My name is Krystal Tomlinson. I make felt plushies, felt foods, playsets, and other fun goodness. I sell my items online on Etsy (www.LiveDreamCreate.com) and at local festivals/craft shows in Northeast Ohio.
Besides sewing, I also enjoy drawing, painting, reading, being outdoors, trying new things, and shopping at the craft store! I have been creating with felt since the winter of 2010, and have been attending festivals and craft shows since the spring of 2011.
I have always enjoyed arts and crafts, and the act of being creative and making something new and unique. Just about everyone in my family makes something, so art has always been a big part of my life.
My art skills and interests seem to grow in an “organic” way, with one interest leading to another. In middle school and high school, I spent a lot of time drawing and painting. I think a big turning point in my life was my middle school art teacher who was the first person outside of my family that told me he thought I was good at drawing.
The first day of 6th grade art class he asked me if I liked to draw. I told him I “doodled” in my notebooks during class, but all of my friends jumped at the chance to tell him all about the things I drew and the little things I made. He told me he could tell I liked to draw because of the way I held the pencil- like I was “comfortable” with it. He taught me a lot of basic drawing skills like perspective and shading. I remember doing so many fun and interesting 3-D projects, not just drawing!
My Spanish teacher came to me with a poster she said she would like to have a big mural of, so I did a 3 x 3 tile mural (approximately 6ft by 6ft) of the Aztec calendar for extra credit. It took me almost an entire 9 weeks to draw and paint during art class and the study hall that followed it each day. The mural experience got me interested in painting. I asked my art teacher to teach me how to paint, but she told me I already knew how after painting the mural! So I brought some pictures of waterfalls and rivers to school and she gave me some canvas boards and acrylic paints and sent me off to paint.
I spent a lot of time after that experimenting and figuring out how to mix colors and how to apply the paint for different effects. Some of those first paintings are still some of my personal favorites! I had always known that I wanted to be a teacher and that I wanted to keep making things, so it was about this time in high school that I realized I wanted to be an art teacher and an artist.
During my senior year of high school and throughout college, I made wire-wrapped jewelry and was part of the KSU Student Jewelry Co-op for a brief time. In the fall of 2010 I started experimenting with making felt pins and clips to add to my jewelry line. Instead, I ended up falling in love with felt and handsewing! I quickly moved from very simple pins and clips to more complex items like felt foods and plushies.
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Whenever an idea strikes me, I typically do some research as to what the object or items looks like in real life, the shape of it, it’s color, proportions, etc. How people interact with an object is also very informative- such as if it has a set way to hold/use it or if there are moving/removable parts. After some research, I plan which colors of felt to use and how the pieces should be shaped and how they assemble.
I use felt made from recycled plastic bottles since it has great color choices that won’t fade, it is strong and washable, and is a great way to re-use plastics! Once pieces are cut out, I begin handsewing. Despite the fact that it takes longer, I love the patterns created by the hand-stitching, and prefer that compared to using my sewing machine. The final stage of a plushie is filling it with stuffing (also made from recycled plastic bottles) and closing the final opening. The new plushie is all ready to find its new home!
The message in my work is to have fun, laugh, imagine and play! Not just kids, but adults too!
Meet Marina Pearson from Marina's Hobby...
I was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia. I graduated from Leningrad Technological University with Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.
In 1992 my family and I immigrated to the United States of America. It was a hard time for us, with different customs and a new language. Yes, I studied English at school, but it was definitely not enough. I now work full-time at Richter HealthCare as a Senior Medical Billing Specialist. I like my job and my co-workers. I have a husband, Jim; an adult son and a rescue cat named Monkee.
Since I was a child I liked to do something with my hands. In Russia it was mainly sewing and knitting. Here in the United States, it took a lot of time (years, I would say) to settle down. Finally, I got a good occupation and a good job and started thinking about how to look beautiful. And what makes us look beautiful? Jewelry, of course!
I had a very nice necklace, but I wanted matching earrings. I tried to buy them in the store, but could not find anything to match. So, I made the earrings myself, and I made a bracelet to match. I was fascinated with the process of making jewelry. My co-workers liked my designs and asked me create something unique for them. This is how Marina’s Hobby started in 2008.
Marina’s Hobby is not about money. It is my hobby, it is my vocation, it is my therapy. Besides, I like to be appreciated (who doesn’t?), and the best way to get this appreciation is to see customers buying my handmade jewelry. I hear a lot of compliments: “Your jewelry is different, it is classy, I really like it!”
I don’t have a particular plan for Marina’s Hobby for 5 or more years. Generally our life is unpredictable. Who could predict when I was 5 years old that when I was 50 I would be living in the United States and have a hobby of making jewelry!
Two years ago I started to wire wrap stones, late last year it was scarf art, and this year I started to make rings. Who knows what I may think of next. I am open to ideas all the time.
We found out about Avant-Garde Art and Craft Shows last year. We went to several as customers and met vendors who we knew, who liked the show. We saw how well organized they are, and this year we are signing for summer and winter shows in Solon, as well as the autumn show in Rocky River.
I am looking forward to participating at those shows as a vendor!
Check out these featured vendors at the 2013 East Side Summer Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature over 100 of the most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to the Cleveland Animal Protection League.
2013 East Side Summer Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, July 21, 2013, 12:00pm-5:30pm
Terry Macklin Entertainment & Event Centre
6200 Enterprise Parkway
Solon, OH 44139
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com
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