July Artist of the Month: Kitchen Sink Dyeworks

Our new Artist of the Month for July is Mercedes from Kitchen Sink Dyeworks. Let’s see what she’s “cooked” up for us this month!

1. What is your name, company name and which city and state are you from?
Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark, Kitchen Sink Dyeworks, located in Birmingham, Alabama but originally from Connecticut, by way of Savannah, Georgia.

2. How long have you been dying yarn?
On and off for 12 years.

3. How did you get started?
My major in college was fibers and textiles, that’s where I gained my knowledge of dyeing fabrics, fibers and yarns. Once I graduated I picked up knitting and spinning for fun and dyed to create colorful fibers for myself and friends. After working in other parts of the knitting/needlework industry for the last five years, I decided to return to dyeing and designing full time.

4. What motivates you?
I love hands on work, and there’s nothing as satisfying as pulling skeins out of the steamer and seeing all of that glorious color. I know I’ve hit the mark with a new color when I don’t want to let it leave my hands!

5. What is the favorite product you’ve ever made?
I don’t think I have one particular favorite, but I’m really enamored with semi-solids right now, seeing all the subtleties and layers of color. But if you ask me tomorrow I could be just as fired up about a hot new multi palette! (Short attention span)

6. Do you have any advice for other fiber artists?
Keep your eyes open! There are so many unexpected sources of inspiration and creative ideas. A cool sweater on the woman in the supermarket line in front of you, a beautiful flower arrangement, a bright palette on a billboard; you never know where you might find a great idea. Keep your camera and sketchbook handy.

7. Are there any designers, fiber artists or any other artist you consider your role model?
I’ve always loved Kaffe Fassett’s use of complex color palettes, the quilt artist Susan Shie is always inspiring, and I’m always scouring flickr for fun color photos (not yarn related) to provide inspiration.

8. Please share with us a zany or interesting thing about you. It does not have to be fiber related.
I’m sort of a big heap of zany and odd. Some highlights: ~~bellydance for fun~~love single malt scotch and craft beer~~obsessed with old film cameras, I carry an old ‘68 Yashica Electro with me almost everywhere~~raise orchids and carnivorous plants~~favorite movie is The Royal Tenenbaums~~wild about anything related to Sherlock Holmes~~bookbind for fun, love making my own sketchbooks~~originally went to art school to be a comic book artist, took a detour and graduated with a BFA in textiles~~make a rockin’ margarita.

The Kitchen Sink Dyeworks Merino Fine sock yarn is available right now, right here!

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Don’t miss out on our “Lucky Draw!” today July 1st! Out of all the orders of July 1st, we’ll pick 2 lucky winners to win some really cool  prizes, you could be a winner too!