We are excited to introduce our second FirstBank scholarship winner, Sarah Booth of full twinkle. Sarah hand-embroiders amazing creations using symbols. You’ll find her stellar goods the Spring Horseshoe on May 9th and she’ll also be selling DIY kits! Read below to find out more about this wonderful maker.

Tell us about your art or craft and how you got started creating.

It all started with the button hole stitch my mom taught me when I was small. I loved hand sewing and I was hooked. I had the chance to study fine art at the University of Wyoming I took it, sewing in the costume shop for the theatre department.

full twinkle began with me wanting to make personalized jewelry for myself, family and friends. I tried a few other techniques with felt but none gave me the detail or control I wanted until I tried embroidery. I sketch a lot but never on the felt. I just go for it and stitch. I would never draw some of the things I stitch, it just comes out and I love that!

Some of my first subjects were hobo code. I enjoy wearing an embroidered pendant I made that means “dangerous neighborhood.” I love it visually, and thinking of the different implications of wearing it. My imagination has always been captured by symbols, from hieroglyphs to traffic signs. Now I can’t stop embroidering them. I love trying new designs and embroidering new formats.

unnamed-3

What’s your favorite thing(s) about being an artist/creator working and living in Denver and Colorado?

I find so much inspiration from living in Denver. We have world-class museums and a crazy amazing handmade culture. I frequent the Denver Art Museum, Museum of Nature and Science and the Botanic Gardens and find a lot of inspiration there. I’ve loved being able to shop and learn locally at small businesses like fabric bliss, Fancy Tiger, Share Denver, and Horseshoe Market. My friends who are artists are some of my biggest inspirations, shameless friend promotion? Sam Spitzer is debuting at his first Horseshoe this Spring as well. He and Matt Jorgensen, potter, and Connie Hong, all-around maker and musician have always amazed and inspired me.

What about the Horseshoe Market are you looking forward to, and what will folks find at your booth?

I’m so honored to be a part of this amazing market. Horseshoe has been a lucky find for me indeed. I’m most looking forward to interacting with people. I am inspired by what shoppers are looking for and it helps me figure out what I should be making. At my first fair, I have to admit I was a little offended by some browsers who suggested they could make these objects themselves. Then I had to laugh at myself because I do the exact same thing when I go to craft fairs, and I don’t go home and make them. But if I had a kit I would. So I’m debuting kits at Horseshoe so you can go home and have a little DIY binge. I get so much joy from making these objects why wouldn’t I share that opportunity with someone else?

I remember asking my favorite visiting artists their process. While most artists were very reserved in sharing their mechanisms of creation with me, Colorado’s own Emilio Lobato graciously and unreservedly explained his special techniques. I will never forget the confidence and generosity of Emilio who clearly wasn’t threatened by someone else using a process he painstakingly developed. I love that Denver has a big DIY culture and I want to share the techniques and crafts I’ve developed so anyone can share in the joy of making. The kits will have everything they’ll need to succeed. I’ll also have finished pieces that will include, my embroidered felt pendant necklaces, booties, bags, wall pieces and felted wool balls. Everything I make is hand embroidery on felted wool, in a woolen palette, whites, creams, browns, black, grays. My subject matter ranges and is not limited to but includes Hobo Code, creatures, weather, nautical, and summer camp themes.

unnamed-2