Tofu curry in pictures

We make Portland awesome: 5th Season

"We make Portland awesome" is a weekly series. I’m interested building our community of artists by helping us all find out more about each other.

This week: Akiko of 5th Season

Who are you?
My name is Akiko Oguchi – the visionary, designer and the detail oriented handcrafting elf behind 5^th Season. I find great admiration in balance between aesthetics and function, right and left brain, and creatively looking at objects beyond their originally intended purpose to give it new function and identity. Born in Tokyo, Japan, raised in San Francisco bay area, tromped around California central coast and Sierra Nevada, hugged trees in Northern California, backpacked and fell hard for South America. A year and a half ago, I transplanted myself and my two kitties to Portland, OR, where my creativity and self expression has blossomed in leaps and bounds. I am an ideas and projects generator, chocolate and kale fiend, bubbly optimist and dreamer, fascinated by human interaction, finding great happiness in nature, and believe my best contribution to others is my joyous laugh. My favorite place to be is my parents' backyard in the sunshine, surrounded in greenery and fruits of their labor. 

What do you make? 

I design and handcraft functional and fashionably versatile handbags using reclaimed material. The current line includes shoulder bags, totes, wristlets, fanny packs, coin purses, iPad/laptop sleeves and diaper bags. I am currently working on bicycle panniers/packs. For the exterior, I use reclaimed and reinforced coffee burlap sacks gathered from various Portland based coffee roasting companies. Reclaimed clothing and natural fibers are used for liners and accents. Bags are fastened with wooden buttons handmade from tree branch trimmings. The coffee burlap sacks are the perfect balance of durability, rustic and chic. It's perfect for Farmer's Market outing, knitting parties, lounging on the beach, music festivals, picnic outings, or taking it to work or school.

All of my bags are named after first customers or dear friends who have supported and inspired me along the way. In the current collection, there are LeAH totes, AcE iPad/laptop sleeves, MiNI MaGGIE zippered pouches, ALeXA fanny packs and wristlets, ALiCE pleaded shoulder bags and AbBY baskets.

I love working closely with customers to design and create custom designed bags incorporating their unused yet sentimentally valuable clothing and fabric. I've worked with customers' grandmother's old dresses, children's baby clothes, mother's handkerchiefs, grandfather's army jackets, and commemorative t-shirts. Incorporated into their own custom designed bags, great memories come alive every time they use it.

Besides making things, what do you do?
I am a cycling enthusiast. I love long distance bike rides in my sexy spandex getup ;) I love being outdoors, hiking, backpacking, camping, getting dirty and coming home smelling of campfire. I love basking in the sunshine with a good friend and a book. I enjoy pushing my mental and physical abilities, and new challenges. I am continuously searching for new experiences that evoke new sensations and emotions, and connect me with new people and their worlds. Currently, my other projects include: passing the Japanese Language Literacy Test and empowering others to learn the language for their personal and professional growth; opening up a community center/retail brick and mortar featuring Portland based upcycling designers, and starting a quarterly community networking event based on personality instead of profession. 

What inspires you?
I am inspired by my parents and brothers who pour their hearts into passionately and relentlessly achieving their full, authentic potential. I am inspired by the amazing, badass entrepreneurs, that Portland attracts like white on bread, who express themselves wholeheartedly to tenaciously pursue their dreams and unite communities. I am also inspired by a plethora of electronica, Radio Lab, This American Life, fashion, color combinations and mother nature.

Where can your work be found? 

Etsy: www.5thSeason.etsy.com 

Eco Fashion Sale: www.EcoFashionSale.com 

Etcetera – St. Johns, Portland, OR

Branch and Birdie – Montavilla, Portland, OR

Kit Kit Dizzi – Nevada City, CA

Tender Loving Empire – downtown Portland, OR
Dinosaurus – SE Hawthorne, Portland, OR

Pie Shoes – NE Alberta, Portland, OR

What do you love about Portland?
Oh, SO.MANY.THINGS. Above all, I love the interconnectedness of communities, despite Portland's eclectic genre of people. I love the juxtaposition of wholehearted, die-hard passion expressed in people's actions and the equally present uber laid-back lifestyle. I love the priority of quality of life and growth of community. I think all of this is reflected in the physical structures of Portland. There are so many neighborhoods and nooks and crannies, one is bound to identify and find embrace within at least one. Portland is that gregarious, hilarious, down-to-earth, spontaneous, open-hearted friend, reliably armed with empathetic hospitality, great food, beer, music, and big bear hugs, inviting anyone and everyone to his parties, rallies even in crappy weather, and will put a giant smile on your face in the most unexpected times. And that, folks, is what I love about Portland.

The smallest wooly-bear caterpillar

Yesterday when I was about to wash my car, I found this little guy behind the hose! I love wooly-bear caterpillars (I even make a felt version of them), but I'd never in my life seen one so tiny! Does anyone know if this is a true wooly-bear caterpillar or something else?

In other news, I've spent hours and hours this week making acorns. Several big orders have come in to be used as wedding decoration and favors, as well as orders from shops in different parts of the country to sell as fall approaches. It's kept me quite busy.

Favorite local places: Tender Loving Empire

Tender Loving Empire is on SW 10th, a couple of blocks south of Powell's Books. TLE is a handmade retail shop, record label, screenprinting studio, and all-around Portland-creative-community-hub. It was the very first boutique to sell House of Moss things, and it's very dear to my heart.

We make Portland awesome: 11 Stories

"We make Portland awesome" is a weekly series. I’m interested building our community of artists by helping us all find out more about each other.

This week: Erica of 11 Stories

 

Who are you?
I am Erica Maggi. I am an artist and stay-at-home mom. I use the name 11 Stories, because I am totally scattered and it sounds kind of all encompassing.

What do you make?
I make messes and hope they somehow transform into something worthwhile.
Sometimes, I make small drawings of animals, mostly mammals, and sell digital prints of them on Etsy. I’m not overly successful, but I like the idea of generating goodwill. Someday I hope to donate 11% of the sales to the WILD Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to “conservation through building an active relationship between people and Nature around the world.” I took that last bit from their website...Before pledging my support, I did some investigating and support the WILD Foundation’s ideals and believe they allocate donations ethically and responsibly.
I also paint.

 

Besides making things, what do you do?
I manage a purple house, an overworked husband, 2 small children, a large dog, an affectionate cat, a community garden plot, and piles and piles of laundry. [Erica also has a wonderful blog, about walks in Portland, here.]

What inspires you?
When I notice something fabulous that someone else has made, I absolutely have to try it. At this moment, I have a flat of berries waiting for my first attempt at canning, a knit neck-tie that should be cast-off, papier mâché masks drying in the garage, an unfinished novel that lacks direction… And piles and piles of library books.

Where can your work be found?
My work can be found on Etsy. In November, I will show a collection of paintings at the Academy Theater… I also have messy piles all over my house, but they are currently unavailable to the public.

What do you love about Portland?
I love the music.

Happy 100th birthday, Julia Child!

What a wonderful person she was. One of the good people of our time.

Last weekend's show, in pictures

1. It's like my little shop was made to be in the forest! The park where the show was held is gorgeous. My canopy was framed and shaded by old pine trees, and the ground was soft wood shavings.
2-3. My first 8-foot wide display. It's a really good excuse to buy more antique crates.
4. Look at this setting! I could live there.
5. My friend Jennifer of jBold Glass Art! Her stained glass is so beautiful, and it was fun to have someone around that I already knew.
6. Me and my Erik. It was a pretty good weekend for us, despite trying to sell felted wool things on one of the hottest weekends of the summer. :) We got to hang out with our visitors in the shade of the canopy, eat sno-cones, and listen to the roaming fiddle player.

We make Portland awesome: Nomad Unlimited

"We make Portland awesome" is a weekly series. I’m interested building our community of artists by helping us all find out more about each other.

This week: Jeffrey of Nomad Unlimited

Who are you?
Jeff Amrhein - Leather Artisan

What do you make?
I make a range of nomad-inspired leather crafts, specializing in cases for MacBooks, iPads, iPhones and Kindles.

Besides making things, what do you do?
I am a traveler at heart and I've spent several years wandering about various part of our great planet taking photos, trekking, sampling great food, writing, kayaking, diving and just absorbing as much as possible.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by everything I see. I learned my craft from fellow leather artisans in North Africa and many of their motifs can be found in my work, along with many other influences, mostly from nature.

Where can your work be found?
Most of my work can be found on Etsy. I have a few items featured on the Free People website (and soon to be in their stores) and some pieces locally at Cloth and Canvas on NE Freemont.

What do you love about Portland?
I moved to Portland about a year ago and I am amazed at how much has happened to me in that time, from being asked to participate as a designer in the Power of the Purse charity auction last year (and hopefull again this year,) to getting my own studio in a shared workspace. There is such a creative vibe here that I feed off of. I also love the great food, amazing beer and the general 'anything goes' attitude. For once, I think I've found a place I can see myself staying in for a long while.

We make Portland awesome: Urban Creatures

"We make Portland awesome" is a weekly series. I’m interested building our community of artists by helping us all find out more about each other.

This week: Bianca and Carla of Urban Creatures

Who are you?
Bianca and Carla, owners of Urban Creatures. We met 5 years ago and bonded over fashion, celebrities and Twilight. We're both from creative backgrounds so our partnership became very natural. We made one necklace together and we haven't stopped since!

What do you make?
We make necklaces, bracelets, headbands, barrettes - the list keeps growing! - from repurposed t-shirts. It's very important for us to keep be eco friendly and conscious of the materials we're using.

 

Besides making things, what do you do?
Bianca is amazing with the sawing machine and is usually making fun things. She's always going to concerts or soccer games with her hubby. Oh, and just opened an online store that features fabric, craft supplies, and handmade gifts. Check it out at owlanddrum.com/
Carla is a graphic and web designer, you can see her work at cargocollective.com/holacarla. She also loves to cook and explore pdx with her daughter and husband.

What inspires you?
Everyday people! We love people watching and get inspired by outfits and color combinations. We're always looking to add new pieces to our shop and love to play with new materials and colors.

Where can your work be found?
Besides our shop at urbancreatures.etsy.com we're on a few shops around town:
Crafty Wonderland downtown [link: craftywonderland.com/]
Modo on Burnside [link: themodowebsite.com/]
Troolie on NE Killinsworth [link: www.troolie.com/]
Etcetera on N Lombard
Acorn Eco Boutique in Canada!

What do you love about Portland?
We love the mixture of people, the different neighborhoods, the good coffee, the food and the beer! We also love how much Portlanders appreciate handmade things and how friendly our creative community is.

This weekend: Arts Festival In The Forest!

This weekend, House of Moss will be at the 10th Annual Arts Festival In The Forest in West Linn.  (What better place to sell forest-themed fiber art?!) It's held at Mary S. Young Park, and it's looking like the weather will be great for a two-day outdoor show! I'm very much looking forward to sitting in the shade of my new canopy, eating snacks, checking out the other art, and chatting with people all day! Stop by and say hello, Erik and I would be so glad to have visitors at our little shop. Saturday and Sunday (8/11-8/12), 10am-5pm!

We make Portland awesome: The Cozy Project

"We make Portland awesome" is a weekly series. I’m interested building our community of artists by helping us all find out more about each other.

This week: Jenny of The Cozy Project

Who are you?
I am Jenny P of The Cozy Project. I am a Native Oregonian and have lived here all my life aside from time away for college. I have lived in Southern Oregon and Northern Oregon... and I spent some time in the middle too. There are great things about each of those places.

What do you make?
I design and make crocheted cozies, for coffee, beer, mason jars etc. I use all sorts of yarn and buttons and felt.

Besides making things, what do you do?
When I am not making cozies.. I like to spend time with family and friends, wandering outside, absorbing sun if we are lucky enough to have it. Sitting in the sun on a bench with an iced coffee or hiding inside from the gray skies with a beer and some pals. I love being on the water... the ocean, a river, a lake. I love to travel.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by lots of things. I love music. Rare is the day that something is not blaring from speakers while I work. Color is my favorite. I love matching colors and coordinating colors and contrasting colors. I love it when people have ideas for me. It is fun to have someone want something so specific and then work up a design and make it happen for them.

Where can your work be found?
My work is mostly on Etsy. I would love to get the cozies up in a brick and mortar shop. It's one of my goals for the year!

What do you love about Portland?
I love being in Portland. I know everyone else does too. We can all share, right? Its a big city and a small city at the same time somehow. I love that there are super cool places within walking distance of where I live. We have lots of great bars and restaurants and food trucks. And there are loads of creative people here. I love that you can be driving somewhere in the middle of the city and be so surrounded by trees that you feel like you are in the country. Finding vegan and veggie fare is super easy here. I love that on any give day you might walk down the street and in the span of one block see a mime, a man carrying his leashed cat on his shoulders, a boy with pink hair and knee socks, followed by a regular old fam of a mom a dad and two kids. It's really easy to just be yourself here.