Richmond Thread Lab :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature

Business Name: Richmond Thread Lab

Owner:  Christie Thompson

Website: www.richmondthreadlab.com

What is the best handmade gift you've received?

My brother made me laser cut tags when I first started my business and it's become a big part of my brand now. I have them made locally at BIG SECRET in Jackson Ward now, but that first gift was exciting, inspirational, and so thoughtful. 

What is your newest crafty creation?  Is there specific item you'd like to feature for the show?  

My line started with women's accessories but the more I dabble in men's wear the more I love it. My hand crafted neckties have become my most popular item and I will be featuring a number of them in lush wool textures and a few in limited quantity vintage materials as well. 

Is there a story behind your shop name? 

Well my shop name just recently changed, so there's actually quite a long story involved. The line was previously named Fibre Craft and for a number of reasons, I needed a change. Richmond Thread Lab is the embodiment of what I hope to achieve through my line: it's about harnessing the creative energy and inspiration of Richmond through hand crafted experimentation. I have plans for collaborations with local people and businesses as well as dreams to someday create a space for artisans and makers to share resources and learn from one another.  

Describe your studio.

My studio is full of natural light, usually a sleeping (or meowing) cat, a wall made of rocks, and a lot of carefully organized fabric. I love to create while listening to my favorite RadioLab episodes or some awesome dance music. 

What is your favorite thing about the Holidays?

The food.. and the sparkle! I love dressing up and sharing luscious meals with friends and family. You can't beat that Dolly Parton Christmas album either.. 

What are your influences?

My influences are found in the unusual use of texture, color, fabric or anything in between. My line started by recreating fabrics into something new and while I source newer fabrics more often now, I still find myself trying to use materials in ways you don't usually come across. I also find much inspiration in vintage style where quality organic and natural fibers were really valued, even in accessories.

Sponsor Spotlight: World of Mirth

World of Mirth is one of our absolute favorite stores in town, and as soon as you walk in the doors you're sure to agree. Founded in 1993, it's a staple of Carytown shopping, and while it appeals to both kids and grown-ups, it's all kid friendly.

We absolutely love that the store is cultivated to have funky little things that are hard to find, while still having big brands you know and love. It's one of the best places in town to buy a gift, regardless of the age of the recipient. So go and check it out - there's a reason people describe it as "a place where Dr. Seuss meets Pee Wee’s Playhouse."

Sponsor Spotlight: Yelp!

We are super excited to introduce you to another sponsor: Yelp! Chances are you've already heard of (and used, right?!) Yelp to help you find great new restaurants and shops. Phil and I use it all the time when we're traveling so that we're not stuck eating Ye Same Olde Road Foode.

Since we know you're all cool enough to use Yelp (of course), but maybe you haven't found the right way to explain it to your sister yet, here ya go: Yelp is a website and mobile app that connects people to great local businesses – anything from restaurants, boutiques, and dog groomers to mechanics, hair salons, even dentists! The Yelp community is engaged locals who connect to share their opinions about local businesses. Yelp is free to use, it can guide you to that hidden gem you never knew about, and you can share your experiences through your own reviews as well. Yelp is teaming up with the RCM and the Handmade Holiday show to give you, our lovely shoppers, F-R-E-E gift wrapping, starting at noon. Just use your phone and Yelp to check in to the show (the event is called "Yelp Wraps @ Handmade Holiday") when you get there tomorrow, and they will gussy up all those fantastic presents you're scoring. And you know, if one of those happens to be for yourself, we're not gonna tell. So Merry Holidays, y'all. I can't WAIT for tomorrow.

Terrariums by Rich :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature

Business Name:  Terrariums by Rich
Owner:  Rich Perrello
Website: http://flavors.me/terrariumrich#_

What is the best handmade gift you've received? 
My parents often made our clothes and gifts. A  wooden scooter to ride around the neighborhood, made by my father. It had metal handles made out of old pipe fittings (dad was a plumber). It was easy to steer and even had a foot controlled break my dad rigged up somehow. I rode it all around the neighborhood for about a year until it finally gave out.

What is your newest crafty creation? 
I have been working on my Christmas terrariums and miniature dioramas. I call them “living ornaments”. After rigorous experimenting I have came up with a living ornament that is light enough to hang on a tree. I have also reuse light bulbs and other materials to use as vessels .

Is there specific item you'd like to feature for the show? 
My living ornaments. They will make a lovely addition to any Christmas tree. 

Describe your studio. 
A disaster! Just kidding. My studio is actually my kitchen. I was getting difficult to work with, but with recent modifications I made with some lumber, tape measure and a saw, I was able to make it work. Terrariums can get messy. My best friend in my studio is the dustbuster vac. 

What is your favorite thing about the Holidays? 
Spending time with family and close friends. It is the only time of the year I see all of my 8 other siblings and my nieces and nephews.

 What are your influences?
My grandmother’s fondness of succulents and her amazing ability to make any plant grow in her city garden.  My mom’s constant dabbling into many different crafts when I was growing up, influenced me to try different hobbies. I have always been fascinated model railroad dioramas as a child. I like trains but was more intrigued by how the scenery and buildings were so small and real looking. As I have been creating more terrariums, my desire has led me in that direction, but with live plants. I also use miniatures in some of my terrariums to create a theme, making each terrarium tell its own story. My imagination and very high energy are also a strong influence.

Sprouthead :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature

Business Name:  Sprout Head

Owner: Aijung Kim
Website:  www.sprouthead.etsy.com

 

What is your newest crafty creation?  Is there specific item you'd like to feature for the show? One of the newest pieces is this linocut featured here, called "Ecdysis I." While at first it looks like a two-headed snake (and you can think of it that way if you like), I meant it to be a snake shedding its skin. I found out that the new skin grows in under the old, and when the snake is ready to shed its skin it is practically blind because it sheds its eyelids too. The snake is very vulnerable during this time. For me, it is a metaphor of renewal and of how difficult, but necessary, transition can be sometimes. The vines in the background also symbolize the process of growth, and they are a pinkish color because I associate that color with warmth and healing.

Is there a story behind your shop name? 

Basically I love plants and nature, and my ideas grow organically - I'm a Sprout Head!

Describe your studio.
My studio is also my bedroom, but I mostly use it for making stuff. I have two desks, and one is usually cluttered with stuff, and the other I try to keep more free so I can work. I have a bookshelf filled with art books and supplies. I have some prints and paintings on my wall, and a French memory board full of postcards and trinkets - I love small things. Soon, I plan to make an altar to hang on my wall - not a religious altar, but a little shelf and some artwork surrounding it to place objects of importance and intention. I want the coming year to be very focused, and I think the altar will remind me of my artistic goals as well as help me to stay balanced and positive.
What are your influences?
Lately I'm influenced a lot by color. I'm trying to experiment by adding more color into my linocut prints, and it feels like I'm just beginning! And of course I'm influenced by the calming beauty of nature - that is apparent in most of my artwork.

What is your favorite thing about the Holidays?
This is my most busy season in terms of making artwork and selling it, so it is exciting to bustle around making stuff and doing craft shows. It is also a stressful and emotional time, but this is the first year that  I have consciously tried to be kind to myself during this period, as opposed to pushing myself to the limits. I also love going to my hometown of Rochester, NY and visiting my family for a couple of weeks. I don't get to see them often, so I enjoy hanging out with them, lazing around the house, and eating good food.
What is the best handmade gift you've received?
Both of my sisters are creative people, so I've received lots of fun illustrated cards and poems from my younger sister, and elegant ceramic sculptures from my older sister. But I would say that the best spontaneous handmade gift I've received was when I was working in a cafe 8 years ago. I wasn't very happy with my job at the time. One day a high school age girl came in to the cafe to order a drink. I remarked that I liked the fabric pins she had safety-pinned to her tank top. She said her friend had made them. When she was about to leave the cafe, she said "Here" and handed me one of the pins that had a flower with a tiny heart on it and some machine embroidered patterns. She smiled and left the cafe. I was so surprised. It really made my day and everytime I look at it I am reminded her sweet act of kindness.

Tributary Handmade :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature

Business Name: Tributary Handmade
Owner: Beth Rice

Website:  www.tributary.etsy.com

 What is the best handmade gift you've received?  

A few years ago I saw in a craft book a tutorial for a stuffed whale.  I loved it and wanted to try to make it, but never got around to it.  My husband decided to make me the whale instead.  His version was so much better than what was in the book and I was so surprised!  The whale he made was the very first softie made by us.  The stuffed whale he gave me inspired me to start creating my own patterns and softies.  I still love that original whale plush!

  

What is your newest crafty creation?  Is there specific item you'd like to feature for the show?  
My newest creations are an updated version of my plush people.  I've been sewing more girl plushes and added fun things like suspenders and mustaches to the boy plushes.  

Describe your studio.  
I have a room dedicated in my home to my crafting which is wonderful because I have a ton of materials!  Right now because of the holidays,  it's a mess with felt pieces and fabric scraps and bobbins all over.  I'm looking forward to giving it a make over after the holidays and am planning out my ideal cutting counter to help make ironing and cutting easier.

What is your favorite thing about the Holidays? 
I love getting our Christmas tree, making ornaments, and decorating it!  It makes our home smell so wonderful!

What are your influences?  
I'm really inspired by nature, animals, bright colors, and fun fabric patterns.  I also really like looking at old vintage toys. 

Happy Felties :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature

Business Name:  Happy Felties

Owner:  Mary Dell

Website:  www.happyfelties.etsy.com

What is the best handmade gift you've received?My absolute BEST handmade gift was given to me by my mother back in the 2nd grade for Christmas. It was an "Art Box" filled with every kind of cool crafting goody possible - pipe cleaners, all types of papers, glues, glitters, pom poms, strings, Popsicle sticks, felt, fabric...the list goes on and on!! She basically gave me the gift of creativity. She has always fostered my creative quirky soul. Even when I was just learning to stand, she would tape paper on the walls and let me scribble to my heart's content!

What is your newest crafty creation?  Is there specific item you'd like to feature for the show?
One of my newest (and probably to date, most FAVORITE) creations is the Baby "Hot and Crispy" Bacon Rattle (wearing a striped tie! tee hee hee). I like to let my mind wander to silly places (and I was particularly hungry on this occasion) when I invented my bacon rattle. I felt my bacon should be somewhat "distinguished", so I decided he should wear and blue and yellow striped tie. Voila! Who doesn't like bacon?? And more importantly, who doesn't like a cute toothless baby gnawing on a tie-wearing bacon rattle? ;)

Is there a story behind your shop name? My shop name is short and sweet (kinda like me!). I wanted something catchy and that also captured the "feel" of my work. I have always been described as a "happy" person - heck, one of my nicknames is "Mary Sunshine" (which is kind of ironic, actually, because I'm not a morning person....hmmm). But once I've woken up, I'm quite perky and talkative and overall pleasant to be around. My art is a lot like that. And I work with felt. So there ya go - "Happy Felties!" =)

Describe your studio.
Quirky and kitschy. A have an old secretary desk that I scored at a thrift shop a few years back that had been painted pink and white and has pictures of women (from various artists) decoupaged all over it. It's where I store my felt and various odds and ends. My work desk is an old farmhouse table, and I sit (always indian style) in a retro metal/plastic yellow chair (like the kind of chair you would find in an old laundromat). My walls are decorated with various retro kitschy memorabilia and old needlepoints (once again found at thrift stores). OH, and OWLS, of course!! Lots of 'em (because I'm kinda obsessed...)

What is your favorite thing about the Holidays?CHOCOLATE. Holidays are always about chocolate. Seasonal chocolate candies (I always raid the Russel Stover's section at Walgreens for each holiday). Basically from Halloween to Easter, I have a shamefully large stockpile of chocolate (which I don't like to share, unless I really love you). And now that I have kids (3 boys and 1 "bun" in the oven due in June), I get to relive all of my fave holiday memories - including trick or treating, Santa, and dying Easter eggs! =D

What are your influences?I'm a HUGE kid at heart. Even when I'm old and decrepid, I still hope to be just as young at heart as I am now. Bright colors and patterns, children, animals, and food are my biggest influences. I like making happy things that make me smile and will make other people smile too. :-)

Holland Cox :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature

Business Name: Holland Cox
Owner: Valerie Williams
Website: www.hollandcox.com 

What is the best handmade gift you've received? 
hand knit shawl in gorgeous laceweight handspun yarn - a really pretty pale pink color!
 
What is your newest crafty creation?  Is there specific item you'd like
to feature for the show? 
My newest handbag is the hobo style, I'll be bringing a bunch of brand new ones to Richmond for sure, and my newest accessory is a cotton necktie for guys, which is really fun to make! I'll have lots of those as well.
 
Is there a story behind your shop name? 
 Holland Cox is my great-great-grandmother's name on my father's side. I love the way her name sounds, plus she was a sewer, and taught her daughter-in-law (my dad's grandmother) how to sew and helped her set up a sewing circle in their itty bitty North Carolina town (Winterville). I have some of the quilts they made!
 
Describe your studio. 
A mess! No really my studio is my dining room, and it is piled high with boxes full of fabric and notions, and the walls are covered with hooks with my patterns on it, and cork boards with fabric samples, vintage clothing patterns, postcards from the McQueen exhibit at he Met, and all kinds of other craziness. It's a madhouse.
 
What is your favorite thing about the Holidays? 
The holiday playlist on my iPod full of swing and big band music! So much fun to sing along to while I'm sewing!

Inedible Jewelry :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature

Business Name:  Inedible Jewelry

Owners:  Jessica & Susan Partain

Website:  http://www.inediblejewelry.com

What is your newest crafty creation?  Is there specific item you'd like to feature for the show? 

Our newest creation is the Star of David sugar cookie, for Hanukkah!  This year, Hanukkah starts the same day as the Handmade Holiday show, so you can do super-last-minute shopping for it!  We also whipped up a fun Bûche de Noël cake, for Christmas; it even has a wee "marzipan" mushroom on top!

Is there a story behind your shop name? 

Susan came up with our name, Inedible Jewelry.  We're a family that loves to play with words, and the name seemed a perfect description for our tiny food jewelry.  It's also fun to see folks who don't know our work wander past, then do a double-take on our name: isn't most jewelry inedible?  This play on words works especially well when we're selling at the Charlottesville City Market, which is primarily farmers and food vendors.

Describe your studio.

My (Jessica's) studio (where the majority of sculpting happens) is a cozy room with a huge tile-topped table for sculpting.  There are all kinds of real kitchen gadgets repurposed for clay work: a pasta machine for mixing clay colors; foil, toothpicks and other dental tools for textures; a lazy susan for storing pigments, handmade clay sprinkles, and other bits and pieces, and even a big awesome toaster oven for "firing" the finished pieces.

To the left of the table is a series of drawers holding extra clay, glitter, and random awesome things that mimic real foods in miniature.  Directly behind the table is a huge cabinet that serves as the pantry for works in progress.  The remainder of the space is assembly space for finished pieces, a shipping table, and the desk for doing all that other work that's not nearly as fun such as bookkeeping.  I try to spend as much time as possible at the fun sculpting table!

On the walls are fun prints that generally all have a food them, including some of my all time favorites by The Bees Knees, purchased at Craft Mafia shows in years past!

What is your favorite thing about the Holidays?

It's so hard to choose one thing!  Favorite things: hot apple cider, my mom's sugar cookies, watching people pick out fun handmade gifts and getting so excited to give them, getting to see my husband's family in Colombia (which means real mangos and passionfruit and sunshine in winter!).

What are your influences?

Food!  In all its forms, and especially if it's particularly colorful and fun, or has a great story behind it.  Susan and I love to brainstorm new ideas, read foodie blogs and magazines and get sucked into the pinterest vortex

Our most fun inspiration is our customers and fans, who are constantly coming up with great suggestions! There's nothing more fun for us than to spend a whole day at a show laughing with folks about food, and we can't wait for the Handmade Holiday show December 8!

Fun Fact:  These sisters were on the Martha Stewart Show! Wow!!

Tiny Peepers :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature

Business Name:  tiny peepers printed fabrics

Owner:  Kelly Smith-Tilly

Website:  www.tinypeepers.com

What is the best handmade gift you've received? 

The best handmade gift I’ve gotten in a really long time is a set of small, square wall-hangings with four different movie directors’ portraits on them: Wes, Woody, Jim and Francis. You can pick your own from a whole bunch of portraits and they make me smile just looking at them. (From Retrowhale on Etsy.)

Is there a story behind your shop name? 

 I named my biz after those cute little frogs, spring peepers. I love how such a tiny thing can make such a whopping sound.

Describe your studio. 

 My studio: it has table and four chairs, a stove, a fridge, a sink and some crumbs. It’s open 24 hours and often contains small children.

What is your favorite thing about the Holidays? 

Frazier Fir smells and my mom’s homemade Russian Rocks Christmas cookies.

What are your influences? 

I love things that are cleverly designed, clean and simple, and have a sense of humor. That translates to many things—furniture, art, gadgets, dwellings. Music is another big influence for me. I love to listen to music while I’m printing. I have a high tolerance for listening to the same thing over and over if it’s something I’m really digging at the moment. I also enjoy all things letterpress and the fabulous Hatch Show Print in Nashville, Tennessee.   

Turnerbots :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature

Business Name: Turnerbots

Owner:  Sarah Turner

Website:  www.turnerbots.com

What is the best handmade gift you've received?

My mentor and undergrad professor got me this awesome cup by one of my favorite potters that lives across the pond. His name is Walter Keeler and I fell in love with his work during a study abroad trip in college.  My professor had a friend of his find the cup for me while she was traveling in the UK. It's by far the most elaborate effort to purchase a gift for me and, additionally, it's a really awesome cup.

What is your newest crafty creation? Is there specific item you'd like to feature for the show? 

I've been wanting to make cups for a long time, but hadn't had a chance to get to it.  Well, the wait is over and I have a handful of new cups for this year's sale.  They feature drawing of lots of quirky bots affectionately gazing at one another or daydreaming about dinosaurs, kitties, and other lovely things of the sort.

What are your influences?

Full-bellied, cross-eyed drawings of creatures and the creatures themselves.  I also love fabric patterns and am starting to bring some of my favorites into my work.

Handmade Holiday this Saturday 11- 5 at Artworks!

Found Studio :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature

Business Name: Found Studio.  

Owner: Kacey Stafford

Website address: www.foundstudio.etsy.com

What is the best handmade gift you've received?  

A ceramic butterfly from my brother when he was in Middle School.  He knew I loved butterflies at the time and it was so sweet.  I still have it!

Is there specific item you'd like to feature for the show?

Mini paintings, 2 for $40 regular price $25 each!

Is there a story behind your shop name? 

I love "found" fabrics, papers, letters and I incorporate them into my pieces.

Describe your studio.  

A serious disaster.  Someone should call the health department on me.  Just kidding.  It's messy.  

What is your favorite thing about the Holidays?  

Lights! Glitter!  Also, family coming together and remembering what is important. 

Milk & Honey :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature

Business Name: Milk & Honey
Owner: Sarah Parker

Website address: milkandhoneyluxuries.com

What is the best handmade gift you've received?  

My wedding gown. My grandmother was a seamstress her entire career and she made it without a pattern, going entirely on my description of the perfect dress. 

What is your newest crafty creation? 

I just started a line of inspirational coffee spoons that I've been having a lot of fun with. They have simple little sayings such as "never never never give up" and are meant to be a way to start each day on a positive note.

Is there a story behind your shop name?

When I chose the name Milk & Honey, I was mainly attracted to the idea of the land of milk and honey (paradise, where people lack nothing), and also the thought that milk is something you "need" whereas honey is a pleasurable thing you "want". I see my products as ways to take things you need anyway, but create them in a way that is more special... put some honey in the milk so to speak. I've built my business on the idea that there are simple, attainable luxuries that everyone can enjoy if we give ourselves permission to. 

Describe your studio. 

Chaos! I have so many projects going at once! I have my desk area where I list items and do my shipping. Then there is a huge old naval butchers block where I do my metal stamping. I have my sewing area set up with a garment rack filled with different fabrics that catch my eye, and a makeshift photography studio by the window where the good natural light is. 

What is your favorite thing about the Holidays? 

Spending time with my family first and foremost. My children are still in that magical age which I know is fleeting, so I try to soak that up as much as I can. It is also such a delight for the senses, more than any other time of year. The smell of pine and cinnamon, the sounds of the songs. the decorations, the food. I love it all.

Blackbird Tees :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature

Business Name:  Blackbird Tees
Owners:  Jody Dyer & Karl Topee
Website:  www.blackbirdtees.com

What is the best handmade gift you've received?
Tiny art. Karl and I both love miniature things, and we've built up a collection of tiny paintings. We'd love to reach a point where we can buy larger scale original artwork, but until then, our collection of tiny does the trick.

What is your newest crafty creation?  Is there specific item you'd like to feature for the show?
We recently launched our line of zodiac scarves, and we're in the process of printing up a batch for the show. We'll also have some limited edition hoodies and women's pullovers.

Describe your studio.
It's a private studio near the Virginia Museum of Fine Art. We just moved back to VA from Seattle, WA, where our studio was 120 sq. ft. with concrete floors and fluorescent lights. This new space is wide open, with hardwood floors and lots of windows. We feel so lucky to have found it, and it's plenty of room to house all of our inventory and printing equipment.

What is your favorite thing about the Holidays?
Festive foods of all kinds, and in large amounts. We also love soft Christmas hits from the 60s and 70s.