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| How cute is she!?! |
Tell us a bit about
yourself.
My name is Brea, I’m 15 years
old and I own the Etsy store Crochet Best Friends. I have loved stuffed animals
ever since I was little (well who doesn’t lol ), and started making them when I
was about 11. I started my shop on Etsy because I was too young to get a job,
and like every kid, I desperately needed money!! In the beginning it was a
little scary trying to set up a store, but luckily, my parents have worked
online for many years, and were there to help me through the difficult patches.
Apart from creating
things, what do you do?
School of
course. I’m home-schooled and about to enter 12th grade. I will graduate at 16,
so hopefully I’ll be able to dedicate a lot more time to my store then! I also
love to draw, probably as much as I love to crochet. Oh, and I’m working on
writing a book! :D
What would be the
title of your memoir? Why?
I don’t think I have lived long enough to write a
memoir lol.
Where does your
inspiration come from?
Much of my inspiration comes from Japanese culture.
Sushi, hello kitty, manga…Japan is the land of cute! On the other hand, I also
like old fashioned dolls and toys, I think my shop is something of a mix.
What does handmade
mean to you?
Handmade means one of a kind. Isn’t it way cooler to have something
unique, instead of something that a factory produced one hundred million of? I
think so.
Who has been most
influential in your craft?
My mother and my grandma. My mom doesn’t craft much,
but she seems to have an endless stream of ideas and possibilities. She’s also
extremely good with advertising. My grandma always has a suggestion and a kind
word. They help me out a lot.
When did you know you
were an artist/maker?
I don’t know…I’ve always loved crafting. It just took a
little time, dedication, and a lot of practice to really be able to get what I
wanted it of it. I’ve always been an artist, I just have to work hard to be a
GOOD artist.
How would you
describe your creative process?
Process? I think of things, I draw them, then I
make them. :)
If you could peek
inside the studio of any artist, designer or craftsman (dead or alive), who
would it be?
Naoko Takeuchi, yes she’s
an artist not a plush maker, but like I said, I love art!
What handmade
possession do you most cherish?
All of the items made for me by my
Great-Grandma. She passed away, and her handmade dolls, blankets, and pillows
are part of my cherished memories of her.
How do you get out of
your creative ruts?
I tend to push myself into creative ruts. I’ll have a lot
on my to-do list, and stress myself out
about getting things done. The end result is, nothing gets done at all. I just
take things one step at a time: work on a small project, or take a break!
Where would you like
to be in ten years?
In a small apartment, with an art degree and my own plushie
studio! :)
