What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
Mid century modern furniture was a big first inspiration. A friend would hunt down and buy Eames furniture and I became mildly obsessed with their design work  From there I moved to architecture and was amazed by how simple clean lines could create in an amazing environment, which is not unlike some of the formal results of my patterns and weavings.  Home décor, my focus now, pulls from all these disciplines (architecture, furniture design, graphic design) in an effort to really convey an experience in a space. 

 What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
I worked as a visual merchandiser for over 10 years and the best creative tip that I have ever received is:

“If you feel like something is not quite right with what you’re working on, like you’ve over-worked it or can’t find the solution to a piece - walk away and come back with fresh eyes”

I know it may seem like an obvious one, but this has been the most helpful.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?
As a designer who practices shibori, even though I employ techniques traditional to creating dye patterns, each has a distinctive fingerprint. This identity of this fingerprint comes from a shibori dyer's method, how we tend to our vat, and the different touches we put in our hand-dyed process. Every piece is different from the last.

Since everything I produce is handmade, I like to imagine the finished work is a personal art piece made for a new friend or a colleague's home, and if it’s in their home – that’s a pretty intimate thing. And what’s more personal than sharing something you've made with your hands?

When do you feel the most creative?
When I'm not under a deadline! I think I make my most exciting work when I'm playing, and you need that freedom to play to really push outside of habit and routine. Anything to shake up expectations. Before I know it, the projects I  work on without creative or time constraints end up being some of the most satisfying.

SHOP Juniper and Fir at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

Owner of I Heart Denver Store, Creative Director of Artstir, and VP of Chapter Development at AIGA Colorado

Q. Tell us a little about yourself & your background in the arts & crafts world?           

A. I am the Owner of the I Heart Denver Store, an innovative, award-winning retail model developed to support Denver’s creative economy. The store carries 100% local art and design goods and has returned an unprecedented 70% of sales to more than 160 artists/designers over the last 3 years. To date, the store has sold over $2.1 million in local design goods, and roughly $1.4 million of that money was paid directly back to the artists and designers for the sales of their goods. I also work with Denver Pavilions to implement programming and events to activate the Denver's downtown creative culture. 

Q. What/who is your biggest inspiration?   

A. The DIY movement in general. It inspires me to see how much we can make with our hands and new technology. 

Q. How did you get into your position in the arts & crafts world?

A. While pursuing my creative education I took part time work that gained me sales and management experience. After 4.5 years of college I was able to secure a visual display position at Urban Outfitters, then moved into leadership roles in other corporations and small businesses. After several years of helping companies with new store builds, team building, and marketing I took the initiative to self produce art exhibitions and events that led to an invite by the city of Denver to run a one week pop-up store. The press and sales potential of that first pop-up store is what lead to the retail program I run today. 

Q. Tell us about a few favorites of your: Animal?

A. My favorite animal is my best buddy Denver Picard. He is my corgi and shop dog. A favorite at the Denver Pavilions, he has won a tourism award and a couple Best of Denver awards from Denver Westword. 

Q. What do you love most about the handmade movement?

A. The handmade movement has allowed passions to become careers, and new businesses to pursue a sustainable path more so than ever before. 

Q. What is the most important feature in an artist's application for you?

A. The imagery. Professional and complete works that show me something ready to sell. 

Q. What are you most looking forward to in being a part of the Jackalope Arts jury? 

A. Seeing works not just produced in Colorado. My projects usually are geared to a hyperlocal stance which I wholeheartedly believe in, but an opportunity to get to curate from outside my normal region is a nice break. 

Q. Where can we find out more about you?

A. I keep my professional profile updated on Linkedin and you can find fun stuff I post on Facebook. http://facebook.com/samuelschimek https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelschimek

How would you describe your style?
Playful.  Organic.  Accessible.

Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?
I actually admire ANYONE who is creating, designing or making art in any way. 

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
My kids. My fish. My kitchen and backyard. I try to remember to find inspiration in the mundane and everyday because that's what I'm experiencing a majority of the time.  Like when my youngest son, Rex was born and I had three kids under five and what felt like no time to shower and I would just sit on the  floor to watch the fish when I had five minutes to myself. It became as close to entertainment slash meditation that I got. And I became obsessed with and couldn't stop talking about my Frisky Fish. That essentially became my inspiration for my line of essential oils. 

When do you feel the most creative? 
After two glasses of wine…. No, actually it's random and that's why I scribble lists, notes, and ideas everywhere...on my phone, post-it's, my notebook, my hand. And then eventually one of those random words and ideas turns into something. 

What is your creative process like?
Experimental. Organic. Collaborative. 

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
I'm completely paraphrasing something someone said a few years ago:
Just put it out there. Get your work an ideas out into the world. Don't wait for it to be perfect. I think the ACTUAL phrase was "just get shit out there".  The sentiment really stuck with me.  

Where can we learn more about you?  
Www.friskyfishla.com
Or come visit me at my booth at Jackalope Arts.  I look forward to chatting with you!

SHOP Frisky Fish at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

Denver Fashion Truck is a mobile boutique owned and operated by husband &  wife, Adrian & Desiree- “Mobility for Denver’s Art and Fashion”

Q. Tell us a little about yourself & your background in the arts & crafts world?                                                                                              

A. (Desiree) I am a maker myself. Mostly dresses and home décor.       (Adrian) I have always been an artist, drawing, graffiti art, and I am currently in school obtaining my BFA in fine arts and communication design. So naturally we found ourselves indulging in arts and craft, not just as artists but as fans too. Eventually we came to want to offer these goods to the public.                                                                          

Q. What/who is your biggest inspiration?                                             

A. (Desiree) My husband and our daughters. They inspire me and push me to be the best I can be.                                                    (Adrian) I simply want to create awesome things and then share them with people, that's what inspires me. 

Q. How did you get into your position in the arts & crafts world?

A. (Desiree) My husband and I were sharing vendor booths at different events. We had wanted a boutique for years. We followed our path and a year and a half ago DFT was born.                                      (Adrian) Well as artists we wanted to get exposure, we worked a few of Fashion Denver events then we wanted to start establishing ourselves with our own events/business and share our work. This is after hitting a few dead ends with potential outlets for our work. So we figured if we want to perform, first we have to build the stage, hence Denver Fashion Truck. 

Q. Tell us about a few favorites of your: Weekend activity? Food? Color? Animal?

A. (Desiree) I love exploring our city and small mountain towns on our days off. I love a perfect hamburger. The color purple has always been my favorite and I’d have to say the fox is my favorite animal and dogs!                                                                                                       (Adrian) I love the mountains and exploring mountain towns! My favorite color is orange, you either hate it or love it nonetheless it's funky, fun and synonymous with my favorite time of year, autumn! My favorite food is Mexican! Isn't everybody's favorite food Mexican? But seriously street tacos! Com'on now!. I really need a favorite animal in my life, I like everything furry at the zoo except for tarantulas. My dog is pretty awesome too. 

Q. What do you love most about the handmade movement?

A. (Desiree) I love seeing the growth especially in our home town. Being a native, it’s such an inspiration to see what a community the handmade market has become.                                                     (Adrian) I like that it employees makers and creative types! It's also an awesome stage for us, It's more personalized, 

Q. What is the most important feature in an artist's application for you?

A. (Desiree) Passion + execution.                                                               (Adrian) I think it's important for an artist to be aware of their branding and to see that awareness from a potential customers view. 

Q. What are you most looking forward to in being a part of the Jackalope Arts jury? 

A. We are excited to see all the different applications come through, to see what others are doing in the handmade community.

Q. Where can we find out more about you?

A. Check out our revamped website. Set to launch April 2015. www.denverfashiontruck.com

Meet Lauren Wilde, of Wilde Animals.  

How would you describe your style?  

I create Wilde Animals, which are realistic animal head sculptures made from all vegan materials that add a thoughtful charm to any wall. I choose to create animals that are endangered or vulnerable species to raise awareness and education for these animals and their habitats. 15% of every animal head purchase is donated to an organization specifically helping that animal. Wilde Animals partners with some amazing organizations doing great things for endangered animals all over the world. I hand make every single Wilde Animal head. I sculpt each animal once and create a durable mold. Then I can run the materials through the mold as many times as I need and paint each new head.  

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

There's lots of great and creative faux taxidermy out there. What makes Wilde Animals unique is our commitment to realism - I believe that something amazing and powerful happens when we see these animals as they really are, both in terms of us understanding their beauty and importance as well as realizing how unacceptable it is that they might soon be extinct from our earth. My hope is that through this realism all who see a Wilde Animal connect with these endangered and vulnerable species in hopes of raising awareness for these animals and their habitats. 

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?

I get inspired by unique and strange "ugly" species. Everyone loves the cute, furry animals (me included!) but I like to give some attention to endangered species who might not always have the spotlight, like the pangolin, California condor, pygmy hippo- I like giving all species equal love and attention. I try to feature animals from all eco-systems and from all around the world. 

When do you feel the most creative?

I feel most creative when I am in my studio getting my hands dirty and making these animal heads. Every head is a little bit different- a different frame, a different plaque, and slightly different paint scheme- so I'm constantly staying creative. 

What is your creative process like?

My creative process: I research and learn about different endangered animals, and I find animals that I feel would be a great contribution to the Wilde Animals line. After I decide on an animal, I collect as many photos and data of the animal as I can so that I can create a realistic and proportional animal head. I use clay and sculpt the head, and then take a mold of that sculpt. Then I use expandable flexible foams and can run as many heads as I need out of that mold. Then I hand paint each head, apply any fur or whiskers and eyeballs, then mount it on a frame or plaque ready to hang!

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?

Coolest artistic tip I've gotten: Starting a business is extremely difficult, and someone once told me "If you are scared, then you are doing the right thing" and it has really stuck with me through this process. It can be very scary and overwhelming to put your art out there for people to buy, and there are so many times during the process of creating Wilde Animals where I could have stopped or second guessed all my decisions. But instead, I stuck with it and pushed on and also aspired to the highest and greatest goals, and I often think about that saying as it help push me. 

Where can we learn more about you?  

You can learn more about Wilde Animals and see the animal heads on our website-www.wildeanimals.com. Currently through Wilde Animals, we are doing a "Go Wilde Challenge" where once a week I introduce one small lifestyle change you can make to your life that will greatly impact these animals lives and habitats. I introduce one small change to my own life once a week for a whole year, and I document and teach people about the change, and encourage others to take the challenges with me. Each Wednesday we put up the new challenge on our blog (www.wildeanimals.com/blog) and also on our Facebook and Instagram. The most challenging one for me personally so far this year has been to stop using plastic straws. It's unbelievable how many plastic straws America goes through in one day, and most end up in the ocean and on our beaches. I invested in reusable straws that I clean every night to carry around with me instead of using plastic straws. So check out the challenge- the more we know, the bigger impact we can create. 

SHOP Wilde Animals at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

One of the Owners and Face of Fancy Tiger Crafts

Q. Tell us a little about yourself & your background in the arts & crafts world?

A. I had a crafty upbringing as my mom had a craft supply store when I was little called "the Craft Peddler" in Parker Colorado. Not only did I spend a lot of time there as a child, she also took me to craft fairs with her where she sold her work. In 2006, I opened Fancy Tiger with my partner Matthew Brown that combined our two passions of fashion and crafting. In 2008, Fancy Tiger became two stores, Fancy Tiger Crafts and Fancy Tiger Clothing and this was when I partnered with Amber Corcoran. In addition to running Fancy Tiger Crafts for almost 9 years, we also put on the wildly successful Holiday Handmade craft fair here in Denver that ran from 2007 - 2012. My craft ties run deep.

Q. What/who is your biggest inspiration?

A. The crafting community is my biggest inspiration - I love being constantly inspired by our friends, customers, and staff and all the things they make. 

Q. How did you get into your position in the arts & crafts world?

A. Being the face of Fancy Tiger Crafts for so long has helped me gain a lot of friends in the community and respect from local and non-local crafters alike. 

Q. Tell us about a few favorites of your: Weekend activity? Food? Color? Animal?

A. I love hiking and backpacking which makes Colorado the perfect place for me. I try and get out into nature once a week and enjoy all the seasons - from snowshoeing in the winter to high-country camping in the summer, I like to take advantage of our amazing locale. My favorite daily activity is to enjoy soy milk lattes at one of our many amazing coffeehouses in town. I love all vegetables and my favorite way to eat them is just sticking with what's in season.

Q. What do you love most about the handmade movement?

A. I love seeing all of the amazing things that are out there. I love the support that everyone gives each other. I love buying beautiful handmade things and knowing the story behind them. 

Q. What is the most important feature in an artist's application for you?

A. Photos. Good, clear photos that let me see the workmanship and get a feel for the crafter is so important. Styling and lighting are important pieces that go into the photos and can allow me to get a sense of what someones booth is going to look like and what their style is. I also like knowing the story behind the products - how did they get started or are they using a particularly interesting material? 

Q. What are you most looking forward to in being a part of the Jackalope Arts jury?

A. Seeing all the amazing things people are making!

Q. Where can we find our more about you?

A. at fancytigercrafts.com, on our blog fancytigercrafts.com/blog and on instagram at "fancytigercrafts" and "fancyjaime"

Meet Coldwarer Canyon Provision.

Coldwater Canyon Provisions hand crafts jams, jellies, pickles, relishes & chutneys using family, heirloom and unique recipes, with the finest California pesticide-free or Certified Organic produce sourced from family farms. Products are always all Vegan, gluten free, and use Kosher ingredients.

"When we prepare our jams and jellies, we enjoy letting the fruit speak for itself.  We only rarely add spices or herbs to our jams, jellies and marmalades, after all, California produce is awesome!  We find the best California produce we can find at the farmers markets so we let the fruit sing, rather than covering it up with other ingredients.   Perhaps you could describe our style as "California rustic??"  Or maybe or style is "Good Old Grandma's??"  

Coldwater Canyon Provisions is based in North Hollywood run by Rondo Mieczkowski who grew up in the Midwest. His Polish family canned just about everything they could.  The company was born after Rondo’s Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam won Best In Show for all jams and jellies at the California State Fair.

"Most of the recipes I use are originally my Grandma's, who lived up on farms in Poland, Canada and Michigan.  Again, if you have a wonderful batch of fresh raspberries or peaches, no need to gild them up with other flavors....let the fruit taste be clear."

Coldwater Canyon Provisions has won a National Good Food Award medal and been featured in various media including Bon Appetit and "Top Ten L.A. Artisan Food Makers," L.A. Weekly and "20 LA Food Artisans You Need To Know," Zagat.com 

"Now our pickles and chutneys (also Grandma's recipes) are where we excel with spices added to the fruit and or vegetables.  We also feature "old school" kinds of pickles, like Pickled Watermelon Rind and Bread and Butter Pickles, things that families regularly used to can and put up, but you can't find nowadays in grocery stores."

"We take advantage of California and its ability to grow such a variety of produce.  Our fruit is only from California including growers we have found who grow mangos, guavas, jalapenos and the Baba Raspberry, a variety that is native to Southern California, discovered in the mountains in 1979.  We continually are learning and finding out new varieties and passing on the successes to our customers."

SHOP Coldwater Canyon Provisions at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

We are so excited to bring Jackalope to Denver and are loving the support that has already come our way. 

Our Denver Fair will be July 25th and 26th at EXDO Event Center in the heart of Denver's River North Arts District (RiNo) from 11am-6pm.  Housed in former industrial warehouses we can't deny the urban feel this venue provides. Jackalope Arts will be taking over their entire complex, even the alley in between to create an indoor outdoor event!

Same as in Pasadena, our fair is juried to maintain a high quality standard. We will be seeking out artists who display the highest quality craftsmanship in original fashion and jewelry design, ceramics and paper goods, innovative home decor and housewares, art and photography, and much more!  

To help us drum up support we have some amazing SPONSORS that we would like you to meet! 

Westword: One of the top resources in Denver to find out what is going on across the city in terms of news, sports, entertainment, and more! We are also hosting a giveaway to provide people an inside look into our Summer Vendors! 

Spices of Life Gift Shop: They are new to the Denver Metro Area and are located just along Tennyson street. They are your one stop shop in finding the "Spices of Life" including goods in music, travel, cooking and wine, Colorado Living, Home Decor, and more, most of which are handmade here in Denver!

Fancy Tiger Crafts: Fancy Tiger Crafts is located along South Broadway and specializes in craft supplies and classes for the modern crafter! They host an open craft night every Tuesday and also have sister store, Fancy Tiger Clothing, where you can find a lot of unique clothing and accessories!

Denver Fashion Truck: is also joining forces and spreading the love! Mobility for Denver's art and fashion. They offer a variety of quality goods that include local fashion, art, vintage and modern gifts.  

I Heart Denver Store: located in the heart of Downtown Denver at the Denver Pavilions, has long been a staple for everything local in Colorado and has teamed up with us to help promote the handmade movement! They also have an online shop, making it possible to support the Colorado makers from across the country. 

Team Etsy Colorado: A community of Colorado-based artists and curators! 

River North Art District: Where Art is Made.  Located just North of Downtown, RiNo is dedicated to promoting and supporting the people and businesses that reside in the area. It is also the home of EXDO and Jackalope Denver! 

Whorl: Named Denver's Best New Boutique in Westword, Whorl resides in Denver's LoHi neighborhood. Whorl is not only a storefront, but offers an array of services such as a mobile store front, styling, and private events.  

Yelp: Yelp is a sponsor for each of our Jackalope Cities and we love having them as a referral! 

CRAVE Magazine: CRAVE Magazine is here to promote, celebrate and support our local Colorado artists and our thriving art scene.

Art Quench Magazine: ArtQuenchMagazine.com is an amazing source of information on the creativity in the world today and are supporters of each Jackalope City! 

We hope this gets you as excited as it has made us! There is definitely no denying the talent that exists in the Denver Handmade Community :) 

How would you describe your style?  Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?
My personal style is minimal in color but exaggerated in silhouette. I love mixing layers, textures, and neutrals. My wardrobe often becomes a blank canvas for my jewelry to really stand out. I admire the confidence and strength in vision that designers, Mary Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen have for their work with The Row, and the impeccable design sensibilities of Kym Ellery for her namesake brand, Ellery.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?
My work is my own simply because it comes from me and my experiences. There's a quality to everything I create that comes from within. When I start to feel lost in the sea of amazing jewelry designers out there, I look to my own center of gravity and find my inspiration again. This act turns good designers into artists. In this way, we're all sharing our own unique messages.  

When do you feel the most creative?
I feel the most creative about 2 seconds after I wake up in the morning, but that creativity is somewhat fleeting. Around my second cup of coffee the juices really start flowing. I also feel creative at the height of boredom. My best ideas come when my mind is clear and free of stress, which is often times at the most random moments. I have a notepad handy at all times to jot down my musings before starting on new wax designs. 

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
My dear friend and fellow artist, Joy Smith of Communion by Joy shared this notion with me, "there could be a million designers out there, but there is only one you." Such a simple, yet powerful concept that can be so easily forgotten. 

Where can we learn more about you?
My website! www.androgynydesign.com

SHOP Androgyny at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

Not only will you find Jackalope Art and Craft Fair to be your premier shopping destination this spring, but we will also be providing a way for the fair goer to transition from shopper to makers. At our Spring Pasadena Fair on April 25th and 26th, we will be offering fair goers the opportunity to participate in free collaborative workshops (some are even kid friendly)! 

Presented by both sponsors and Fair vendors, this will allow patrons to take a dip into the DIY crafting world and get a better idea of the craftsmanship that goes into these one of a kind handmade goods and products. 

These workshops will include:

• Kids Art Workshop: Presented by fellow Jackalope Sponsor SPACE Arts Center. SPACE is a nonprofit arts center hosting exhibitions and workshops for people of all ages and levels. Join them for an engaging project on the signs you see and the messages you wish to communicate. It's time to cut and paste! 
• Kids Sewing Lesson: Jin Kim from Common Thread Studio in South Pasadena will teach the kiddos how to work the needle! 
• Leanna Lin's Wonderland DIY Beaded Bracelets: Be creative and make your own colorful beaded stretchy bracelet with fair sponsor Leanna Lin's Wonderland! There will be a fun selection of candy-like beads from her shop in Eagle Rock. Perfect for the kiddos!
• Wire Wrapping 101: Create your own unique pair of earrings and learn the process of wire wrapping with The Glass Studio. 
• Natural Dye Demonstration:  Presented by Kristin Amber Morrison. Kristen, a natural dyer, designer and fiber artist, will be hosting an informative workshop on the natural dyeing process! 
• DIY Skin Care Workshop: Owner of Handcrafted Honey Bee, Stacia Guzzo, will demonstrate just how quick, easy, and fun it is to make several different high-quality, personalized DIY skin care products. Take back your skin care by knowing exactly what is going on your body! 
• Essential Oil Blending Workshop: Learn about the properties of essential oils, experiment with them and leave with your own sample blend created by you. Hosted by Frisky Fish. 
• Terrarium Building: Presented by Makers Kit, will allow patrons to create their own terrarium! Makers Kit embodies the DIY idea and will be selling all sorts of fun kits for the DIY enthusiast at the fair. 
• Kids Crafting Corner:  SoCal Etsy Guild will also be hosting a Kids Crafting Corner each day all day-there is no excuse to miss out on this! 

Some workshops have limited space so make sure to stop by the workshop zone, or the nearest information tent, the day(s) of the fair to sign up! You can see the schedule of activities online now!