By Hand

It usually starts small. In a kitchen laboratory a garage workshop a stolen corner of the guest bedroom it begins as a recurring thought a pleasantly nagging idea a simple pipe dream. The first customers are family then friends then friends of friends until that first request appears where can I find some more?

Then there are orders to fill products to develop displays and websites to design. The next thing a crafter knows there is enough interest and revenue to sustain what was once just a spark of an idea. A business has bloomed from so many seeds.

This month weve peeked into the creative processes of some of the Cape Fears favorite crafters for a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their business and art.

Mary FitzGerald Holst
Up-cycled art  | RE-ECO Design

Making it

I primarily make eco friendly fashion and decorative accessoriesup-cycled wool scarves and headbands journals made with recycled paper and vintage fabrics even terrariums made with recycled materials.With hand felting crochet appliqu and recycled leather techniques my family and I make 95 percent of the stuff in our store. We opened the store about two years ago and I work here with my husband and our two children. I guess you could say were a family of artists.

Inspiration

I am mostly inspired by nature special shells on the beach or birds in a tree. Nature which is all around you if you look can inspire so many things.

The tricky part

Developing the concept and designing the item. It can be very challenging but its rewarding too. Sometimes I get very excited about an idea and what I think I want to do but as I create it may evolve into something totally different and unexpected. I have to go with that process not get frustrated by it. Its cool where I end up sometimes.

Try it yourself

Found objects make great raw materials even old sweaters scarves and socks can be transformed into creative works of art. Roughly cut and sewn into shapes sporting found embellishments like buttons for eyes these sweaters have been repurposed into adorable owls and holiday fish stockings. Let your imagination flow and put your own twist on ityoull be amazed at what you come up with.

Love it find it buy it

Our inspirations can be purchased at the store Re-Eco Design or at Hallelu boutique in Wrightsville Beach.

Lance Bowser
Candles | MILL POND CANDLES

I make candles from recycled wax. I find old sometimes half-used candles at yard sales consignment shops and the like. I melt them down and pour the wax into molds to make new better candles. The artistic end comes into play with the way I combine colors and add fragrances to personalize each one. I also add thematic objects into the waxlike leaves for an autumnal look or candy hearts for Valentines Dayto make my candles very gift-worthy.

Inspiration

Im really inspired by the colors around a pond mostly in colder weather with what lies beneath the ice. My company is called Mill Pond Candles because I grew up on a mill pondits a place where the colors can be really intense and really muted at the same time kind of like candle wax. I try to bring that out in the work I do.

The tricky part

Being careful. Candle making is not for the absent-minded. Youre working with hot liquid after all it requires diligence and concentration.

Other gigs

Im also a musician. I have a band with my twin brother called the Del Zorros. We play original pop musiclike the Beatles.

Try it yourself

My big thing now is making ice candles. If you pour wax over ice cubes you get an incredible looking candle. The technique was popular in the 70s and you dont see it a lot nowpartly because its a vintage look and partly because theyre fragile and difficult to ship. Theyre not long burning but after they burn down you can use the outside shell as a votive holder.

Love it find it buy it

I create mostly for friends and family but I always have some of my work for sale at The Eclectic consignment shop on Castle Street. And I have been known to set up a table on Castle Street to sell a few myself.

Carol Crow & Eileen Kubes
Soaps  |  OUT OF EDEN SOAPS

Making it

My sister Eileen Kubes and I make soaps using herbs we grow ourselves. I have a degree in horticulture and Im interested in the medicinal value of herbs so my background lends itself perfectly to the craft of soapmaking. Our soaps are all natural and each one is made from scratch. And though theyre pretty and smell nice they also serve a purpose by way of the medicinal herbal aspect.

Getting started

I always had dry skin and started making soap just for personal use. From there I started giving it to friends and family and people wanted more. I ended up giving away about 600 bars. Then someone from Michigan called me to order some more they had been visiting a mutual friend used the soap and loved it. I decided to take a leap of faith order supplies and see what would happen. I am in charge of the soap recipes and manufacturing; Eileen takes care of the design decorating and marketing. This October were celebrating our 12^th year in business.

Try it yourself

I actually love it when people call me wanting to know where to buy supplies to make their own soap and I recommend they check out www.teachsoap.com. Its great for beginnersvery easy to read and understand. As you become more advanced youll see its a lot like chemistry though. Its a delicate balance and if you add too much oil you can ruin the product; in fact thats why I still make all of our soap myself.

Love it find it buy it

We have a full-time booth at Blue Moon gift shops and do a great Internet business too. You can buy our stuff at www.outofeden.com.

Laurel Herbert
Clay  |  MUDDY MUSE

Making it

I make a wide variety of art including ceramic button beads and pendants; garden art including popular magic fairy doors; dinnerware including java head mugs; magnets; photo holders; miniatures and large sculptures; wall art soap dishes; plus a large selection of original designs and paintings. The clay work starts with raw clay. It gets formed fired once glazed and fired again. Then depending on the purpose of the piece I use various finishing techniques.

Inspiration

Organic form and natures bounty are constant sources of inspiration for me. I also enjoy abstract art and design.

The tricky part

Balancing my time. I often get large orders and the creative process sometimes makes it difficult to stay focused on the task at hand.

Other gigs

This has been my full time job for more than eight years and I recently started a weekly position as an art teacher at a private school. Im also a busy mom.

Try it yourself

Roll the clay into a dime- or- quarter-sized ball and squeeze it flat. Shape it then add texture. Find something interestinga key or some pretty lace will doand press the object into the clay. Use a coffee straw to make tiny button holes. Fire glaze then fire again. The best advice I could give to a fellow crafter is to follow your heart and let the creative process take you along for the journey.

Love it find it buy it

My work can be found online at www.muddymuse.com which features a link to my Etsy shop. My work is also available in gift shops and galleries including the River to Sea Gallery Caravan Beads the Blockade Runner Beach Resort gift shop Airlie Gardens gift shop and the Gourmet Market downtown.