Vendor Interview- Moxie and Oliver
Tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your work.
Well, my name is Caitlin McNamara, and despite the looks of it, my parents insist that my name is pronounced KAT-lynne. I found out just recently they totally made this up. I suppose that is one of the joys of naming a child before the invention of the internet! Anyway, I live in Seattle with my husband Kevin, daughter Aife (whose name I didn’t make up), two dogs and one little kitten. I currently make leather goods out of my home studio, which is otherwise known as a corner of the basement. I work exclusively with vegetable tanned “tooling” leather in various thicknesses, and brand and carve my images into the surface of the leather. I love the control that starting with an unfinished piece of leather gives me, because it can turn into anything that I (or you) want it to be!
What are some sources of inspiration for your work?
I generally consider myself a folk artist, or a crafter, rather than an “artist” and the reasoning behind this is twofold. One, I’m not making pieces that have deep meaning. There is no torture, no struggle or strife, behind my work, just happiness, playfulness, and imagination. My work is inspired by the beauty of the world around me, which sounds totally cheesy, but do love this world of ours, and really enjoy putting some of the things I enjoy most into leather. The second reason I consider myself a crafter is that almost everything I make is functional piece, which I rather like. There is something satisfying about being able to carry around a handmade piece with you wherever you go.
What was the best thing you did with your summer?
The best thing I did with my summer was spend a month of it in the UK, I believe. My husband, daughter and I lived in Brighton, England for a month this summer. It’s a cute little town on the coast about an hour south of London. Think Portland, but in the UK, and you have yourself Brighton. My husband was there for work, so the baby and I followed. It was a great experience and I was so glad to be able to do it!
Are you showcasing anything new at the winter UCU show?
YES!!! I am bringing Christmas stockings (made of leather) and hair clips! I will have new patterns or colors in my old favorite products, but those are entirely new this year. There are some other ideas kicking around, but I don’t want to make any promises before I know I can deliver.
What are you most excited about for UCU?
Seeing Lindsey! I haven’t done UCU in about five years, and truthfully I’ve been out of the craft shows for about that long. What I remember best about UCU last time I was there was the energy, and I am really looking forward to that again. My friend Meah, from Mama Meah Designs, is sharing a booth with me this year, and I’m excited to share the show experience with her, too.
See more of Moxie and Oliver here and at the show!
