The Sunday Sunshine - Laura Nishiyori
Welcome to my new series of Artist's Journal entries: The Sunday Sunshine. I am featuring other artists on Sundays throughout 2021. I hope you enjoy their artistry as much as I do, and value their contributions to the world.
Laura Nishiyori
I’m not exactly sure how Laura and I met. Laura and I had some common interests and friends when I lived in Washington state. We are both military spouses and at the time both homeschool moms.
Laura's medium is yarn, and her crocheted creations are adorable and cozy. I was clueless about crochet, so she kindly explained the difference between knitting and crochet.
It’s a different craft. Knitting takes two needles. Crochet is done with one hook. It’s a common question. I knit in high school but it was tedious and easy to drop stitches and hard to fix problems. Plus, I had metal needles and the scraping sound they made was like nails on a blackboard. So I crochet.
Can you tell me a little more about how you got started?
I started creating gifts through crochet in my teen years. My maternal grandmother taught me the basic three stitches: single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet. My cousins got scarves for Christmas for a few years.
Once my oldest daughter came along, and hit the age of 2, I got curious about patterns and making things in the round. I found a pattern in my Mom’s 1970s magazine pages, and took it to church with me to ask one of the ladies there how to read it. She was very good at explaining the gibberish on the page.
From 2010 on, I’ve been making a ton of things, from hats to tiny creatures called Amigurumi.
Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures.
Do you set goals, and have those changed over time?
My goal from the get-go was to create a quality product. I’d say that goal hasn’t changed.
Why did you decide to start selling your crochet work?
When I started, it wasn’t to have a business. But, how many hats does one kid need? Answer: A lot. She loves hats! Once I added my second girl in 2012, I knew that if I wanted an excuse to buy more yarn, I needed an avenue to make some profit back.
How did you get started?
In 2014 I started building my inventory and doing local craft fairs. The ladies I met through those shows were the catalysts I needed to start creating different stuff. Someone would ask for a Dr. Who scarf, so I’d research what that looked like, and recreate it in my style. Someone else asked me to make a cat, so I learned amigurumi.
Pinterest was my crafting opiate.
I printed hundreds of patterns. Things exploded. Word of mouth got around and I stayed consistently busy October – December every year.
Does marketing or creating for an audience impact your creative process?
I’d say my audience has a definite role in what I make. After all, I want to sell the end product.
Around the holiday season I look at my calendar and set aside a certain amount of time to get custom work done. During the off-season I always say I’ll make things ahead to have on hand, but I never put a specific number or plan to it. Rather, I let creativity choose what I make. I’m always thinking of what to make for specific people too. A lot of my inspiration comes from the people in my life.
Was there original art in your home growing up?
My father taught pottery, woodshop, and photography/videography (all at different times) for 30 years. He had several wood sculpture pieces he had made in college in our house while I was young. He had a chair and table, headboard, and a lamp. He also had paintings. I loved his paintings, but Mom didn’t have those up in the house.
Once I got my own house, I took the paintings I found hanging in his workshop with me and hung them prominently. He was also a potter, so we have several of his vases. I remember the wine goblets he made too. They have little clay bells under them.
How was your creativity encouraged?
My cousins, who were 13+ years older than me, were great artists. They drew like none other. My dad and aunt were both art teachers. I’ve been creating scenes and taking pictures since I was a little girl. I drew all the time.
Laura’s first creations that she sewed as a child.
I spent copious hours in the swamp behind our house with my faithful furry friends and sat and watched God’s creation unfold around me. My Mom always made sure I had art supplies that I wanted to try out. She allowed creative hours late at night and in the wee morning, as long as I got my school work done and was in my room by 9 PM.
Even the folks at church encouraged my artistic side, by asking me to create the teen board and take photographs for my youth-group. From children’s choir and plays at church to joining the worship team at age 14, music has also played a huge role in my life and creativity.
Do you ever feel like you need permission to create?
As an adult artist, I rarely ask permission. I’m not good at following rules or learning techniques, so I’d rather blaze a trail than ask permission to follow the leader.
What do you value your own creative practice?
My creative practice creates a soothing space for me. Art is a method of self preservation. I can flow from one thing to the next. I can take a bunch of yarn and make something useful out of it, even something beautiful.
I can create a personal, thoughtful gift for someone that they will treasure for years, rather than slap together a collage of stuff from Walmart that goes unheeded or gets regifted next season.
The gifts I’ve made for folks, usually end up well loved. If I can show someone their value by creating a special gift for them, that makes it all worthwhile.
Small diffuser for on the go! Wool felt balls and cotton thread. Perfect for your rear view mirror.
Shell beanie blues, greens, yellow.
The Child
Infant Owl Earflap Hat
How do purchases benefit you?
Purchases allow me to get more supplies to further my craft, they pay for my daughters to go to art class and piano lessons. They show my girls that if I work hard and do what I’m passionate about, I can make a living and be happy at my job.
Purchases fill my love tank. They say, “You did well and I want to give someone I love something special that you made.”
What do you hope for your crochet work?
For it to bless someone. There are many chilly heads, necks, and hands that need a bit of warmth in this world, and if one of my creations can help someone stay warm, then it’s all worth it. I love it when people come to me and buy things to send overseas to family or friends or even in their Operation Christmas Child boxes. It’s amazing to think that folks in other parts of the world are wearing something I made here in little ol’ Elk, WA.
Do you have more questions for Laura? I am sure she would love the opportunity to hear from you and answer your questions. Say hi in the comments.
Laura doesn’t have a website yet, but you can see what she has available (and claim items) on her Facebook page, Nishi Misc aka Laura Nishiyori's Wares for Sale, HERE.
Don’t wait a whole year for Christmas! There is plenty of cold weather left this season. I am certain you can find something special for that upcoming birthday or special occasion. Or maybe you have some holiday spending money and want to find something for yourself.
My recent growth as an artist has been overwhelmingly supported by other artists, and I believe in supporting the arts community. Other artists continue to help me shine with tips, tricks, resources, inspiration, and encouragement. These artist features allow me to return the favor.
I hope that you’ve enjoyed hearing from Laura, and that you’ll continue to join me as I host more dedicated artists on The Sunday Sunshine series in the Artist’s Journal.
Tia Sunshine
This series is inspired by the Artists Sunday campaign that started last year. While I am not a huge fan of specific shopping days, I am a fan of encouraging individuals to buy from artists. This series is my way of participating in the spirit of the movement. www.artistssunday.com
Artists Sunday is "a nationwide art-shopping movement with more than 4,300 members. Participants include 500+ local communities, including arts agencies, cities, counties, state agencies, chambers of commerce, and organizations and 3,800+ individual artists." Their mission is "to encourage consumers to shop with their favorite local artists and craftsmen during the holiday season. Artists Sunday takes place the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Think of it like Black Friday or Small Business Saturday but for the arts. New members are joining daily."
In February The Sunday Sunshine will feature Anne Villano, Carrie Brummer, and Payton Cook!
anne villano
@milartmom
carrie brummer
@carriebrummerart
Payton Cook
@Paytoncookart