Spotlight: Fray

Some people need adventure, some people need excitement, Sarah of Fray needs to make stuff. And I can certainly relate to that. I'll never forget my first 'conversation' with Sarah. She purchased a necklace from my shop and after a bit of time wrote me a message inquiring about where it was. After informing her it had been delivered, we were both sad to think about how it could have mysteriously disappeared. Hopefully she is still enjoying it to this day after later finding it mixed in with a pile of newspaper waiting to be recycled :)

I'm sure many of you have seen Sarah's beautiful scarves, cowls and capelets here on my blog and on Etsy, but I'm excited to also debut a new Fray product with this feature today (and even more excited to snatch one up for myself)! She calls it the Everyday Tote Bag, which sounds like a darn good name to me. You can see some photos of it below and also ENTER TO WIN one for yourself (or one of her Sweetly Simple Capelets)! Read on!

NEW Everyday Tote Bag

Where are you from originally and currently live?
I was born in and currently reside in Royal Oak Michigan, about 20 minutes north of Detroit. I moved back with my husband and now live just 5 blocks down the same street I grew up on. It's weird to live in a house I used to ride my bike past when I was a kid!

How long have you been selling on Etsy?
I've been selling on Etsy for just over one crazy year. I stumbled upon the site and instantly felt at home!

Do you sell on Etsy full time or do you have a day job?
I was one of many casualties of our struggling economy almost a year ago. As fate would have it, it was right around the time that sales in my shop went nuts. I like to think it was the universe's way of pushing me to do what I'd always wanted to do — be my own boss! So with a 'thumbs up' from my super-supportive hubby, I made Etsy my full-time gig.

What, if any, formal art training have you had?
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College for Creative Studies right here in Detroit. I studied a little bit of everything while I was there: painting, sculpture, printmaking, glasswork, welding, ceramics, fibers...but sadly, no photography. I spent a lot of my time in the foundry working with bronze and steel, and playing in the woodshop. Sadly, I don't recall much of the art history I learned, but I can work an orbital sander like nobody's business!

How did you decide on your shop name?
The name FRAY was born from my married name of 'Freitas'. People were always mispronouncing it, so I would spell it phoenetically for them. As soon as I realized it was a fiber-related word, too, it was a done deal!

Sweetly Simple Capelet

What inspires you?
There's not much that doesn't provoke my attention (which makes focusing on one task a little tough). I seem to be drawn mostly to patterns and textures; tree bark, fences and gates, old picture frames, vintage fabrics...the list goes on and on.

What do you like least about your craft?
I hate weaving in the ends of yarn on finished pieces. It's not usually difficult, but it drives me nuts. I haven't the foggiest idea why!

What's the largest number of pieces you have made in one day?
Hmm, once I made 8 scarves in one day. There was an obscene amount of caffeine running through my veins. I think I still have the shakes!

Do you have any advice for other sellers on Etsy or those thinking about pursuing their craft?
If you don't love it, you may end up hating it. And a steady supply of coffee always helps.

Five Etsy Shops you Love
TheHouseofMouse  Teeny-tiny creatures in even teeny-tinier outfits! Just thinking about it makes me squeal!
lillyella  Lovely jewelry any girl would want to own. The first shop to drain my PayPal account.
GetReadySetGo  Super-cool luggage that makes me want to hop on a plane to anywhere. The second shop to drain my PayPal account.
yummypancake  This girl can crochet ANYTHING! No, really...I think she crocheted an entire sewing machine once. Silly genius.
PoppyFlowerFibers  She feeds my new yarn-spinning obsession. Soft, beautiful hand dyed fibers that I drool over. The third shop to drain my PayPal account.

Summer Net Scarf

What is your favorite leisure time activity?
Dying and spinning yarn take up any extra time I have. Does it count as leisure time when I use the yarn I spin to make things for the shop?

What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you?
I once dreamed that someone was chasing me down a big metal hallway. I went through a doorway and fell into a pit of ice. Then I woke up suddenly and found that I'd been sleepwalking and was standing in the kitchen with the freezer door wide open. That was pretty weird.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week with whom would it be?
I'd really like to trade places with someone who lives to workout. I'd really like to know what that feels like. :)

If you were a superhero, what would your superpowers to be?
I'd like to say that I'd want the power to create peace on Earth or to house the homeless. But what I'd really want is to be able to make cold birthday cake appear on command.

Leafy Scarf

What makes you angry?
People who walk up the escalator and get mad when I don't move out of their way irritate me. If this is you, next time please take the stairs... save yourself some frustration.

What would you like to learn to do?
I really need to learn to cook chicken properly. I'm terrified to undercook it and make someone sick, so it usually ends up less than palatable.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how happy are you?
Most days, I'd say about an 8. That number plummets on days I don't get to spin, dye, or crochet. :) Really, I'm fairly happy because I get the chance to do what I really want to do for a living.

What does the future hold for fray?
The current plan is to slowly move toward using mostly yarns that I dye and spin. It's a big task, but I'm having such a hard time finding fibers I like, so why not just make it all?!? Haha, who knows what will really happen. I think I like it that way. :)

You can get up-to-the-minute shop updates and new product information by following Sarah on twitter.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Sarah is so generously offering one lucky winner their choice of a new Everyday Tote Bag -OR- a Sweetly Simple Capelet in 100% organic cotton, either in the color of your choice!

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:
Sarah would like to know what kind of bag you just can't live without. What's your handbag staple? Messenger, hobo, tote, clutch, etc? Leave a comment on this post letting us know what you carry most and why and also include your favorite piece from Sarah's shop. 

You can enter once per day and YOU MUST INCLUDE your first name -AND- etsy username or email address with every entry, even if I know you or your blogger profile is public, etc. If you are worried about email spam, you can spell out the 'at' and 'dot' rather than using the standard email format.

Receive additional entries if you follow or subscribe to my blog, twitter about the giveaway and/or blog about the giveaway. Just leave a comment/link letting me know!

You have until Sunday, June 28 at 10pm (est) to enter and I will announce the winner on Monday morning. Good luck!

In addition to the giveaway, Sarah is also offering 10% off everything in the shop through July when you mention Lillyella at checkout!

Thanks so much for stopping by to check out Sarah's interview. I hope you've enjoyed browsing her beautiful work!