spotlight artist: emily may sparks

When I first saw Emily Sparks's lovely crocheted work it was at the fabulous Bijou Market (btw - Bijou falls over the same Saturday as Spark and it's breaking our hearts cause we love it so - if you're not coming to Spark please go to Bijou, you won't be sorry) We all oggled over her stuff and her clever clean designs.

isn't she so cute??---->


And then I got to be friends with Emily (and shoot her beautiful family) and as I got to know her better the more amazing she was to me. I want to be cool just like she is.

She'll be demonstrating her mad crochet abilities at our Spark Show and Tell.





Here's what she has to say --

born in and raised mostly in utah. married to super sweet guy who supports me in all of my endeavors. graduated with BFA in studio arts from BYU. mom of 1...a beautiful girl who is 1 going on 16. designs crocheted accessories and sells them in boutiques and online at emilymaysparks.etsy.com. aspires to sell more of her 2d art and to be a yoga instructor.


i have had a need to be busy creating. in high school i made intricate beaded dolls, in college i spent most of my time painting and printing. after graduation i really became passionate about crocheting and sewing. i began selling my crocheted goods last year i love having my own business. i absolutely LOVE the handmade movement and being a part of it. i hope i will be able to pass on this passion for things handmade.

spotlight artist: Maren Ogden Ingles

Amazing photographer, graphic designer, stationer, (and you should have seen her wedding!) Maren Ogden Ingles has a way with paper. She's owner and operator of Elizabeth & Homer, a beautiful little letterpress stationary company in Lehi, her work can be found in fine stationers all over the country and internationally. And now she can be found on etsy too!


Here's what she says about herself...


(picture here by the amazing fabulous Utah photographer, Rebekah Westover. oh man, don't even go there....i love her stuff so much)

My great-grandmother, Elizabeth Smith, had an adage for everything. Long before Forrest Gump, she would always say, "Pretty is as pretty does." Along with her beloved husband, Homer, my great-grandparents were as "pretty" as they get. Throughout their lives and work, they embodied integrity, commitment, service, and enduring love. I was privileged to know them well and to learn from their example, which is the inspiration behind Elizabeth and Homer. The company was officially launched on October 8, 2004—what would have been Elizabeth and Homer Smith's 91st wedding anniversary. Elizabeth and Homer is also the fruition of a dream that began when I was about 7 years old. Somewhere amid my entrepreneurial endeavors (which began with decorating classroom doors at my elementary school for "a dollar a door") and countless art and craft projects, I found that creating beautiful things is what I was always meant to do. Aftermore than a decade working in the publishing, paper crafting, and wedding industries, I now devote my full attention to creating unique products that are as special as your life's most treasured moments.

(the real elizabeth and homer - Maren, you look lots like her!)



You can read even more about her at her interview over on Lucky Guppy's blog. just a little tasty tidbit, Maren was married this past summer and our artist Melissa Blackburn made her phenomenal dress

spotlight artist: amy redden

Today i'm introducing Amy Redden of Vintage Fern. With her sewing she creates a style that is eclectic and crafty and homespun and fun. I can't wait for you guys to meet her.



Here's what Amy says about herself -

"I am a stay at home Mom to three beautiful girls and I am married to my best friend that supports me in everything! I have always had the desire to create! I went to school for interior design. I worked as a cake decorator for 9 years decorating cakes, cookies, and wedding cakes. For a few years I owned a wedding decorating business. When I was able to stay home with our three girls I wanted to keep myself busy so I started sewing and creating things to sell, and it has grown bigger than I ever thought it would! I love to thrift shop, collect mountains of fabric, cook, and be with my family.


I enjoy creating useful things using my talents! I love to use repurposed and vintage supplies in my work, but I don't limit myself, so there is always a mix of old and new.

I love what I do and I am so happy to be able to share it with others!"


Here's some of her work --

spotlight artist: melissa blackburn

I'm so excited for all of our artists and I'm going highlight each one here before our event begins.

You guys know April already.

Let me introduce Melissa Blackburn.

Melissa is a phenominal seamstress and designer. Her creations have blown me away for at least 7 years, which is as long as I've known her. She will be teaching a demo for you all at our Show and Tell on Friday.

Here are some photos of her beautiful dresses --

these first two were taken by Kate Benson -







and this one's taken by Lindsey at Green Apple Photography



This dress below is made entirely out of PAPER!! Sorry to yell, I just had to show how cool I think that is. These were for a booth at a Bridal fair in Provo.




Thanks Melissa - Can't wait to see your talents at work.

Show and Tell Artists Announced

Hi everyone!

I want to introduce you to some of our Friday Studio Show & Tell artists (barring any unforeseen catastrophe), we're so so thrilled and excited about each and every one of them. You can see a blinkie-linkie to each of their site over on the sidebar.

So in no particular order here we go....

Laura Jarman designer and owner of "Dear Lizzie",

"Amy Redden" of Vintage Fern, textile artist

Robin Wade , altered jewelry artist and brightsmith

Robyn Werlich, creative stamping

Melissa Blackburn, fine dressmaking

Jen Sorensen, Book Arts, of the Rookery

Maren Ogden, paper artist and stationier (well, i don't know if stationier's a real word but it sounds good...)

Megan Faulkner Brown, baker and owner of Sweet Tooth Fairy Bake Shop

April Meeker stamp carver and jewelry designer

Emily Sparks, crocheter and owner of Emily Sparks Handmade

Sassifras Paper Company

The Pink Chandelier

as well as some bigger companies:

Canon

Quickcutz

Fiskars

&

Yudu
We're so excited about each and every one of these artisans and can't wait for you to see what they've got up their sleeve. We will have a "Meet The Artists" night at the Dear Lizzie Bistro coming up later this month.