How did you start in the Handmade community?

Urban Baby Co. started out as a simple craft idea. At the age of 9, I saw Anne Geddes "Children's Collection" and fell in love with the colors, the cute costumes, textures, and her out-of-the ordinary compositions. My mom must have seen my interest because every January I would get her calendar and frame the old ones!

I took what she did visually and composed unique and cheeky sayings that usually brings a smile to someone’s face. Couple that with fabric, stencils, and quality organic baby onesies, and you’ve got Urban Baby Co. It was something I did for fun that ended up turning into a full-time business. 

I think my mom still has a number of Anne Geddes dolls in her basement...

What or who inspires you?

As an adult my inspirations come from clever conversations, art, nature, big cities, and sarcasm. My designs cover a broad range which opens doors for all kinds of people whose lives are touched by a baby. 

What makes your work unique and truly your own?

I'm constantly asking myself, "what would be something fun?" and "what would I want my baby to wear?" If I'm excited and can’t stop thinking about it - I go for it. I'll play with colors and designs until it's perfect. Something so little as to changing the font to reflect the mood or the tone of a phrase turns it into an artful piece.

People that shop in the handmade community appreciate the thought process behind my designs.  You won't see them at big chain stores and if you do, please note that they were probably copied by another manufacturer (ha!).

What can we expect to see from you at Jackalope?

Big holiday surprises with unique designs, colors, and hip vibes! I'll be bringing: organic baby onesies, baby headbands, organic adult tees, and family sets. I'm excited to participate with Jackalope as this will be my first year!

Every year the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival grows bigger and bigger and with Wheat Ridge poised as one of the next big up and coming neighborhoods, we are thrilled to join them this year!  

HISTORY
The Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival began in 1969 when the city of Wheat Ridge was first born. It is one of the oldest and longest running festivals in the state of Colorado. The name of the festival honors the slogan “Carnation Capital of the World” that was given to the area long ago when Wheat Ridge and the surrounding area actually numbered 32 different growers at one time! 

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The two+ day annual festival features ongoing live music on the main stage, a large beer garden and expanded food court with specialty food vendors and craft brewers and wines. The Kids Fun Zone has been expanded to include even more full size carnival rides, midway games and yummy carnival concessions including the famous funnel cake! Also featured is a vintage circus, fine art show, the famous spaghetti dinner (on both nights), a chili cook-off, community softball game, and two nights of fireworks. 

Check out the events schedule here: http://www.thecarnationfestival.com/events-entertainment/

And now the Jackalope Art & Craft Fair is an exciting new addition to the festivities!  Check out where we will be during the event!

We can't wait to see you all there!  You can apply to be an artisan online until May 20th at www.jackalopeartfair.com/apply

Keep an eye out for our vendor announcement coming in June! http://www.jackalopeartfair.com/denver/

How would you describe your style?  Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?
Clean and contemporary. Even though I run a confection company, the flavors are more interesting and adult so I like to have the packaging reflect that. 

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 
think my unique flavors make me stand out. The texture too! I tested a lot of recipes to find one that yields a soft caramel that melts in your mouth, rather than pulling out your fillings! People are always surprised at how soft they are, which makes me happy to have spent all that time worrying about it. I also seek out the best, most flavorful ingredients using local purveyors whenever possible. Colorado dairy, fresh spices and tea and hand-zested citrus all give me the brightest flavors possible.

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
find the inspiration for my flavors from what I enjoy eating as well as what is available seasonally here in southern Colorado. The green chile caramel idea was planted when we received roasted chiles from Hatch, New Mexico in our CSA box last summer. I wondered what they’d taste like as a candy and started tinkering. The skins impart a lovely smoky flavor instead of just heat, which many people find surprising. I’m always on the search for the best horchata, so I thought, “Why don’t I just make it into a caramel?” It was tough to get the rice flavor to come through, but I think I finally succeeded. You’ll have to try them and let me know what you think!

What is your creative process like?
As a pastry chef, it’s all about precision and recipe testing. Once I have a new idea for a candy, I need to try it out in — tiny — batches to see if the flavor I’m trying to get across comes through. (This is definitely my husband’s favorite part!) I take copious notes about the weights of ingredients and any adjustments I make because I never remember what I did although I’m sure that I will at the time. After the recipe is dialed in, I pack the caramels in bags and let them sit at room temperature for 3-6 months to be sure the flavor and texture remain the same. I need to ensure that my customers will have the same experience regardless of when they purchase my confections. After all that, I’m finally ready to launch a new item!

Where can we learn more about you?  
Please visit my website at www.peakcandy.com. In addition to learning more about me, you can see our current list of flavor offerings and find outlets where you can buy them.

Keep an eye on my site in November; I’ll be rolling out a cashew curry and classic peanut brittle just in time for the holidays. I’ll also offer the caramels in a smaller, 3-count bag, so you don’t have to choose between a few of the flavors you’re pondering!

Shop Peak Candy Company at the Denver Jackalope Art & Craft Fair on November 14th & 15th!