers, snot noses and questions that start with "Why"! A big salute to all you mom's out there!!!"

LOL. I love a lady who tells it like it is. And I also really, really appreciate all the hard work that moms do, from when our children are small right on through to adulthood...

Having a creative outlet is so key to preserving sanity sometimes, in all stages of life - am I right?

Tune in next Wednesday for another profile! (And hopefully a post or two before them, I've been lax lately, and I have some good weaving stuff to talk about too, argh!)

Wednesday Artist Profile - Sand and Sky Creations

I have a real soft spot in my heart for Prince Edward Island, Canada. It's just such a lovely place, I'm dying to drag my family up there for a camping trip... We camped there when I was a little girl, and I still have clear memories of the ferry ride from Bar Harbor, Maine to Nova Scotia, and then another ferry out to PEI (before there was a bridge) and, of course, visiting Green Gables (of Anne fame), walking through the Haunted Wood, etc. A lovely trip on a beautiful island.

My featured Etsy artist this week, Simone of Sand and Sky Creations, is lucky enough to live there! Simone designs and creates really beautiful knit and crocheted clothing and accessories.

Am I right, or what? This is her Rose Red Cropped Cardigan that she created as part of the EtsyFAST (Fiber Arts Street Team) March Challenge. Gorgeous, isn't it? Buy it here before I do!!

I love her sweet little Le Minou hat, too:



She also offers patterns in her shop, too, if you're feeling the need to create. Her Earth Mama Babydoll top pattern, for example, really appeals to me:

Gorgeous! I purchased a pattern from her earlier this winter (her Yuletide Scarf pattern) and it was very well done. Clear instructions, and an interesting enough pattern to hold my attention (quite the accomplishment, I'm a very scatter-brained knitter).

And isn't her photography outstanding (love the Iris in the photo of her babydoll top, e.g.)? Somehow her photographs - and her work - really capture the ethereal feel of her shop name (Sand and Sky). She has done an excellent job, I think, in thinking out the presentation of her work, both through her etsy shop and her website. Very inspiring!

OK, one more item...


North Wind Snow Scarflette. And it is completely evocative of the North Wind, isn't it? Love it.
(And I adore her lipstick in this shot, too, lol! See what I mean about well-presented, though?)

And, to top it all off, she is donating 20% of her profits from sales made this month (and March, too), to FreeTibet.org. Excellent.

Thanks for the inspiration, Simone, and keep up the great work!

Wednesday Artist Profile - North Star Alpacas

For my Wednesday Artist Profile this week, I chose Ms. Maple of North Star Alpacas (Etsy) and Alpaca Granny blog fame.

Maple was one of the first people to welcome me to Etsy, and is one of nicest folks I've "met" through Etsy. She is unfailingly supportive as a member of EtsyFAST (the Fiber Arts Street Team) (the first time one of my items appeared on the front page of Etsy, it was thanks to one of Maple's many, many Treasuries), and is never the type to toot her own horn. So I thought I'd toot it for her - she sure deserves it!

Oh, man, what a handsome devil! This is Polaris, North Star Alpaca's herd sire. And this darling lady is Ariana:



Her fiber is Maple's favorite to spin! Because, yup, you guessed it, Maple creates fabulous handspun yarn (so, all you weavers/knitters out there, take note!).



Isn't that gorgeous? (Buy it here!) Or how about some hand-dyed, mill-spun yarn?



OK, one more, I just can't help myself, I love Maple's work...

Wow! A hand-spun, hand-dyed, hand-knit hat. I purchased one of Maple's gorgeous hats earlier this winter and it is lovely. Just beautifully constructed and even prettier than it was in the pictures, I was hugely impressed. And, as a lovely added touch, she includes a photo of the alpaca that the fleece/yarn came from with your purchase!

If you'd like to learn more about Maple and her lovely alpacas, please do check out her blog, Alpaca Granny. It's always an entertaining, informative, fun read.