We make Portland awesome: Nadelwerk

"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: Karin of Nadelwerk

Who are you?

My name is Karin Kaufmann and I was born and raised in Munich, Germany, which is north of the Bavarian Alps. Ten years ago I met my dear husband in Dublin; we moved to England, and then eventually to Oregon.

What do you make?
I create decorative pins, pincushions, bookmarks, and felted items with both wet and needle felting.
I create crocheted and knitted items such as shawls and scarves. In the last four months, I've begun to work with fiber and have learned to spin my own yarn. For many of my creations, I use repurposed and vintage materials.

Besides making things, what do you do?
I love to meet with friends for coffee, or to share a meal, but most importantly, for good conversation.

What inspires you?
Dreams and Nature inspire me, but I also draw inspiration from my husband, my friends, and my international customers. The whole world can be an inspiration -- we just need to walk around with our eyes open.

  
Where can your work be found?
My work can be found in Etsy [American market], and DaWanda [European market]. I've been a member of DaWanda since its inception in 2007. Also, I invite my regular customers to my home shop for a more personal shopping experience, and to discuss a custom made order. During the Holiday season, I attend fundraising bazaars and craft fairs. The schedule will be posted on my fb page.

What do you love about Portland?
Portland is so wonderfully weird, let’s keep it that way!

Garden Plans

As I mentioned in a post a few days ago, I am very much looking forward to trying my hand at gardening this year. I grew up watching my mom make a successful garden each year, but I've never had one myself from start to finish. Erik's new house has a big yard, so this year is my chance.

I bought my seeds and I'm all ready to go! I chose snow peas (an old favorite, so deliciously springtime-flavored), purple beans (just like green beans only beautiful dark purple), zucchini (we love everything made with zucchini, and each plant makes so many), and asparagus beans (which I have never tried before, but they grow to be like a foot long!).

Somehow, though, I was under the impression that you plant your garden in March... and I was getting a little anxious because the space hadn't even been tilled yet! This idea was quickly squashed by both my mother's advice and the back of the seed packets. So I'll just hold on until it's a little warmer.

I'm also planning to grow a little herb garden this year too, but I'll post about that later.

Are you planning a garden this year? What are you planning to grow? Feel free to post any stories, or helpful hints for a newbie, in the comments below.

More Wool Arrives...

 My second wholesale order of wool arrived today! Watch out: You check a few boxes on an order form and -boom!- you have enough wool to cover your dining room floor! Enough that you have to roll the box instead of carrying it! Enough that you will not need to buy wool for YEARS! ...actually no, who am I kidding. I will always find more wool to buy. But it will make precisely a million gazillion acorns, pebbles, and mushrooms! Check in at the shop periodically to see what I make from all these new colors. And wish me luck in finding a way to store all of this!

New in the shop: Sheep Terrariums!

These little guys have been a long time in coming, but they're here now! A tiny wool felt sheep stands on a green mossy hill, all inside of a half-pint canning jar. So cute!

What I'm Reading: A Householder's Guide to the Universe

I picked up this book last year at Powell's, and it's been waiting on the shelf since then. I knew that it would be exactly what I needed someday... but it had ended up being more of a premature purchase than I'd like to admit. It's all about "house-holding:" canning, cleaning, and gardening, among other things, and most of it seems to fit better in the lives of those who have actual houses, not so much those of us who live in apartments or single rooms. And though I do understand that you can incorporate those things into your life no matter what your situation, it's so much more fulfilling to have the actual space to use them in.

But, this month Erik moved into an actual house! It's a little rented place in East Vancouver, so far out that its neighbors could better be described as farms than suburban homes. It's small and old and humble and wonderful. And I finally have a context to practice the ideas in the book I've been saving! We plan to make a garden, and to can the apples from the many trees on the property. A real house is so different from an apartment, and I'm really looking forward to learning the ways of house-holders.

One more note: It's written by Harriet Fasenfest, a Portlander – so I can be sure that the seasonal tips are appropriate for our area!

Today in pictures, 4/3/13

1. A sneak preview of a new item for the shop!
2. Bright red pants make any day better.
3. Paying bills with pretty stamps.
4. White flowers in the garden and everywhere.

New in the shop: Acorn Necklaces!

Brand new in the shop today: Felted wool acorn necklaces! They come with baker's twine, but you can use your own chain or ribbon to match your style. More colors to follow in the coming days!