Karen Doyle, Artist/Knitter
PCC: Tell us a little about yourself
KP: Hi! My name is Karen and I am an Australian who now calls the USA home. I came to live here after meeting my wonderful husband online, we are both avid video gamers and often play side by side on our computers. Having traveled all over Australia growing up I have this wanderlust embedded deep inside me to move around and see new places. Living in Southern California is very beautiful and the weather is amazing but I would also happily live some place where it's cold and snowy too.
PCC: What do you create?
KP: I make different kinds of fun knitted accessories for all ages like coin purses, fingerless gloves and legwarmers. I love the idea of handmade and knowing that something you own is unique and perhaps one of a kind. That has become the focus behind my Etsy shop KnitPeddler, to create unique, cute items and entwine this with the traditional art of knitting.
PCC: What made you want to become an artist?
KP: I have had a love for art and crafty things since childhood. I would spend hours drawing and creating things like birthday and Christmas cards for my family, teaching myself calligraphy and having my Mum show me how to do tapestry and knit. My creativity stuck with me and led me to study traditional Visual Arts & Design at college. It was then that I decided I wanted to do children's book illustration. After graduating I was given a wonderful opportunity by a friends Mum to illustrate her self-published book for little kids. It was a great experience which I thoroughly enjoyed. Now I am so happy to be able to blend my love of drawing with my passion for knitting
PCC: Tell us about your process. What materials do you use?
KP: I usually start with writing and drawing my ideas in a sketchbook. Then I work them up to scale and figure out details like what colors and materials to use. I make my drawings into templates once I am happy with the design then onto the knitting process. My primary material is yarn, wool as it is called in Australia, and I decorate most of my pieces using felt, embroidery thread and other things like buttons. I have a healthy addiction to yarn and all the beautiful colors and textures there are to be found. If there is yarn to be found in any store I will find it and end up coming home with at least a couple of balls tucked under my arm. :)
PCC: What are you passionate about outside of your art?
KP: I love animals (especially cats), winter and rainy weather, cuddling up with my husband and our two cats with a good book or movie, playing video games and watching anime. I also love enjoying the wild beauty of nature wherever I am.
PCC: Anything else we should know?
KP: I love working with customers to create a special custom made item for them, even if it's as simple as a specific color they would like. I am always happy to accept custom orders, so feel free to message me.
PCC: How do we find you?
Other Items from KnitPeddler that we love:
3 comments:
Love her items and check out the insides, beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Karen has such fun, quirky things in her shop - I love to see what she comes up with. Thanks for sharing a bit of her story with us :- )
Your work is so unique and whimsical! The color combinations just reach out and grab you, and make you NEED one of your creations. They are all so warm and fuzzy, we all want more of those in our lives! Keep creating Karen :)
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