Of Moss and Doilies: Ottoman (Solo Exhibit 1)–With Giveaway!

If you’ve been in the Etsy scene for awhile, chances are you’ve heard of Ottoman or have seen some of her amazing items in a treasury or featured on a design blog.  This curator has been stalking Etsy for quite some time, but I still remember the first time I caught a glimpse of one of her moss pincushions:

Come on, let’s be honest.  How can you not stop and stare with wonder?  My first thought: “That’s far too amazing to stick pins into.”   This speaks to the beauty of this item and all of those in the Ottoman shop.  They are both fine art and highly practical at the same time.  These needle-felted clumps of moss are made with undyed wool roving in the center so the retained lanolin lubricates your pins and needles if you use it regularly as a functional item.  Or you could do what I would: put a grouping of these beauties on a shelf or desk for a little spot of green that doesn’t have to be watered.  Her shop is chalk full of different variations on this moss theme: wrist pincushions,  barrettes, bobby pins, rings, etc..

In fact, the artist behind Ottoman seems to be a fan of all things tiny and organic: other collections include items made to look like lichen and cork. Check out these beauties:

The latest item in the Ottoman shop is a Personalized Doily Painting.  She takes a custom name (yours, your child’s, someone you love or admire) and paints the names into a doily so that the letters are almost hidden.  Each one comes out completely unique and different, almost like (dare I use such a cliche?) a snowflake:

Summer, the creative  genius behind Ottoman, was kind enough to allow this nosy Curator to ask her a few questions.  Because of my unabashed hero-worship for artistic types, I get a little giddy when they let me in to see a glimpse of the magic inside their heads.  Thank you, Summer, for not screaming and running in the other direction.  Our conversation went as follows:

Curator B: How long have you been selling on Etsy and how did you decide to set up shop there?

Ottoman: I started selling on Etsy in October of 2007. I found out about Etsy earlier that year through Dwell Magazine (if I remember correctly). I think Etsy is really appealing because the front page is curated so well and there were so many top notch shops to drool over.

(Curator B. wipes the drool from the sides of her mouth, nodding fervently.)

Curator B: Your moss inspired work is so unique and beautiful.  Where did the inspiration for this line come from?

Ottoman: Thank you! What inspired the Moss Collection was the idea of making an Ottoman that looked like a moss-covered rock. I also had recently started needle felting and after much trial-and-error and simplification (visually), I decided that a slipcover would be perfect.  The pincushions came shortly after, then I just kept pushing the idea to come up with everything else available in the collection.

(Curator Beatrice bites her lip so she doesn’t beg for a moss ottoman, which sounds very lovely, indeed.)

Curator B: When did you know you were an artist? Can you give us a brief overview of your bio in the arts?

Ottoman: Yikes! I have issues with the word artist . . . it’s a term that is at the same time exclusive and very overused. I tend to use terms such as: sculptor, printmaker, needle felter, and the like. I have a BFA in printmaking and sculpture with a minor in art history. I came to crafting after my son was born because having a baby/toddler in the house with hot beeswax wasn’t an option; I needed to make things in my lap.

Curator B: Your resistance to claim the term artist is interesting to me.  I know there are many technical definitions out there, but I’d like to know how you personally delineate between art and craft. Should there be a distinction? Is the line between the two blurring, or is that just a current trend?

Ottoman: I love both fine art and craft as long as they are done well. There is good and bad fine art just as there is good and bad craft. As far as fine art, and visual art specifically, I admit I’m an art snob; I don’t like fine art for purely decorative purposes . . . art should make one have to think (and I LOVE conceptual art).   I’m not a fan at all of decorative painting (tourist paintings or “tulip paintings” for example) as fine art.  I’m talking about contemporary art here (remember, even Monet was edgy for his time . . .things evolve.) I also believe, and this is not contradictory, that art and craft don’t have to be separate, the line can blur and I love plays on that line.

Curator B: Do you have a favorite item in your shop currently? What makes it a favorite?

Ottoman: This is a tough question because I really like everything I make (because if I don’t like it, it doesn’t end up in the shop). I am super excited about my new Personalized Doily Paintings in my shop, mainly because they are new. It’s also fun to see what a name will look like as a doily . . .it’s like magic each time one is finished!

(Curator Beatrice pauses, imagining her name as a doily.  Yes, that’s quite stunning.)

Curator B: Which of your items are the most challenging to create?

Ottoman: I guess the Lichen Pincushions are the trickiest technically; needle felting around french knots is a bitch!  Am I allowed to say that?

Curator B: I do no censor artists. Or crafters. Or sculptors/printmakers/needle felters.  Okay.  What is the biggest challenge you have encountered while selling on Etsy?

Ottoman: Well, since I have my son at home, I intentionally haven’t focused on promoting myself (I find self-promotion difficult anyway), so steady sales in tricky. Therefore, as of now, I just try to have fun, allow my items to be my creative outlet and not let “Ottoman” take over my life!  I do, however, take Ottoman seriously and I’d love to grow it into a thriving business, but I try not to beat myself up over non-steady sales because I kind of let the business promote itself right now (and I do get super excited and grateful for each sale).   I’ll have time later to focus more on promotion.  Aside from that, I think that pricing is equally difficult!

Curator B: Any tips for aspiring Etsians?

Ottoman: I think the most important thing is to be honest.  Be honest with making things your own and don’t get caught up in the latest trend just because it’s the latest!

Curator B: Is there anything new on the horizon that we should be stalking your shop keeping our eyes out for?

Ottoman: I think I’ve been saying this for awhile, but I REALLY want to start working on some fine art again. I’m still putting on hold some pre-baby projects because they are too messy, dangerous, or time-consuming for now. However, I have an idea for a series that I’m going to work on . . . so we’ll see!

How awesome is she, my fellow stalkers?  To round out our first solo exhibit, she has generously agreed to let us do our first giveaway ever with two of her items.  The lucky winner of this giveaway will receive an adorable moss bobby pin and his or her choice of cork item from Ottoman’s “Cork Collection” (and the entire collection is on sale now in her shop–hurry on over!).  To enter, visit Ottoman, stalk around a bit, and then come back here and post a comment that includes a mention of your favorite item from her shop.  Winner will be chosen at random. Giveaway ends on Tuesday, January 27th at midnight PST.

Be sure to add her blog to your list of reads, too–it’s delightful and filled with wonderful design goodies: A Closer Look at Ottoman.

Until next time, Happy Stalking!

Curator Beatrice

Tagged as: Solo Exhibits (Archives)