Local Makers: Buffie Diaz of Digs N Rose

Meet Buffie Diaz, local weaver, yogi, all around wonderful person! I am so excited to hang with her this weekend at the Maker's Mash! 

What do you make?

weavings and natural fiber art

How did you get started making?

I was inspired by a sweet Fiber Artist named Natasha out of Hinckley, IL. She sheers her own sheep, dyes her own wool roving AND creates beautiful masterpieces. She offers workshops and classes. I started with wet felting, it felt so good to FEEL the art I was creating. Then, needle felting became serious art therapy for me. Then, my amazing wood-working hubby made me a loom so I could play with weaving and I fell in love! It feels so good to let the fibers flow from my fingertips into a beautiful piece of art.

What does your average day look like?

I have four kids (including 7 month old twins), so my days are pretty full and my days flow at a different pace than they used to when I was younger, childless and trotting around the globe. Most days I invest into my kids, my yoga students, and making yummy, healthy foods for my family (and me...I'm a foodie). I don't get to my fiber fun as often as I'd like, but I like to set small goals, like "today I am going to warp the loom" or "weave for 15 minutes."

What inspires you to keep making work? Where do you go / what do you do to shake out of a creative rut.

N A T U R E. If I feel like I don't know where to go next with a piece, I just go outside and look at bark or mushrooms or any other small, overlooked part of the forest and become amazed at the overwhelming intricacy and incredible life that is all around us. I usually grab a stick or something that speaks to me and weave it in. I like messy, free flowing, inspired art. So, it works.

What is the hardest lesson you learned through your business/creative process?

Sounds cliche, but the journey is the destination. Instead of seeking to finish a piece, I've learned to slow down, feel, and understand that presence is the goal, not the finished product.

What's the best part about making what you make?

Getting to feel the fibers in my fingertips, feeling the energy of the wool. Also, letting that creative spark (that we so often keep quite) flow freely - feels so great to be alive.

What are you working on now?

A giant weaving, my first circle loom weaving, two smaller frame weavings, and some felted natural soaps.

Local Makers: Brandon Woodhead of Wyld Hair

I met Brandon at Reformation, so it's kind of perfect that he will be joining us this Saturday at the Mash! Beard oil, the stuff smells so good! Sometimes I use just a bit on the ends of my hair. Can't let Dusty bask in this stuff alone! :) Read on to hear a bit of Brandon's story and be sure to join us at the Mash at Reformation, Saturday from 5-8!

What do you make?

Beard Oil and Hair Care products

How did you get started making?

After trying to grow a beard for No Shave November and not making it past the 3 week mark, I wanted to find something that helped the itch and was reasonably priced.

What does your average day look like?

When I work on Wyld Hair, my average day is a little bit of everything from chemist to aroma connoisseur.

What inspires you to keep making? 

For me getting outdoors gets me creative again. Whether it be hiking, camping, or simply helping cleanup a local park.

What is the hardest lesson you learned through your business/creative process?

Not everything you make is a success, but everything is a learning opportunity.

What's the best part about doing what you do?

I love helping people take care of themselves - doing something they normally wouldn't do for themselves.

Keep up with Brandon on Instagram, Facebook and his site. 

Local Makers: Emma Kenney of The Busy Bead Shop

Meet Emma Kenney of the Busy Bead Shop! She makes beautiful jewelry inspired by nature. Grateful to have her along for the Maker's Mash this Saturday from 5-8. Swing by Reformation to shop and sip with us. (Psst. She's my mom. So you know we're going to have a great time! :)

What do you make?

Handmade beaded jewelry, and a starting a line of yoga specialty pieces.

How did you get started making?

As therapy for my busy life: full time mom, wife, and nurse.

What does your average day look like?

Depends on the day! Now that I've retired, I look after my grandchildren (2 year old twin boys) one or two days a week. Between that and keeping up with my life, I try to spend some time in my studio whenever I can.

What inspires you to keep making work? 

I'm inspired by nature: by its colors, textures, and combinations. Such beauty! Just sitting in my studio inspires me, and when in a "rut," being there can ease me out of it!

What is the hardest lesson you learned through your business/creative process?

Learning when to walk away! Sometimes, taking a break can make me more productive and efficient, and the solution to a problem will often come to me when I'm doing something completely unrelated to my "studio work!"

What's the best part about making what you make?

The peace it brings me.

What are you working on now?

I'm working on a line of yoga-inspired pieces. The roll-on bracelets are perfect to stack,and some have lava beads incorporated into them for use with essential oils. I also am making Zen hand-knotted malas, using gemstones to inspire peace and creativity. And, I'm learning to make Sami (or Nordic Tin Weave) bracelets. Their understated elegance makes them perfect for combining with other pieces, or as a stand alone statement.

Shop The Busy Bead online on Etsy. See you at the Maker's Mash on Saturday!