Next month:
A brand new crafty interview,
searchable crafty database
more crafting resources
CraftJoint Interview: Miss Amber G.
First things first, why did you decide to become an independent fashion
designer?
My best friend/roomate Jessica and I have attempted other crafty
sales ventures together in the past and they just didn't work out well. We
both needed some extra cash, so we started looking around the internet for
easy projects to do. I found a tutorial for a very easy purse in a
community, I shared it with her, and that was the beginning.
I'm an artist at heart,
so I really just watch anime because it's beautiful to me. I love noticing
the colors and the music and the way the artists chose to draw a certain
character.
How did you learn to sew?
My mom. I forced her to sit down with me and
teach me the basic functions of a sewing machine. I don't really know much
about sewing at all, really, and can hardly sew anything else but what I
make for the site. but i'm a perfectionist, so when i do sew something, I
make sure it's perfect.
How have you found inspiration for your work?
I have two obsessions. One: Japanese toys/cutesy stuff in general.
Two: minature food. I DON'T KNOW WHY.
But a lot of my purses have food appliques and other silly little
things on them, and I just think they're insanely cute and fun. I only
make things that I would use myself, so even if they don't sell I have
like 12 awesome new purses to choose from. In my core, I've always been an
artist first (something a lot of people don't know about me) so I'm very
drawn to colors and patterns and find them inspiring in themselves.
generally i buy the fabrics first and then design the purse, which
sometimes is not such a good idea.
What's the most memorable piece you've made?
Is it also your favorite
piece? I have two pieces which are my favorite and most memorable. the
domo-kun purse and the sushi purse. domo-kun was the first REAL purse that
I both designed and actually sewed to completion. I also love him to death
so just looking at it makes me happy. the sushi purse is the most
time-consuming and difficult thing for me to make, but it always looks
incredible when it's done so I love it, too.
Was Bjork's swan dress at the 2001 Oscars really such a bad move?
NO. I
thought it was awesome. It fit her personality, it was appropriate for her
performance, and it was memorable. I don't know of any other dress at an
award show that's so well remembered, except for J-Lo's stupid boobie
dress which wasn't even that great anyway.
Describe your average outfit- top, bottom, shoes and accessory if any.
Or are you a nudist? a top from the thrift store appropriate for the weather, a cardigan if possible (i always have one on unless it's just too hot), usually dark wash jeans, any brand that'll fit my small budget and big butt, and saucony shoes (grey on pink!). Or my red chinese slippers from the flea market. accessories? my pancake necklace from pancake meow, or my steak necklace from faeriesmak, or my pacman hairclip from mtcoffinz!
If someone handed you $10,000 with no strings attached how would you
spend it?
I would pay off my credit card bill, put some into a CD or something, then buy some things from the DIY designers I love :-)
Would you rather work in the cruelest of all Nike sweatshops for 10 years
or be an influential neo-con activist/lobbyist forever and you know rip
away American civil freedoms?
I guess I'd rather be influential than a nobody, and the only way you can tear down the system is from the inside so i like to think i'd revolt and shit and it would be awesome.
On a great day in 1992 what were you most
likely wearing?
Uhhhh, OBVIOUSLY my vanilla ice t-shirt that said "word to
your mother" and a hott pair of tie-dyed leggings. And black high-top
reeboks. Yeah, you heard me.
What's up with your traditional Anime Convention attendance? Are you
secretly obsessed with anime?
Hahaha. I watch anime casually. I have
always loved sailor moon, and own every season of it ever made (in
traditional japanese with subtitles, thank you) - I will admit to being
obsessed with that show. but like i said before. I'm an artist at heart,
so I really just watch anime because it's beautiful to me. I love noticing
the colors and the music and the way the artists chose to draw a certain
character. It's just fun, and complex, and there's such a difference
between one show and the next. I also enjoy anime because american
cartoons today are just ... generic. Stupid. Awful. Irritating. I mean,
what the hell is "The Fairly Oddparents"? Really, what the hell.
More about Miss Amber Amber is a full-time student whose guilty pleasure is a tie between Live Journal and cold stone creamery. Her favorite accent is Russian and her favorite craft accent is sequins. She's recently taken up yarn spinning. You can buy her purses, tote bags, stationery and soap from her label and shop Faith In Poison.
