Crafty Bastards Vendor Q&A with My Imaginary Boyfriend
My Imaginary Boyfriend is equal parts felt, cotton, and embroidery with a few dashes of silly, vintage, and sophistication thrown in for good measure. All items are made by Erika Kern with a focus on hand embroidery, painting, and appliqué.
Stop by booth #73 this Sunday to get your hands on Erika’s fabulous creations. Keep reading for Erika’s answers to our vendor questions.
1. How long have you been making things?
Honestly. . . for as long as I can remember. . . my mom and grandpa were both super handy and crafty so they always had me doing things.
2. What is your earliest/favorite crafting memory?
Dumpster diving with my grandpa and then making things out of what we found there.
3. Why do you make things?
I think, because I’ve been doing it for so long, it’s just a part of me now. . . my making things is an integral part of who I am. . . I could never imagine NOT making things. . .
4. What sort of things do you make?
Well. . . through my imaginary boyfriend I make bags and pillows, I also make more art based pieces and some custom portrait work using appliqué and embroidery. . . and then there are the silly things like the felt rocks and the felt broaches. . .
5. Any success stories you’d care to share?
Nothing big. . . every show I get in feels like a success. . . every sale. . . still, at my first show ever Debbie Stoller came up to me and said I should write a book showing how I do what I do. . . that was pretty cool. . .
6. Inspirations?
My mom, vintage teen and fashion magazines, French craft magazines, antique stores, mid-century design, pop music (especially that of the indie variety), Brooklyn (I miss it so much!)
7. Craft supplies you can’t live without?
Needles, embroidery floss, fabric paint, felt!
8. Describe your work area.
Photos might be too depressing, but if you want them. . . here are a few. . . I live and work in my childhood bedroom in Bakersfield California. . . moved back so I could really get my business going and now I do everything in a 10 by 10 room that’s stuffed with an apartment sized amount of stuff.
9. Family? Pets? Plants?
Dog, Viola, a pitbull/boxer mix who 65 pounds of pure cuddling!
10. Favorite color or pattern?
I’m positively obsessed with the color green and anything with a woodgrain print.
11. Have you been a Crafty Bastard before?
Nope, first time! Thanks for having me!
12. Tell us about other crafters you love and your favorite handmade purchases.
Well, before I moved home I was a member of the New York City Craft Mafia and I love all those girls and everything they do. There are so many folks I love the list would be soooo long! A short list would include Jenny Hart, Jen Perkins, Alyssa Ettinger, Dana of Damned Dollies, Caitlin of Rebound Designs. . . My most recent most favorite purchase was one of Alyssa Ettinger’s knitware vases.
13. What is one thing everyone should know how to do themselves?
Sew on a button.
