Meet Denver Juror: Marlene with Caboodle Gifts

1. How did you get your start in the handmade community?

Even though my mom doesn't think of herself as artistic or crafty she is.  When I was young my mom often made gifts for friends and even sold a few things.  My favorite was candles.  My mom made molded candles and the room she made them in always smelled so good.  Back in the 60's there was a lot of macrame going on and my mother did that also.  Hanging planters, wall art and gods eyes were done a lot.  In the summer we took art and craft classes at the school.  When I started teaching preschool and kindergarten I came to love crafting with things people would typically throw out: kleenex boxes, toilet paper tubes, boxes, etc.  When I started my store I really wanted to focus on handmade and local.  There are so many "closet crafters" out there who didn't have an outlet for their crafts other than doing fairs.

2. What/Who is your biggest inspiration?

I can't really say there is one person or thing.  I feel like I get different kinds of inspiration from different people and places.  Inspiration comes from connection.  When you connect on a real level with something or someone you become inspired!  Love, beauty, heartbreak, adventure, challenge.  If the world touches you, you will find a way to express it in some way whether it is a poem, song, story, painting, jewelry etc., etc., etc.

3. Tell us a few favorites of yours?

My favorite color right now is probably a teal shade.  

My favorite people are probably my kids.  They range in age from 18 to 23 and I am just loving watching them turn into adults and finding their passions and working to that end.  

My favorite dream is winning the lottery.  I love to think of all the ways I would use the money to relax and do good!

My favorite drink is a chai latte.

My favorite thing to do in any gathering is play games (of all kinds).

4. What do you love most about the handmade movement?

I think the thing I love most about the resurgence of handmade crafts is the peace and community it offers people.  Almost everyone I talk to who crafts does it because they love it, it is their stress relief.  It also brings people together.  Someone will always want to learn how you do something.  So you teach them, or you tell them.  You have shared your passion and excitement for life and that spark will spread like wildfire!

5. What is the most important feature in an artists application for you? 

In the application itself it will probably be the picture and description of what the artist does.  Do they take pride in their work and take care to craft an item of good quality not something that is slapped together and likely to fall apart?  The application needs to be thorough and provide all the information that is asked for.

6. What are you looking forward to the most in joining the jury panel with Jackalope?

I look forward to being a part of the reason someone comes to a craft fair and falls in love with crafting or handmade items.  I have always loved event planning (worked to put on conferences, weddings, bat mitzfahs and fundraisers a lot!) and I love it when a patron comes away saying they loved it.