My name is Sommer and I am the "freckles" behind my small business "Freckles and Fibre"! My husband and my two kids are my biggest cheerleaders when it comes to my small business! I began my journey with using fibers by loom knitting and weaving but ended up falling in love with punch needling and rug tufting! I love to travel to warm destinations, eat ketchup on popcorn, watch cheesy Hallmark movies, and most importantly spend time with my family and friends!
What do you use to make your products? I use a punch needle! Basically, this tool pierces into the fabric that creates an embroidery design on one side and loops on the other side. I've recently also started to use a tufting gun, which is a lot of fun too! It can basically do what a punch needle does but a lot faster!
Why do you like punch needling? One of the main reasons why I like punch needling is because I have a history of anxiety so I find when I'm focusing on using my punch needle, the repetitive motion is calming. I also like that it’s a unique art form that a lot of people don’t know about and I get to share something new with others!
What made you start a small business? Well, I started to accumulate a lot of my designs and I couldn't fit them in my house anymore so I decided to see if they would sell! I'm so happy my husband encouraged me to do so, it's been such a fun journey so far! It’s been so nice getting wonderful feedback about what I've made and how much someone likes it in their own space, that just makes me so happy!
What does being a Maker mean to you? Being a Maker is a way that I can channel my creativity. I like to make products that are colorful and bright. My hope is that when someone buys my product it brings a smile to their face and brightens their day.
How have you developed your skills? I basically learned how to punch needle and rug tuft through watching a lot of YouTube tutorials. After learning the basics it was just putting in the time to practice, make mistakes, and keep going, getting better as time went on.
What is your favorite thing you've created and why? One of my favorite things I have created was a smiley face sunshine pillow. I just loved the bright colors I used and it was also one of my first sales!
Describe your creative process Basically, whenever I get an idea I try to sketch it out in one of my many notebooks or on my iPad using the program Procreate. Then when I’m happy with the colors and how it looks I transfer the picture onto my fabric with a sharpie marker and begin to punch the needle!
Describe your latest project My latest project is a wall hanging of a sunrise over the ocean that I’m using my rug tufting gun to create. One of my favorite places I’ve ever been is Hawaii and this really reminds me of it!
What are your long-term goals? I would love to eventually have my products in a storefront for makers!
What initially drew you to your craft? One of the things I liked about punch needle is that it is pretty portable! So I could create while I was outside on my deck, at the beach, or even in the car (in the passenger seat of course)!
What three adjectives would you use to describe your work?
Bright, Cheerful, and Fun!