Welcome to Meet Your Maker! This blog series will introduce you to the individual artists and businesses that you support when buying something handmade here at Homespun. We hope the series will help you better understand the thoughtful choices and meaning that go into these artists’ goods, better appreciate the value of a handmade item, and possibly learn a bit about different crafty processes. You may even meet a neighbor, as many of our makers work right here in Indianapolis!

We’ll start (or rather, revive) this series with Michigan-based illustrator Jen Husted-Goss, the force behind stationery and print company Arthur’s Plaid Pants. We’ve been working with Jen for almost a year now and her designs are constantly making us and our customers laugh. We’re so happy she’s on board!

Jen and her dog Rocky.

What do you love to make?

I really enjoy creating illustrations that make people laugh.

Why do you love to make it?

If it puts a smile on someone’s face or makes someone laugh out loud, then I’ve done my job.

Greeting card illustration by Jen.

Button set designed by Jen.

How did you get started with your crafty business?

I’ve been a graphic designer since the early 2000’s. I co-owned/operated a design firm in Chicago for four years before deciding to branch off and focus solely on my illustration. That’s when Arthur’s Plaid Pants was born.

How long does it take to create a new design?

It depends on the piece, but every product starts off as a hand-drawn illustration. Once the drawing is complete, it gets scanned into the computer and is colored digitally. Once I’m happy with the digital design, it’s set up for print. Greeting cards are printed at a local, family-owned, eco-friendly printer. Pinback button and magnet sets are printed, cut, hand-pressed and packaged in my home studio. It’s a lengthy process since we do everything by hand.

What makes a handmade item valuable?

The satisfaction of supporting the single handmade artisan. Handmade artists pour their heart and soul into their products and their businesses. Nearly all of the raw materials I use are from local family owned businesses. So you’re not just supporting me, you’re also supporting other family owned businesses when you purchase my products.

What’s your favorite handmade item that you own?

That’s tough! Our house is furnished with so many great pieces from handmade artists. I’ll narrow it down to two:

1) A custom “horrible adorable” piece by Jordan Elise which is a mama and baby Loch Ness monster pair

2) A woodcut print titled “Mama Bear” by Tugboat Printshop

Jen’s studio in Grand Rapids, MI.

What do you wish people knew about what you do?

Our commitment to green standards and our policies on utilizing local companies.

Our stats:

• Greeting cards are printed at a local, family owned printer and are 100% recycled, FSC, WWF & Rainforest Alliance Certified.

• Greeting card envelopes are 100% recycled and are sourced from the oldest, local, family owned paper mill that is 100% hydro-electric

• All of our shipping materials are 100% recycled & are 100% recyclable or 100% biodegradable

• All button and magnet packaging is made from 100% recycled card stock and is sourced from oldest family owned paper mill that is 100% hydro-electric

• Our wholesale catalog is only available in a .pdf format. We do not use a printed paper catalog which saves a tremendous amount of paper.

Each year I review our business practices and try to up my game from the previous year.

Magnet set designed by Jen.

Thank you, Jen, for participating in our series! You inspire us!

Be sure to stop by Homespun to check out Jen’s work in person, and please stay tuned for more maker interviews!

This is a very exciting week for us at Homespun! In case you didn’t know, we’re the team behind the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange contemporary craft show series and our biggest show of the year is this weekend!

Enjoy over 100 craft vendors this Saturday, June 14th from 12-8pm at the Harrison Center for the Arts. This is your chance to meet some of the artists behind your favorite Homespun products. Ask them questions, see their latest creations and discover new favorites. You can check out the complete vendor list here.

The INDIEana Handicraft Exchange is presented in conjunction with the Independent Music and Arts Festival. Be prepared for live music, gallery shows, local food, local craft beer from Sun King Brewery and cider from New Day Craft , ice cream, raffle prizes, and more. And if you are one of the first 100 attendees, check out the Yelp table at the main entrance of Harrison Center for your free swag bag!

We would like to thank this year’s generous presenting sponsors: Sun King Brewery, Just Pop In! and New Day Craft. You’re the best! And we can’t forget our supporting sponsors, too; jakprints, Foundry Provisions, Ronlewhorn Industries , Amy McAdams Design, little robot photography, Forum Credit Union, Yelp, and Harrison Center for the Arts: we’re all working together to put on the best event yet!

Stay connected with Handicraft events throughout the year, like our Facebook page INDIEana Handicraft Exchange

Thanks and hope to see you there!

Etsy Craft Party 2014: Recapture :: bring new meaning to your photographs. Etsy Craft Party is a one-day celebration of meeting and making. This year’s theme focuses on transforming photographs into display-worthy works of art using a variety of craft supplies and creative techniques. The event is free, however registration is required.

We here at homespun:modern handmade, we will be doing photo embroidery. We will have embroidery floss, needles, scissors, paper, tape and other goodies for your creating needs. Rana, our workshops coordinator will give a brief tutorial on basic embroidery stitches, so do not worry if you haven’t done this before! Be sure to bring in your own images to recreate and inspire (they do not necessarily have to be vintage images). Please note that the image you bring will be the image you stitch, so make sure its either a copy or photocopy on photo paper or card stock. Also, if you have a specific project in mind or do not wish to embroider, you are welcome to bring along your own supplies to the party.

If you are on Instagram or Twitter please use the tags:

#craftparty @etsy #homespunindy

Make sure to check out our events page for our full workshop schedule. We currently have two wonderful workshops available for Saturday, February 15. Both workshops are open to students 13 & up, which make them a great parent and child to-do. We will also be hosting two artisans in our shop for special Valentine’s events, both New Fangled Confections and Meg Catherine Flowers will be on hand for all your romantic (and just plain pretty) gift giving needs!

Here ye, here ye it is by royal decree that we shall open our doors for business tomorrow, Saturday, February 1, 2014. It has been a long and hectic journey, but we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our fixtures are in place, shelves are being mounted, floors mopped and hopefully soon we will begin to arrange our wonderful displays featuring our amazing artists. Come in and see our progress and don’t forget to join us for our Grand Opening celebration Friday, March 7!