Denver Vendor Spotlight: Fortnight Company

1. How did you get your start in the handmade community?

Back in 2009 I was stitching plush toys under the name Planet Ogie as a senior project in college. A lot of curiosity grew surrounding the Ogie characters so I thought,  maybe if I threw a price tag on them I could make money doing something I enjoyed. I participated in my first holiday market in 2010, since then I’ve picked up leather work which is almost 100% hand-stitching and more recently became quite interested in pottery. I need to keep my hands busy otherwise I go crazy.

2. What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?

I only create pieces I myself would want to use on the daily. Almost everything is built by hand, it’s a very slow imperfect process, but this is what makes each piece truly unique.  

3. What or Who Inspires you?

Traveling has brought the most inspiration to my work.

4. What is your creative process like?

I usually start with sketches, moving then to paper prototypes. From there I really just go for it, cross my fingers and start cutting into leather. My process has become a bit faster with each new product.  I have a pocket full of Fortnight design elements I know will work well, and this has helped me stay consistent so I don't always have to start from scratch with each new product.

5. What is the coolest artistic tip you have ever received?

I’m not sure if this is considered an artistic tip but, I remind myself almost daily of a quote I read in Liz Gilbert’s book Big Magic - “ Any motion whatsoever beats inertia, because inspiration will always be drawn to motion.”

6. What can we expect to see from you at Jackalope?

Mostly leather work from large hand-stitched totes to small leather matchbooks.  If I can get my act together maybe a bit of pottery too!

7. Where can we learn more about you?

My Instagram feed, @fortnightcompany and someday soon I’ll have my site up - www.Fortnightcompany.co