The next seller in the etsycincinnati series is Gillian from Burkeheart Baby.
Gillian designs and sews baby shoes. The idea was born from frustration. She says, "Baby stuff has a tendency to be bland, either it's pink or blue and that's the end of it. When I realized that keeping baby socks on baby feet is nearly impossible, I gave up and began making these little shoes to keep his feet warm and protected." She found some "great" fabric from her quilt stash, made a couple pairs of soft shoes, and things snowballed from there.
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Gillian comes from a long line of people who create with their hands. Her maternal grandfather was a jeweler and watchmaker, paternal grandfather a firefighter, carpenter and avid gardener, her grandmother a self-taught painter.
She learned to sew from her mom who learned it from her grandmother. Growing up in a house with no tv made it easy to be creative; there were always projects going on in her home. From her dad making stained glass pieces and wooden toys, to her mom quilting away our naptimes and making most of our clothes. She says, "It seems inevitable that I'd follow in this tradition of hand-work, and I thank them for setting a great example to follow."
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Gillian loves being an indie designer in Cincinnati. She says the best part of the city is the people. "Everyone is linked to everyone. It seems like each time I meet someone new, we end up realizing we have several folks in common, and this adds to the feeling of community." Locally, you can find her products at Park + Vine.
Thanks Gillian. Visit her shop on Etsy and support a Cincinnati artist!
And, as always, don't forget my Etsy shop, Kitsch Café Vintage, and my newly opened shop, Kitsch Café Handmade. You can also find my products at Park + Vine.
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