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a few questions to Emily about her work (October 10, 2009)....

Do you like Morton Salt so much that you named your business after it? No, I picked the name Umbrella Girl Productions after a stencil graffiti image of an old woman with an umbrella running in the rain.

How many hair scarves have you made? I lost count about three years ago but I'm guessing somewhere between two and three thousand.

Where do you get your found papers? When I travel, I try to visit the local paper stores plus I have a large decorative paper collection.

Should I try sewing paper? Sewing machines are meant to sew fabric. In order to sew paper I had to learn how to repair my own machine. Sewing paper will slowly ruin a sewing machine.

What type of sewing machines do you use? I have four: a Kenmore from the 1950's, a Deluxe Electro Grand from the 1960's, a Singer from the 1930's, and my mother's sewing machine a White from the 1970's.

When did you begin Umbrella Girl Productions? In the summer of 2003

Is Umbrella Girl Productions your full time job? Yes, plus I work several part time freelance jobs teaching arts and crafts.

What's your favorite book to read to your art students? The Wonderful Towers of Watts by Patricia Zelver

Why don't you use your own artwork on all of your stationery? Someday I would love to but I'm just not there yet. Balancing all aspects of my business and my freelance work has proved to be quite a challenge.

What are your thoughts as an artist working in a craft medium on the age old debate of Art versus Craft? Behind many successful artists lay a skill set in craft. I see Umbrella Girl Productions as a slow burn that with patience will grow into something more reflective of my artwork but I will always rely on my roots. I began sewing when I was seven, have spent many years essentially production sewing, and am working on a few new projects that will more closely follow my own artwork.

a short biography...

Emily was supposed to grow up to be a great piano player....her grandmother spent six years trying to teach her lessons on an old converted player piano. Instead Emily took up art and seemed to have an uncanny ability at forging a variety of art styles depending on the task at hand. Most of her days are spent sewing things that she traditionally shouldn't with an antique sewing machine, most often selling the results and on occasion filming them....