Tako Fibers sells handmade crewel embroidery kits. The kits come with everything that you need to make your own piece of art – a screenprinted pattern, a hoop, wool tapestry yarn, a needle, detailed instructions, and a little book (written by me!) that explains how to do each stitch in detail. Inspired by “yarn art” from the 60′s and 70′s, these kits incorporate texture and color with fun, original illustrations.
How is Emily inspired?
After searching my sketchbooks, I pick out a design that I think would look good as a piece of embroidery art. I make a silkscreen out of that pattern and hand print it onto cotton hopsack. I embroider a sample piece to gauge how much of each supply needs to be included, and then assemble 10-50 kits of that design, depending on how much I think people will like it! The kits are packaged in hand-stamped bakery bags and boxes.
You can find more about her here:
Website: www.takofibers.com
www.maybeemily.com
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/takofibers
Twitter: http://twitter.com/hellotaco
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mlebemle
We are very excited to announce Ilee Papergoods as a vendor at The Seattle Square.
Ilee Papergoods will be selling old school letterpress note cards, large prints, and organic kids t-shirts with their designs silkscreened on them.
Here is a description of her process:
Letterpress is relief printing. This means that a raised surface is inked and pressed into a sheet of paper. I design the art work by drawing on paper and transfer it on the computer and then make a photoengraved plate. The relief is produced by exposing the plate material to ultraviolet light through a negative, and then washing it in a water bath. The unexposed areas then dissolve away, leaving the raised image of the art to be printed.
My printing press, Chandler and Price, is 109 years old. I hand feed each card, one at a time. Each color is fed through the press once.
I don’t know about you guys, but even just her description makes me wish that I knew how to work a letterpress — or makes me want to at least try it once.
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ilee
Website: http://www.ileepapergoods.com/
What is UrbanFarm Naturals?
We are a family-owned and-operated bath & body company based out of Arlington, Washington. Tamila Morgan, also known as “Mom” is the heart and soul of UrbanFarm. She develops all of the products and tweaks them until they are perfect. Jeff, also known as “Dad” builds and designs our farmers market and trade show booths. Kolt and Darby, also known as “The Kids” help assemble and package everything up.
What sets you apart from similar companies?
We create and develop all of our products from scratch. And, we mix, measure, and make everything the old-fashioned way. We use local and natural ingredients that are almost good enough to eat! Ingredients such as olive oil, oatmeal, raw honey, avocado and coffee are common staples in all of our soaps and body products. We never use artificial colors, scents, parabens, or fillers!
Why should I buy your products?
Because our products are healthier for you and our environment. When you wash your hands or use lotion, the ingredients in these products get absorbed into your skin and eventually into your bloodstream. When you use products that have artificial scents and parabens in them, they also get absorbed into your skin and can be bad for your health. We are also committed to preserving our environment and supporting our local economy. We strive to use organic ingredients and earth friendly recyclable packaging.
What is the meaning of UrbanFarm?
Tamila always wanted a small farm, but could never afford one. So she decided that she would create her own “Urban Farm” in her own suburban neighborhood. The Morgan’s grow many of the herbs and flowers that go into their products, in their own backyard.
What kinds of products do you make?
We make high-end bar soap, bath salts & scrubs, body lotions, and an entire line of face specific products. (and how can you resist products that are called things like “creamy bath melt” or “buttery lotion bar”)
Where can I find UrbanFarm Products?
You can buy our products directly from our website at www.UrbanFarmNaturals.com. You can also find us throughout the year at local farmers markets and tradeshows. For a list of upcoming events visit our website and click on “Events”. You can also become a fan of them on Facebook.
The first thing that caught my eye about Glam Spoon’s application was when she listed her website. She didn’t just list the url (www.glamspoon.com by the way), she added “bohemian chic for women with tenacity.”
And a woman with tenacity is just how I would describe the owner – Tina. She is full of energy and you can tell that she’s really passionate about what she does.
glam.spoon began as a closet reorganization project. While browsing through her closet, Tina Witherspoon took particular notice of the pieces hanging way in the back that never got worn and dragged them out into the light for reconstruction. She retrieved her sewing machine from storage and a habit formed. Soon she was salvaging vintage materials and purchasing Plain Jane skirts in thrift stores, using deconstruction techniques to breathe new life into each cast off garment.
High-quality natural fibers such as cotton, wool and linen, sourced from thrift shops, estate sales and remnant stores are the raw materials that go into each glam.spoon piece. Witherspoon often combines several contrasting materials in one garment to give it depth and texture. On average, more than 90% of the materials that go into each piece are reclaimed fabrics making her clothing eco-conscious as well. The glam.spoon aesthetic is romantic, bohemian chic achieved by mixing patterns and blending palettes, adding hand sewn details – using everything from lace and ribbon to the scraps of fabric from the cutting floor.
In fall, 2005 glam.spoon signed on as a vendor in Seattle’s first Urban Craft Uprising and connected with her audience: independent women not afraid to express themselves, looking for something original and new with retro appeal and hand crafted with care. The following spring she began selling on consignment at local boutiques and her business has grown to include custom work, a vintage shop on Etsy.com and participation in local fashion competitions.
Check some of her stuff out:
You can find out more about Tina + Glam Spoon here:
Web: http://www.glamspoon.com
Blog: http://glamspoon.typepad.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/glamspoon
Twitter: http://twitter.com/glamspoon
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glamspoon/
Scott and Jacqui are the creators and owners of Slide Sideways, a company that they started because of their shared love of “making beautiful things.”
One of the great things about their business is that all of their illustrations and designs are one of a kind. To give you an idea of the work they go through for each piece they sell, it includes the following: drawing a design, transferring it to a screen, cutting fabric by hand, printing the design, sewing it on a sewing machine, hand cutting paper to fit standard frames, etc.
They say it’s very time consuming, but that they “love getting our hands on every little piece we create.”
Not only can you read their adorable love story on etsy (scroll down to Jacqui and Scott), you can find them at the following:
Website: http://slide-sideways.com/
Blog: www.unitedweslide.blogspot.com
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33019779@N02/
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/slidesideways
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Handmade-Bags/85892053588?ref=ts#!/pages/Slide-Sideways/118527598177152?ref=sgm
One of the vendors that we’re really excited about for the market is Parfait Organic Ice Cream. When I first called Adria to see if they were interested in a market in Pioneer Square to help revitalize the area, there was no hesitation — she signed on for every single Saturday!
Their family has a history of working/living in Pioneer Square and they are really excited to be a part of the market. I had heard a lot about Parfait from others and have never really been an ice cream person, but stopped by her cart to give them a try last Saturday at the Mobile Chowdown. I’m telling you — if you only come to this market to try Parfait — it is totally worth it! It was hands down the best ice cream I have ever had. (I tried the strawberry in case you’re interested).
Other popular flavors include Madagascar Vanilla Bean, Dagoba Chocolate, Fresh Mint Stracciatella, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup.
Check out more about Parfait on their website.
image credit: my ballard blog