Cool Grandma Chic

Random Facts About You?

during the day, i work in a woodshop
i ride my bike in the winter
i cut my own hair a lot
i love old lady clothes

What got you started crafting?

i have been making things since i was a kid. my dad used to have a workshop in the basement where i could be found sawing apart pieces of wood, glue gunning puppets together, and sewing pencil cases for friends. i just do it because it's natural and fun for me to make things. what else would i do if i weren't making things?

What is your source of inspiration?

i am inspired by old things, found things, and collections of things. i love going to thrift shops and looking at fabric and vintage clothes and finding little bits of lace and buttons, embroidered pictures, textile anything. i have such a huge collection of old hankerchiefs that i take out now and then to iron flat, fold, and admire. i also have a little collection of petit point things that i love.

i like being able to incorporate vintage objects into my work and feel like it adds something special or historical to things that i make.

What have you made recently?

well, right now i am working on my hotties. making them is a combination of production line, and an organic process of collecting materials in church sales, thrift stores, etc. i spend a lot of time searching for vintage fabrics and used sweaters that can be felted and recycled for my hotties. after washing, felting, and ironing my materials, i'm ready to put them to use.

i tend to spend a whole day or two cutting out all the parts for the hotties. when i'm done, i have enough for a lot of hotties. then i'll move to the next steps...applique, sewing, embellishing, etc. each of these steps take from a day to weeks to finish, depending on how many hotties i am working on at once.

my favorite step is when i finally get to turn the finished hottie inside out and see what it looks like. none of the hotties are ever the same and they really all have their own personality! of course, i have my favorites--some of them have expressions on their faces that i really love, and others i like less, but i always find someone else who loves it!

after i finish the final stitch, i check each hottie to make sure it has been well made, and then i tag it!
sigh! a labor of love.

Where do you sell your crafts presently?

i sell my crafts online in my etsy shop. during the holidays, i try and present my wares as many local craft shows as possible. my hotties are a very seasonal item so selling happens mostly in the colder months. i get a lot of repeat customers and a lot of customers through word of mouth!

during the summer, i try and sew more to build up my stock for winter--but i have to admit it's pretty hard to sit in front of my sewing machine on a scorching hot sunny day sewing hot water bottle cozies!

i also have my hotties in a small eclectic shop here in montreal. and of course, i like to give hotties to family and friends as gifts...oh and i have traded them too! (like for massages, for example)...

Why are handmade crafts important to you?

handmade things have a life and story attached to them. they came from someone who really cared and spent time with it. i like the stories attached to the items. i also like that i can think of the maker who i bought it from when i use the item. of course, i also like that i am supporting my community, small business, and culture making too.

Find Me

Location
montreal, QC, Canada

Email Address
Janice Yan Yan Wu

Personal Website
http://www.fromtofrom.com

Store Website
http://www.fromtofrom.etsy.com