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

I want to say that is a loaded question...when I was 7 I used to make bracelets and trinkets and open up the window on our porch and sell my wares to the kids on my street. Pretty sure I took most of their allowances. But other than that I have always worked with my hands in one way or another. I am always finding something new to create. 

2. What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?

I have a tattoo like style but with a feminine touch. I love perfect lines, but I also love color, so finding ways to bring that to life using the inspiration around me. I love combining things like mountains and unicorns, or showing my spirit animal of the moment, like my llama.

3. What or Who Inspires you?

Outside...My husband and I get antsy, and so we are always booking flights to our bucket list destinations. That is how Vela even came about. We were in Italy on a rainy day and we just were looking out at the Mediterranean from our apartment, and I just drew all day. I drew the whale that adorns a few of our clothes and now is permanently tattooed on my right arm as a reminder. When we are home we are always hiking, skiing, or playing in the mountains with our dogs, and through those hours of moving and meandering through the Rockies create even more endless inspirations.

4. What is your creative process like?

I start with a small notebook and pen when out and about or traveling, this allows me to sketch in an instant, and get the gist of the idea down. Then I take a picture of it with my ipad to then sketch it fully with the apple pen. This device has changed my world. Having been a graphic designer for years, I love being able to tweak things, or experiment without the permanence of a pen. The ipad is perfect for that. Now I can have 10 different versions of the mane on the horse before I decide on exactly the one I like. From there I take it into the computer to finish it, and pick colors for our clothing. Then I get to hand it off to my husband and our good friends at Trick Threads where we get to print everything. When I have the time I even get to go in and print myself which is a blast, but luckily I have other amazing people to help with this part.

5. What is the coolest artistic tip you have ever received?

Trust your creativity, especially when you think it looks like poop...its like a challenge that you get to figure your way out of. Oh and take a freakin' leap. You are talented, trust it!

6. What can we expect to see from you at Jackalope?

My newest favorite things...I have been doing elaborate watercolor paintings of our travels and turning them into iconic hats with the painting embedded into them. You have to see them! Also tons of tank tops and layering pieces to wear through the rest of the summer and into the fall. Knowing me there will be one or two new designs by then as well.

7. Where can we learn more about you?

Check out our site: www.velaapparel.com or follow us on insta @velaapparel

1. How did you get your start in the handmade community? 
After my mom took me to my first art show when I was 12, I knew I wanted in on the action.  I went to school for painting and after graduation I got into the art show scene.  My favorite part is meeting artists and makers from all over the world, I have met some amazingly talented people!
 

2. What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?
I've been creating paintings of honeybears for over seven years now.  My first honeybear painting was a gift for my dad for inspiring me to be an artist and pushing me to go to art school.  The honeybears represent the time in my life when my family would sit down for dinner and before we said the blessing the honeybear had to be on the table.  Whatever bread we had for dinner, we would put honey on it and it would be dessert.  When I first showed the honeybears at my first art festival I found out that other people had a connection with this silly little bear and kept on painting them! 
 

3. What or Who Inspires you?
Some of my favorite painters who inspire me are Duane Keiser and Carol Marine - I got to take week long workshops from them and both workshops were incredible!  I also love Janet Fish's work, her early work really made me fall in love with painting. 😍
 

4. What is your creative process like?
I paint in a lot of layers.  I work on a lot of paintings at the same time - my favorite part is starting a painting.  I work on each painting for an hour or so then let it dry and work on another while its drying.  All my paintings start in acrylic, then I do a last layer of oil paint.  There are paintings all over my studio and all over my house.  
 

5. What is the coolest artistic tip you have ever received?                                                               So when I was just starting out I set up my art at this realty open house, I was set up in a house they were trying to sell. It was one of the first little shows I did after college and I don't think I sold anything. I had a mess of random paintings and I didn't know what I was doing or even what I was supposed to do. Another artist took a look at my paintings of honeybears, landscapes, portraits, and all these random foods I painted and told me that I needed to become "the honeybear lady" - that I could still paint whatever I wanted but to really push the honeybears and make it my thing. So for the next few years I really worked toward being that honeybear girl and its really helped people know who I am and get my paintings out there. Thats been the best tip I've ever received for sure!

6. What can we expect to see from you at Jackalope?
Honeybears!  And other fun, colorful paintings of flowers, hot sauce, and whatever I decide to paint before the show!  I will be driving out to Colorado for the summer in my airstream trailer, I will be coming from Asheville, North Carolina but my studio is in Birmingham, Alabama - so you can expect to see some paintings from my travels out west in my airstream named Norma Faye.  
 

7. Where can we learn more about you?

I post a lot on my instagram page @jaynemorganart and facebook.com/jaynemorganart

You can also find more info on my website jaynemorgan.com and my etsy shop!

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

I have been an artist since I can remember, I knew at a young age that I wanted to make things with my hands. After graduating Stetson University with a degree in fine art I began showing my sculptural work with local galleries in the Washington DC metro area. After several years of working with these galleries I realized I wanted to reach a wider audience with a functional piece of art. I had plenty of scrap wood lying around my shop which otherwise would go to waste and decided to make bowties out of this material. With the success of the bow ties SwitchWood was born and I started creating other handcrafted men's fashion accessories.

2. What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 

SwitchWood is the first interchangeable wooden bow tie that allows the wearer to remove the wooden wings and switch them with a different type of wood or wing shape. SwitchWood uses recycled and reclaimed materials such as whiskey barrels and skateboards to create a wide range of accessories from bow ties to sunglasses.  

3. What or Who Inspires you? 

I started my career as a graffiti artist and have always been inspired by low brow / street art. It has allowed me to think abstractly especially with subverting materials and using them in unique interesting ways.  

4. What is your creative process like?

I like to jump into ideas and get my hands dirty right off the bat. I find that ideas build off each other and morph into unforeseen directions organically. Final products are not always intentional and can grow from a primitive idea. Doors open and new possibilities arise that wouldn't happen if you sit around waiting for an epiphany.   

5. What is the coolest artistic tip you have ever received?

"Inspiration is for amateurs — the rest of us just show up and get to work" - Chuck Close

6. What can we expect to see from you at Jackalope?

 I will have a wide range of fashion accessories to include wooden bowties, cuff links, tie clips, earrings and sunglasses. I will also have collection of wooden bar accessories to include flasks, bottle stoppers and bottle openers.  

7. Where can we learn more about you? 

To lean more about SwitchWood and to see our product line visit www.switchwood.com  also check out my artist website www.drewstormgraham.com

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

I've always loved making things. The first piece of jewelry I made was a pair of earrings for a friend's birthday in first grade. I grew up in a crafty household, learned traditional crafts in 4-H club, and went to school for Jewelry and Metalsmithing. Now, I make jewelry out of my basement studio.

2.What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?

What makes my work unique is in the tiny details. I rarely use any pre-fabricated components, so I can say each piece is 100% handmade. I combine many processes, such as casting and lapidary, and use new and found objects to make jewelry that I want to wear. I think everyone has a personal making style and even if the artist can't see it, others do.

3. What or Who Inspires you?

I really love making jewelry from materials that already have a story. I’m constantly looking for small, forgotten objects that have come from the ground. Rocks, crystals, old pottery and silverware are a few of my favorite found objects.

4.What is your creative process like?

My process changes depending on the project I’m working on, or what I feel like making that day. I usually come up with ideas at very inconvenient times, so I write them down on scraps of paper until I can draw the idea in my sketchbook. I have pages of designs to reference when I get stuck. Sometimes I work very technically, drawing and measuring out a piece I have in mind. Other times, I dig through my stones and ceramic fragments to find a piece that inspires me, then I design jewelry around that.

5.What is the coolest artistic tip you have ever received?

“Pretend to be making something until you actually make something.”

From Austin Kleon's book : Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative

6. What can we expect to see from you at Jackalope?

I have been designing a new jewelry collection for this summer that I will be showcasing at Jackalope this July. The new line is inspired by my collection of antique drawer pulls, broken china and semi precious stones. Some of my favorite pieces include antique china rings and with sparkly agate pendant necklaces.

 7. Where can we learn more about you?

You can view my work at: www.instagram.com/spelunkjewelry

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

I got my start designing women's attire and a few accessory items. I was involved with Fashion Denver, participating in many fashion shows and events, I sold my work through ETSY and several local Denver boutiques. Now after taking some time out of the game and re-focusing my collection I have realized that my love of leather & bags is strong enough to fuel its own exclusive line, and brazen was born. 

2. What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?

My pieces reflect an aesthetic of unusual beauty, by combining my own original embroidered artwork with the textures and patterns of luxury textiles, leather and fur. I am able to create not just another piece of fashion, but a piece of fashion that compliments its owner's own unique beauty and personality, inspiring one to indulge their own brazenness, boldly and without shame.

      3. What or Who Inspires you?

I grew up in a family of artists, and was exposed to all kinds of art from a very young age. From taxidermy to fashion design, my inspirations have a large range. What is a constant inspiration to me are things that are uniquely, sometimes even strangely beautiful. 

4. What is your creative process like?

Sometimes imagery sparks the process, other times it might be a beautiful piece of fabric or leather.  Either way, one thing brings ideas for the other. I love the contrast between light feminine details and the masculine weight of leather hides, so balancing those two is always the most exciting part for me. 

5. What is the coolest artistic tip you have ever received?

'What it means to the artist and what it means to the audience do not always have to be the same thing.'

6. What can we expect to see from you at Jackalope?

Beautiful combinations of luxury textiles, leather, fur, embroidered artwork, all wrapped up in gorgeous functional bags of all sizes, as well as smaller giftable items such as key chains, aprons, sleep masks, book marks and throw pillows.

7. Where can we learn more about you?

www.brazenthreads.com

1. What is TRIBE?

TRIBE is a creative collaboration between Rebecca Taylor (fashion designer) and Sarah Hidey (international development/nonprofit consultant) – launched in 2016 as a fashion social enterprise. 

History of Tribe (aka How TRIBE was breathed into life): We are two independent women who have worked and lived around the US and the world, and we strongly believe that women of all ethnicity and walks of life, wherever they live, should have the opportunity to thrive & to live abundant lives. Lives where they can have fulfilling employment that allows them to provide for their families through a living wage, learn new skills and be empowered to follow their passions and dreams. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, and even here in Denver, many women (such as refugees and women living in poverty) face extreme barriers to employment, a lack of skills and a lack of opportunities that are not exploitative and unsafe. With a commitment to empowering women, a love for fashion that is ethically produced, and inspired by the vibrant fabrics from around the world, TRIBE was born. TRIBE is fair trade.

2. How did you get your name? 

Where the name TRIBE came from: We truly believe that no matter where we are, as woman, we are part of a larger tribe of women who want the same things: purpose, love, to provide for our families, good health, to thrive and be inspired. And this inspires us to connect women around the world so that they can support each other. 

Here is a video from our launch in 2016: https://vimeo.com/176240438 

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

TRIBE was launched in 2016 – after about a year of dreaming and developing samples! Rebecca and Sarah were roommates in Denver for a year – and during that time Rebecca would often design and make beautiful dresses and skirts – and Sarah would be the lucky one who got to model them! During this time Rebecca had her own label, R. Lee, and she worked for a larger apparel company as a designer. (Note: visit our website for Sarah and Rebecca’s background – Rebecca has been a fashion designer for 12+ years and Sarah has worked in the nonprofit/international development sector for the same amount of time).

One day the dream was born – to merge Sarah’s expertise in social enterprise and international development and Rebecca’s creative talent and expertise in fashion design into a fashion line that is globally inspired (fabrics from around the world), locally designed (in Denver), and that has a greater purpose (to empower women through ethical employment in the US and in Cambodia).  Sarah had worked around the world and had boxes of beautiful fabrics from Africa and Asia. In 2015 and 2016, Rebecca began creating prototypes from these fabrics and TRIBE worked with local refugees and a local sewing studio employing women with barriers to employment to produce the initial samples. 

4. What makes your work unique and truly your own?

TRIBE is unique because of our approach to fashion and the story behind the clothing. Our solution to the exploitation and low wages prevalent in the global fashion industry is a fashion line that puts PEOPLE first, and not profit. It is a fashion line that is inspired BY women, purchased BY or FOR women and that benefits women globally.

Most fair trade women’s apparel fits in one of two categories (1) beautiful, modern and flattering styles that do not have a “global” element (i.e., they look like normal clothing but they happen to be fair trade—which is GREAT!), or (2) Apparel that is clearly “ethnic” and global in its aesthetics but that is not modern or stylish. (i.e., you will find a lot of this in typical fair-trade stores). 

TRIBE sits at the intersection of ethical employment, globally inspired fabrics and flattering design. We are unique because of the bold, colorful, global fabrics in the most flattering and stylish designs—great for professional settings as well as informal settings. 

5. What or Who Inspires you?

Above all else, we are inspired by the strong and passionate women we’ve had the opportunity to meet around the world. It is their hope, joy, culture, and beautiful/colorful fabrics they wear that are the inspiration for our line. We are truly GLOBALLY inspired. Every piece in our collection is inspired by a region of the world – at the Jackelope market you will see pieces from our Africa-Inspired collection as well as new releases from our Asia-inspired collection. 

We are also inspired by strong women, such as Maya Angelou (our first bag was called the Maya Make-up bag), all the men and women who are dedicating their lives to serving refugees and other vulnerable populations around the world, as well as female social entrepreneurs who are paving the way in ethical, sustainable fashion & accessories: such as the founders of Soko, Raven + Lily and Tonle. 

Sarah has had the privilege of working with amazing social innovators around the world who are using business means to accomplish a social mission --- and their stories inspire us both to use our business to promote PEOPLE and not PROFIT. 

6. What is your creative process like?

Rebecca is the designer, but both collections (Africa and the upcoming Asia one) are inspired by both Rebecca’s and Sarah’s travels and experiences. We keep a Pinterest board where inspiration is added on a regular basis. Rebecca often has the vision for the design, and together we find and source amazing fabrics that are bold and bright. 

In November 2016, Sarah and Rebecca traveled to Cambodia together to meet with nonprofit partners as well as to source fabric. One day as we were walking around Phnom Penh, seeing the temples and museums, we were struck by the beautiful red, gold and orange hues around us. We immediately began talking about a collection that had those colors at its core – we really felt that they embodied the beautiful culture we witnessed. Then, as we went to the markets to find fabrics – we used this inspiration to select fabrics from Indonesia and Cambodia. 

Rebecca is constantly experimenting with new designs and new products, such as bags. We are excited to release a new change purse at the Jackalope market! 

7. What can we expect to see from you at Jackalope?

You will see dresses and skirts from both our African-Wax print collection as well as new releases from our Asia Collection. Retail prices range from $98 to $150, but we will be offering some special sales for Jackalope! Stay tuned! We will have three bags: the Maya makeup bag, the Channery change purse and our new essential oil/lipstick bag. TRIBE partners with refugees in the United States and women who are survivors of trafficking in Cambodia to produce all of its apparel. Lastly, we have men’s and women’s t-shirts that are screenprinted by a local Denver nonprofit that employs homeless youth, Sox Place. 

10% of all sales will be donated to Children’s Future International – a Denver-based organization that provides education and child protection services to vulnerable children in rural Cambodia. 

8. Where can we learn more about you?

www.togetherwearetribe.com

Instagram: @togetherwearetribe

Facebook: www.facebook.com/togetherwearetribe

How would you describe your style?
My style can be labeled as a mix between contemporary and rustic with a minimalistic approach. The forms tend to be simplistic with a focus on functionality, where as the designs and alterations have a contemporary flare. The color palette of my glazes have a rustic tone with soft and subdued colors reminiscent of elements of nature like the ocean and the grains of sand from the beach. These colors are formed through my firing process and the types of Clay that I use. There are a lot of artists that I look up to whether the art is 3-D or 2-D doesn't matter. They range from painter Georgia Okeefe to potter Martha Grover to the Sculptures from Picasso but I don't try to incorporate their styles and influence into my work because their style is their own and my style is my own. 

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?
Every goal for an artist or maker is to have a signature style or creative stamp, mine comes through my carving on my pottery and through the forms I use for functional ware. Some of my forms aren't traditional but I have the users comfort in mind. Take for example a coffee mug, some of my mugs have a wavy lip Rim that make it more comfortable to use. If you don't believe me try it out ;)

What is your creative process like?
My process all focused around producing one form or style at one time. When I get an idea for a new piece I'll make 50-100 of that same item with little alterations to find the perfect most functional yet beautiful form. Then I'll continue to produce that altered item. Then all the greenware is put through a bisque firing, then the pieces are glazes with a homemade glaze recipe, then fired to 2300 degrees in a reduction gas kiln. 

Where can you learn more about me?
You can visit me at work at my studio in Evergreen, CO or you can visit my website. I post constant shop updates on Instagram as well. 
http://www.lessismoreceramicdesign.com
Instagram: lessismoreceramicdesign

How would you describe your style? 
I would describe my style and bohemian, vibrant, and worldly. I gather inspiration from so many different sources, such as nature, other cultures, and architecture. I have a very real respect for any artists who can create products with a minimal style; my brain just doesn’t seem to work that way.

Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?
Some of my favorite artists and designers are: Justina Blakeney (interior designer), Leela Hoehn Robinson of Native Bear (artist and illustrator), Lisa Congdon (artist and illustrator), and Emily Louise Howard of The Diggingest Girl (printmaker).  They each have their own totally different vibe going on, but I am always inspired by the work they create.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 
It actually took me a long time to figure out what my style even was. I knew I loved nature and geometric patterns, but it was a long process to figure out how to combine the two. I think it can be really difficult to stand out and create unique work with all of the social media around us. But I have learned how to gather inspiration from all different places, and mix it up just right in my head, like a recipe that has been perfected over the years.

One of the best compliments I’ve received was, “You have such a distinctive style.” Even if that style is not for everyone, I felt great that my work was becoming recognizable. I was so worried starting out, because I create art prints, posters, greeting cards, towels, aprons, pillows, and more, that it was not cohesive. But the first big art fair I did a few years back, I set up my tent and products, and somehow all of my color choices and patterns all translated into a collection. 

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
My biggest source of inspiration is nature. I seek it out whenever I possibly can, and I am forever amazed by the tiny, intricate parts of each plant. Everything is organized just the way it should be, and it grows and blooms in such a beautiful, organic but also geometric, way. I am also hugely inspired by the cultures of the world, both ancient and modern. I think each one is fascinating in a different way, and I always like to imagine what it would be like to live there/then. To have my daily walk to work be surrounded by vibrant, patterned tiles, or to worship each week in a church filled with artwork from centuries ago. There is so much history in the smallest textile or painting, whether it was created hundreds of years ago, or yesterday. 

When do you feel the most creative?
I definitely feel most creative in the morning, and when the sun is shining. I have so much more energy when it is the start of a brand new day, and I love how the light makes my studio look. I try to get as much done before noon as possible, which is when I start to slow down and get hungry! Summer is my most productive season.

What is your creative process like?
I generally start with a picture, whether from a book or from something online. I am careful to never copy anything, even if it was made thousands of years ago, but I love to have a starting point and some inspiration. I have never been good at doing things freehand (although maybe if I practiced I might get better :) ), so I always sketch everything out before I start painting or carving. From there, I will start painting the different parts of a piece, or start carving a new block to use on textiles. There is, more often than not, more than one attempt, especially if I don’t have a completely concrete idea in my head of what I’d like the finished product to be. But I typically am able to get it down after a couple tries. If I am working on a painting, I will usually print out some photos that I took as inspiration, and have them nearby.

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
Don’t give in to trends. It’s something I have struggled with since I was a kid, wanting to do what everyone else was doing. I got away from that as far as my own personal style goes, but it’s still occasionally in the back of my head when I am creating. It seems, for me, to be an easy way out if I am lacking inspiration, to tell myself, “This is what is popular right now, and people might not be interested if you don’t make something like that!” But I try to remind myself that trends will die out in a year or two, and I need to be creating what is in my brain, not what is popular at the moment. 

Where can we learn more about you?  
I try to share almost every day on Instagram, and while it definitely is styled, I always try to share pieces of my process and inspiration, or videos of me working. And, of course, the occasional picture of my adorable dog :)

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

I started making intricate handmade jewelry back in 2010 with natural semi precious stones. I was currently living in my birth city of Miami, FL and participated in lots of shows just like Jackalope! Roll around Halloween 2012, and each vendor was required to provide candy for the show patrons, so I decided to make hard candy lollipops with orange and black sugar crystals, candy corn and licorice. Everyone loved them and paid no attention to my jewelry. By the end of the show, I knew what I needed to do. I decided to quit the jewelry and transfer my interest to candy making. The rest is history!

2. What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?

There is really nothing else on the market like our lollipops. Dozens upon dozens of people worldwide have attempted to replicate them with little success. I guess imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery! It is only one of the things in our business that lets us know that we are doing something right. Imitators need to realize that they may be able to try and replicate our existing designs, but you cannot take our creativity and ability to stay one step ahead with new designs coming out every few days, and hard candy techniques that have never been seen in the candy industry. I am constantly brainstorming new ideas that are both classic and trendy to cater to every event theme and taste. 

We make sure to cover all aspects of our product. We not only focus on how they look (which is usually the first thing customers notice) but also make sure to offer delicious flavors that everyone enjoys. We also cater to all price points, our lollipops range from $1.50-$5.50 each, depending on how intricate and customized your candies are. 

3. What or Who Inspires you?

Honestly, everything inspires me. I feed off color, angles, sparkle, photography, even the hundreds of green tonalities inside a tree leaf. 

I also receive lots of ideas from customers, they tell me what they are working with (colors, party themes, etc.) and I can come up with something to fit their celebration. Wedding trends and color palettes also inspire me, I am constantly reading wedding magazines, instagram wedding posts, wedding dresses, party blogs. I also love to work with whimsical themes such as unicorns, fairies, and mermaids. I was definitely not a girly girl as a child, and now I love working with pretty colors and of course, sparkle!

4. What is your creative process like?

It all starts with a conversation. Either with myself, or with a customer. 

If it is a new design that I am coming up by myself, I immediately write it down. This usually happens RIGHT BEFORE I fall asleep. My mind seems to go wild! Ideas just start flooding my head. If the idea is really good, I wake up thinking about it. I go to our shop and immediately make it a reality. 

If it is a design for a customer, I discuss ideas with them, or send them links of designs that we already have that fit their theme. Otherwise, I design an edible image for them to approve before production or draw up a sparkle lollipop design for them to provide a better idea of what we would be creating for them. 

5. What can we expect to see from you at Jackalope?

Lots of sparkle, delicious flavors, Nutella filled lollies, sweet and salty varieties, unicorns, gorgeous colors!

6. Where can we learn more about you?

We are so proud of our website, we have worked so hard in having all the information necessary to understand our product, who we are, how we started, and what we offer. 

Our website is www.sweetcarolineconfections.com

We also have our Etsy shop which is www.sweetcarolineconfect.etsy.com

Can't wait to see you all at Jackalope! 

How would you describe your style? 
I would describe my style as bold and exciting. I tried to make my yarn unique but easy to use with great patterns that lend themselves to bright, bold, colors.

Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?
My yarn would be perfect to use in any design by my favorite knitwear designer, Stephen West. His designs are fun and funky and scream for yarn in the same style.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?
My yarn and fiber is unique in the fact that my color's are well saturated, bright, and work well with each other. They lend themselves to mixing and matching to create vibrant finished products.

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
I draw a lot of my inspiration from the depths of my odd mind. I'll often just think of a color that I'd like to use in my own projects and once I get to the dye pots to create it, that one color will snowball into a series of color's.

The names of the colorways usually spring up while I'm dyeing. Something about the color will spark on odd thought and that becomes the colorway name.

For example, my black and pink yarn is named Flamingo Assassin because it made me think of a flamingo in ninja pajamas. The thought of a silly pink bird with super skinny legs trying to hold nun-chucks was pretty much the best.

When do you feel the most creative?
I always feel the most creative when I know I want to create something new but I just don't have an idea yet. I'll stare at all of my dye and a color will jump out at me and that gets the ideas rolling.

What is your creative process like?
My creative process is all over the board. Sometimes I come up with a theme for my color's first, other times I come up with the colors, and on occasion I come up with a color name well before I dye anything to go with it. I'll have color's in my brain for months before I dye them or for only a few minutes because I can't keep them in anymore. I fully believe that creativity can't always be structured so I just follow whatever scattered path it takes me.

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
The best tip I've received is to relax and trust yourself. If your art is stressful to a point you don't enjoy doing it, then it's not worth doing.

If you're into something that's not working and you don't like it, take a step back and really analyze why. Sometimes after stepping away for a bit you can figure out if it's the process or the product you're unhappy with and then you can correct the issue and get back on the right track.

Tell us about some of the custom options that you offer:
- I love helping people pick out the perfect yarn for their project. If you know you'd like to make a pair of socks or a sweater but don't know where to get started, that's where I shine! I can point you in the right direction for patterns that would work great with my yarn and help you pick out the yarn and get you the right amount to complete your project.

Same goes if you don't knit or crochet yourself but want to get yarn as a gift for someone who does. I'd love to help you pick out the best yarn that would make your present the favorite!

Three of my most popular colorways: (from left to right) Flamingo Assassin, Unicorn Tail, and Sea Turtle

Where can we learn more about you? 
The best place to follow me is Instagram. I'm @knitstitchyarn on there. You can also check out my items at www.knitstitchyarn.etsy.com