How would you describe your style?  Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?
My style has evolved a lot over time. I’m currently finding myself drawn to more modern, minimalistic design than ever before, particularly as it applies to home décor and fashion design.

I have so many favorite artists. Even when I was primarily a painter, my favorite artists were usually sculptors like Anish Kapoor, Anthony Gormley and Cornelia Parker.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 
I tend to work in traditional mediums like oil paint and plaster; materials which wouldn’t be considered unique. However, the ideas are unique and individual to me. I always strive to make something I’ve truly never seen before, but now, more than ever, within a contemporary design context.

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
I will always be most inspired by nature; it’s the one connecting thread that has remained constant in all of my work. I love looking at landscape photography and contemporary takes on landscape painting. I’ve spent a lot of time on Pinterest in the last year. It’s such a great source for fine art and design imagery. I also frequently visit popular art and design blogs like ‘The Jealous Curator’ and ‘This is Colossal.’

When do you feel the most creative?
When I’m alone with my thoughts, listening to great music.

What is your creative process like?
I’m a big believer in going out and finding your inspiration. It’s always out there waiting for you. I can’t just sit around hoping an idea will pop into my head. I believe you have to look at as much as possible, constantly sifting through imagery until something begins to speak to you.

Where can we learn more about you?  
Follow me on instagram or facebook: 
instagram.com/waterstonesucculents
facebook.com/waterstonesucculents

Shop Waterstone Succulents at Jackalope Art & Craft Fair on July 25th & 26th at EXDO Event Center.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 
I began creating natural jewelry years ago, when my husband's family decided to sell their beloved cabin above Poudre Canyon. I looked for a tangible way to hold on to the memory of the property, and began collecting small, beautiful artifacts that, when placed together, reconstructed a story about the cabin and what it means to be nourished by a place. 

Since then, I have used my craft as a way to polish my experiences in nature --juxtaposing materials possessing their own, divergent stories to create a piece with a single, unified future. I have seen that everyone finds their own meaning in these pieces--whether through attachment to the physical locations housing the raw materials, the sentimentality of a kind of wood or stone, or the mere tying together of different histories. Thus, each piece is as unique in form as it is in meaning.

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
A good, old fashioned walk in the woods is the best inspiration, but particularly when I have a thought-provoking book by my side. Nature writers like John Muir, Wallace Stegner, Ellen Meloy, and Terry Tempest Williams have a way of illuminating the seemingly mundane aspects of our relationship with the world and making them instrumental to our understanding of it. My work operates in similar ways, encouraging both me and the wearer to reconsider what we know and feel about our natural surroundings.

When do you feel the most creative?
Walking in the woods outside my house in Breckenridge is the surest way to get me excited about creating. I love finding gnarled pieces of deadfall and wondering about the grain patterns that lay inside. Any time I'm out collecting lichens, too, I am anxious to be back in my shop, pairing them with new woods to see what makes each specimen come alive in a new relationship. The process of creating is equally exciting, allowing me to pair wood and lichens based on their complementary organic patterns.

Where can we learn more about you?  
My website, www.thelichenist.com, is a great way to learn about the materials I use and why I get so fired up about them. Follow me on Tumblr @thelichenist to gain insight into my daily inspirations and creative process.

Shop Lichenology at Jackalope Art & Craft Fair on July 25th & 26th at EXDO Event Center.

We are a mother daughter business and also have a pet bakery! We make all natural gluten free treats for you dog or cat!

How would you describe your style?  
We offer modern, contemporary styles for our pet feeders. Clean and simple lines.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 
We offer numerous different size feeders so we can custom fit to the height of your pet. As our pets age this is particularly important due to instability and arthritis but elevated feeders also aid digestion.

What sort of things inspire you?
Going for walks and hikes with our dogs, especially when we can make it to the ocean. 

When do you feel the most creative?
In a quiet room, with my pets and beautiful bouquet of flowers!

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
Be original and purposeful

Where can we learn more about you?
www.trendypet.com

www.sweetpeakitchens.com

Shop Trendy Pet at Jackalope Art & Craft Fair on July 25th & 26th at EXDO Event Center.

How would you describe your style?  

My stuff appeal to turtles, mostly. Humans like the stuff sometimes too, but most of the time it's just because they want to show their turtle the work because they know the their turtle will enjoy it. 

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 
I think maybe the fact that it appeals so much to turtles is pretty unique. 

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
I am inspired by the realization that if all of this doesn't work out I will be completely screwed, as I don't have any real skills in the workplace. That inspires me to keep doing this well.

When do you feel the most creative?
Probably in the morning and late at night. It really depends on the day. The creative ebb/flow is really inconsistent. I really just try and capture the artistic flow whenever it hits.

What is your creative process like?
It really depends on the project. But I would say coffee and exercise play a big role in stimulating my creativity and keeping me engaged and productive.

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
Probably to just keep making stuff and turn off the fear and insecurity. It will never be as good as you want/envision, so the pressure is off, in a way. I enjoy just creating and having fun with it all.

Where can we learn more about you?  
My website, www.mountainvsplains.com, would give you some more insight perhaps. 

Shop Mountain vs Plains at Jackalope Art & Craft Fair on July 25th & 26th at EXDO Event Center.

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

Hello! I'm Leanna Lin and own a shop/art gallery in Eagle Rock, CA (Northeast LA). I've been doing art and design since I was a kid, moving to fashion design and worked in the industry as a designer up until I opened Leanna Lin's Wonderland in 2010. I also have a jewelry line and have done a bunch of shows over the years including Find, Fashion Co-Op, Bazaar Bizarre, Unique, and recently Jackalope! Through these shows, I've met some amazing talents and decided to open my own shop to carry indie artists and designers!

Q: What/who is your biggest inspiration?

I'm inspired by so much around me (art, design, architecture, fashion), but I'd have to say I adore the street artist Fafi! I also look up to Tarina Tarantino, who I've been following since the beginning, for coming out with a specific brand and her businesses adventures with The Sparkle Factory.

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

I started my own jewelry line in the early 2000's and started applying to some indie shows. I think the Fashion Co-Op was the trendiest one in LA back then & I would do those shows!

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

I enjoy exploring what LA has to offer from the boutiques, secret stairs, eateries, museums and more! I'm always looking to try the next dessert trend and the perfect boba ;) My favorite color is purple and my favorite animal is the poodle.

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

That you can get creative in any way and now market yourself well and turn it into a real business!

Q: What is most important feature in an artist’s application for you?

How well they brand themselves.

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

Being a part of the Jackalope community and helping to discover new talent!

Q: Where can we find out more about you?

www.LeannaLinsWonderland.com

@LeannaLIn on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest 

I describe my design style as earthy chic with a rustic glamorous vibe. I am naturally drawn to very raw stones and I think that is attributed to the fact that my husband and I have a daughter, Mo, who graduated with a Geology degree. We were always collecting rocks when she was growing up! She gave me the love of "earthy" gems and each piece of jewelry that I make comes with the history and metaphysical properties of the elements used in the design. 

Megan, my oldest daughter, is my source of all things "color" and texture! She is a self-taught, and very accomplished acrylic artist, who paints with an extremely cheerful and vibrant style. She pushes me to get out of my comfort zone by mixing metals, textures and colors together in ways that I would not have thought of on my own. 

I'm certainly inspired by my family, but nature also gives me a boost to the creative process. Whether I'm on a walk with my dog, or a marathon course with Megan (we've completed 7), I find ideas and think about new designs. I want each piece to be meaningful. For example, I've just recently produced some hammered metal necklaces called "Stepping Stones" that were inspired by polished river rocks along a mountain stream. The name Stepping Stones" can symbolize a way to move forward, or heal, or reach our goals. I like to solder three beads onto the metal cutout to represent mind, body and spirit, but some people have customized them for number of children, anniversary dates, numerology, and so on.

I've also started hammering some new rings in Brass, Copper, and Sterling Silver. They are a wide band with a simple, yet dramatic, diagonal cutout and they are named "Pathway" rings. Megan and I were on a marathon course in Couer d'Alene, Idaho when we started talking about letting go of control and letting the path choose us, instead of the other way around. I think a lot of people can relate to jewelry with meaning. It makes a piece very special and can be a fantastic gift for someone. 

You can find other examples of my work on my website at www.StorytellingStrands.com and there is a link to my Etsy shop on that site, as well. Not everything is listed because I'd rather spend time making things that I can show at events like the Jackalope Art Fair!!!

Shop Storytelling Strands at Jackalope Art & Craft Fair on July 25th & 26th at EXDO Event Center.

How would you describe your style?  Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?
Illustrative and boldly minimal.  Salvador Dali has always been an inspiration. More recent ones include Frank Kozik, Coop and Tara McPherson.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?
We try to keep a consistent point of view with creative choices. The subject matter usually tells its own little story, so I let it. 

What sorts of things inspire you?  
The vanishing world of our youth and the promises it held. Inspiration comes through in all sorts of ways...books, music, movies and the world around us.

When do you feel the most creative? 
Usually starting at about 10 pm.

What is your creative process like?
We start with sketches in pencil on a notepad or sketch paper, then refine the ideas in about three more stages of drawing. When all the mistakes possible have been made and fixed, we ink the drawing. Then scan the drawing into photoshop and clean it up for printing.

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
Pay attention to proportion, contrast and variation of line weight. These fundamentals give support to all your following choices.

Fix your drawing problems before you turn them into painting problems.

Where can we learn more about you?
Countercouturedesign.com

Shop Counter Couture at Jackalope Art & Craft Fair on July 25th & 26th at EXDO Event Center.

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

I'm a native Phoenician, who has grown up frequenting the many awesome boutiques and craft fairs of our city. Aside from being on the consumer side of things, I’ve grown up in theatre and have loved nerding out on plays for my whole life. I’ve been creating experimental work for the past several years in the Valley, and love being a part of our arts scene.

Q: What/who is your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspiration these days, are the thousands of people all over our country fighting for equality. I got the chance recently to meet Rika Tyler, Co-Founder and Director of Hands Up United, and she absolutely inspired me. To be so young, leading a movement, and to retain the amount of light that she does... I was taken aback. She and her colleagues are not only protesting for equality, but are actively using their resources to empower the youth of St. Louis, through their Books & Breakfast Program, and their courses on coding. And she still makes time to go out with her friends and enjoy life! I’m inspired by the many people in our community and others doing amazing work to make the world a better place tomorrow.

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

Through an insatiable curiosity and coquettishness with Phoenix. I grew up going to school downtown, so a new experience was always just around the corner. Whether we were trying out a new coffee shop, bumming around on First Friday, or checking out a new restaurant, there were always so many people to meet and so many things to learn about what made those places unique. I sought out boutiques like Frances or Bunky, and now it’s my pleasure to get to share a life’s findings with our Localists at Local First Arizona.

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

Weekend Activity: Every Saturday I go to the Downtown Phoenix Public Market to stock up on my veggies for the week. It makes me feel connected to our city, and my neighbors, and the families and lives around me.
Food: Pesto Pasta with tons of fresh garlic and veggies. OR Indian food, I love Curry Corner on Apache in Tempe!
Color: Copper
Animal: Lemur, they're so goofy.
Passion: Experimental Theatre, and Social Justice.
Fruit: Fig

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

The arts & crafts world has a lot to do with the placemaking work I do with Local First Arizona. With the Localist program, it’s all about finding the ways the that people connect to their “place”. I love being able to paint a new story for Phoenix, or at least my story. Growing up, it was always easy to get down on Phoenix. We planned of moving away, chasing our dreams and sharing our successes with far away places. To me, Phoenix is a thriving city with an enviable arts scene, and enough boutiques to fill your closet for a lifetime. I get to show people the best our state has to offer, and so much of that is through getting to know our neighbors, and the many talented artists that our state has to offer.

Q: What is most important feature in an artist’s application for you?

To me, the most important feature in the artist’s application is the artist statement. I want to learn who these people are, and why they create what they create!

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

I’m looking forward to learning even more about what my state has to offer! I’m also looking forward to seeing folks at the fair whose applications I saw waaaay back in summer. Seeing it all come together, that’s going to be great.

Q: Where can we find out more about you?

Check out http://localfirstaz.com/localist to learn more about the Localist Program, and find new ways to see the city! I’m also a part of the Emerging Arts Leaders of Phoenix, which you can find more info about at http://www.ealphx.org/

How would you describe your style?  Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?
I would say my work is a rustic, modern combination. 

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
I am inspired by my every day, my life! I have the opportunity to experience so many people, places, ideas, and adventures, all of which I completely adore. With in each of those I find unique inspirations. 

When do you feel the most creative?
Ahh... in the mountains. Smile.

What is your creative process like?
My process starts with a 14ft. piece of wood and ends up with a handful of smaller pieces of art work. Creating the original paintings, grinding and sanding the wood, cutting it all up and transferring my paintings involves a lot of hands on kind of love. By the end of the entire process it most definitely feels like a very unique and custom piece of art. I love every step!

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
Enjoy the process of what you do most. 

Where can we learn more about you?
http://www.sage8studio.com
www.facebook.com/sage8studio
www.instagram.com/sage8studio

Shop Sage 8 Studio at Jackalope Art & Craft Fair on July 25th & 26th at EXDO Event Center.

“Georganne Bryant opened Frances, affectionately named after her grandmother, in the heart of midtown Phoenix in 2006. She personally curates Frances’ revered blend of unique clothing, jewelry, paper goods and handmade gifts.”

Tell us about yourself and your background in the arts & crafts world:
Georganne Bryant opened Frances, affectionately named after her grandmother, in the heart of midtown Phoenix in 2006.  She personally curates Frances' revered blend of unique clothing, jewelry, paper goods and handmade gifts.  Georganne is dedicated to collaborations with other local businesses to enrich the Phoenix community. The award winning annual craft fair, "Frances Crafeteria" has showcased hundreds of independent Arizona crafters and artists.

WIth a loyal following, Frances has been voted "Best Boutique" by Phoenix New Times since 2006. Georganne is also the co-creator of the Phoenix Small Wonders Map, a free guide to local dining and shopping. For her work in the community she was listed by Arizona Foothills Magazine as one the the "Ten Women Who Move The Valley" in 2012. The Frances family shares Georganne's passion for creating a special shopping experience and encouragement of the creative community in Phoenix.

What/Who is your biggest inspiration?
I have to say my parents have been my biggest inspiration. My father was a very successful entrpenuer/dentist while my mom is an artist. Combining their sensibilities and learning from the two of them has helped me build Frances. They were constant and encouraging.

How did you get your position in the arts & craft world?
I started Crafteria, a 45 vendor curated indie craft festival held the first Friday in December, nine years ago after attending the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago.  We also hosted Faythe Levine and her indie film Handmade Nation approximately 7 years ago, I was very inspired by Faythe.

Tell us about a few favorites of yours:
My husband and I love to hike, we love Mexican food and that is why we have to hike!  
I love to hunt for the perfect items for Frances.
Several of my favorite restaurants are: Cibo, Pane Bianco, Otro, Los Compdres, and Via De Los Santos

What do you love most about the handmade movement?
I love that there is a handmade movement still happening, we all know our ancestors handmade items to survive by making their own foods for day to day life or just to make something special for someone.  My mom tells a story of her mom making her a dress from a flour sack and that is when flour sacks were a lovely floral.  It has come a long way from that time in America but the sense of making something with your hands feeds your soul and then taking it into the community for someone to admire and purchase is a beautiful thing.

What is the most important feature in an artists application for you?
Uniqueness, consistency and quality

What are you most looking forward to in being part of the Jackalope Arts Jury?
I am always happy that an artist has an opportunity to show their talent, glad to help the community add another quality event to the Phoenix calendar. 

Where can we find out more about you?

 www.francesvintage.com   
@francesvintage on twitter & instagram
@georganneb on instagram