Meet Your Maker:
Arthur’s Plaid Pants

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!

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Etsy Craft Party

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

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First Friday and May Workshops

Have you checked out our events tab lately? We have some wonderful happenings in the month of May. Including a few free events. Go ahead and click it. You know you want to.

Click Here to get our May newsletter and be sure to sign up for our mailing list. Just enter your email address on the right –>

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Grand Re-Opening Party!

The Homespun: Modern Handmade Grand Re-Opening party is this coming Friday evening, March 7th, from 5-10pm. Come check out the new space at 869 Mass Ave, hear some lovely music from D. Mark & Jules, enjoy free samples from some of our food and beverage artisans, and see samples from some of our workshop teachers. Free and family-friendly!

The main event will be Friday evening, but we will have fun and exciting things happening in the shop all weekend to extend the festivities.

Keep an eye out at other small, independent businesses around town in the next week to pick up one of our Grand Re-Opening postcards with a 10% off coupon on the back, valid only during our Grand Re-Opening weekend, 3.7 – 3.9.

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Be My Valentine Events

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!

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