Featured Handmade Artist- allisonbook

Hello, hello, hello!!! Happy Thursday!  I have a really fun Featured Handmade Artist this week-- Allison from allisonbook. I love her shop! Her buttons/magnets are so fun and so clever! I can totally see a couple of these pinned to my camera bag, most notably, the "Sometime I try to be brave" pin...


Here are a few more fun examples of her pins:


Welcome to Just Say It by Allisonbook


Hi Allison! Can you please tell us a little about yourself?


I make one inch buttons (or magnets). Each button has its own text which is attached to an appropriate image by hand. The text I use comes from many sources such as my old journals, things I hear people say, and things I hear myself say. My button line has recently expanded into a series of cards which are also for sale on my Etsy shop. Even though I focus on buttons/magnet/cards on my Etsy shop I actually have a BFA majoring in fibres along with a diploma in textile studies.



What is the inspiration behind your pieces?


Honesty. Whether it’s sad, happy, funny, or strange, good things come from being honest.



How long have you been creating?


A very very long time. I took art classes growing up, in and outside of school, I then did a college diploma in arts, followed by a fine arts degree. It’s just something I’ve always been into.



What is your dream job?


Pastry chef.



Can you please describe a little bit of your creative process?


For some button ideas, I reread past journals that I’ve kept and look for those sentences that just sum up everything that I was going through. These include texts such as “I don’t want to let go but what else can I do if you’re not holding on” and “but I don’t want to scare you away with all the words I can’t find” among many others.



What item would you be secretly heartbroken if it sold?


I don’t think there are any really. But I do get excited when someone buys the shark week pin, I’m glad there are other shark week fans out there.



What are some of the ways you promote your work?
I promote my work through blog interviews, of course, through Etsy, and by participating in local craft fairs.



Thanks so much Allison!!! I hope that you all check out her shop
allisonbook.etsy.com

and pick up that shark week pin for yourself. You know you want to...
-Cheers!


If you would like to recommend an artist you'd like to see me feature on my blog (or if you'd like to be featured!), please feel free to leave the shop name in the comments section, or feel free to email me aprilbern at gmail dot com. I'm always on the lookout for more awesome shops to interview/feature!