Meet the Vendor: Jen Walkington

Tell us about yourself.
My name is Jen Walkington, and I just moved to Columbus from Madison, WI this summer. My husband, Jeff, is working as an engineer at a job sight on the OSU campus. I am originally from Fresno, CA, and since then have lived in Sacramento (CA), Indianapolis (IN), Jacksonville (IL), right outside Springfield, and Madison (WI). All capitol cities! I met my husband at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (Go Salukis!), and we have two sons, Jackson (age 12) and Avery (age 9). I have an elementary education degree, and am currently looking for a job in the Hilliard area.

How did you begin crafting?
In Madison, the winters can be harsh. Very harsh. So about three years ago, we had a record snowfall and I decided that I needed something to do indoors that didn't require me going out in the snow. I had always wanted to learn to crochet, but I didn't t know one single person who could teach me....enter Youtube. That winter, with the help of some girl on the internet, I learned how to crochet. I was hooked, and I loved having a creative outlet during those cold winter days. Slowly, I started making other items and learning a little embroidery, fabric flowers, and so on. I made so many that I decided I needed to sell some, just to make room in my craft area! And so,kiwifruit designs was born!

What inspires you?
I do a lot of research online for creative inspiration. There is a huge amount of information for crafters online these days, and since most of it is free, I can spend too long (just ask my husband!) on the internet finding my next project. I also am a regular at the library. Already, our local Columbus library has seen my face enough that I can point out who works there, and who doesn't!

What can we expect from you at Not Your Mama's Craft Market?
This year, my main craft is crocheted hats. I love making hats because in my mind, it's a blank canvas, and I can do so many different things to make it "mine". I also make glass magnets, bookmarks with paper clips as a base, clip on bow ties for boys and men, headbands, crocheted mug cozies, and hand painted jersey scarves. (I have some sort of adult ADHD, because I hop from one kind of craft to another!!)

Why are you interested in this market?
I am excited to experience craft fairs in Columbus for the first time this year. Not Your Mama's Craft Fair intrigued me because I have been a part of craft fairs where I feel my crafts don't fit in with all the doilies and potholders. Chelsey seems to have gone to a lot of work to ensure this is a high quality, fun, hip craft fair, and I am so excited to be a part of these artists!!

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Thanks Jen!  We can't wait to see you at the market! During a blustery week like this one, warm weather wear definitely on my mind.  Stay warm, everyone!

Meet the Vendor: Jill Flory

Tell us about yourself.
My name is Jill Flory and I am from Covington, Ohio.  I am ‘one who sews’ – and designs and dreams and decorates!  I will attempt almost anything that takes needle and thread, and I love being able to design the things I make. I also like to paint furniture to use for props when I set up my handmade wares for sale.  My props are then for sale too.

How did you end up blogging and selling your creations?
I started sewing when I was about 8 years old.  And I’ve been sewing ever since.  I have always loved doing creative things and that comes out in things I make, in decorating my home, and in designing my own patterns occasionally.

I started blogging in 2008, just for fun.    In the fall of 2011 I realized that blogging could be much more than just a hobby and I started doing some research and thinking about it a lot.  In January of 2012 I began creating my wordpress blog.  I made the switch from blogger about April of this year. I designed my blog myself by purchasing the Genesis framework and a theme and then customizing the theme to fit my look.  I blog about the things I make, painting projects, home décor, sewing tutorials occasionally {I call them couture snippets}, my family, and anything else that I want to blog about!

My biggest influence in taking my blog from a hobby to part of my business was my sister.  She had done a lot of research on blogging before starting her own blog and I asked her a lot of questions about it and it was her info that ultimately convinced me to make the switch.  My Mother was my biggest influence in my sewing career – she taught me how!

How do your creations come about?

I create the best when I am inspired.  I can find inspiration in lots of places – exactly where depends on what I need to create.  I will go online and just browse beautiful pictures and ideas if I don’t feel the creativity flowing.  Or I dig out a pile of fabric and ribbon and just start trying things to see what I like together.

What can we expect to see from you at the market?
At this show I will be bringing camera straps, key chains, my sewing kits, some Christmas stockings, pillows, ruffled leggings for the little girls in your life, slip covered ottomans, and whatever other goodies I come up with! I’m thinking about coming up with some more Christmas themed items.

I love being able to meet new people and make new friends.  Networking is one of my favorite things about my blog and about setting up at shows and events.  I hope that I can provide some lovely things that you can purchase for Christmas gifts or just to treat yourself!  And I look forward to shopping all the other vendors too – I know I will come home with some great new stuff, a stack of business cards and some new friends!  Growing my business outreach is another wonderful thing about coming to this show as a vendor.            

Thanks for taking the time to share with us, Jill!  If you want to learn more about Jill, you can check out her blog at http://www.sewafineseam.com/ .  Be sure to join us for Not Your Mama's Craft Market on November 24 to check out her work and lots of other great vendors!

Meet our Host: Chelsey Hill!

I'm Chelsey Hill: stay at home mom-trepreneur, from Marysville, Ohio. I have three girls ages 7, 3 and 6 months. I have a great hippie husband who loves us dearly and encourages me in my creative adventures. Not only am I a vendor at the Not Your Mama’s Craft Market, I am the host. It is a blast! 

What type of creative work do you do?

My business is Bald Bloomers accessories, named for the bald babies who wear my flower headbands! Not only will I have my staple flower headbands for baby but I will be bringing out new accessories for girls, teens, and adults too. Envision flowers made from felt, designer fabrics, feathers, and vintage hankies. I will also be stepping out of the Bald Bloomers box and be offering resin vintage inspired necklaces, rings, bobby pins, a few vintage wallpaper paintings, birdseed wreaths, fabric and book page wreaths and whatever else I feel inspired to make! (and find the time to do it!)

What is your creative process?

I love to get inspired! Of course that includes pinterest! I’m a pinterest pin hoarder! Seriously I have a problem. I LOVE vintage design as well and pull a lot of that style into everything I do. I also get a lot of ideas from fabrics, nature, and from what I read in the Bible. God uses His word to speak to me in many ways, including my art. He’s pretty awesome that way. After I get chock full of ideas, I sit down in my craft room (and then get up 110 times for kids' snacks, boo boo kisses and split milk, then sit back down again) and work on whatever feels good for that day. I find myself trying many different things until it is perfect. Then I go into mass production in a sense but still take the time to make each creation one of a kind and unique from the next. I work on a few things at the same time so I don’t get bored with what I’m working on. I love to feel excited about each and every thing I’m making.

Why did you want to do this show?

I have been to and participated in so many craft shows in the past, always looking for something new and fun and different but am lucky to find one or two vendors who fit that bill, let alone price tag. It is so frustrating that craft shows are such great outlets for supporting local vendors but not desirable to my generation. So, I looked at sites like Etsy and Pinterest and saw an enthusiastic love for modern crafts for all people and not just “mature” women. I thought "why can’t there be a show dedicated to celebrating the modern and 'new' generations of crafty creators?: So I did it! (“Be the change you want to see”, right? Didn’t someone say that?) This show is dedicated to people who want to support Ohioans, be a little more green this Christmas and are just plain looking for something handmade that isn’t covered in American flags and lace! Although we won’t have hundreds of standard vendors like much larger shows, we will have 20 plus amazing vendors! There will be no need to search for the good ones; you will find one in every nook and cranny of our venue.  To make this completely “Not your mama”, I have contacted and juried many many artisans and handpicked the best and brightest from all over Ohio! Even more, they will be showcased in a beautifully creative and historic venue, the currently renovated Houston House in downtown Marysville! Just taking a step inside will give you a feeling of what art is all about. This show will be a place you will want to come with your girlfriends and shop for others. It is like the best boutiques and artists got married and gave birth to this market! Yeah it’s that good

What should we expect to see at the Market?

Expect the unexpected! We have lots of vendors selling lots of typical items like paintings, jewelry, handbags, children’s clothing and accessories and home goods but all with a fresh unique taste. All sewn items will be done in the most current and fun designer fabrics. Jewelry is out-of-the-box and some are vintage-inspired but in a new way! We will have the latest trends in pillows and hanging pennants. Not to mention plenty of activities, like DIY crafts for kids and adults! There will professional photos with Santa himself with the beautiful historic Houston House as its background (Hello Christmas card!). Not to mention Food, food, food! Youth from Living Hope Church will be selling lunch and we will have a real sweet treat set up out front - A traveling cupcake bakery in a vintage teardrop camper! Yum!  We will also be giving back to the community with a few different things to help charities (for example: crafty raffles profits will help the hungry, cold, and homeless at the Stowe Center in Columbus) 

Can you give me some information about the Market?

The event will be going on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, National Shop Local day! (How appropriate, don’t ya think?) 

November 24th at 9am-3pm. 

Historic Houston House 264 West 5th Street, Marysville, Ohio 43040. 

For updates and sneak peeks you can follow our Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasCraftMarket

Please share us on Facebook and come out to support something out of the box!