Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

Interview with Mika Mosier of Froggy Girl Designs

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Please let me introduce you to Mika and her line of children’s clothing and accessories.

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What is your craft / art / creative endeavor?

I primarily make childrens clothing, but I also tend to have a bit of crafters ADD so I sew anything that catches my eye-key fobs, rice bags, cloth diapers and wipes, unpaper towels, mama cloth and so much more!

How did you get started? Have you worked in other creative areas before the kind of work you’re doing now?

When I was a child my grandmother sewed, and tried to teach me but I wasn’t really interested. After she passed, I found the passion and taught myself to sew. I’ve never worked in another creative arena other than music which is a whole different realm.

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Do you work alone? With a team? Do you engage your family or friends in the work? What is your process? How do you ensure you get your work done yet still have a life?

I make 100% of the items I offer. My husband is the “muscle” behind the Froggy Girl-he lugs boxes, show setup equipment, machines, etc. for me and he is my #1 cheerleader. I frequently ask for opinions and critiques from my family and friends-constructive criticism is the key to moving forward.

I like to say that my fabric speaks to me. I see a piece of fabric, and it tells me what it wants to be. I then build around that piece.

Finding a work/life balance is hard for anyone, but I think most especially work at home moms. I find myself all to frequently pulled in 100 directions, and making sure that my husband and children are the first direction I go to is definitely a challenge, and something I’m working on doing better in 2010.

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Where do you sell your work? Which venues are your favorites? Do you prefer selling online or in person? Do you attend shows or fairs? Is your work in a gallery or brick-and-mortar store?

Right now you can find my work primarily at www.froggygirldesigns.etsy.com, although I also maintain a storefront at www.hyenacart.com/froggygirldesigns and I’m starting to explore Store Envy as well. From about March or April onward, I try to do at least one show or fair per month. The only brick and mortar store carrying my items so far is Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, Indiana. They carry a selection of my monogrammed badge reels.

What do you wish I had asked you?

I wish you had asked how you (I) overcome fears and get out of your comfort zone to get your work out there. I think that’s something that everyone faces starting out, and it’s something that I’m definitely tackling in 2010.

You have to take a deep breath, and go outside of your comfort zone. Submit your work to blogs to be reviewed, take your things to local stores and talk to the owners/buyers. Have faith in yourself and your product.

Fantastic advice, Mika, thank you! And if you would like to be interviewed next, just fill out the application.

Tel-Aviv, Israel

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[hTara]

This week, I decided to take a trip abroad to bring you the Shop Local post. My finger landed on Tel Aviv, Israel on the ol’ Etsy globe. I hope, one day, to be able to visit Israel – so much culture, so much history – but for now, this virtual shopping excursion will have to suffice!

Bobilina Studio - Walking in Blanket slippers

Neta Amir is a formally trained fashion designer who left the commercial fashion industry to create one of a kind dolls. Her dolls’ quirky sense of fashion created such a following that she was convinced to recreate their accessories in people-size! The slippers above are the result of this inspiration! Neta describes the comfort of these slippers as like “walking in a blanket.” Yes, please!

Black Metal Leaf Earrings by Shlomit Ofir

Shlomit Ofir, who has a degree in industrial design, creates unique & affordable jewelry.

And now for something completely different…

Post - branches tattoo knee-high socks

Gabby from Post creates these wild “tattoo” socks! Let this winding design poke out of a skirt or cropped trousers and you will certainly turn some heads at the office. Post also stocks vinyl decals and textural silver rings, designed by Tal.

OTIOT - personalized hebrew burp cloth

Limor from OTIOT is also a trained textile designer working towards her degree in industrial design. She features sun dresses, onesies, and other children’s clothing in addition to the burp cloths pictured above that she will personalize in any language!

If you’re lucky enough to be in the area, stop by the Tel-Aviv Contemporary Crafts Market that’s held every Tuesday and Friday in the Nahlat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall! Purchase handmade wares from the artisans themselves and discover that self-expression through craft knows no bounds.

Liza Rietz

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Previously featured in 2008, I recently caught up with Liza Rietz again, and wow!

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Liza Rietz began designing and sewing custom and retail pieces in 2001. She has been a part of Portland’s artistic clothing community from the beginning of her career, participating in multiple group and independent fashion shows. Her designs have been available nationally in high-end boutiques in Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles and Washington D.C.

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Rietz’s modern designs are structured yet feminine, detailed yet wearable, and are created individually, not mass-produced. Rietz designs two small lines annually, producing small batches of each design. Though her collections adhere to the seasons, her lines are not season-specific. Instead, Rietz focuses on designing clothes that are versatile and that easily translate to any time of year. Rietz’s designs are made out of all natural fabrics including cottons, linens, silks, and bamboos. With a small production run of each line, the individuality of each piece exemplifies how clothing can be artisitc and expressionistic.

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MaxEquations Wearable Art

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MaxEquations is a labor of love created by myself, Eve in partnership with my husband, Gary. He provides the business knowledge while I design our clothing and communicate with our customers. I have a varied background in the arts, as does Gary, but no direct experience in designing clothing until now. Strangely enough, I spent thousands of hours of my childhood drawing fashion designs. Who knew?

After the collection is designed, I work hand in hand with Linda Synder, our in house seamstress and pattern maker, who helps make my ideas come to life.

The clothing is then hand painted by our artist, Brian Metz. Our painted images are based on a seasonal theme determined by myself and designed along with Brian who paints each piece to order.