Tell us a little about yourself.
The best way to start is to tell you my name. My name is Tammy. I've been happily married for 25 years (still hard to believe). I have two children, Tony 23, and Morgan 21. Those three things are my biggest accomplishments.
I grew up in north central Pennsylvania, with six brothers and sisters. We were all involved in 4-H. My brothers learned to sew and cook. My sisters and I learned to take care of engines and change tires. This is were I fell in love with sewing. When my daughter asked for an American Girl doll, I got my sewing machine out and started making clothes. Now that the doll, and my daughter have packed up and moved on, I sew for my nieces dolls. And with an empty nest, sewing is my way to relax.

Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from interviewing my nieces. I love to find out what fabrics they like and to hear what clothing combination they come up with. I usually try to make more trendy clothing, but enjoy the period clothing that can be made for 18 in. dolls.

Who or what has been most influential in your craft?
My parents are most influential. They both enjoyed sewing. I remember my dad making homemade, life size, pop up campers complete with the cloth walls. I still have the homemade dresses that my mom made for my sisters and I when we were girls.


What does handmade mean to you?
Handmade means to create something that is uniquely imperfect, yet desirable. It means to have the ability to take a raw material and turn it into something that is useful. It doesn't matter what is created or what raw material is used, it's simple the act of creation.

When did you know you were an artist?
I don't think I've ever thought about being call an "artist". I simple enjoy making doll clothes. I enjoy the look on the faces of the children who dress their dolls up in something they helped create. Most people will look at their creations then look at the creations of others and still not see their ability to create; to be an artist.


How do you get out of creative ruts?
I get out of creative ruts by going to fabric stores. I don't have to buy anything, I just have to see what's available. I also check out the internet. There are plenty of ideas. Sometimes I just get out the pictures of the outfits and remember how much fun it was to make it. Sometimes a simple message on facebook, "Aunt Tammy, I really, really liked............". That will fix any rut.

Describe my work space.
Right now, I work in the middle of my living room. Why? Well, I'm an empty nester who's downsized and moved in the past year and will be moving sometime in the future year. The living room seems to be the perfect place right now. Besides, when we downsized, I had to get rid of a lot of things. I kept my sewing fabric and I want it close by.


What did you think you would be when you grew up?
I haven't grown up yet! I'm still dressing dolls!

What do you do for your day job?
Before I moved, I worked as a Teaching Assistant (Teacher's Aide, PCA) in a primary learning support classroom. I am now a substitute Teaching Assistant at a near by school district. I absolutely love the primary grades, Pre-K through 3rd grade. I'm often asked why I didn't become a teacher. The answer is easy. A Teaching Assistant helps the Teacher become the best that she can be by implementing strategies that allow students to shine without having to do all the paperwork involved in teaching. The Teacher shines, the student shines, and since I'm a helper, I shine.

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Tell us a little about yourself?
My profile on Etsy sums it up, lol. I’m married to the perfect man because he is the one God sent to me. I’m blessed with 4 kids, the youngest in diapers and the oldest behind the wheel. I started sewing and crafting as a child. I fell in love with vintage and design as a teenager. I used to wake up early on Saturday mornings to watch Style with Elsa Klensch and stay up late to watch classic movies.

Where does your inspiration come from?
Vintage! I Love many so many era’s.

Who or what has been most influential in your craft?
My grandmother and my love for vintage. Many of my childhood memories of my grandmother are of her sewing. She had a 1950’s Singer with a blond wood cabinet, before my grandfather passed he gave it to me.


How would you describe your creative process?
I design it first in my mind. Sometimes I have to jump out of bed and sketch something that comes to mind. After drafting my pattern I then treasure hunt for the most perfect fabric. I have many designs I haven’t made yet because I haven’t found the perfect fabric. Once I have a picture of what it should look like nothing else will do.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?
Sometimes I will watch gorgeous classic movies that take place in historical era’s, there are so many lovely details to inspire.


What does handmade mean to you?
Something made from the heart.

Apart from creating, what do you do?
Spend precious time with my family. Saturday is a good day for all of us but my oldest who doesn’t tap (but secretly thinks it’s cool) to put on our tap shoes. Gardening is fun too while my youngest finds ways to get muddy.


What celebrity would you most like to wear your items?
Shirley Temple, but she’s not a size 4t anymore!

If you had to use only one word to describe yourself, what would it be?
It’s just not possible. :)

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Tell us a little about yourself?
I am a mom of (3), two raised and out of the house and one daughter left at home. We live in a very small town (population 436) in western MA and life is peaceful here. Love being surrounded by nature and beautiful starry nights.

Where does your inspiration come from?
I have always liked to create things in one form or another. It does not take much to get my wheels moving. Sometimes something as simple as a color scheme on an outfit can send me to doodling a sketch in that color palette or sometimes it can send me off to redo an entire room. I am a very visual person so I guess it is easiest to say that the things I see around me are the greatest source of inspiration for me.


Who or what has been most influential in your craft/art?
There are two people who I would say have been the most influential in my creative career. The first was my mother. She was an artist and all around creative person who could not only paint a fabulous picture, she could make her own designs then sew them, needlepoint, restore furniture, garden etc. She was also an avid reader… always wanting to learn, which is one of the greatest gifts I inherited from her. My mom thought outside the box so the things she made were very unusual what we today consider OOAK. Her desire to forge her own style and not be concerned what others thought about it certainly inspired me to be the same.

The other person who had a huge impact on me was the brother of my SIL. He was a designer in NYC and had a wonderful home in Danbury CT which was featured in a Home Beautiful spread. This incredible home was a tri-level modern home set in a gorgeous park like woodland. I was only about 10 when I went to the house for the first time but I fell in love instantly. Having grown up around artists I had already come to know how eccentric and “different” they can be but Jasques was THE king of eccentric. He was all about creating moods. When we walked up to the house and were greeted by twin Great Danes wearing scarves and berets I knew I would like this guy! Walking through the basement floor I entered an incredible English Pub. Brick floors, stone walls, antiques everywhere including surrounding a usable stone cooking hearth complete with cast iron kettle hanging there. Each floor and every room was designed in a different style creating a very worldly ambience. The entire home was antiques or very modern pieces. There was a Russian room complete with a settee that was upholstered in Russian Sable. (Hey this was the 60’s and real fur was cool to use). A massive casual dining room on the 2cnd floor was decorated in a Japanese style with antique low tables, gorgeous goose down pillows in luscious Asian silks, antique Japanese painted case goods and the room was all glass with sliding soji screens. One such wall opened up to the inground pool that had an Asian landscaping and design that was the perfect place to get your Zen on! So much more to say about this home and this person but for times sake let’s just say my eclectic taste and my own venture into interior design in my later years was certainly a direct result of having met and been inspired by Jasques.


What does handmade mean to you?
This can be a sensitive topic lol. I have read posts on forums from people who have very particular views on this who are ready to fight to the death to win the argument. So I will tread lightly here.

For me handmade is when various raw goods are brought together and combined thus creating a final product that is much more than the sum of it’s parts. That sounds safe and I am sticking to it! Seriously though it is a little like what came first the hen or the egg. By this I mean consider assembly art… if someone takes just raw goods, does not alter them in anyway but arranges them in such a way that something beautiful is created with very little “addition” to them, is this not art and handmade? I think it is.


How would you describe your creative process?
It totally depends on what I am making…what medium I am using. For altered art, I have to have a ton of supplies all around me so I can pick and choose. Mosaics are the same way. For painting I have to have a clean area with all my brushes, knives, fabrics lined up and ready to grab. Once everything is there I just have at it. My best work has come from not thinking about what I am doing and just doing what I feel at that moment. When I stop to think about how to proceed I sometimes lose my way and become permanently stuck. I have an entire room of canvases in various stages of completion because of stopping to think about it. Rarely will I go back and try to pick up my chain of thought. I will only do this to pieces that I have spend a ton of time on and are far enough along in the process that I can complete them within a day or two. Normally though it is simple…I gesso over what I started and start from scratch. I have many canvases that are ready to be gessoed!

How do you get out of your creative ruts?
The best way for me to do this is to get outside and doing something physical. Walking, gardening, mowing the lawn…all these things seems to drive the demons away, clear my mind and allow for me to purge the negative thoughts (which are always a bummer when you are trying to be creative) and be tired enough to get a good nights sleep. Tomorrow is another day. I never sit around worrying about it. That accomplishes nothing. At 52 I know that things are cyclical and being in non-creative moods is just part of being human. Perhaps Gods way of saying stop and go enjoy life.


Do you ever dance even if there’s no music playing?
Hehehe….all the time! More so when I was younger but I still do these days. It used to drive my son out of his mind when he was a teen. He had some CD’s I liked and when his friends would come over and they would be hanging playing music I couldn’t control myself and would be out in the kitchen kickin it old school! HA! His friends used to think it was great and think I was a very cool mom. My son was horrified and thought I should be more like June Cleaver I guess :/


What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
I have to say it is not so much advice as a concept. My mother was big on personal responsibility. She instilled in me the understanding that I am creator of my own destiny. My life will be good or not so good as a direct result of the choices I make…so take the time to make wise choices. I did not always follow her advise as I was quite impulsive growing up (and can be still :P) but at the end of the day if things did not work out as I had planned I have always been able to say to myself and to others I am responsible for this and am willing to take my licks. I wish this simple concept would be engrained in every child growing up. The world would be so much different if people all accepted responsibility for their actions. Hey we can dream right!

Where can people find your work?
Currently I am selling my work online at Etsy and Yessy. I will soon be selling at Fine Art America as well. For anyone in the western MA area I will accept appointments to view my canvases available.

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