If you are looking for safe, kid-friendly (and lead-free) gifts for the little ones, you will find lots of options at the our Holiday Booty Market on December 15th. Check out these cute kid-friendly plush creatures from Tree Man Jake! Dirty Snowball, anyone? We are excited to have Edie at our show and think you will love her stuff. Let's talk to Edie from Tree Man Jake:

What do you make and do you have a website?
I create super-soft and squishy plush for little ones and big people
alike. From dirty snowballs to hunks of coal, I give smiles to the
lonely, unwanted creatures of the world. The website for my happy
plush can be found at www.treemanjake.com

Why do you make things?
The answer to this question is very simple… it makes me smile and I
like to make other people smile. I have a lot of stuff wandering
around in my head and it is so much fun to see it turn into a reality.

When did you start making things?
From the moment I made my first pom-pom caterpillar magnet in
elementary school, I was hooked on crafting. While my crafting has
progressed a little beyond the pom-pom caterpillar, I still get the
same crazy excitement when I make things for other people. I have
been seriously crafting for about 8 years now.

Why buy handmade?
I choose to buy handmade because each piece, artwork, creation, and
critter is an expression of the artist or crafter's heart and soul.
You just don't find the same level of uniqueness anywhere else.

What craft supplies would you take to a deserted island?
I would have to take my needle and thread along with a big pile of fun
fabric. It is very important to have cute, stuffed toys when you are
stranded on a deserted island, you know!

What crafters or artists do you love?
I honestly love all of them. Even if I don't care for a particular
style, I admire anyone who has the bravery to put their craft out
there for the world to see.

What new craft/skill do you want to learn?
I love knitting so I have always wanted to learn to spin and dye my own yarn.

Tell us something funny about yourself.
I like to split things in ½ with my finger. OK… that's a bit neurotic.