Whimsical Designs Made to Last

Random Facts About You?

My great-grandmother and her daughter, my grandmother, taught me to knit and sew before color TV was invented.
I am a self-taught quilter, and quilt by hand.
I think that we'd need far fewer landfills if people would use cloth diapers!
I think it's sad that nearly everything has become 'disposable.' Why fix it when you can toss it and go buy a new one? So sad...

What got you started crafting?

As a tiny child, I sewed and knit because that's what you did. We didn't have Wal-Mart, although we did have Sears... their catalog was actually entertainment! But you didn't 'buy' everything; most of what you needed was made at home.

When I became "mom," my children's toys were handmade primarily because the cost of store-bought was prohibitive in our budget.

It didn't become 'crafting' until after the last of our children had been out on his own for some time. I really missed doing it.

What is your source of inspiration?

Everything around me, actually. Nature, pictures in books/magazines, a tidbit from a conversation... you name it!

What have you made recently?

One of my customers mentioned that it would be so cute to have a Christmas tree full of my rag dolls. My full-size dolls are typically 10-12 inches tall; not a good size for an ornament. So after several (I really don't know how many) attempts, I came up with a miniature that will work. A lot of the construction of my miniature rag dolls is done with hemastats due to their tiny size. I'm using a hand-drawn pattern to make the doll body and the dress, but no two are identical, since each face is hand-drawn.

Where do you sell your crafts presently?

I have a shop online at HandmadeArtists.com (link is above). I also do arts and crafts shows during the summer months. I love custom orders! The opportunity to take an idea in someone else's head and bring it into reality is such fun!

Why are handmade crafts important to you?

You could run into any department store and buy a baby blanket, a quilt or a toy, but none of these mass-produced items will become an heirloom in anyone's home. I'm sure it's a generational thing, but I still firmly believe that things should last, that they should be handed down. That kind of quality and enduring design is only found in handmade.

Find Me

Location
Utah, USA

Email Address
Sandi Levy

Personal Website
http://handmadeartists.com/shop/iKnitQuiltSew

Store Website
http://handmadeartists.com/shop/iKnitQuiltSew

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/IKnitQuiltSew/212648978833025