As crazy as it may sound, I am inspired by paper, wood, metal, as well as other creative people, traveling, old books, luchadors, and some of the artists I love (Claire Oswalt, Gregory Crewdson).
Stephanie/The Paper Thieves
I weld, badly.
I have a great pound dog who has her own crafty aspirations (having taking all my tools out of my workshop and piled them up, then proceeded to paint them with grout paint - true story!).
I work with some great guys, Mando and James, that help PT projects come to life when I should step away from the power tools. They are also designing more PT products as well.
I collect vintage colorforms and mint condition shrink dinks. Just need to figure out how to display them!
What got you started crafting?
I've always made things, and had a mother that would enroll me in afterschool craft programs as a child. And if I want to make something I was determined (as evidenced by a kilt I made for my little sister when I was 5, and my mom thought I was too young to sew, so I stapled it!).
Being able to make things, for yourself or to share with others, is such a creative outlet to have. I stumbled back into it as an adult, as I work in television and work long hours, so I desperately needed that polar opposite activity where I could forget about work in my off time and completely zone out in my own crafty land.
What is your source of inspiration?
As crazy as it may sound, I am inspired by paper, wood, metal, as well as other creative people, traveling, old books, luchadors, and some of the artists I love (Claire Oswalt, Gregory Crewdson).
What have you made recently?
I recently finished up our 2011 Calendar, and it was some hard work!
I have vintage calendar type, and wanted to work with it again instead of designing on the computer.
And being inspired by the elegance of soft grey ink against white cotton paper, I got to work. Printing and printing on a Vandercook at Lala Press. It took awhile. But when it was done, I wanted to create another desktop stand for the calendar, similar to my 2010 calendar that was featured in the Little Book of Letterpress. But I was stumped, wood wasn't going to work, so James and I started prototyping in steel, welding and grinding and sanding away, until we came up with the final product, and then sealed it with a gloss varnish.
I think each individual piece is personal, because each individual piece is handmade or printed - and because of that, no two are alike. I think this calendar stands out, since PT is known for a very simple graphic style, and I don't know anybody else who works so many hours on one calendar, that is also welded to boot!
Where do you sell your crafts presently?
I sell my/our goods though Etsy and and a few retail stores. The upcoming website, should have more info soon.
Why are handmade crafts important to you?
Handmade is great, because by making, purchasing or supporting, you're support a movement that has been continuing since the dawn of time.
People always made things, whether it was for necessity or a luxury, like fine art. Handmade gives us a chance to appreciate and hold special something that is unique and made by a person itself.
Without handmade, we'd all have a cookie cutter style, and that would be no fun.
Find Me
LocationLos Angeles
Email Address
Stephanie/The Paper Thieves
Personal Website
http://thepaperthieves.blogspot.com
Store Website
http://smeurer8.etsy.com
@smeurer8
