North Austin Creatives spotlights Clairissa Bear Crafts

Who are you, and what kind of art do you do?
I'm Claire and I make crafts. My two big focuses are baby clothes/toys and wood craft. With the baby stuff, I generally appliqué felt designs onto shirts and onesies. I also sew some small stuff, like plush toys or baby blocks. For the wood, I generally use wood slices from healthy fallen limbs in my neighborhood. I've done Christmas ornaments, coasters, and magnets. I've also started doing wooden cutting boards.

How/Why did you start?
I made baby clothes and various crafts for friends with babies on the way. Their friends asked if I could make them some. For the wood crafts, I've always wanted to get into it. My husband bought me a miter saw and I started with branches from around the neighborhood.

What inspires you?
For the baby stuff, I simplify the shapes of animals. For the wood, I try to use designs that will bring out the colors in the wood grain.

What are your goals?
To have fun and to pay for my hobby (break even in costs). So far I'm succeeding in both! My next step for this year is to work with local stores to get my clothing there, so I can stop working craft booths.

How do you work?
I generally set specific time per week to create crafts. I try to do things in batches. I'll buy a collection of shirts from American Apparel, cut a lot of felt one day, then sew each one - a couple per evening. For the wood craft, I usually use my miter saw to prep the wood, then a laser printer to add the design.
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