People I know: Angela!

This is my buddy Angela--known around here as "The Cupcake Queen."

 These guys are yellow cake, chocolate with Kahlua frosting, and raspberry jam. (Photo by Angela)

She has made the cupcakes for many a get-together, including my son's birthdays for the past 3 years. She's also encouraged his interest in reading and in Harry Potter. She's not just an awesome baker, she's also involved in community theater, is super crafty, and is a budding photographer. I asked her a few fun questions and here's what she had to say.

What's your favorite way to spend a fall afternoon?

My favorite way to spend a fall afternoon is baking and cooking comfort food. I love making cupcakes or a pie. Also watching a move, drinking a pumpkin spice latte. I love all things pumpkin spice.

What are your top three craft supplies? Sewing machine, hot glue gun and glitter! 

What are you reading right now?

I am reading the 5th Game of Thrones book A Dance With Dragons. I am also reading (memorizing my lines) my script for Hansel and Gretel. I am playing Dizzy in the Children's Theatre at South Suburban College. We are currently in rehearsals. The show opens in January.

Would you rather be able to travel anywhere in space or anywhere in time? I would rather travel anywhere in time. I love the Elizabethan Era and 18th Century Scotland so it would interesting to experience life then.

What inspires you these days? Autumn/Fall has really been inspiring me lately. I love this time of year, the colors, the cooler weather, and the holidays. I love Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is my most favorite time of year.

I have also been really inspired lately by fairy tales, I have been wanting to work on an embroidery project with different fairy tales, like Little Red Riding hood, Cinderella, and Sleeping beauty and create a crazy quilt with the designs.

There is also a blog that I have been finding really inspirational is Bustle and Sew. Its by a woman who lives on a Devon farm and she has embroidery and crochet patterns, and I love her stuff, its so cute and whimsical. I get a lot of cool ideas from her blog.

Thank you, Miss Angela, reigning monarch of confections and darling of the stage.

You can follow Angela on Instagram and Twitter, and if you are in the area you can come watch her in one of the many performances at the Kindig Performing Arts Center in South Holland, IL.

People I Know: Melora

Melora is the genius behind the tie-dye at Harvest Moon Creations. She graciously allowed me to come into her studio space and get pictures of the process and ask her a few questions. For my fellow artsy types, you get why this is a big deal--a studio space is even more personal than one's underwear drawer. It's like letting someone crawl inside your brain and poke around. 

Melora has been doing tie-dye for more than 10 years. It started when she was pregnant, and wanted some clearly identifiable onesies for her son while he was in the NICU. In the summer you can find her selling her wares at the Crete European Market in Crete, IL. Year-round, you can find her through her Facebook page. 

She makes onesies, toddler shirts and dresses. She does t-shirts, dresses, wrap skirts, thermal hoodies, union suits, ponchos, and scarves. I have custom ordered from her a few times, and she never ceases to amaze me with all of the work she produces. 

After we spent some time in the studio, we went to her dining room where she pulled out some finished pieces. And I may have made a bit of a mess--but I couldn't resist the pile of color and pattern!

So not only are these things gorgeous and handmade and all that jazz, but Melora uses the most eco-friendly dyes she can find. There's no weird chemical smell when she works--and as an art major I have smelled my share of weird chemical smells--she doesn't use aluminum in her dye process either. Her fabrics are cotton, rayon, and silk. An ethical business woman, and a genuinely wonderful human being. I'm happy to know her and happy to introduce her to you. 

Seriously, guys-- look at the skulls. And the hearts, and the yin-yang, and the tiny watermelon dress! It's too much, I swear.