FAST Member Interview- Stephanie of Strings and Things

If you’re a member of FAST and would like to be featured in the weekly interview, visit this thread in the yahoo group to get the questions, then send your answers (and a picture or two if you’d like) to me at merigreenleaf[at]yahoo.com (or a convo to merigreenleaf). These will be posted in the order I receive them.

What is your name?
Stephanie A Smith

What is your Etsy shop?
Strings and Things http://www.StephanieASmith.etsy.com

Does your shop name have a meaning?
Not really. I just really liked it. The name sounded fun and I like to think that everyone is having fun with their Art.

Besides your Etsy shop, do you sell anywhere else?
I, also, have a small shop on Artfire. I’ve been working on my Etsy shop so much that I haven’t had a chance to really kick it off there, yet. I sell in person, as well, and love to barter when I can afford it.

Do you have a website or blog?
My blog is: http://stephanieasmith.wordpress.com

How long have you been making art/crafting?
Oh, since I was a little girl. My family has always been creative.

What was the first thing you remember making?
Besides natural little kid crayon scribbles (which, I think are really cool), I remember when I was about 7 sitting on the hearth at my grandmothers’ house as she taught me to embroider little flowers. She is no longer around, but I’ll always treasure my memories of her.

What kind of fiber arts do you do?
Everything! And, if I haven’t tried it, I am going to! I tend to work in phases. Right now, I’m really into spinning and working from raw fibers up through the process. I’m absolutely in love with the experience and it consumes every waking spare minute. Often, up to 14 hours a day. Eventually, I’ll slow down. I’ll bring out my beads, my silk threads and my sewing machine and dissolvable fabric. Or, I’ll take out lengths of undyed silk or cotton yardage and make dyed backgrounds for my Art quilts. Currently, I have just started playing with needlefelting on the side.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
My favorite thing to make would be whatever I am working on at the time. I totally get fixated by the process.

(Click the below link to read the rest of the interview and see more pictures)

What do you think is the strangest or most unusual fiber arts item you have made or been asked to make?
I would say, cat sweaters out of dog fur.

Where is the craziest or most interesting place you’ve ever crocheted, knitted, felted, spun yarn, etc?
I once worked on my embroidery in the middle of the Majave Desert on a camping trip.

What is your favorite place to work?
I love working in my living room. There I can do something that I love while at the same time be surrounded by people that I love. It is a really comfortable space to work from.

What inspires you?
There is no telling, but no missing it when inspiration hits.

Where does your inspiration come from?
I really can’t say. I’ll just get an idea or a picture in my head or pick up a fiber or fabric and just ‘know’ what I want to do with it. Sometimes, things work out like the idea in my head and sometimes they don’t, but it does tend to just be ‘instinctual’.

What is your favorite color?
I don’t have a favorite. Colors are beautiful. It would be like picking just one instrument out of an orchestra.

Do you tend to work with that color, or do you find yourself working with other colors?
The more color options that I have the more freedom that I have to express myself. I love having all the colors that I can have available.

Do you prefer a specific type of fiber?
Ask me again after I have tried them all.

Is there any other kind of art (fiber-related or not) that you’d like to learn?
I just started on needle felting yesterday. I’ll like it more when I stop sticking myself so much with the needle.

Tell us a bit about yourself- where do you live, what’s your job do you have a spouse/children/pets, any other hobbies, that kind of thing.
I’m 37. I grew up in Monterey, CA and I’m the oldest of 7 and the Mother of 4.

Our entire family has loved to create and produce art from generation to generation. For real Art, you should see one of my Grandfathers’ sketches! I wish that I had a picture on hand to share!

Currently, I live in South Carolina with my Honey, Dwain, and our children, Jade and Emerald. Our dog, 3 cats and our angora rabbits. We are looking on getting some angora goats very soon.

I love to paint, bead, write science fiction, spin, knit, crochet, quilt, sculpt and so far I have not found a single crafty stone to, yet, leave unturned.
I, also, keep a blog at:
http://www.stephanieasmith.wordpress.com

Tell us one quirky thing about you (or one thing no one knows about you).
I don’t like for my food to touch on my plate; unless, that are meant to be eaten in the same bit. Pudding just doesn’t belong on chicken.

Do you have any advice for other fiber artists? Have any craft room, storage, or other tips?
Start organizing your supplies from the beginning, before your stash get to big. Chaos is too easy to achieve.

Tags: etsyfast, member interview

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