Featured Handmade Artist- Kitlane
Hello!! Happy Thanksgiving!!! I hope you're having a wonderful day and if you do celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, that you're spending it with family and friends!!!
Today, I would like to introduce you to Kit from
. I stumbled upon her shop one day when I was doing (ahem!) research and I fell in love with her cute and strange felted creations!
Seriously? How cute are these guys!!! I especially like Devon the Pentapus
(he's pictured below!) So cute!!! Also, I think the stories Kit crafts are just as fun as her creatures!
Hi Kit! Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I'm Kit Lane. I live currently in West Central Minnesota which I jokingly call the Cultural Wastelands of the North. I'm in that little bump that connects North and South Dakota. When they made the state borders neither Dakotas wanted us and as you can see, Minnesota is still trying to squeeze us out the side like a bad pimple.
I make a humble living making wool felted creatures painting from time to time.
What is the first craft project you remember making?
I belonged to the Brownies as a child. Yes, I'm that old. One Christmas we crafted holiday trees from the Minneapolis phone book. Each page was folded twice, once down and then across and on to the next page. It took three sessions to fold the pages because after-all, Minneapolis is a huge city. The tome itself must have weighed a minimum of 20 pounds. After it was completely folded we rolled them into a circle and spray painted them green. When the paint was dry we glittered the heck out of them too. I gathered the tree up in my arms and walked home to present it to my mother who is a paragon of perfect tidiness. By the time I arrived I was covered head to toe in glitter and had developed the muscles of a WWF wrestler. She covered her complete horror with a smile. I'm sure you all know that telling smile if you've ever been a mother. :)
Where does your inspiration come from?
I haven't a clue. Sometimes, in that not-quite-awake state before the coffee completely kicks in I get a ping of an idea. The little Jacabobs in my shop are usually inspired by an attempt to create happiness. My other work is often inspired by odd juxtapositions between nature and imaginative worlds.
Can you please describe some of your creative process?
I often wander. Sometimes down to the local taxidermist who is kind enough to let me dig around in his back shop. He's never seen my work so he's somewhat bemused with me. None the less he shoves a box at me with bits and pieces of what was at one time someones sister or aunt, little creatures who never had names. I simply try to make something of their lives instead of seeing them all muddled in a heap, forever forgotten.
Here are two. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kitgraphics/4693872429/ and the back of another http://www.flickr.com/photos/kitgraphics/3687152173/
What is your most prized handmade possession?
I can't quite say one thing really. I have a folder drawings made by my child through the years. She's 17 now and away for her second year at Uni. Each drawing is special to me and the collection as a whole would be it.
If you could give one piece of advice to a new etsy seller, what would it be?
Don't be a weenie! Buck up and put yourself out there. If you love what you do, then there will be others who'll love it too. Oh, and take great photos.
What are some of the ways you promote your work?
http://www.etsy.com/shop/KitLane
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kitgraphics/
What are three websites you couldn’t live without?
Those mentioned above...lol
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I love felting. I really mean that. But, in ten years I'd like to be drawing and painting a lot more than today...in a much warmer climate.
If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
Teleportation. There are so many places and things I'd like to see. It's 90 miles to the airport from here and the hassle of buying a ticket, lodging etc...Oh, and the bonus grope and pat-down and the xray topper that I'd like to be able to just FOOM!! and be there in an instant.
Thanks so much Kit!!!!
I hope you all have an opprotunity to check out Kitlane and get to know these strange little creations!!