News — Month of Makers

This Maker Monday we get to highlight our friend, Tripper Dungan, who makes amazing 3-D paintings! You may recognize his work from our craft markets - he usually has an awesome booth display along the back wall. We also have a small selection of his work in our retail shops, including the beloved cassette tapes. Tripper is participating in our December 12th Virtual Market! Catch him LIVE on his Instagram from 1:00 - 1:30 with an artwork showcase and painting/mumbling ASMR. You can also see more of his work on his website.

How did you get started doing art as a business?
My first attempt at makin' money as an artist was when I was 13. I approached the weekly paper with a comic strip I made called “Childhood”. They very gently declined. Really, though, I started having shows at coffee shops and whatnot my freshman year in college and tried to keep my art on the walls every month if I could. 

Do you have any advice for other people who are looking to grow their business and become a full time artist/crafter?
My approach has been to do the things that make me feel good, but keep humble enough to realize I’m here to help other people's dreams come true as well. Also, realize you will have to work very hard, so you better love it. 

How has COVID changed the way your business works?
I was lucky enough to have an online presence and I’ve expanded on that. I really miss the face to face interactions with customers and lookie-loos. I’ve been doing a weekly Instagram live hour on Thursdays at 8, and that’s been nice. It does feel a little one-sided, although I do try to answer the questions in the comments. 

Where do you find the most inspiration for your work?
I try and find inspiration everywhere, but to avoid being vague and boring I tend to find inspiration in vintage illustrations, packaging, and products. I’ve always loved patterns too. Recently I’ve renewed my love for psychedelic poster art. 

How do you balance your business and your personal life?
It’s especially hard now being the stay at home parent, but I try and keep certain things constant like long talks at dinner with my family and movie night. 

What is your COVID go-to guilty pleasure - either something you're reading, listening to, watching or eating?
I’ve been getting into mini synthesizer, believe it or not. 

What artists are you loving these days?
David Choe has fascinated me for years. He’s got a real unmasked approach to what he does. Some of it’s pretty gnarly, but his lack of fear is inspiring. Femke Hiemstra has always been a favorite. Camille Rose Garcia is ever the badass too. 

What are you doing to stay positive in these uncertain times?
I am pretty lucky to have a roof over my head and family that is still alive, so I’m just counting my blessings. And I'm working on being present. 

You're stranded on a desert island and can bring three things with you - what are they?
A seaworthy boat, a million dollars, and more wishes. Ok, ok, in the spirit of the game I would bring a good saw with a way to charge it, paints and brushes, and something to make music with. Maybe a piano. 

See more of Tripper's work on his website and Instagram!

For our Wednesday Project this week, Sarah Marshall of Marshall's Haute Sauce is sharing her recipe for a habanero snack mix, just in time for holiday eating and gifting! You probably recognize Marshall's Haute Sauce from our Alberta shop and our craft markets. They also sell in lots of stores and markets around town!

Habanero Snack Mix

This recipe is perfect for gifting to your friends and family. It is crunchy, salty, and
spicy. When I used to share a kitchen with my gals, they would literally jump for
joy when they knew I was making a big batch of spicy snack mix. Tip: This recipe
is very approachable, for all skill levels and food allergies. Want it gluten free?
Use only rice cereal, GF pretzels, and the liquid aminos. Want it more or less
spicy? Adjust the hot sauce or cayenne to make the spice level fit your group.
Just remember if you up the sauce to decrease soy sauce, so it does not turn out
too soggy.

Ingredients
4 cups corn cereal
4 cups rice cereal
2 cups peanuts
2 cups pretzels
1 stick unsalted butter
1/3 cup Habanero Carrot Curry Marshall’s Haute Sauce
1/3 cup soy sauce or liquid aminos
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
2. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.
3. In a large bowl mix cereals, peanuts, and pretzels.
4. In a medium sauce pan, over medium heat, melt the butter. Once the butter is
melted add the soy sauce and Habanero Carrot Curry Haute Sauce. Stir until
well mixed, remove from heat, stir in lime juice.
5. Mix dry and wet ingredients in the bowl, adding slowly and stirring to evenly
coat.
6. Spread the mixture evenly between two baking sheets.

7. Mix oregano, cayenne, and salt together.
8. Sprinkle spices evenly over snack mix and stir.
9. Bake for 45-60 minutes, stirring gently every 15 min, until dry and golden.
10. Let mix cool, once completely cool put into glass jars fitted with lids.

Sarah Marshall is the Owner of Marshall’s Haute Sauce in Portland, Oregon. Her small batch sauce company grew from her love of gardening, and background in home preserving. Sarah is passionate about farmers, artisan producers, and canning seasonal ingredients. Her love for canning and preserving all things local, inspired her to write Preservation Pantry: Modern Canning From Root To Top And Stem To Core.

Check out Marshall's Haute Sauce in our December 12th Virtual Market! They will be live on their Instagram from 12:00 - 12:30 demonstrating how to put together quick and easy holiday snacks and gifts. They are also donating a portion of their sales from the event to Equitable Giving Circle.

This Maker Monday we are pleased to highlight Candy Frost Design, a favorite from both our shops and craft markets! Her colorful floral arrangements are all made of felt, so you can give your friends and family beautiful lasting bouquets. The newest addition to her product line is felt houseplants! Perfect for those of us who struggle to keep plants alive! Candy is a vendor at our upcoming Virtual Market this Saturday, November 28th. Catch her LIVE on her Instagram page from 11:30am -12:00pm PST showing and selling her new floral designs in her studio. 

Name: Candy Frost
Astrological Sign: Gemini
Favorite Color: Green and Fuscia - I'm a gemini, so I get 2 choices, right?
Favorite Food: Anything from Bollywood Theater.
Favorite Art Supply/Tool: Needle nose pliers from my Dad's old fishing toolbox.

How did you get started doing art as a business?
I have been making things since I was a kid, but this particular line of work has a very specific origin story. The night before my kiddo's last day of his first year of preschool, a fellow preschool parent texted and asked what I was going to give as a teacher gift. Huh? Oops. Teacher gift! So I got out some wool blend felt I had been using for a needle felting project and some wire from the garage and I whipped up some felt flowers. I liked them so much I never gave them away. I posted them on my Instagram and got such great feedback I thought maybe I had something here! I spent months building a portfolio of work and applied to the Crafty Wonderland Winter show. I thought if I get into that, then this is worth pursuing. And I did. And the rest is history.

With a few materials you probably have lying around the house, you can make these super cute sun and moon mobiles! This project was created by Corinne Lent of Plant and Pattern. You can watch a video of this tutorial here, or follow the steps below! 

Materials and Supplies List:

Heavy weight paper, card stock or crafting paper
Pencil
Your favorite art supplies - paint, colored pencil or markers
(I love acrylic paint or craft paint and posca paint pens for details.)
Any string (kitchen string, hemp cord, yard or embroidery thread)
Small bowl and smaller cup
Scissors
Hole puncher, skewer or sharpened pencil
Optional: Glitter, puff paint or metallic pens

HOW TO MAKE IT:

Step One
Make a large circle for your sun by tracing around your bowl or ramekin. Then make another smaller circle inside your larger circle using your cup. Now make another small circle for your moon.

Step Two
Draw triangles or lines around the inner circle to make sun rays. Now draw your faces.

Step Three
Using your favorite art supplies, draw or paint in your background colors leaving the eyes white. Don't worry about staying in the outside lines perfectly, we will cut them out later. Let this layer dry.

Step Four
Now add the details like eyes, nose, mouth and sun rays. I like giving mine rosey cheeks. You can also add glitter or puff paint to give them some sparkle. (Paint pens, markers or color pencils are great for making small details.)

Step Five
Time to cut out all your suns and moons.

Step Six
Using a hole puncher, skewer or something with a sharp end like a pencil, poke a hole through the top and bottom of the larger circle, and just the top of the smaller circle. Be careful not to poke your finger!

Step Seven
Cut TWO 8-13inch pieces of string. Fold one piece of string in half and lace the two ends through the top hole on your larger sun piece. Next, put the ends through the loop and pull snug.

Step Eight
Tie a knot at the top - this is where your mobile will hang from.

Step Nine
Now using the other string, repeat step seven for your smaller moon but without the top knot.

Step Ten
Once the string is attached to your moon lace the two ends through the bottom of your sun, flip over and tie a knot close to the top on the backside of your sun. Now lace the paper moon through the loop and pull snug. Trim excess string.

Step Eleven
Hang your Mobile!

Extra tip!
These also make great Christmas ornaments. Just do one string at the top or make garlands by putting holes on the sides!

Have fun making your magical suns and moons and please tag us so we can see your celestial creations!

@corinnelent + @craftywonderland

Corinne will be vending at our upcoming Virtual Market on December 12th with her business, Plant and Pattern! Catch her LIVE on her Instagram (@corinnelent) on Sat, Dec 12th from 11:00 - 12:00! She'll be doing live sketchbook drawing and painting with a topic of: How do we find our 'style'? And be sure to check out Corinne's beautiful work on her Instagram and Etsy shop!