This week's artist interview is with Chelsea from Crafteroni & Cheese. Chelsea is a maker of many talents - knitting, crochet, painting, jewelry making. So many things!
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| Amigurumi Narwhal |
Enough from me! Let's get to know Chelsea and see some of her awesome work!
Who are you? and where can we find your amazing work?
Hi there! I'm Chelsea, the owner, the maker, and the crazy behind Crafteroni & Cheese. I'm lucky enough to be in love with my best friend and soul mate. And we are the parents to the most amazing little girl in the world.
I'm a huge geek, a total fangirl. I love to read and play video games (when I'm not gettin' my craft on, of course.) My family is a Tar Heel family (GO HEELS!) I have an addiction to coffee and Lucky Charms. My favourite artists are Salvador Dali and Mark Ryden. Lucille Ball and Tim Burton are two of my idols (I've got quite a few.) I watch a Disney movie every day. Aaaaaannnnd I may have a teensy-weensy obsession with Dave Matthews Band, Adventure Time, and Harry Potter.
That's me in a nutshell.
Be sure to visit Chelsea's website and blog. You can also find her work on Etsy and Storenvy!
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Amigurumi Mermaid |
How did you get started doing this thing you do?
Well. I've been making for as long as I can remember. (How cliché of me to say, right?) But I always was the geeky artsy girl.
Yarn's always been a favourite medium of mine. My mom taught me to knit when I was 5 years old. I only knew how to do the most basic stitch (the Garter Stitch) and how to knit flat. So I would always start knitting and say "HEY! I'm making a scarf!", but even back then I had Crafter A.D.D. so I ended up with a bunch of almost-scarves lying around. Haha.
I also thoroughly enjoyed drawing and painting. I remember when I was in elementary school I really wanted a Golden Retriever puppy. My grandpa picked me up from school; every single day (that's not an exaggeration) I would greet him with a drawing of a Golden Retriever. Said Golden Retriever had a speech bubble that read "CHELSEA NEEDS A PUPPY!!!"
As I grew older, I expanded my skills. I took every single art class offered at my high school and college. Some of them I took twice. I just love art. I love to make things. Whether I'm painting or making toys out of yarn, it's just what I love to do. But I never really thought that my art would be anything more than a hobby. So it's a delightful surprise that I'm where I am now, doing what I love to do.
Yarn's always been a favourite medium of mine. My mom taught me to knit when I was 5 years old. I only knew how to do the most basic stitch (the Garter Stitch) and how to knit flat. So I would always start knitting and say "HEY! I'm making a scarf!", but even back then I had Crafter A.D.D. so I ended up with a bunch of almost-scarves lying around. Haha.
I also thoroughly enjoyed drawing and painting. I remember when I was in elementary school I really wanted a Golden Retriever puppy. My grandpa picked me up from school; every single day (that's not an exaggeration) I would greet him with a drawing of a Golden Retriever. Said Golden Retriever had a speech bubble that read "CHELSEA NEEDS A PUPPY!!!"
As I grew older, I expanded my skills. I took every single art class offered at my high school and college. Some of them I took twice. I just love art. I love to make things. Whether I'm painting or making toys out of yarn, it's just what I love to do. But I never really thought that my art would be anything more than a hobby. So it's a delightful surprise that I'm where I am now, doing what I love to do.
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| Tatted Lace Owl Earrings |
So, for nine months, I did what I do best. I started making and designing full-time. I made toys, blankets, hats, and shoes for the little bunny in my oven. My sister was pregnant at the same time as I was; I made a lot of stuff for her as well. And I loved every minute of it!
Once my daughter was born I had to slow down on the crafting a bit to keep up with her. It was tough. Mr. Crafteroni works at a funeral home and is pretty much on-call all of the time. Those first few months were hectic.
Parenthood eventually got a little easier and I had some time to make things again. I shared photos through social media sites and started receiving a lot of requests for custom orders. It was so fun! I knew then and there that I wanted to make things for a living.
And so it began...
PS. I never did get a Golden Retriever.
What's your workplace like?
My old desk decided to die. So until I can find a new desk that suits my needs, I'm stuck working on my couch. Scrunched in a corner that doesn't have enough room to hold even half of my supplies, let alone all of them. Which obviously isn't making my job any easier.
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| Cactus Llama |
Oh my Glob, this is a long list.
As I said earlier, yarn is one of my favourite mediums. Whether I'm knitting or crocheting, yarn just makes me smile. I especially love to work with baby alpaca yarn, but I normally make toys so I don't use it as much as I'd like to.
Watercolours! I love the finished look of watercolour paint; most of my illustrations/paintings are done with watercolour and ink.
I also work with acrylic paints. They're super fun and make for a nice change from watercolours. I sometimes even get out my Copic markers and do an illustration that way!
I love to work with cotton thread to make tatted lace jewelry. Tatting is a dying art, but it's very alive to me! (If you don't know what tatting is, Google it. It's so awesome.)
Polymer clay, shrink plastic, felt, embroidery floss; those are all things I use to create. I really wasn't lying when I said I have Crafter A.D.D.
Where do you find your inspiration too create?
My family inspires me.
And I love cute, tiny, whimsical, and creepy. Japanese art (mainly Kawaii), Lowbrow art, and Gothic art all make my heart happy.
Nature inspires me and so does music of all types.
Basically anything that gets my crafting mojo flowing. c:
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| "Fox Love" |
That takes care of the serious questions. Now time for the fun and silly questions!
What color are your bedroom walls?
They're off-white.
I kind of wish they were lilac. No wait, green.
Yea, definitely green.
What animal do you fear?
There are no animals that I'm afraid of. Well, maybe sharks? I don't know, maybe not. I've swam with sharks before and they seemed pretty cool.
But I'm definitely not fearless. There is one creature I'm absolutely terrified of, to the point that I can't even say their name out loud.
Sigh. I don't even want to type it.
E.T.
Yea, go ahead and laugh.
...Jerks.
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| Knit Bunny |
If you could be a wild animal for a day, what animal would it be?
Ahhhh. This is so hard for me to answer! Maybe something that could fly? I don't know.
A unicorn.
Yes, they're real. Don't argue.
What kind of pet person are you? Cat? Dog? Manticore?
Haha, manticore. That's fantastic!
Seriously though, I'm an animal lover. I was going to school to be a veterinarian; I really can't choose!
Dogs are cool. Totally snuggly and awesome; best friend types, ya know?
But cats? Cats are just stupendous. They're in their own little universe half of the time (probably planning world domination) and the other half, they're asleep. How can you not be fascinated by cats?
Haha, manticore. That's fantastic!
Seriously though, I'm an animal lover. I was going to school to be a veterinarian; I really can't choose!
Dogs are cool. Totally snuggly and awesome; best friend types, ya know?
But cats? Cats are just stupendous. They're in their own little universe half of the time (probably planning world domination) and the other half, they're asleep. How can you not be fascinated by cats?
Jeans, Khakis, or skirts?
I love jeans and Khakis. And I like dresses, not skirts.
I've worn nothing but leggings and pajamas for the last 15 months.
Yea, parenthood happened.
If you could live in a fictional world, which one would it be?
A fictional world where I am a Moroi vampire-witch with a pet unicorn. I'm a Divergent that's attending Hogwartz School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry. I'm married to a Shadowhunter and we have a beautiful Dhampir daughter, who's destined to sit in the Iron Throne. XD
If you could go back in time and witness one historical event, what would it be? and why?
I would love to travel back in time to go to an Elvis concert. Preferably young Elvis, but either will do.
I love jeans and Khakis. And I like dresses, not skirts.
I've worn nothing but leggings and pajamas for the last 15 months.
Yea, parenthood happened.
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| Watercolor And Graphite - "The Girl Who Dreamed Big" |
A fictional world where I am a Moroi vampire-witch with a pet unicorn. I'm a Divergent that's attending Hogwartz School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry. I'm married to a Shadowhunter and we have a beautiful Dhampir daughter, who's destined to sit in the Iron Throne. XD
If you could go back in time and witness one historical event, what would it be? and why?
I would love to travel back in time to go to an Elvis concert. Preferably young Elvis, but either will do.
If you have a box of popsicles which color do you eat first? Why?
Blue. It makes my tongue happy.
Sock, sock, shoe shoe or sock, shoe, sock shoe?
Sock, sock, shoe, shoe.
What's one of your guilty pleasures?
Is it weird that I'm compelled to say cauliflower? Yea, I'm going with that.
Oh! And bubble baths.
Cauliflower and bubble baths.
Do you have any superstitions?
I don't think so.
My grandma does though. I broke one of her mirrors about 4 years ago and she is constantly reminding me that I have 3 years left on my bad luck sentence.
What's your favorite snack while working?
Wheat Thins. Nom.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Brazil. I have always dreamed of saving a piece of rainforest. <3
If stranded on an island, what 3 things would you want to bring?
I want to say my family, but that would mean they're also stranded. I don't want that for them.
So I'm going to go with my entire stash of crafting supplies, my entire collection of literature, and fuzzy socks.
Be sure to visit Chelsea's website and her Etsy and Storenvy shop!
Blue. It makes my tongue happy.
Sock, sock, shoe shoe or sock, shoe, sock shoe?
Sock, sock, shoe, shoe.
What's one of your guilty pleasures?
Is it weird that I'm compelled to say cauliflower? Yea, I'm going with that.
Oh! And bubble baths.
Cauliflower and bubble baths.
Do you have any superstitions?
I don't think so.
My grandma does though. I broke one of her mirrors about 4 years ago and she is constantly reminding me that I have 3 years left on my bad luck sentence.
What's your favorite snack while working?
Wheat Thins. Nom.
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| Tatted Flower Bracelet |
Brazil. I have always dreamed of saving a piece of rainforest. <3
If stranded on an island, what 3 things would you want to bring?
I want to say my family, but that would mean they're also stranded. I don't want that for them.
So I'm going to go with my entire stash of crafting supplies, my entire collection of literature, and fuzzy socks.
Be sure to visit Chelsea's website and her Etsy and Storenvy shop!