PDX Profile: Diana Schreiber, of Moss
Submitted by crafty-admin on April 21, 2009 - 2:48pm.
DIY Alert Blog | PDX Profiles
We think she borrowed her crochet hook from tiny woodland faeries, it's the only way any human could make such perfectly teensy delights! Diana Schreiber of Moss magically creates crocheted and embroidered jewelery, amigurumi, and clothing! Check out her website Moss Handmade as well as her Esty store for more cuteness overload!
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Your designs are so uniquely intricate and elegant. How did you get started crocheting?
Crochet is my grandmother's legacy to me (thanks, lola pepay!). She taught me when I was about 7 or 8. And the tooth fairy had a hand in it too, I got my very first hook from her. It was left under my pillow with a ball of red acrylic yarn.
The Amigurumi Dolls that you create are so adorable! How do these personalitys come to you?
I grew up collecting Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty and Badzt-Maru so I get a lot of my visual cues from characters like that. As far as personalities go, I am a HUGE fan of Frank Kozik and Mark Ryden. So I like combining cutesy and sweet with a little bit of an edge (i.e. twin headed cats).
Can you explain your jewelry making process?
My jewelry line is all about combining soft elements with hard ones, so I like to use a lot of fiber and fabric in them. I also like to use crochet and embroidery techniques because they are a little unexpected as far as jewelry making goes. I'm a very tactile person so I usually start with selecting materials and the rest is improvisation and a lot of trial and error.
Among all the things you've made, do you have a favorite?
It will have to be the SUMO dolls because its the doll that got MOSS a lot of interest and pushed me to run my brand like a real business. It's also really easy to make so I can make them while half asleep and vegging on junk TV.
What is the biggest challenge, in your opinion, of running a business from home?
It will have to be space for me. I am always running out of room for supplies and there's always a little bit of my "studio" in every room of the house. Also, time management, making sure that you get your work done and still have clean clothes by the end of the week.
How would you describe the difference between "Art" and "Craft?"
To be technical, Craft really is all about the skill of the artist in executing their work and Art is the the outcome of that, the marriage of skill and materials. But personally, I like to think of Craft as a democratic form of Art, where we take Art out of the gallery setting and into the hands of people that can enjoy them in their everyday lives.
What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?
I love going to thrift shops and estate sales, also fabric and yarn stores and of course, local boutique neighborhoods (like Belmont, Burnside, and Hawthorne) to see what's new and exciting from the art and craft community. My local favorite shops are, Missing Link Toys on Hawthorne and Compound in NW Portland. The best place for me to get inspiration for my work will have to be local Indie Craft Shows like Crafty Wonderland and those organized by Handmade NW. There's nothing like getting to talk shop with your peers and also getting an occasional pat on the back.
