Embellish

Founded in 2006 by printmaker Lisa Price, Artgoodies offers tea towels, aprons, and stuffie mini pillows each hand printed with an original linocut block print. Price shares her story and inspiration for all you do-it-yourselfers. Stay tuned for posts featuring her project ideas.

CTW: When and how did you start creating the designs for Artgoodies?

Lisa Price: I started artgoodies back in 2006. I have my Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking and have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I lost my job twice in 2005. The economy was starting to take a dive and I spent months and months looking for a job without luck. I decided it would be a great time to start my own business with my art. Printing my work on towels made so much sense to me. It’s the perfect way for me to combine my love and need for printmaking, textiles, and home décor. Not to mention a great way to bring art into the everyday! I am so thrilled to be using my degree and to be able to support myself, it’s like the ultimate DIY project.

CTW: What inspires you as a craftsperson?

LP: I spent a lot of time as a child at my grandmothers during the summer. We would go to the farmers market, do a ton of canning, gardening, and also some sewing together. During this time I became totally fascinated by the colors and designs of the fifties, and gained a great appreciation and love for nature. I carry those ideas and aesthetics with me and feel very emotionally tied to them. That is just part of the reason why my aprons and stuffies are made with vintage fabrics, 40s-60s. My grandmother was also an incredible seamstress and really a master of DIY. She sewed amazing clothing for my mom and was super handy with tools and home projects. I’m always inspired when I think of her.

CTW: What’s your favorite artgoody and why?

LP: That’s kind of a tough one. I like things about my designs and products for different reasons. Sometimes it’s just a particular shape, color, or line, and other times I end up giddy over how the vintage fabric and the print just seem so right together. For now, if I had to pick one design I guess it would be the squirrel. I’ve always been a fan. I had a little wooden squirrel pin I adored as a child, plus I’ve had some awesome squirrels that have called my yard home. They are fun and quirky and adorable.

CTW: What advice would you give a person embarking on an artistic DIY project at home?

LP: Just go for it! I know a lot of people tend to feel intimidated by certain projects but why not give it a try? Find things that truly inspire you. It can be a color, a particular item, a whole room, or even an era! There are so many projects and little things you can do yourself that will make a difference in your home and your life. You can always repaint something if you don’t like it or ditch it if you feel like it goes terribly wrong. It’s pretty easy and affordable to change your whole look with some simple ideas!

CTW: What’s a DIY project you’d never attempt?

LP: I have to say there’s really nothing I wouldn’t at least try. From home décor, cooking, sewing, gardening, repurposing, and DIY home repair I’ve had my hand in just about everything. I will say my least favorite diy situation has been plumbing, but hey you can always call for back up! Other than that I don’t really fear any project. It’s always a great learning experience and I think it is super fun

-Taniesha Robinson

This entry was posted 1 year ago on Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 at 9:46 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.