Our latest STICK OF THE WEEK! is Rebecca Danger. Rebecca is in the NOW as founder of Danger Crafts, really great knitting patterns by Rebecca Danger.
Rebecca Danger
Rebecca is a knitting pattern designer who lives in a cute cottage in Bellingham, Washington with her husband Mr. Danger, their son Presley, their two pugs Abbey and Lucy and a whole menagerie of knitted toys. Danger Crafts is the brainchild of Rebecca Danger: pug wrangler, thing maker, witty commentator and compulsive crafter extraordinaire. She likes to make things, write about how to make things and help you to make things too. She believes that knitting is a lifestyle, not just a hobby.
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On the Wall)
I write knitting patterns. I specialize in toy knitting patterns, with monsters being my favorite. I started writing patterns under my company name, Danger Crafts, back in February 2009. Since then, I have had some sixty patterns published by various places: magazines, yarn companies, my self-published patterns book and a couple other places. I have one book out, the The Big Book of Knitted Monsters, Mischievious, Lovable Toys and a second one due out this November. I also BLOG as much as I can and recently started carrying some supplies and favorite yarns on my website and at my Etsy shop.
I write knitting patterns. I specialize in toy knitting patterns, with monsters being my favorite. I started writing patterns under my company name, Danger Crafts, back in February 2009. Since then, I have had some sixty patterns published by various places: magazines, yarn companies, my self-published patterns book and a couple other places. I have one book out, the The Big Book of Knitted Monsters, Mischievious, Lovable Toys and a second one due out this November. I also BLOG as much as I can and recently started carrying some supplies and favorite yarns on my website and at my Etsy shop.
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why?
I would have to say boiling over and burning into those crunchy bits on the stove that you can never quite get off. I have WAY more work these days than I can possibly take on! Definitely a good problem to have, but I have a hard time saying “no.” So, it can make it pretty stressful at times!
I would have to say boiling over and burning into those crunchy bits on the stove that you can never quite get off. I have WAY more work these days than I can possibly take on! Definitely a good problem to have, but I have a hard time saying “no.” So, it can make it pretty stressful at times!
Quincy, Quade, Quentin A Very Memorable Monster Pattern
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
For the internet based job like mine: Buy an excellent, expensive camera and learn to take outstanding pictures. I mean amazing, traffic-stopping type pictures.
For every type of business: Love to market, make it your favorite thing ever and brand yourself like a maniac!
For the internet based job like mine: Buy an excellent, expensive camera and learn to take outstanding pictures. I mean amazing, traffic-stopping type pictures.
For every type of business: Love to market, make it your favorite thing ever and brand yourself like a maniac!
Penelope The Empathetic Monster
Terrence The Tap Dancing T-Rex
What motivated you to throw your noodle?
Before Danger Crafts, I ran a handmade handbag company for seven years. It was very successful and at one point, I had five employees working in a 3,000 sq ft warehouse/manufacturing/retail space. Unfortunately, in those seven years, I only took about three total days off and managed to burn myself out pretty badly. So, I decided I needed to be done and I closed the business. I told my husband that I wanted to sit on the couch and knit for work. He said, “That’s nice dear.” We agreed I could give it a try for six months and if I wasn’t making it, then I would get employed by someone else. I would go get a “real” job. Three months in, I was approached by a publisher about writing a book. It has been a wild ride ever since!
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
Life inspires me. I just look around at the amazing life that is going on everywhere, all the time, and it is hard for me not to feel inspired.
I have never had a hard time coming up with new creative ideas, but I must say as a toy maker and a new Mama, the reaction my kiddo has to my creations, certainly helps me think up even more things to entertain him. Plus, kid stuff is so cute! I will admit I have bought a couple baby items as a business expense to add the cute graphics to my design boards for inspiration! And of course, as a fur Mama, I think my pug's underbite has inspired a few monster faces. There is something to be inspired by everywhere!
Before Danger Crafts, I ran a handmade handbag company for seven years. It was very successful and at one point, I had five employees working in a 3,000 sq ft warehouse/manufacturing/retail space. Unfortunately, in those seven years, I only took about three total days off and managed to burn myself out pretty badly. So, I decided I needed to be done and I closed the business. I told my husband that I wanted to sit on the couch and knit for work. He said, “That’s nice dear.” We agreed I could give it a try for six months and if I wasn’t making it, then I would get employed by someone else. I would go get a “real” job. Three months in, I was approached by a publisher about writing a book. It has been a wild ride ever since!
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
Life inspires me. I just look around at the amazing life that is going on everywhere, all the time, and it is hard for me not to feel inspired.
I have never had a hard time coming up with new creative ideas, but I must say as a toy maker and a new Mama, the reaction my kiddo has to my creations, certainly helps me think up even more things to entertain him. Plus, kid stuff is so cute! I will admit I have bought a couple baby items as a business expense to add the cute graphics to my design boards for inspiration! And of course, as a fur Mama, I think my pug's underbite has inspired a few monster faces. There is something to be inspired by everywhere!
Presley and Rebecca
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
I prioritize and simplify. My son just turned one and this last year has been a huge adjustment for me. I have always, always, always worked like a crazy person (um, yeah, obviously with three days off in seven years with the last business, right?) My husband and I like to joke that, “Being self-employed means picking which sixteen hours of the day you are going to work.”
After my son was born, my feelings toward work have completely changed. I never ever, ever, ever thought I would want to work less, and yet amazingly enough, all I want to do now is spend as much time with my munchkin as I can. These days, my kiddo comes first and I fit work in depending on how much time I have left.
That being said, I still get a lot done. Or at least most days! Both my husband and I have done a lot of soul-searching in the last year after welcoming this new little amazing being into our lives. From that, I have prioritized and simplified my life. I decided I want to enjoy every moment of my life, not just run from thing to thing feeling guilty that I am not getting something done all the time. So, I have picked just a couple of things that are most important to me and I make the time to do those things 110%. I have gotten incredibly serious about how much time I actually have and what I really want to spend it on. Then, I have let the rest go and remind myself of two things every day. “You know what, it won't be the end of the world if you don’t get back to that email, finish that monster leg, clean the kitchen......ect. until tomorrow” and “It is OK to say No.”
What technology issues did you run into when starting your NOW?
I didn't really run into too many technology issues as I got started with Danger Crafts. I had already run my handbag business for seven years and was pretty familiar with Etsy and Ravelry since they were also the two main sites I used for my handbag company. Now it's a different story! My major issue is that I don't have enough time to keep up with all the social media sites and what-not that I should be using!
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
Mmmm......fresh spaghetti noodles tossed with mizithra cheese and browned butter. Not just a delish dish, but my idea of a perfect life/business too. Simple enough so that each and every flavor you pick can really be savored and enjoyed. Oh, with a glass of wine of course, because wine is Win with an “e” on the end!
I prioritize and simplify. My son just turned one and this last year has been a huge adjustment for me. I have always, always, always worked like a crazy person (um, yeah, obviously with three days off in seven years with the last business, right?) My husband and I like to joke that, “Being self-employed means picking which sixteen hours of the day you are going to work.”
After my son was born, my feelings toward work have completely changed. I never ever, ever, ever thought I would want to work less, and yet amazingly enough, all I want to do now is spend as much time with my munchkin as I can. These days, my kiddo comes first and I fit work in depending on how much time I have left.
That being said, I still get a lot done. Or at least most days! Both my husband and I have done a lot of soul-searching in the last year after welcoming this new little amazing being into our lives. From that, I have prioritized and simplified my life. I decided I want to enjoy every moment of my life, not just run from thing to thing feeling guilty that I am not getting something done all the time. So, I have picked just a couple of things that are most important to me and I make the time to do those things 110%. I have gotten incredibly serious about how much time I actually have and what I really want to spend it on. Then, I have let the rest go and remind myself of two things every day. “You know what, it won't be the end of the world if you don’t get back to that email, finish that monster leg, clean the kitchen......ect. until tomorrow” and “It is OK to say No.”
What technology issues did you run into when starting your NOW?
I didn't really run into too many technology issues as I got started with Danger Crafts. I had already run my handbag business for seven years and was pretty familiar with Etsy and Ravelry since they were also the two main sites I used for my handbag company. Now it's a different story! My major issue is that I don't have enough time to keep up with all the social media sites and what-not that I should be using!
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
Mmmm......fresh spaghetti noodles tossed with mizithra cheese and browned butter. Not just a delish dish, but my idea of a perfect life/business too. Simple enough so that each and every flavor you pick can really be savored and enjoyed. Oh, with a glass of wine of course, because wine is Win with an “e” on the end!
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