Shamdoogle

Studio Name: Shamdoogle
First Name: Alyssa
Nickname: Ginger

A little bit about you:

I'm 21, and an air pollution research scientist living in Brooklyn, NY, but I grew up in Olympia, WA. I fell in love with crafts projects at 4 or 5 years and began sewing and crocheting at 14. I love chemistry and have found the perfect blending of crafts, art and chemistry through pottery, hand dyed yarn and blue printing techniques. Shamdoogle began as a way for me to offer my advice on craft techniques and become involved in the crafting and handmade community. Also, I'd knit everyone I knew winter clothing.

Brief description of your studio:

Right now, I have several skeins of kettle dyed yarn for sale. However, I've swiped a few which were formerly featured on ArtFire to make gloves and hats that will be up for sale soon. I couldn't resist the colors and softness of the yarn.

Why do you do what you do?
I love creating things with my own two hands and I try to be as environmentally friendly as possible. I have a background in environmental science and green chemistry and I don't think art and craft should be exclusions to a sustainable life. Traditional crafters used earth products to develop handmade materials which, caused little harm to the land they survived on. I'd like to continue such a tradition, reducing my impact on the earth.

Word Association:

Encounter – First
Variant – Apple
Refer – Bibliography

Featured products:

GRAPEFRUIT - KETTLE DYED MERINO/SILK YARN


ALGAE - KETTLE DYED ALPACA WOOL YARN


Links (blog, Etsy, Ravelry, et cetera):

Blog on all things nerdy and crafty: http://www.shamdoogle.com/
Etsy: http://www.shamdoogle.etsy.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shamdoogle/45172933498

Blue Star Butterflies

Studio Name: Blue Star Butterflies

First Name: Krishell

A bit about me: I'm 30, originally from San Diego, Ca. We settled in
wonderful Stillwater, MN and I stay at home with our 2 kids. I love music,
home projects and sunshine.

My studio: I love all things yarn. I've been crocheting for years and have
taken this winter to finally learn to knit. I have used everything from
hand-me-down yarn to luxury hand dyed and hand painted yarns. Blue Star
Butterflies was created because I just didn't have enough people to make
things for! And of course I needed a way to support my yarn habit. So in
my studio you will find mostly knit and crocheted items. Lots of squishy and
cozy things. I'm hoping to start making some things that are more warm
weather friendly. I also sew, and if the whim strikes, you may see more of
that being offered!

Why: Why do we breathe? It sounds dramatic, but it's true. I spent years
trying to 'fit into the mold', grow up and be responsible, stay inside the
lines. Turns out life is much more fun when we be what we are! I'm an
outside of the box kinda girl. So especially wanting to show my children
how to be true to themselves, I've decided to follow my creativity where it
takes me.

Word Association:
Pipeline - Surfing
Static - Noise
Wrap - Cozy
Knitted/Crocheted Wool

Featured Products:

BUTTERSCOTCH COOKIES COWL



I HEART YOU COWL



MOSSY SNOWFALL



SWEET PINK VALENTINE SCARF



Links:

Blog - http://blustarrcraft.blogspot.com/
Etsy - http://bluestarbutterflies.etsy.com
Artfire - http://bluestarbutterflies.artfire.com
Ravelry - http://www.ravelry.com/people/blustarr

Categories

I'm suffering a little glitch in updating the featured yarny this week. Instead I would like to talk a bit about categories.

One of my biggest frustrations with Art Fire has been the inability to properly categorize hand dyed yarns. It is especially frustrating when shopping! Do I look under Craft Supplies? Knitting? Crochet? Now shoppers can look under hand dyed category!

You can now list all hand dyed yarns and fibers under HANDMADE / FINE ART » FIBER ARTS » HANDMADE MATERIALS » HAND DYED. Other choices in the Handmade Materials sub category are MANMADE, OTHER, and HAND DYED.

Hand spun can still be categorized under HANDMADE / FINE ART » KNITTING » KNITTING SUPPLIES » HANDSPUN WOOL or HANDSPUN YARN.

I think this is a great step forward and I am so happy to be a part of a handmade venue so responsive to its sellers' and buyers' needs.

Maine Woods Yarn and Fiber

Studio name ~ Maine Woods Yarn & Fiber


First Name ~ Arlyne


Studio Description ~ Our studio is set back in the woods of Maine but not too far from our beautiful coast. We share our space with our Great Pyranees, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Angora rabbits and Miss Kitty. We spin & hand paint all our yarns & rovings and handcraft all our knitting supplies and kits.

Why I do what I do ~ I'm a hands on person and enjoy the organic feel of wool sliding through my fingers as I spin. I really enjoy experimenting with colors and creating useful items for knitting, felting & crochetting.

Word association: Engine...Steam, Class...First, Bliss...Chocolate :o)

Featured Listings:

MAINE HANDPAINTED ROVING SOFT WOOL BLEND BILOXI BLUES



MAINE MAPLE WOOD DROP SPINDLE KIT



SOCK YARN KNITTING KIT WITH NEEDLES MOTLEY CREW GREENS



EASY WIND BALL BEARING YARN WINDER, SWIFT



Links:

http://www.mainewoodsyarn.com
http://www.mainewoodsyarn.etsy.com
http://www.stores.ebay.com/Maine-Woods-Yarn-and-Fiber

Eddy's Pressies

Studio Name: Eddy's Pressies

Real Name: Wendy

Nickname: Eddy G

A little about me: I worked as a teaching assistant in a school and found that the younger children reacted well to puppets and the older kids could use puppets to talk about things they would not normally discuss like, for example, what it must be like to get old, and even shy kids could talk through a puppet!

I’ve also worked in nursery, 0-4 year olds are so fun. Many can’t say the “w” sound and so they began to call me “Eddy” and it stuck.

Description of my studio: Exactly what is says; Eddy’s pressies. Presents for just about anyone. fun and wacky. From Furry puppets to knitted imaginings. My studio is still pretty new and will be receiving some new items soon. (check back often)

Why do I do it? I found puppets cost a lot and so began making my own. I love to knit and have just begun to crochet - what a giggle. I’m trying out and practicing new shapes I have lots of ideas on the boil, now I just have to serve them!

It’s lots of fun and a new outlet for my creativity. I’ve been designing t-shirts and greetings cards for years and selling them on other sites. It was time to try something new.

Word association
uh-oh never very good at this….
Geometry - shapes
Gleaning - suction (I warned you)
Mythology - unicorns

Featured Listings:

Lucy the Pony



Knitted Mumble Shelf-Sitter Doll



Knitted Turkey Tea Cozy



Links:

www.eddyspressies.artfire.com

Turtle Cove

Studio name: Turtle Cove

First Name/Nickname: Eryn

A little bit about me: I am the guild master of the Yarnies Guild on Art Fire, but I am also a yarny! I knit, spin, and weave, and I am slowly learning crochet. One of my passions is hand dyed yarns: I am the proud creator of Turtle Feet sock yarns, Turtle Cove Erratics, and my new line of lace yarns: Turtle Cove Lacewings.

Everything I do starts with the question “what if?” What if I make my own goat’s milk soap for my sensitive skin? What if I layer blue, red and brown on sock yarn? What if I move my family to North Dakota to start a fiber farm? Once I've thought of the question, nothing will stop me from finding out the answer!

Brief description of my Studio:

My studio is a mix of all my creative endeavors. Here you will find goat’s milk soaps and knitting salves, hand dyed yarns, Satin Angora fiber for spinning or felting, knitting stitch markers, and soon knitting patterns and kits!

Why do you do what you do?

Right now, everything I do has one goal: moving my family to our dream farm: Turtle Cove Farm. I want my children to grow up connected to the land, away from the pressures of urban life. On the farm we will raise sheep, rabbits, goats, chickens, and maybe a turkey or two. It’s hard to tell who’s more excited about the idea: the kids or the adults!

Word Association: What is the first word you think of when you read:

Concealing – hiding
Wrist – hand
Regard – kindest

Featured Listings:

Jasper Stitch Markers



Cassini's Spot Worsted Weight Wool Yarn



Links:

www.TurtleCoveFarm.com - the main shop
www.TurtleCoveFarm.com/shop/blog - the blog
www.ravelry.com/people/eryn - find me on Ravelry
www.turtlecovesoaps.etsy.com - Turtle Cove Soaps on Etsy

Andrea Designs

Studio name: Andrea Designs

First Name/Nickname: Andrea

A little bit about me: I was born in Lima, Peru South-America, the land of Macchu-Picchu, I am married for almost 21 years to an intelligent and wonderful American man, the same amount of years living in the United States, I am bi-lingual.

At my daily job I am a Supervisor in a Call Center, I am working in this type of business for 11 years, I love the fast pacing environment, my day goes fast.

I live in El Paso, Texas. The best feature of this city is the weather, we do not have snow, a lot of rain, hurricane or tornadoes. We have strong winds in March and/or April.

I learned to knit when I was in high school, also I knit using a knitting machine, however when I bought my knitting machine a couple of years ago and started to look for places to buy yarn, I discovered a new world, the yarn I like it was not to being used in a knitting machine, then I started to use the two needles again to make scarves, shawls, baby clothing, hats etc. Also I like to make jewelry, cards and wood purses.

Brief description of my Studio:

I designed and created one of a kind scarves, shawls, baby clothing, I used
fine fibers as Peruvian suri alpaca yarn, Italian and French acrylic, wool,
suri silk. My job is done when my customer is happy, the center of attention
every time she wears one of my creations!

Why do you do what you do?

I love to create, to do things. The satisfaction to make beautiful things
that somebody or myself will enjoy. it is not only knitting, I like to make
jewelry, wood purses, they can be used as jewelry boxes, cards. I love to do
cards for my team for the different holidays, some of them keep the cards
all year around on their desks as decoration. I like to decorate, where I
work we have several decoration contest during the year, in general my team
wins.
What is the first word you think of when you read:

Sundry - a variety of
Hide - mystery
Message - information

Featured Listings:

THE PEACOCK SCARF


THE WOW SCARF



THE WONDERLAND SHAWL




THE SOUTHWEST SCARF



Links:

www.andreadesigns.artfire.com
www.andreawagnerdesigns.etsy.com
http://www.indiepublic.com/profile/AndreaWagner