Find St. Louis Craft Mafia made goods at these local events this holiday season:

Rock n Roll Craft Show                                              Nov. 25 – 27    

Artropy                                                                       Dec. 3                

Contemporary Art Museum Etsy Sale                  Dec. 8   

And in other crafty holiday fun news, we would like to invite all St. Louis CRAFTERS & MAKERS to the first ever community Craftogether on Friday Dec. 16 from 5:30pm to 9:00pm at the Regional Arts Commissions.  It’s an evening of crafting with our fellow local makers while raising some money for a worthy cause, Tenth Life Stray Cat Rescue. Find additional information by visiting Craftogether. 

We wish you a warm, bright, and safe holiday season!

The St. Louis Craft Mafia

The dust has settled, the votes have been cast, and we finally know the results of the 2011 St. Louis Craft Mafia Membership Drive.  We would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who applied to join our membership this year. We had the largest number of applicants in the history of the organization, which made for some really tough choices for the few openings we had available. We were really very impressed by the quality of the many talented people interested in joining our group.   We wish we could accept everyone.

We would like to formally welcome eight SUPER AWESOME and talented crafters into our St. Louis Craft Mafia family!

Ansell Arts

Belle Journée

Bubble Lab 

bunnyXproductions 

Cristin Rae Knitwear & Paper Goods

Ghost Cat Studios

Scarlett and Maria

Zenbot Design

Thank you again to everyone who applied and we look forward to seeing all of you around the St. Louis Handmade Scene!

Where did your brand name come from?
I love puns and word play, and of course it’s always fun to substitute “Kat” in any word with “cat” in it – Katastrophe, Kataclysm, etc. “Katatomic” is the opposite of “catatonic” – there’s no way my stuff will put anyone in a stupor. It’s my aesthetic, with an energy pop.

What prompted you to craft professionally?
I’d just discovered needlefelting, and I felt like I’d found my “thing.” It took some serious encouragement from my BFF to go “next level,” but I decided to enter the craft scene with a focus on making felt stuff, because I really didn’t see too much of it out there. I wanted a challenge, and wanted to see if I could make a name for myself making really cute stuff. I had no idea how seriously I would take it. I still don’t know, actually, but let’s face it: It’s all about the Benjamins. Or in my case, the Washingtons and Lincolns.

Describe your design philosophy in three words:
Squee-inducing cuteness.

What is the one tool you would buy if you had an unlimited budget?
A fancy Bernina sewing machine, although I’d probably be too intimidated by it to take it out of the box. Le sigh.

What is your favorite motif or theme currently?
The quatrefoil! I love it so much it hurts me at my core. So classic, yet modern and fresh. Pretty much the opposite of what I make, so it’s a nice change of pace.

What do you think sets crafting apart from other forms of artistic or professional endeavors?
I think about this often, actually. I really dislike the perceived notion that crafters are the junior cousins of artists, like our work isn’t as important or relevant. Crafting just is what it is – it’s not necessarily open to interpretation, like fine art can be, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t fantastic design elements or craftsmanship involved. I don’t necessarily feel like crafters are trying to make a statement, per se – here’s a wallet, here’s a plush animal, here’s a hair accessory. But so many things that crafters make – at least the crafters I know – are beautiful, clever, well-designed pieces that just happen to have, perhaps, a more practical place in the world (of course, in arguing with myself as I am wont to do, I’d argue that fine art has a practical place in the world. This is where I just sorta give up the explanations and definitions and labels, and pick up a needle and thread, because I am really not sure that I actually answered this question.)

Oddest injury you’ve ever received while crafting?
Like a lot of people who sew, I have a habit of putting pins and needles in my mouth to hold while I’m doing something else. On more than one occasion, I’ve managed to thread a taste bud through the head of a needle and get it stuck there. I don’t know how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, but I can tell you that a taste bud threaded through the eye of a needle is an angry taste bud. Ow.

And finally, what advice do you have for anyone just starting out?
Ask questions, seek help when you need it, trust your gut, and just freakin’ go for it. Make something because you love to make it, and you’ll be happy.

Interview by: Beqi Brinkhorst

Hand made holiday decor can welcome guests with a warm greeting. Cutting your own stencil allows you to quickly make more than one, choose your own font, or look like a pro even though your lettering skills are questionable. Carrie Hawkins of Souvenirs From Wonderland shares her inside secrets here:

Items needed:
- permanent marker with thin tip
- piece of glass, edges taped with duct tape
- stencil blank
- stencil cutter (sometimes called stencil burner, Plaid makes one)
- exacto knife
- tape
- stencil brush
- acrylic paint
- cloth or rag

1. draw or print design (if the letters are too thin, you can draw around them with a marker to plump them up)

2. trace design onto stencil material with marker

3. for letters or designs with a shape within a shape such as letter “A”, make a bridge in one part of the letter, you can fill it in with paint later if you want

4. heat stencil cutter

5. place stencil on glass and use cutter tip to “cut” out your design, the burner tip melts the plastic and you drag the tip as the material melts, pulling toward your body is easier, turn the stencil as you go

6. use the exacto knife to cut away any melted plastic that sticks to the edges of your cuts

7. when stencil is cut, practice on scrap paper first

8. dab the stencil brush into paint and remove some on a cloth or piece of paper to avoid too much paint that will bleed under your stencil, pounce with stencil brush to paint your letters

9. for added depth, apply a second darker color in select spots over the first, then blend with a soft brush

10. remove stencil immediately and wipe away any bleeds

11. fill in gaps from stencil bridges, if desired

Where did your brand name come from?
I was knitting at a family picnic, and my great-uncle walked over and said to me, “Stick to your knittin’ kitten. That’s what we used to tell the ladies.” He meant that they said it to women when they wanted them to mind their own business and stick to “womanly” things. I thought the saying itself was cute (ignoring the connotations), and I liked turning it into something empowering by using it as the name of a woman-owned business.

What prompted you to craft professionally?
I’ve always made things, and my grandma sold things she made at craft shows for many years, so I was somewhat familiar with that. When I started knitting I became a bit obsessed and started making so many things that I had no idea what I was going to do with all of them. So I decided to start selling what I made.

Describe your design philosophy in 3 words.
Function, form, color

What is the one tool you would buy if you had an unlimited budget?
A Fricke S-160-DT double treadle spinning wheel

What is your favorite motif or theme currently?
I don’t currently have a specific favorite theme, but I have been making a lot of things from my own self-striping handspun yarn, so lots of my recent items have been striped.

What do you think sets crafting apart from other forms of artistic or professional endeavors?
I think that crafting is a way to make something that is both functional and artistic. I also think that the craft community is very supportive.

Oddest injury you’ve ever received while crafting?
Amazingly, considering how clumsy I can be, I can’t think of any odd crafting injuries I’ve received. I’ve had the typical glue gun burns and sewing needle stabbings. But luckily I’ve never stabbed myself with a knitting needle!

And finally, What advice do you have for anyone just starting out?
Do research on shows. If you can, go to a show before vending in it or talk to other crafters to get the scoop on the show. That helps you avoid doing shows that aren’t really right for your products or that don’t have good attendance.

• Felted Wool Scraps (old sweaters)
• Fabric Glue
• Scissors
• Safety Pin or Pin back
• Needle/Thread

If you need to yarn to glue to your art project, then it probably doesn’t matter what you use, but if you want to make a useful, functional item then your fiber experience will benefit from knowing a little bit about the wondrous world of yarn. Yarn comes in different fibers, different weights and different textures. I’m just going to focus on types of fibers for this post.

Yarn can be broadly broken in to 3 different categories—protein fibers, cellulose fibers and synthetic fibers.

Protein Fibers
Wool, alpaca, silk (which can also be considered cellulose), cashmere and mohair.

Cellulose fibers
Cotton, hemp, linen and bamboo.

Synthetic fibers
Acrylic, nylon, polyamide and a wide variety of other blends.

There is another category of yarns synthesized from organic materials that sort of defies categorization. For the most part. these yarns are made from unusual “fibers” like seaweed, milk, corn or bamboo.

Choosing Fiber

Things to consider: What are you making? What purpose will your project serve? Who will wear it?

Wool
The best all-around fiber, in my not unbiased opinion is wool. Wool gets a bad rap as being itchy and hard to care for, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Old-school wool can be scratchy, but the popularization of fine-wool breeds such as merino has given us crafters yarn options that are buttery, next-to-skin soft—a far cry from what our fore-crafters may have used. Wool can also be treated with a process called superwash that dissolves or glues the wool scales down so it won’t felt if you run it through the washer, with the bonus side-effect of making the wool wonderfully soft. Plus, wool is fantastic for garments that need body, stretch, warmth and breathability. It can hold several times its weight in water and keeps you warm even if your woolens are wet. Basically, wool is magic.

Alpaca/Silk
But maybe you have a different need in mind? If you need a lightweight shawl with good drape, but need to keep warm? Try alpaca or silk. It doesn’t have the memory of wool, but both fibers will keep you super warm while giving your garments and accessories some needed lightness.

Cotton (unmercerized)
Maybe your crafting needs are more practical. Maybe you need some knitted dishcloths, or burp cloths? Nothing beats plain old unmercerized cotton. Buy it cheap at your local big box craft store. Upscale that same dishcloth for face use and knit it in a linen from your local yarn store (LYS) and pair it with a bar of artisan soap for a nice hostess gift.

Acrylic
So where does acrylic come in? Acrylic has come a long way since the 1970’s scratchy indestructible stuff it used to be. Oh sure, you can still find that nasty stuff in the back aisles of the store, but save those yarns to make pet squares for your local animal shelter or for yarn-bombing your local craft show. Modern acrylic is much softer and has, for the most part, lost that tell-tale squeak of man-made yarns. Technology has made acrylics and other man-made fibers much softer, more breathable and, when blended with wool, more resilient.

Unusual Fibers
Speaking of technology, have you tried corn, milk, bamboo, seacell or tencel? All of these viscose-type fibers have beautiful sheen and take color in beautiful ways. They are perfect for a luxurious scarf.

Written by: Rachel Kluesner

Who or what was your biggest influence?
I grew up in rural Tennessee and was introduced to gardening at a very young age. I think I’ve always been somewhat obsessed with all things botanical and bringing those images into the home via screen printing and sewing is a perfect expression of my love for nature.

How long have you been crafting?
I’ve officially been selling my crafts via Etsy and local craft shows since the summer/fall of 2010.
I’m always working on new designs! Currently I’m working on some new fall/holiday themed designs.

How did you get started?
My mom taught me how to sew in high school; the first thing I sewed was a summer dress out of muslin. I still have it! Several years ago I gave my fiancé screen printing lessons at Tom Hucks Evil Prints Studio for his birthday. He taught me the basics and I immediately became obsessed with the process and the limitless options screen printing has to offer. I originally only made pillows; I then added the tea towels, then the cards, baby clothes, napkins… Now I am constantly thinking of new things I could make.

How long have you been with the St. Louis Craft Mafia?
I became a member of the St. Louis Craft Mafia last fall.

What music do you listen to when you are crafting?
The Decemberists, The New Pornographers, Pretenders, Cornershop, Feist, Sufjan Stevens, Flaming Lips, and when I’m struggling with something or having a rough go with the sewing machine I’ll put on the Where the Wild Things Are Soundtrack. It’s my go to happy music.

How important do you think blogging, Facebook and Twitter are in today’s craft market?
Since I’m relatively new to the Craft scene it’s hard for me to judge the importance of social media. I recently made a twitter account which I’m still a little confused by, #twitter? What does that even mean? As for Facebook, I do think it’s a great way to keep your friends and clients up to date on what shows you’ll be at and it’s a great way to offer sneak peeks at new products that you are making. I do find the Facebook page to be rather limiting in some ways – hopefully they are working on fixing those issues. Blogging I have yet to venture into, I still need to make my own website!

Do you prefer to work with paper or fabric?
I love both paper and fabric; they both have their pluses and minuses when it comes to printing. With paper I can get very precise detail that is unachievable with fabric. But fabric has limitless options as to the final product which is extremely exciting to me.

What is your favorite local craft show?
It’s hard to pick one! As a vendor my favorite show so far has been Indie Craft Revolution, as a shopper it’s a toss up between Schlafly’s Art Outside and Strange Folk Festival.

Interview by: Jane Linders