SDICM Vendor: Wyng’d Lyon Creations

June 20, 2013 | leftylex

Today is the final day of the San Diego Indie Craft Market vendor highlights. Are you sad? I’ve had so much fun meeting the other talented women that I will be selling alongside with. And today is no exception, so without further delay, let’s meet our final vendor, Wyng’d Lyon Creations.

Please introduce yourself to the good people! My name is Colleen and I’m the owner of Wyng’d Lyon Creations. I started sewing at the age of 7 and haven’t stopped since. Wyng’d Lyon has been my creative outlet to the public for over 12 years now and my creations vary from simple doll clothing to elaborate Halloween and Victorian costumes. I also I like to dabble in the world of painting, wood burning, needle work and other various arts and crafts. My business has taken over so much of my home, I actually took a leap of faith and moved my entire operation to an off site space where I do all my sewing and meet with clients by appointment. In addition to my creative process, I also carry handmade art and other creations from some close friends.

And what type of treasures do you make? A little bit of everything. Though, mostly I make men’s Steampunk clothing and accessories, apothecary bottles, wood burned and painted boxes, and whatever other works of art my brain comes up with.

What are your favorite materials of choice and what do you like to create with them? My favorite material would be fabric, mostly natural fibers, like silk, cotton, linen as well and working with various brocades.History is my biggest influence and inspiration for creating things. I love the time and artisan work that is put into things in the past and their general durability and craftsmanship.

Care to show us your five favorite creations?

1.) Mina dress (not for sale), 2.) men’s vests, 3.) decorated boxes, 4). apothecary bottles, and 5.) Day of the Dead skull.

And lastly, where can the good people find you online?

Website: http://wyngdlyon.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyngdLyonCreations
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wynglyncreation
Blog: http://blog.wyngdlyon.com

Stop by this Sunday’s San Diego Indie Craft Market (info here: https://www.facebook.com/SDIndieCraftMarket) and say hello to Colleen! You can also visit Wyng’d Lyon’s Etsy shop by clicking here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/wyngdlyon. And don’t forget the importance of buying handmade!

SDICM Vendor: Vaux Swift Jewelry

June 11, 2013June 11, 2013 | leftylex

Let’s get back in the swing of things and meet another wonderful San Diego Indie Craft Market vendor… Vaux Swift Jewelery!

Hello there SDICM vendor! Please tell us who you are and a little about the fabulous shop you own. My name is Kerry Greenwood and my shop is called Vaux Swift Jewelry. I hand make beaded jewelry. I also make jewelry using metalsmithing techniques. Recently I have been hand dyeing muslin and turning it into baby swaddle blankets.

What are your design materials of choice? My favorite materials are semiprecious stones and interesting and unusual beads and chain. I am always looking for things I have never seen before. I love bright colors and interesting textures.

So what inspires you to create your masterpieces? I am inspired constantly by my environment, in my free time I am an amateur photographer so I am always exploring new and old places trying to see things I have overlooked. I am also very tactile, sometimes the feel and look of different materials will give me inspiration.

Would you like to share your five favorite pieces with us?
My little wire rings with geometric shapes are some of my new favorites, African chevron necklaces, faceted stone necklaces with drapery chain, super long dangly chain earrings, and my bright baby swaddles. (Quick interjection here! Are you seeing that chevron necklace? Gasp, it’s absolutely amazing!!!)

Aren’t these pieces wonderful?! A quick glance at http://vauxswift.storenvy.com/ made me want to start my Christmas list early!

Be sure to keep up with Kerry on social media at the following:

Instagram: @vauxswiftjewelry
Tumblr: http://vauxswiftjewelry.tumblr.com/
Facebook: Facebook.com/vauxswiftjewelry
Twitter: @Vaux_Swift
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kerryg81/my-work/

If you’re in the SoCal area, remember to meet Kerry in person on June 23rd at the San Diego Indie Craft Market! Click the link for more details: https://www.facebook.com/SDIndieCraftMarket?fref=ts. And don’t forget to check out my earlier interviews with other fabulous SDICM vendors… these chicks have some serious talent!

SDICM Vendor: Ceci Punch Designs

June 7, 2013June 7, 2013 | leftylex

Up on deck today, my interview with the Raw San Diego 2012 Accessory Designer of the year… Ceci Punch Designs!

Please tell the people a bit about yourself! I’m Ceci, a self- taught artist with a Graphic Design background who incorporates my passion for bringing old trends to life with a twist of modernization and my own punch of style.

What types of pretties do you make? A wide assortment of mixed designs for any style needed. Specifically, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and custom designs for special occasions.

What are your favorite materials? All my pieces are 100% handcrafted by me! I use the best quality supplies, beads and findings that I can get my hands on; anything vintage, fun and eye catching.

Who and/or what inspires you to create? My inspiration to create jewelry comes from… well, a lack of finding jewelry that is affordable and of quality, and also simply interesting or eye catching. I try to design jewelry for every style and jewelry that is fun and classic. One of my fave holidays has always been Dia De Los Muertos (Day Of The Dead). I have been obsessing this style for YEARS in jewelry, home decor, accessories and art. The bright colors and flowers and of course the skulls are so beautiful. I am also a fan of anything vintage and classic. The Pin-up and Rockabilly styles are also huge inspirations for my designs.

Care to share a few of your favorite creations?

Where can the people find you on social media? You can find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CeciPunchDesigns and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cecipunch.

Show Ceci some love and check out her shop at: http://cecipunch.com. And be sure to look for her booth at the San Diego Indie Craft Market on June 23rd at Queen Bee’s Art & Cultural Center from 2-6PM! For more info on SDICM, click here: https://www.facebook.com/SDIndieCraftMarket?fref=ts.

SDICM Vendor: Small & Great Crochet

June 5, 2013June 5, 2013 | leftylex

And now, time to meet the lovely Kate Wood of Small and Great Crochet!

So who are you and what do you do? My name is Kate, and I’m a bit of a crochet newbie — I only learned how to put hook to yarn in March 2011, when my mom (who was just learning herself) taught me the basic stitches during a long car trip. Before I really even had the basics down, I was off and running! Err, I mean, stitching. I went from granny squares to amigurumi to Tunisian crochet within just a few weeks, and a year in, my apartment looked like a yarn store. My friends’ and family members’ homes overflowed with the stuff I’d made, too.

I make all crocheted things great and small! I design all of my own original patterns. I really have two directions I go in. One is my accessories, which are made from hand-dyed yarn. My yarns are named after the gemstone streets in PB, and my patterns for hats, scarves, and more are named for places around San Diego county.Two is my amigurumi, which more or less means “soft toy” in Japanese. Little stuffed critters! My tiny teddies (the little striped bears) are my bestsellers, but I do lots of other stuff. Making their debut at the SDICM will be ladybugs! I would like to interject here and say that, as an owner of one of these “tiny teddies”, they are absolutely adorable and EVERYONE needs one!

What are your favorite materials? Yarn, of course! But I really love working with natural fibers the best. In particular, I have hats that are done with a hand-dyed organically-grown cotton that are just yummy. I also dye a cotton/acrylic blend that I’m really fond of — it feels like an extra-cuddly version of your favorite t-shirt.

Who and/or what inspires you to create? A couple of things. One, I’m very inspired by San Diego. Besides all the pattern and dye naming, my accessories are all geared toward a SoCal aesthetic — laid-back but luxe. Second, nature — I know the stuffed toys and gifts I make are cartoon-y/kawaii versions of the real animals, but I just LOVE animals and plants, which is why I keep stitching them!

Also the reason I got into crochet in the first place is my family. My mom, and my beloved late grandmother, are/were both avid knitters, and really good at it. I always wished I were good at it, but I am all thumbs when it comes to knitting. My mom was taught the basic crochet stitches a couple of years ago by a friend, and though she didn’t really get the hang of it, she figured it out enough to teach me. Once I started, I basically never stopped.

Care to show and tell us about your five favorite creations?

1.) My little horse — I kept the first successful one I made (this pattern is HARD and it took a TON of trial and error to get it right). He’s become my unofficial mascot!

2.) The “Carlsbad” hat — this is a slouchy beanie worked in hand-dyed, organically-grown and processed cotton. The pic I attached shows examples of the hat in four colors — L-R: Garnet, Turquoise, Tourmaline, Sapphire. It’s the hat I wear the most myself (in the pic you have of me from North Park it’s what I have on).

3.) The “Tiny Teddy” — consistently my biggest craft fair hit. I get custom requests for these guys too. I’ve had several people ask me about doing a smaller version (an even tinier teddy!) so that may be in the works… it needs more testing before it goes live.

4.) My crocheted states. I know these don’t really fit precisely with either of my “themes,” but it was all the enthusiasm and encouragement that I got from giving these to people as gifts that really motivated me to turn crafting into a business. Another interjection here: these are super cute too!

5.) The “Swami’s” scarf — this is a pic of the mini version. I also do the Swami’s stitch as a headband and a larger scarf. I wind up using lots of circles (e.g., my whole booth display is patterned with giant orange circles!) so I feel like this is kind of my signature stitch. I meet a lot of crocheters via this scarf style — people always want to know how it’s made.

And lastly, where can the good people find you? Haha, where can’t I be found!
Website: http://www.smallandgreat.com
Blog: http://smallandgreat.tumblr.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/smallandgreat
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/smallandgreat
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/smallandgreat

Kate is great, guys! Show her some love by checking out her Etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/smallandgreat) or my visiting her in person at the San Diego Indie Craft Market on June 23rd from 2-6PM at Queen Bee’s Art & Cultural Center!

Are these not the cutest things?!

SDICM Vendor: Stitched.

June 4, 2013June 4, 2013 | leftylex

As promised yesterday, I will be introducing you to some of the amazing talent that will be at the upcoming San Diego Indie Craft Market (details below).To start us off on a good note, I am pleased to introduce you to the ridiculous cuteness that is Stitched.!

Please introduce yourselves! We are Karissa and Michelle; sisters-in-law with a passion for being creative and spicing it up with some vintage flair!

As Stitched., what do you do? We do a little if everything from refurbishing furniture to sewing rag dolls!!

Your pieces are amazing! Where do you snag your fabulous refurbishing finds? We love to go to yard sales, antique stores and flea markets!

Would you like to show us your five favorite creations?

These chicks are kinda awesome, they have even hosted their own craft fair: Stitched.Market!

If you’re in the market for some serious eye-candy, then follow these gals on Instagram: @stitched.1 and @stitched.2. You will not regret this decision, scouts honor! Be sure to keep up with Stitched. on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/stitched.2?fref=ts

And don’t forget to look for their booth on June 23rd at the San Diego Indie Craft Market! More info can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/SDIndieCraftMarket?fref=ts

Don’t you wish you could just dive into this picture?!

San Diego Indie Craft Market

June 4, 2013 | leftylex

We have yet another fair on the horizon, ladies and gentlemen! If you remember, last month I was ~~ambitious~~ stupid enough to participate in two fairs on the same day! After that stressful (albeit successful) endeavor, it’ll be nice to focus all my energy on one single (four hour) fair… the San Diego Indie Craft Market!

The San Diego Indie Craft Market will be hosted by the same lovely team that runs the largely successful San Diego Vintage Flea Market. Unlike many other craft fairs, that allow the occasional mass-produced vendor to enter, all items found at the SDICM will be handmade!

I can’t stress the importance of buying handmade and supporting local artists enough! Rather than going to Wal-Mart and buying something that was made in Bangladesh (in God only knows what type of working conditions), you are supporting and individual or team who created a quality product right here in the USA. Your handmade purchase shows that you care about more than blind consumerism and that you are interested in more than merely following the latest trends; you’re looking for unique items that can’t be found in every retail store worldwide. Your handmade purchase promotes the dreams, and sometimes the livelihood, of a local artist!

Not convinced yet on the importance of handmade? Then I challenge you to read these articles and maintain your same view: http://poppytalks101reasonstobuyhandmade.blogspot.com/, http://www.handmadeology.com/10-awesome-reasons-to-buy-handmade-gifts-this-year/, http://papernstitchblog.com/2011/05/10/the-number-one-reason-why-people-buy-handmade/. Enjoy!

This will hopefully be the first of many fairs for the San Diego Indie Craft Market and I am committed to making this fair as successful as possible! Thus, I will be dedicating the vast majority of blog entries this month to the San Diego Indie Craft Market and its talented vendors. Stick around to meet the faces, stories, and products of the talented artists that will be at the SDICM. You’re in for a treat! And don’t forget to mark your calendars of Sunday, June 23rd; we look forward to seeing you at the Queen Bee’s Art & Cultural Center from 2PM-6PM. Cheers!

**On a side note, Queen Bee’s Art & Cultural Center (3925 Ohio St, San Diego 92104) is just a few short blocks from my all time favorite restaurant, Chop Suey Peking! Peking is a lovely little Chinese restaurant that has been family owned in San Diego since 1931! My Nana used to take me there as a little girl, so it will always, always hold a special place in my heart. So if anyone wants to get dinner after the fair, holler at me!

Weekend Wrap-Up: 5/18-19

May 21, 2013May 22, 2013 | leftylex

What a weekend! This was the first full, stitch-free weekend that I’ve had in months! I did not touch a single needle! Hmm, let’s reword that, I just made myself sound like a junky! I did not stitch one single stitch. There, that’s better.

Saturday was a full day. After teaching my aerobics class, I spent the day (almost exclusively) with my baby brother. I would like to mention that yesterday was his 16^th birthday and I am in utter shock that he is already this old! I love him so much and I am always so proud of him.

We went to the North Park Festival of the Arts to check out the North Park Craft Mafia.

but specifically, Kate of Small and Great Crochet!

Kate is an amazing crochet-ista (yup, that’s a word, just invented it). I fell head over heels in love with the cutest little colorful amigurumi bear. Guys, it is seriously the cutest thing ever. I am 29 and I honestly just wanted to hold it all day; it’s that cute.

Kate’s space was so inviting and cheery. It was quite worth fighting the beer garden mob just to check out her wares.

Kate actually dyes her own yarn! You should check out the rest of her amazing yarned-goods on her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/smallandgreat

We walked around the fair for quite a bit checking out all of the eye candy. I even came across a fellow stitcher! She had quite a few Downton Anbbey inspired pieces, which I absolutely adored!

After the fair, my bro and I headed over to (my most beloved) Balboa Park for an Air Force Commissioning Ceremony. We had some time to kill prior to so we photographed a few soon-to-be-listed Lefty Lex products…

And then we toured the Rose Garden. The flowers smelt amazing! And we ran into about 137 couples taking pre-prom photographs. I know that I’m not a teen anymore, but I’m also not 52; so when exactly did it become common for high schoolers (or their parents) to hire professional photographers to do photo shoots pre-prom? Weird.

We then headed to the Spreckles Organ Pavillion where we watched the SDSU’s ROTC Class of 2013’s Commissioning Ceremony where our long-time family friend, JR, received his commission as Second Lieutenant! JR and his family have lived next door to my parents for at least 11 years, so I have seen this guy go from a pudgy little middle schooler to high school football player to college graduate/Air Force officer. I am immensely proud of him! Whether he knows it or not, he’s been a great example to my brother as he too wants to join the AF after college. I’ll truly miss him and wish him the best of luck as he heads overseas.

I love this kid!

Sunday was fabulously uneventful as Husband and I did nothing more than attend church, visit with my sisters for a bit, and shop. Just the wind-down needed after Saturday’s hustle and bustle. Hope you’re weekend was equally enjoyable!

leftylex

stitches on a mission

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