Cara Taylor

Recycling is one of the things I am truly excited about. Although I slip sometimes, I do hope that the little I do every day can make a difference. Cara Taylor is surely making a difference with her artistry. I'm not sure how I fond Cara's shop, but it is part of my favorites and there it will stay until, as she says, there is no longer a need for her services.

Cara takes "useless" plastic bags and turnes them into "useful" items we can all appreciate. It's good for us and for the environment. Read the interview then visit her shop to see how you can do your part for the environment!

Tell us about yourself
My name is Cara Taylor, I am originally from Western Pennsylvania but I currently live in lovely Western Massachusetts. I have been a crafter for as long as I can remember - my mother taught me to crochet and my fondest memories are of the two of us watching movies while working on projects together.

I began experimenting with plastic bags about 8 or 9 years ago in undergrad - I would cut them up in different ways and reconfigure them to make sculptures. Making bags seemed really obvious to me and I resisted those forms for awhile but once I crocheted one I was hooked (no pun intended!) on making more. I love the transformation of material!

What inspires you to your craft?
I am inspired by fashion, function, color, material. I really just love trying new things and experimenting with process.

How do you promote your shop?
I sell my crocheted bags and accessories on Etsy and at several shops around the country. I am currently a full time art teacher with no intention of leaving teaching to become a full time crafter. I actually hope to stop making bags from plastic bags in the next 5-10 years in hopes that plastic bags will be just too hard to come by! Eventually they won't be such a problem for our environment and I will have moved on to some other medium.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to new artists?
My advice to new artists would be to make what you love, and make it well! Craftsmanship is so important. Also, don't undersell yourself!

What are some of your favorite things?
dinner parties, snow days, shoes, magazines, soup, crocheting and knitting of course...

What is your favorite quote?
I definitely don't have one. Nothing comes to mind, I can never remember them and I never write them down.

KnottyLoop

I am a fledgling crochet designer who is always looking for inspiration. When I came across KnottyLoop on Etsy, I had to mark it a favorite and visit OFTEN! Mona's designs are so fun and unique that you can't help but know that crochet is not an "old sport" anymore! In reading this interview I hope you get the feel of the warm person she is and when you visit her sites (because I know you will) you'll see how fun she is as well. Enjoy!

Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Mona Lisa Muhammad and I am a Crochet Designer. In 2006 I opened KottyLoop Creations in Bellwood, IL.

What inspires you to do your craft/artistry?
As a child I remember watching in amazement a time-lapsed motion picture of a flower developing from its budding stage to full bloom. I remember being transfixed at its development process. This is how I view the art of crochet. To see the detail within the fibers, to feel the texture of a skein of yarn, to manipulate the yarn until it evolves in a unique and wearable form of art gives me personal joy. I wish I could say that KnottyLoop Creation is the planned summation of whom I aspired to be but that would not be an honest answer. When my children were younger and money was tight, it was necessary for me to cut corners by making some of their winter gear in order to stay afloat.

In 2004, I blew the dust from my crochet needles and began making outfits for my family and friends. The response was overwhelming. The more items I made the more I found folks were lining up to get a skirt or dress of their own. In May of 2006, after many hours of discussion and research, KnottyLoop Creations was born.

I began crocheting from patterns…but it was rare and difficult for me to find patterns that I really loved. They had too much bulk, or they were old-fashioned in design. I woke up one morning well before sunrise with a very clear design in my head. I went to my collection of yarn, selected a yarn that I thought would work and 6 hours later the design was real. I shared this with my family and friends and they loved it. Since that morning, I still review articles and every once in awhile I’ll find a pattern that I really have to give a try…but most of my ideas come to me just as it did that morning.

How do you promote yourself?
Marketing has been the most challenging aspect of my business. Etsy has been a great resource for me. I’ve met some really great people here. I've relied mostly on word of mouth. I also utilize my website, and MySpace to generate interest by posting photos of my latest work. I love to participate in fashion shows, fairs, and anywhere I can think of to get a KnottyLoop Design shown.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to new artists/crafters?
Make the sacrifice, commit to the hard work, learn as much as you can about the business side of your craft, get out and see what others are doing in your field, subscribe to magazines that give you insights, utilize libraries and other additional free resources, understand who your customer is, understand your support system, then commit to even more work. Then if your heart is still in it and you believe in your work, take that step of faith, and go for it. OOOPPPPSSS!!!! You said one piece of advice..LOL!!!


How do you see yourself evolving in the next 5-10 years?
KnottyLoop Creations is still in its infant stage. I’m the President, CEO, Designer, production line and the chief dishwasher. I would very much like to spend more time on the design side (the ideas keep coming) and less time in the actual production. I truly believe that this will come with time.

What are some of your favorite things?
I am the mother of 4 and grandmother of 4 and I have 5 siblings each of whom have children. I love entertaining and enjoying my family and friends…I find nothing more relaxing than chit-chatting and laughing out loud while sitting on the floor and nibbling on some good eats. I’m crazy about anything sci-fi (thank you daddy for expanding my mind to the hidden possibilities and the future promises), I read anything Stephen King (he speaks to my dark side, I guess)…but let’s not forget YARN….there are so many new and wonderful yarns…spinners are getting more creative everyday. My collection (I prefer collection than stash) is truly that of a yarn addict

What is your favorite quote?

“Our very nature is to be alive, aware, creative and spectacularly effective. Let go of your doubts and allow your true nature to shine through” – Author unknown



Be sure to visit Mona at her following spots!
Website
Etsy Shop
Myspace

Time is running out!

This is it! This coming Sunday I'll be doing my first big craft show and I am very excited!

stART on The Street
Sunday, September 21
11 am - 5 pm
Park Ave. (between Highland and Pleasant)

I can't say I'm completely prepared because I still have more items to make, buttons, hooks, and tags to sew on and hangtags to attach! However, I'm really looking forward to the experience because it will let me know if I'm up for doing more shows next year or not. Everything in my Etsy Shop is going to the show with me, so if there's something you like, now is the time to purchase it because I can't guarantee it will be there next week!

Here are a few images for your viewing pleasure!