Jamie Merkel
About: Hi! My name is Jamie. I have a background in fine art and museum/gallery work, which have influenced my love of colors, patterns, and textures. I have been sewing since I was a small child and it brings me great joy to create functional, beautiful, and well-made objects. I was fortunate to have an early and successful start with selling my items on Etsy ten+ years ago, so I left my museum career in exchange for owning and running my own handmade business. I started with making home and nursery decor and did that for a long stretch of time, but retired the business when my daughter turned 18 and left for college. After that I changed gears and went into farming and making artisan bread and cheese, but ultimately discovered I missed sewing so started a new sewing business last September.
What I love to create: As a person who lives in a small space, I enjoy making things that are beautiful but also utilitarian. I am also an avid animal lover, so I combined these things with my love of sewing and art background; and the result is super fun, unique, and well-made cat and dog collars and accessories. My collars are made with high-quality materials and I make each one by hand.
My inspiration? Why I make? I have made a conscious choice to live a simple life, and working for myself allows me to do that more successfully. I thrive on making beautiful things that bring joy to people and their pets, and I truly hope to be able to support myself once again with my own business. It has been challenging to re-find my footing in the handmade craft world and I would be honored and grateful to be able to participate as a vendor in your show.
What I love to create: As a person who lives in a small space, I enjoy making things that are beautiful but also utilitarian. I am also an avid animal lover, so I combined these things with my love of sewing and art background; and the result is super fun, unique, and well-made cat and dog collars and accessories. My collars are made with high-quality materials and I make each one by hand.
My inspiration? Why I make? I have made a conscious choice to live a simple life, and working for myself allows me to do that more successfully. I thrive on making beautiful things that bring joy to people and their pets, and I truly hope to be able to support myself once again with my own business. It has been challenging to re-find my footing in the handmade craft world and I would be honored and grateful to be able to participate as a vendor in your show.
