Featured Artist: Margaret

Margaret is known as minimeg on Etsy. She makes cute stuff out of yarn, ties, buttons, and other things. She lives in Midland, Michigan, but goes to school in the Cleveland area most of the year.

What is your first memory of your craft? Did someone teach you, or did you learn on your own?

Um . . . I remember making a pinch pot out of clay in Kindergarten. Since then I have always loved being artistic—and probably even before that, I just can’t remember before the age of 5! I loved art classes in school, and at home my mother taught me how to crochet, cross stitch, and sew on a machine. I guess the rest is history.

What is it that draws you to your craft material?

I’m drawn to textures, colors, shiny stuff—which covers just about every kind of craft or art form. (If I haven’t tried it yet, I am planning on trying it eventually!) I’m a terrible person to take to the fabric or craft store, I end up touching EVERYTHING.

How would you describe the style of your work? Does it reflect your personal style?

I’d probably pull out the adjectives: fun, funky, colorful, cute, and eclectic. Coincidentally, these are words that people usually use to describe me as a person. I think it is impossible to create something that does NOT reflect the creator’s personality. I also don’t make anything I wouldn’t want to wear or use. If I think something looks ugly or tacky, then it is highly likely that other people think the same thing . . . or at least that is my reasoning.

What are your inspirations? How do are they expressed in your work?

I am inspired by patterns, fabrics, color combinations, photos . . . I also poke around on a lot of crafting blogs and websites. And stores. Usually I end up saying (thinking) something like “I could make that!” or “It would be really cool if . . .” or “Wouldn’t that look good as a . . . ?”  From there it is figuring out how to make what I want out of the things I have. Or using the things I have to make things I want. That is how the necktie handled purses came about.

Do you have an all-time favorite creation? What about it makes it your favorite?

I can’t pick an all-time favorite anything! I always really love what I’m working on at the time, or things I recently finished. But then I’ll look at a picture of an old project and say to myself, “I really liked making that, it is so pretty!”  Indecisiveness is another reason you shouldn’t take me shopping.

When did you realize that this was more than a hobby?

When one summer I made more hemp necklaces and bracelets than any person could wear in a year! Oh yeah, and the fact that I am an art education major at college. That tends to make it into a more serious commitment.

Describe your workspace.

While at college, my workspace is severely limited. I channeled my inner feng shui and created the craft-cave. I lofted my bed and put my desk facing the head of the bed and my sewing table facing the foot of the bed. My desk chair is in between so I can flip it around and use it for both. Under my sewing table (and next to it, and on top of it . . .) are storage containers full of yarn, fabric, used clothing, patterns, thread, buttons, ribbon, etc. My desk has my beads and other jewelry making supplies. I end up sitting on the floor to cut fabric and pin stuff because I don’t have a table big enough. My roommate probably hates me and my mess, but it feels like home to me.

What is your favorite task related to your work? Your least favorite?

I love bringing a project or ideas to completion. I love assembling pieces of fabric and sewing on buttons and embellishments. I love finding or creating new patterns or ideas. I love putting together new color combinations. I have to admit, I hate cutting out pattern pieces and cutting fabric. To me, that is the tedious part. Hopefully I will get over that soon because cutting is kind of important to um . . . everything!

Do you have artistic talents in other areas?

I’ve been singing for about as long as I’ve been doing artsy stuff. I also took 8 years of the violin. I still play occasionally and have done music for a few weddings. I also enjoy creating and editing films.

Tell us something about you that we might be surprised to hear.

Between you and me and the Internet, I used to be a complete tomboy. I am the only girl out of all the siblings and cousins on my Dad’s side of the family. I grew up playing with super-soakers and nerf guns, camping, backpacking, all sorts of non-girly activities. I was an honorary Boy Scout.

Where can we find your work?

My Etsy shop is at http://minimeg.etsy.com
I put photos of projects on my Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/25370403@N08/
On November 8th I will be at a craft show at St Paul Lutheran Church in Westlake.