Interview with New Member Pink Sequin Designs

by Crista of Pink Sequin

BH:Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Crista Jaeckel and I live with my family in Roslindale,MA. I share my house with two lovely, happy,wild kids and a husband. I will not tell you that I will be a certain age this year, but I can tell you that I have only been in the USA for ten years.

BH:Apart from creating things what do you do?

I do love to cook, love gardening and thrift stores. Come to think of it I am always creating . I just started a fencing class and that is a lot of fun!

BH:How long have you been doing your artwork/craft?

I have been making hats for the last 6 years. I have really expanded to scarfs and pins only in the last 2 years. This has been great to have a more diverse price range and I love making the scarfs.

BH:What is the first thing you can remember making by hand?

I think the first thing I can remember is working with my Grandfather in his workshop and making chairs for my barbies from scraps of wood. Also sewing for the barbies must be the first sewing I did. All by hand and all very tight outfits!

BH:What handmade possession do you most cherish?

I have a down comforter my great grandmother made . I will never be able to let that out of my site and also a granny square blanket my Grandma made me when I was little.

BH:What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from?

I get totally carried away by fabric vintage flowers, a button a piece of lace a color. I have a large collection and never stop buying and looking and collecting.

For ideas I love to browse books and magazines. You never know when a dress colour combination will turn up in a hat or scarf design. A lot of my ideas come from just working and creating.

BH: Describe your work.

I make one of a kinds accessories. Hats has always been my biggest seller, but last year the scarfs did really well. I make felt and fabric hats , and wool and velvet scarfs in winter . And fabric hats and chiffon scarfs in summer. I make one of a kind pins using a lot of detail and this year more hair accessories.I use a lot of vintage elements in my pieces. I sew, glue, embroider, fray,embellish,serge and sometimes paint or print.

BH: Read any good books lately?

Reading now: The Sweet life in Paris by David Lebovitz, Its a boy by Michael Thompson and Zakka Sewing by Therese Laskey and Chika Mori

BH: How long have you been involved with Etsy and what have your experiences been?

I have been on Etsy for a while but have made a lot of sales. It has been so valuable though as a marketing tool. And I have had a number of custom orders.

BH:In ten years I'd like to be...

Living in a big old house with my own garden and big yard and sewing and creating with my family around me.