2008 Crafty Bastards Vendor Spotlight: The Devil Made Me Do It

In the week leading up to last month’s Crafty Bastards Festival, we began posting a series of interviews of crafters who were going to be there. Unfortunately, in all the hustle & bustle we were unable to publish them all. This continues the Q&A’s that we weren’t able to get to!

The devil was of ahead his times when he made Tamara Embrey start her own line of upcycled sweaters and and knit caps. The Devil Made Me Do It builds on Embrey’s determination as a teenager to make the clothes she wasn’t seeing on store racks. Her designs showcase her eye for both elegant designs and jagged-edge sensibilities, all rooted in her concern for the environment. Visit The Devil Made Me Do It online and drape yourself in Embrey’s lovely designs.

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

Whimsical, Elegant, Punk-Rock

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?

Well, I’m making like crazy, of course. I am trying to make a few summer-weight items, because so many people have asked for them. But my true love is wool, so I’m still doing that too. I want to get some men’s shirts done because I think guys ought to have something interesting to wear other than a t-shirt.

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

My craft is fairly widespread, but re-cycling, or up-cycling, clothing is really FINALLY coming into its own. More and more people are doing it, and doing it well. And more and more boutiques are carrying it, and celebrities are wearing it. In the last few years, I’ve really noticed an upsurge in respect for this kind of work, especially in Europe and on the West Coast. What makes my stuff different is, I guess, my design eye. That’s unique to everyone, I suppose. All those years of living in New York City and looking at art and fashion every day definitely seeped into my bones.

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?

After I did it. I never thought about it like, Hey, I think I’ll open an indie shop. I have been making things for a very long time for myself. At some point I decided to make things for other people and to try to sell them. People liked my stuff and were willing to pay for it. That allowed me to keep making more stuff. Pretty soon that was what I was doing full time. Oh yeah, it’s always a lot of hard work. But it’s work I love doing, so…

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

Value Village. All thrift stores, really, but Value Village is my current fav.

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?

I am definitely all about the grassroots, one-of-a-kind, handmade, recycled AND environmentally/socially conscious aspect of Crafting, both as a maker and a buyer. One of the reasons I decided not to go to fashion school was because I HATE the whole consumer culture machine that pumps out (insert adjective or expletive here), tells people they aren’t already fabulous and so absolutely MUST buy some certain (usually banal) thing, and ruins the environment in the process. I didn’t want any part of that. At the same time I recognize the pleasure beautiful things give people. That’s where the handmade and the artistry come in, and why I work exclusively with recycled materials. My idea is: fewer things, better things.

7. After seeing your work, may would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Could you provide any simple how-to’s or tips for readers who want to get started on their own designs?

I do have a little advice about trying to sell your work, though: Pay yourself. Don’t undervalue your time (In other words: Put a decent price on your work). You’re not competing with Walmart (you can’t, so don’t try); you’re making Crafts with your hands. Really think about how much work you put into a piece, taking into consideration all the practice of your craft and promotion and research and all that you do to really make your work fine. Then don’t be afraid to charge people for that. That’s the only way to truly revolutionize the way people shop and spend and think. And chances are that if you haven’t learned to value what you’re doing yet, the public won’t either.

Tags: knit caps, sweaters, the devil made me do it

This entry was posted on Friday, July 18th, 2008 at 2:22 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.