We make Portland awesome: Lumafina

"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: Hilary of Lumafina

Who are you?
I am Hilary Alexander: happy wife to Aaron Alexander, chief over lumafina, my own little business; I am an avid reader, cook and determined gardener.

What do you make?
My current fixation is quirky and cheerful jewelry designs, though I often daydream of being a carpenter, farmer or stay-at-home mama.

Besides making things, what do you do?
When I am not creating, I dream about the future and having a little family. My husband and I camp, run, play soccer and attend a small church in Portland that we are continuously blessed by. I love to cook all kinds of foods and host family and friends. I must admit I could talk about food all day, or read, whichever. Preferably both.

What inspires you?
Being out of doors, where things are quiet, is always inspiring. Journaling and sketching, laughter, adventures of any kind (even to the library) or perhaps seeing a perfectly shaped quartz crystal...makes me itch to design and create.

Where can your work be found?
lumafina is global! New Zealand, Australia, Canada...but the shops in Seattle and here in Portland are also dear to my heart: Noun, Tilde, Flora, Ink & Peat, Little Things, Redux, Icon Tattoos, are some of them...I am always expanding!

What do you love about Portland?
Portland is home to me. I feel, well, at home here - it's like putting on that familiar sweater that moves and breathes with you. I am excited about the handmade, diy lifestyle that seems to have taken hold of Portland, flabbergasted by the never-ending food carts to sample from and always gleeful over how many streets, neighborhoods and fun places there are to explore in our little city.

We make Portland awesome: Muluk

"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: Pepe and Ale of Muluk

Who are you?
We are Ale and Pepe. We are originally from Mexico and we have been living here in Portland, OR, for the past seven years. We decided to travel to continue learning arts.

What do you make?
We make hats. They are like the 20’s style, made from 100% cotton, so comfy and lightweight. Dreamy, asymmetric skirts: modern, romantic, sexy, and very stylish. Wallets, made from 100% pants. Ties, unique, artistic for guys who love and enjoy dressing up. Each creative tie is unique and features funky designs.

Besides making things, what do you do?
We spend most of our time with our two beautiful girls, We love to travel, go camping, check art shows, visit galleries. Also, Pepe has a radio program called FusionArte, where they talk about art and culture.

What inspires you?
Everything… travel, books, students, places, music.

Where can your work be found?
Web: www.muluk13.com
Etsy: www.muluk.etsy.com

Retail stores:
• Grasshopper, Portland, OR
• Tumbleweed, Portland, OR
• Redux, Portland, OR
• Tender Loving Empire, Portland, OR
• Twilight Artist Collective, Seattle, WA
• Little Things, Portland, OR
• Pop-up Shop Crafty Wonderland, Portland, OR
• Stella's on 21st, Portland, OR  www.stellason21st.com 
• Boston Street Baby Store, Seattle, WA 
• Casita, Seattle, WA 
• Rain or Shine ~gift shop, Seattle, WA 
• Habitude, Seattle, WA 
• Urban Indigo, Oakland, CA 
• Renaissance, Ashland, OR 
• Ruby, San Francisco, CA 
• Compass Rose, Olympia, WA
• Tasty or www.shoptastyart.com

What do you love about Portland?
The green color all over the city, the people (so friendly), diversity, the beer, music... that vintage style everywhere.

We make Portland awesome: Super Phoebe

"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: Super Phoebe

Who are you?
Phoebe Owens

What do you make?
I am mostly known for my lamps made from vintage photo slides and motion film. I also screenprint, crochet, cut things from wood, sew and draw.

Besides making things, what do you do?
I'm a Librarian.

What inspires you?
I'm inspired by the world around me. I'm also simply inspired by materials that can be turned into other things. I love looking at something and thinking about how it could be used in a different way or remade into something new.

Where can your work be found?
You can see my stuff in Portland at Tender Loving Empire, Crafty Wonderland Store, Redux and Cargo. There is a random smattering of other shops outside of the US carrying my lamps and library cards in London, Noosaville Australia, Toronto and Vancouver, CA. And, of course, my work can be found on Etsy!

What do you love about Portland?
I grew up in Portland, and I vividly remember deciding on the things that made me love it then- running as fast as I could with my little brother through the park blocks, going to the art museum, and staring at the ivy growing on freeway overpasses. The city has changed a lot since then, but the best of it has remained. I love the strong sense of community here--even though so many people are transplants from somewhere else. I love that creativity is valued here, that the nonprofit community is strong and passionate, and that we all root for each other in this town. Beyond that, it's not bad that I live somewhere with such fantastic public transit, parks and bike lanes!

We make Portland awesome: Board Games

"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: Jason of Board Games

Who are you?
Jason Greene

What do you make?
I make toys from recycled skateboards.

Besides making things, what do you do?
I skate, paint, paddle, fish, and play drums in a few bands (Yoyodyne, Johnny&Jason).

What inspires you?
I'd have to say my 3 yr. old son inspires me a great deal. Childhood in general inspires me. I've worked with young kids a lot in the past several years.

Where can your work be found?
Redux, Crafty Wonderland, Tender Loving Empire, Trillium Artisans, Spielwerk Toys, and Cal Skate. Oh, and of course on Etsy.

What do you love about Portland?
I must say, the summertime in Portland is outstanding - the food, the markets, the festivities, the woods, the weather, and the fact that everybody seems to be in a good mood. Also, the skateboarding in Portland is legendary.

We make Portland awesome: Little Canoe

"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: Little Canoe

 

Who are you?
My name is Brooke Weeber, I'm the brains behind Little Canoe.
 

What do you make?
I make prints, greeting cards, and other various products showcasing my original designs and illustrations.

 

Besides making things, what do you do?
I've been a professional baker for about 13 years.  I used to make specialty cakes before I grew tired and quit the service industry to work on illustration full time.  But I still love getting messy in the kitchen and relishing in the smells of cakes and cookies baking in the oven.  Beyond that, I love being outdoors and taking full advantage of what Oregon has to offer.  I commute everywhere by bike (which can be a little rough in the Winter), I enjoy hiking, camping, backpacking and swimming in the crystal clear rivers during the Summer.  
 

What inspires you?
I'm incredibly inspired by where I live.  I feature a lot of nature-based themes in my work and I gather many ideas from my surroundings.  I'm always searching for a spark when I'm out biking around town or adventuring the the Oregon countryside.  I'm also constantly inspired by other artists, whether I found them locally or online.  I love seeing what illustrators and designers are creating right now, and I'm very thankful for the internet for helping me do that.

Where can your work be found?
You can find my work in various locations around Portland including, but not limited to: Mag-Big, Tender Loving Empire, Powell's, Presence of Mind, ZimZim, Reading Frenzy, Redux and Etcetera.  You can also locate it online at www.thelittlecanoe.etsy.com and www.society6.com/bweeber
 

What do you love about Portland?

I love SO MANY things about Portland.  I love that you can drive an hour and find yourself at either the ocean or the mountains.  I love the quality of the food and drink scene here.  I like that everything's still quite affordable and within reach in Portland.  But most of all, I really appreciate the fantastic art community here.  There are such a plethora of talented, driven and motivated creators and I feel lucky to call many of them friends.  It's a very supportive and inspiring atmosphere. I couldn't have made it this far without them and I can't imagine living anywhere else.