Craft Riot Vendor: Fiftyacorns

Tara Tschillard
Fiftyacorns

Fiftyacorns’s Blog

Fiftyacorns on Twitter

Fiftyacorns on Facebook

Fiftyacorns on Tumblr

fiftyacorns@gmail.com

Give a brief product description.

I make kitschy and vintage inspired jewelry and crochet pieces. I make fun necklaces, earrings and rings made from vintage or vintage style supplies. My crocheted pieces feature vintage style hats and scarves. I also make amigurumi crocheted cacti and fortune cookies that are super fun. Some of my embroidery and sewing finds it's way into my shop too. My work is a mix of funky, kitschy to classic and vintage.

How did you get started?

I've always made things, I have a hard time sitting still and have always needed my hands to be busy. I would make things for myself- clothes and jewelry, crocheted pieces and accessories. My friends and family loved the things I made so I would make them gifts all the time, but I often got requests for things from them or friends of theirs. I kept hearing- "ya know, you should have this in a shop or something." So my hobby very easily translated to a little online business and it has been great keeping my little Etsy shop going. My degree is in Studio Art in Metals, but once I graduated from college I didn't have the means to keep my love affair with metals alive easily- torches are expensive. So I'm really happy that I can still make things I love and people like them enough to buy them.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get inspiration from the things I like, most of my pieces started out as something I made for myself or a friend as a gift. I make things inspired by nature, there are a lot of woodland themes in my work- acorns! I use a lot of birds as I am a huge bird nerd, but a lot of woodland creatures show up too, like squirrels. I also come from a nautical family so there are sea themes like anchors and a lot of red, white and blue themes in my work. I also have a thing for hearts and skulls! All of my work has a vintage or kitschy style to it and I try to use vintage supplies as often as I can. This keeps me making new pieces all the time because vintage supplies are often in limited quantities.

Describe your workspace/workroom.

My workspace is made up of three different desks. I have one giant table where I do my jewelry making, the big space allows me to spread out all my supplies and tools. I have an old desk that I keep my sewing machine on for any sewing projects. And I have another big old desk where I keep all my in progress yarn projects. I have colorful boxes of yarn, thread, felt, fabric and tons of beads around me too. I try to surround my workspace with art as well, I have framed art and pictures, knick knacks and toys all around me. It's a bit of sensory overload, but it keeps me inspired!

What has been your favorite winter holiday gift to make or receive?

I love making things as gifts and I love getting handmade gifts. I enjoy making jewelry for friends using colors and themes I know they love. If a friend tells me they're currently obsessed with purple and stingrays lately they will probably end up with a purple scarf and a stingray necklace for their birthday. Or something like that! It doesn't take much. I think this is the greatest thing about buying handmade- it allows for so much more personal gifts. You can find that perfect thing for a friend that was handmade by someone and it's so unique and feels like it was made just for them. And sometimes it is!