2008 Crafty Bastards Vendor Spotlight: This Chickadee

Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

If This Chickadee’s goal is “to make the world a cuter place, one loving stitch at a time,” she’s doing a damn fine job. Rebecca Juliette’s work began as a way to find alternatives to mass market accoutrements for herself and her home. Lucky for us, she has since spread the love to brighten your little corner of the forest too.

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

sunny sunday afternoon

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

I’m going on vacation! It seemed like a great idea at the time…before sherry (dandelion blu) and I found out that we were accepted. Now I’m scrambling to get things done before departing since I won’t return until right before the show. But the deadline has been a great motivator!

Yes, new products and techniques! A recent run-in between my left index finger and the rotary cutter has resulted in a new, nine-fingered approach to sewing (and typing). The unfortunate accident happened while working on a new line of totes. But not to fear, they’ll make it to the market along with a few more designs set to make a debut.

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

Sure, there are many talented people out there who sew and make tote bags of all kinds as well as aprons and home decor items. My fabric combinations and original designs set This Chickadee creations apart from others. Plus, there is a lot of love in each stitch and the hope that someone out there will love them back.

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

The work has been rewarding from the very beginning. When it wasn’t my full-time enterprise, it was just about the only thing that I wanted to do with my free time. Now that This Chickadee has become a “business” and sewing has become “work”, things aren’t as carefree and flat out fun. But even with the challenges and frustrations, I’ve found that I still look forward to the next project and am always planning my next step. Honestly, there is nothing that I’d rather be doing.

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

There are fine fabric finds in a plethora of places, so I try to diversify. Small local quilting stores and larger ones like G Street are great because you can get up close and personal with the fabric before you buy. But the Internet offers so many options and a seemingly endless amount of choices. Sometimes it is just fun and inspiring to “window shop” online. Also, thrift stores are a great way to reclaim overlooked gems and return them to glory.

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

Of course. It is extremely exciting to be a part of the craft community, to see people embrace handmade over mass-produced.

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Will you have any DIY kits available for sale at Crafty this year? Could you provide any simple how-to’s or tips for readers who want to get started on their own designs?

No DIY kits this year, but I would love to be a resource for anyone who wants to get started. My mom and grandma taught me and have encouraged me every step of the way. They’ve given me an amazing gift and I fully intend to give back and to keep this tradition going. To all those who aspire, you know that saying “dance like there is no one watching”? Well, craft like no one cares. Be proud of what you make, especially in the beginning. It warms my heart to see someone wearing a scarf that they’ve knitted themselves, even if it is all slipped stitches and crooked rows. It isn’t about mechanical precision, it’s about the joy and accomplishment.

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 21st, 2008 at 1:58 pm and is filed under Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Fair, Crafty Bastards Vendors. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.