Vendor Interview- SimpleKraft
Tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your work.
I have always been a pretty crafty and curious guy. I wanted to make some shirts for Betty Whites Birdie (our mini golf league), so I taught myself how to screen print. After making a few odds and ends for me and a few gifts for friends, people were curious how it worked so I had this idea to put together a kit.
My kit is definitely put together with blood sweat and tears. All the screens I make are hand stretched, stapled, then glued and set to dry. Once dry they need emulsion and another drying cycle. I then wrap them in foil so light wont expose them and hand pack each kit that includes additional tools like a hand cut squeegee and manually filled ink bottles.
In my day job I work in training and development so I think my instructions are pretty spot on and useful. It was kind of nice to blend my profession with my hobby. I came up with the name SimpleKraft because it really is a simple craft once you get the hang of it. My kits are an affordable way for people to give this craft a try for a pretty low entry price.
I have a demo on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAP1dXKZLJI if people are get curious and want to see what they look like prior to the show.
What are some sources of inspiration for your work?
Friends and family really play a big part in my creativity. Whether it’s a design for a friend's band, my girlfriend's niece or a neighbors' non-profit there is always a project in the works.
What was the best thing you did with your summer?
My girlfriend's parents were in town from Kansas and I was able to take them over to Blake Island on The Wiz (my little 1960 classic boat that I like to say I rescued). That was pretty cool because I really have never gone more than a few hundred yards off shore before! It was one of the most perfect days we had in Seattle. We checked the crab traps on the way back and ended up with a pretty fine dinner. I think I impressed them.
Are you showcasing anything new at the winter UCU show?
I have recently developed the “Everything is Unicorns and Rainbows” water coloring kit. You can check it out on my Etsy site. I screen the simple design on an artboard and provide you with a set of water colors. Paint a little bit now… and a little bit later… and be satisfied knowing that in fact, Everything is Unicorns and Rainbows.
What are you most excited about for UCU?
I’m excited to show people how easy and fun screen printing can be. My booth will be pretty interactive and I’ll be providing some giveaways for instantly liking SimpleKraft on Facebook during the show. You are definitely going to want to check it out!
