I started cutting paper three years ago and have crafted since I could sneak into my mom’s sewing box. Bird Mafia is a way for me to combine my art with my love for crafting. Every Bird Mafia item is hand-printed with cut paper inspired designs and constructed with the most eco-friendly materials I can find. I love lines and movement and the way paper-cutting translates an image or a texture.
What inspired you to go into the craft business, do you still have a day job? I started out cutting paper like mad, but I found that I was holding too much back in the fine art world. I wanted to extend, and as I have always loved “making”, crafts seemed like an obvious step. I don’t have a real “day job” in the common sense of the phrase. I am a mother and I make vegan candy at a local café, but other than that I live and breathe Bird Mafia.
Describe your creative process when designing/making your product line. My process goes something like this: draw a lot, find that special drawing that has just the right lines, cut this drawing out of paper, if worthy of reproduction, burn into screen and print on anything I can make that I find clever or useful. With the stipulation that I can get my hands on materials that fit my convictions.
What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst? Worst – Only having two hands. Best – Hands down, doing what I love everyday and sharing it + meeting some really amazing people (and some of my favorite artists/crafters.)
What’s the best advice you have been given about your business or craft practices? I’m just rounding out my first real year of the biz and indie craft shows. I haven’t had that one amazing piece of advice that has really stuck with me yet. Though, the community of crafters at the shows I have done, have all been amazing about giving me helpful tips here and there.
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website: birdmafia.com
