Spend a little time at MmmCrafts and you’ll be both delighted an inspired by the creations made by Larissa Holland. A crafty girl all around, Larissa creates the most charming patterns and tutorials and offers many for free right on her blog. She also keeps an Etsy shop with well priced patterns and goods. Let’s get to know Larissa a little better:
Examiner (E) - What inspires you?
Larissa (L) - I dearly love to make gifts for people, and almost all the concepts for my PDF sewing patterns are developed from something I came up with as a gift for a special birthday or baby shower. My circle of friends, two daughters, four sisters and a large extended family all provide many opportunities and a lot of hapless victims for my handmade gifting.
E - Do you have a designated place to create like a studio or craft room?
L - Yes, I'm very lucky that way. Our house has a bonus room above the garage with lots of light. I am supposed to share it with my husband but I think my stuff has taken over about 80% of the room. That estimate might be a bit conservative, actually. I have all my sewing, art and paper supplies up there as well as my Mac. He has to carefully pick his way to his desk around my cutting table, flat file, ironing board and teetering stacks of fabric. I need to get it more organized. Obviously.
E - What is your favorite project to date?
L - Wow...Tricky. That's like asking a mutt which is his favorite cut of meat. Usually I'm the most excited by whatever I've just finished. Right now that is the layered paper illustration I just completed for my mantel. It's based on an illustration I found in a vintage children's book at the thrift shop. I love to design and make new stuff in general, but I really relish making things that have tiny, intricate detail and lots of strong color.
See the layered paper illustration HERE.
E - What are you working on now?
L - Some wool felt needle books for the shop. I rarely make ready-made for the shop (my shop mostly just carries PDF patterns), so this is a new experience. I made myself one a few weeks ago and enjoyed it so much that I wanted to make more. I'm kind of hooked on putting the different color combinations of felt and floss together and coming up with small variations to make each one unique. But before I finish those, I've been requested to pleeeeease make a swashbuckler hat with a feather for my daughter's beanie baby. And, only if I feel like it, can I possibly make some tiny knee boots for it too. I get requests like that a lot.
E - Where can we find your patterns, creations, etc.?
L - I sell my PDF patterns and occasional readymade pieces in my Etsy shop (mmmcrafts.etsy.com). I also write a blog (mmmcrafts.blogspot.com) where you can find accounts of all my creative successes and disasters, as well as a large number of free tutorials and patterns.
Thank you to Larissa for the amazing patterns and inspiration!
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