Every year the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival grows bigger and bigger and with Wheat Ridge poised as one of the next big up and coming neighborhoods, we are thrilled to join them this year!  

HISTORY
The Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival began in 1969 when the city of Wheat Ridge was first born. It is one of the oldest and longest running festivals in the state of Colorado. The name of the festival honors the slogan “Carnation Capital of the World” that was given to the area long ago when Wheat Ridge and the surrounding area actually numbered 32 different growers at one time! 

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The two+ day annual festival features ongoing live music on the main stage, a large beer garden and expanded food court with specialty food vendors and craft brewers and wines. The Kids Fun Zone has been expanded to include even more full size carnival rides, midway games and yummy carnival concessions including the famous funnel cake! Also featured is a vintage circus, fine art show, the famous spaghetti dinner (on both nights), a chili cook-off, community softball game, and two nights of fireworks. 

Check out the events schedule here: http://www.thecarnationfestival.com/events-entertainment/

And now the Jackalope Art & Craft Fair is an exciting new addition to the festivities!  Check out where we will be during the event!

We can't wait to see you all there!  You can apply to be an artisan online until May 20th at www.jackalopeartfair.com/apply

Keep an eye out for our vendor announcement coming in June! http://www.jackalopeartfair.com/denver/

How would you describe your style?  
I like designs that clean, simple, functional, with a touch of asymmetry, detail and or color.  The products that I create represent this type of sensibility. I also feel the aesthetic in my designs are not dissimilar to wabi-sabi. 

(wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, asperity (roughness or irregularity), simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy, and appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes.)

Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?
I look up to Naoto Fukasawa and Dieter Rams. I love the classic, timeless look and functions of their designs.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 
Since my products are handcrafted, each piece will be inherently unique and different from one another.  Coming from a product design background, I keep the user in mind. I make sure that the product first serves a function, as well as balancing the design so its fashionable and not purely utilitarian. An example would be my signature k(not), which adds a simple, but fun and distinct detail to my designs. Another subtle design detail that I do, is  the thread detail that appears on the corner of my bags, wallets, and cases. Playful design choices such as a pop of color, as with the threads in the k(not) key hooks and key clasps are yet another element of my personal style. It's these details that reflect my personality and my sensibility as a designer.  

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
I look at everything! I can get inspiration from a wide spectrum, anywhere and anything in between being out in nature, to a visit to the hardware store. It can be something as a simple branch that has a unique kink and bark coloration. Some of the best designs and color harmonies happen in nature. Where as something like a small brass rivet opens up ideas on how I can use it as accent piece to showcase the brass finish, like adding brass buttons to the card cases and wallets.

What is your creative process like?
My head is always brewing up ideas. Whether I'm out an about, exploring new coffee shops or relaxing at home reading or watching something. There's no specific time when creativity happens, it organically happens whenever I get inspired by something or sometimes it's just out of the blue. I just make sure I keep an open mind about everything so I don't close any doors on something that can potentially become a good idea. Once I get an idea though, I make sure I document it as soon as I can. If it's some tangible that inspires me, I'll take a photo. If it's a design idea, I'll do a quick sketch, but sometimes I'll jump straight into mocking it up it as a prototype. There are no rules with creativity.

Shop CLAU at this weekend's Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena!

How would you describe your style?
We describe our style as boho, hippie, zen, beach, and effortless, with an exotic flair.   

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?
We love the beautiful traditional kimono but wanted a modern version, while keeping some of the exotic elements.  So, we created a few different kimono styles; from highlighting the traditional sleeve opening design, to our flirty cutout shoulder design, to the laid back design.

We focus on creating functional pieces that you can wear whenever, wherever, and style with anything.  Let's say you are going on a trip, you'd be covered if you bring one of our kimonos with you. It is so versatile that you can create several looks with just that one piece.

We make small limited edition batches to ensure scarcity and offer a wider range in designs to choose from. We also design one-of-a-kind pieces using our own tie dye and custom original print fabrics.

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
As Musicians, we’ve had the opportunity to travel a bit here in the States and overseas. There's always so many beautiful and unique things to see, everywhere we go.  We just kind of get lost and start sketching or photographing things that catch our eye.

What is your creative process like?
There are books and loose leaf pages everywhere of our design sketches.  Typically, we will plan around a theme, let's say, music festival wear, or fall essentials, and we will look through our sketches or photographs and go from there. 

When do you feel the most creative?
For me (Tima), when it's quiet.
For Rick, when there's chaos.

Where can we learn more about you?
You can find us online:
Website: http://boanderos.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boanderos
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/boanderos
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/boanderos/

Shop Bo & Eros at Jackalope Pasadena on April 30th & May 1st!

How would you describe your style?  

I would describe my style as Rustic Chic. The natural look of the wood along with the colored layers within the skateboard make the pieces stand out. I love to make stylish pieces that can be worn everyday.

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

All of my products are made using Recycled Skateboards.  I take all of the broken or unusable skateboard decks that would normally be thrown in the trash and I use them to create each piece. I create every idea from the heart.  Everything I make is created from emotion, mood and inspiration.

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

There is not one specific thing that inspires me to create.  It could be someone giving me an idea which then inspires more ideas.  It could be a shape or color of an item.  Sometimes my kids inspire me when they watch me work and tell me to try an idea of theirs.

When do you feel the most creative?

Creativity for me happens very spontaneously.  It is never during a specific time or day.  I can go a week without creating anything then something as simple as a wild idea can spawn a months worth of ideas and projects.  I have learned to carry a notebook with me so if I come up with an idea at any given moment I can write it down or draw it up so I won't forget later.

What is your creative process like?

My creative process starts the moment I get an idea - whether I have to run out the same day to get materials or just go into the workshop to get started.  My creative process is also pretty messy.  I usually don't see the mess until after I have finished!

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

The best tip I have received is to stay true to yourself and not compare yourself to others.  There are so many creative people and everyone has different talents and styles.  There is always going to be someone that doesn't like your style but there will be a lot that do.  

Where can we learn more about you?  

You can find out more about me on my website www.r3sk8products.com

Instagram: @r3sk8products

Facebook: @r3sk8products

Twitter: @r3sk8products

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

We develop our own unique silhouettes, prints & embroideries right here in the Lovestitch DTLA headquarters. By creating our own prints and embroideries it sets us apart from other brands by giving us a distinct, unique, and very recognizable look.

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

Although we have MANY facets of inspiration, we are in love with all that is nature! We draw inspiration from the tiniest details in nature; Beautiful color schemes inspired by an otherwise unnoticed plant, patterns from a bird or animal, embroideries conceived from a pattern in the clouds…We are always on the lookout for some way to integrate the beauty and intricacies of nature into our designs.

When do you feel the most creative?

Our team of designers, stylists and production artists are a fusion of culture, passion, experience and individuality – Lovestitch is made up of unique, distinct personalities who are able to draw creativity by our love of Travel, Culture, Art, Music, Nature and the unbridled spirit of femininity. Walking into the studio after a weekend at a music festival will make one designer feel the most creative, while the other may feel the most creative after a weekend camping in silence with nature…

What is your creative process like?

Our creative process is very fluid & free flowing. The sky is the limit! We never discourage or restrict our team from bringing new concepts to the table. We truly believe that no idea is a bad idea, especially in art! We value & welcome all input & every new idea or concept. We are founded on the belief that everyone’s ideas are equally valuable and worth a shot! Once an idea/concept/design/Sketch is approved for production, it is sent through to our very organized & thorough production team.

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

This goes hand in hand with our creative process. We believe that because every individual human is unique and valuable, no idea is a bad idea. There is no such thing as bad art because art, in its rawest form is simply an expression of an individual’s unique perspective…and Fashion/Style is a wearable form of artistic expression. So when someone from the team comes to the table with an idea for a new print, silhouette, embroidery or color scheme, we give the concept what all art deserves; our full attention, respect & appreciation.

It’s been an amazing experience to see how our customer is reacting to, and interacting with our brand. The positive feedback & support of our loyal customer is what gives us the motivation to continue challenging ourselves to exceed our customer’s expectations with every new season. A Lovestitch favorite:  “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” – Rumi

To learn more about our brand & to see what we do, visit www.shoplovestitch.com or follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovestitchclothing/

How would you describe your style? Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?

I would describe my style as whimsical, cute, and delicate. The artists I'm influenced by include Salvador Dali, Dr. Seuss (if you haven't seen his fine art, you should look it up), and Daniel Merriam, among others.

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

What makes my work unique and truly my own is the love and care I put into every piece. I make a lot of similar items but they are all unique in some way and I love making each one. They all have their own "personalities", and I love seeing people connect with the one they choose to bring home with them. I call it an adoption, not a sale.

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

It's hard to say what inspires me because inspiration comes from everything, everyone, and everywhere. I never know what's going to spark an idea next. Right now I'm taking a sculpture class at Scottsdale Community College and seeing some of the other students' and my instructor's work has been inspiring. I also get a lot of ideas when I travel. Sometimes individuals are my inspiration, or a cool tree, or a cloud, something I read... you get it. I love the unpredictability of it.

When do you feel the most creative?

I feel the most creative when I'm with my partner chatting over coffee about the future and our plans. He's also very creative, but in a very different way than I am, and that makes us an amazing team. I think that's what people mean when they refer to their "other half." He thinks of things I'd never come up with and pushes me to try things I wouldn't otherwise. Partnering with him has been one of the best decisions I've made for Happy Kitty Ceramics so far and I can't wait to see where we go!

What is your creative process like?

Creating just one Happy Kitty mug is a very involved process. First all the individual pieces of the feet, face, ears, and tail must be formed. Sometimes I add a bow tie or tongue, too. Then I make a pinch pot for the mug, and assemble everything. After that, the mug has to dry slowly to redistribute moisture throughout the porcelain and prevent cracking. Then when they are bone-dry each mug is underglazed with its own unique design. The first firing process is called bisque firing, which semi-vitrifies the mug at a relatively low temperature (about 1900 degrees F) leaving it porous but less fragile than bone-dry. Then it's time to glaze the mugs and fire them again at a higher temperature to vitrify the porcelain (turn it into stone using high heat) and turn the glaze into the glossy waterproof surface of the finished piece. Each of those firings take about 8 hours. It takes a lot of time to make them, but now that I have help from my partner and can get higher volume batches done, the process is slowly becoming more efficient and sustainable on a larger scale. We're not quite ready to go viral yet, though.

What other products to you create?

I do more than just kitty mugs, too. I make nose mugs, alien planet mugs, and other animals upon request. I also sometimes make bowls and other vessels as well, when time permits. The Happy Kitty classic mug is our most popular item, but the Happy Kitty product line is expanding to other items as well. As we streamline the production process, I'll also begin to incorporate more fine art pieces into our inventory as well. I also create some small porcelain jewelry. I'm sensitive to metal and want to provide a jewelry line that others like me can wear without severe irritation. Stay tuned! Instagram will be the best source of new product sneak peeks. 

Where can we learn more about you?

You can learn more about me, my partner, and Happy Kitty Ceramics by following us on Facebook (Happy Kitty Ceramics) and on Instagram @happykittyceramics.

Follow us and feel free to send a message through either of those profiles and you'll get a reply within a few days. Custom orders are more than welcome and we're looking for shelf space in local coffee shops, shelters, galleries, etc. to help make our items more accessible. We also have a very under-stocked Etsy store. Product has been selling out before I can list it. Our Website is coming soon!

Also, Happy Kitty mugs will be available at Fearless Kitty Rescue in Fountain Hills in the very near future. If you're looking for a new pet and maybe a coffee mug, they'll both be available there. Part of the proceeds in a mug purchase at their facility goes back to the Fearless Kitties and supports their no-kill shelter.

We are sad to hear that Whorl will be closing its doors in Denver, but what is next on the horizon for you?

I'm so excited about what's on the horizon. I'm dabbling in a few different things, but still keeping the essence of Whorl and the mark I leave. I will be assisting with nonprofit events, assisting local designers with business management, branding, and sales, as well as working on my own brand consulting. 

Imprints by Whorl 

How do you see the handmade community evolving in Denver?

I see the handmade community evolving both creatively and functionally. Every year I find myself impressed with the talent and items that are being made for a variety of markets with both fashionable and functional components. 

Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to? 

Honestly, I look up to all the artists and designers who put their work out there not knowing what the outcome is going to be. It is a huge risk creating something not knowing how people will react, but it's even more amazing to just do it. 

What are you looking forward to the most in being apart of our Jackalope jury panel for the second time?   

I am looking forward to seeing what amazing handmade products come through this year. Helping to curate last time around was an honor and seeing the talent there is locally and nationally was really cool. I also hope that everyone takes that risk to apply because when they do I see it pay off in the applications. 

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

I would say the ideas that I have, the way I create a world in my paintings. This is achieved by stylizing reality, perspective, and also including some unusual elements in each painting; things that won't happen in reality. I like to ask myself the question 'Why not?'

When do you feel the most creative? 

When I work. The more I paint or draw, the more ideas come.

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

I was in my last semester at Art Center College of Design, when one of my teachers told me that the one person who needs to like my work is myself. That was an excellent advice that came at the right time for me. It seems that it is easier for others to like my work, but I hold myself to a high standard and always want to do better with the next painting. I'm the hardest person to please, and that's how it should be - pushing myself to do better. 

What is something most people don't know about you?

Sometimes people wonder about my last name - I'm Bulgarian and it is actually pretty unique name there, only a couple of families on my dad's side have it. My heritage does influence my paintings - the settings in many of them tend to look more European as I miss the look and feel of Europe.

Where can we learn more about you? 

From my website: www.danyparagouteva.com  

Meet The Painted Ladies: 
The Painted Ladies consists of myself (Jeni) my husband Jonathan and my 3 sons. Jonah who blows me away with what he does on wood and paper canvas. Reid who surprises me with each creative piece, and Cayden who is the youngest and each piece becomes more his style. People ask me what is with the name if I am the only lady, I call the canvas' "Ladies" when I am talking about them,  and The Painted Ladies was the name that stuck when it was tossed out there.

How would you describe your style?  Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?  
I have really never thought about our style and can't seem to put it into a specific definition.we are all over the map in style but our reclaimed wood canvas is the constant.

I am inspired by all artist that perfect their field weather it be clothing, jewelry, painting, baking, sculpting, building, stylist,,,, when someone is passionate about what they do and always aspires to be and do better then they were and did yesterday, that inspires me.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 
I feel what makes us unique is we use reclaimed pallet wood, we allow the wood to be as much a star as what we paint on the canvas we have created. We hand sketch and hand paint everything, and leave the wood in its raw, aged, battered state. If these pallets could speak there would be some amazing stories to tell.  

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
We are inspired by Arizona, the desert, music, people, our experiences, emotions, and God.  Inspiration comes from within, you will be able to look trough our varied pieces and see the different personalities.

When do you feel the most creative?
For my son it is in the morning, for my husband it is all the time, for me it is the quiet moments whenever they may be. It is seeing a Robin in the yard, a child looking into the eyes of its mother, a gentle touch, the crows song, being in nature.

What is your creative process like?
We begin by looking for the best pallets we pick through many and collect them from the newer ones to the older ones. we pull them apart and painstakingly clean the wood and our master builder (Jonathan) builds the canvas'. We then begin the choosing a canvas and and an image or saying that works well with the wood. we then hand sketch and hand paint. To keep the old look true I then distress the paint which I feel allows for the piece to flow. 

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
There is no one way to do or be if you are passionate about and love what you do it will flow from you. Be it within and it will be on the outside.

Where can we learn more about you? 
Instagram is the best place on the web to get a glimpse of what we do and find out where we will be, and meeting us at art shows, in person that would be the best way to learn more about me and my family/team and I love to meet new amazing people 

Helen Rice

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

Twelve years ago I started a small art consignment shop in a tiny side-street space in downtown Littleton.  My little business grew steadily over the first few years and when I had an opportunity to move into a prime space on historic downtown Littleton's Main street, I jumped at it.  I started as more of a fine art gallery, but when the recession hit, I had to quickly restructure, shifting my focus to gift items.  I figured people would still buy gifts for other people before they'd buy an expensive piece of art for themselves, so I stayed focused on handmade items and it proved to be a good fit!  I believe that was when the handmade movement gained momentum, as well. People turned to "making" things themselves, flexing their entrepreneurial muscles and selling their work directly to the public, who readily embraced and supported them in a big way.

What / who is your biggest inspiration?

Any woman who has or had the courage to make her way (and a difference) in this world! 

What do you love most about the handmade movement?

The return to basics - realizing that we can be innovative with common materials and make things with our own hands that are functional, fresh and beautiful! 

Tell us about a few favorites of yours; food, color, animal?

A nice, big, juicy burger - loaded!

Any shade of BLUE is my favorite color!

DOGS, Dogs, dogs....I love them all!

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

Seeing new, fresh work from our local makers!

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

Innovation and originality

Where can we find out more about you?

Besides owning and operating my store, I also produce an 3-day annual urban art retreat in September.  The retreat is called Art Makers Denver and you can find out more about that and ME at http://artmakersdenver.com/our-team/