Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin Caselli.
Caitlin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started drawing and crafting very young. I have always been a very hands-on learner and crafting provided a wide variety of mediums, tools, and skills to keep my hands busy and my interest peaked. In high school, I fell in love with technical theatre, where creative skills are a major asset. I earned my Bachelor’s from the University of Houston in technical theatre, and immediately began work in the field painting sets for places like The Alley Theatre, TUTS, Main Street Theatre, and others. I still work in the technical theatre world painting sets, building props, and constructing puppets. I’ve more recently expanded to mural painting for businesses and in homes. I’ve always crafted for fun outside of work, which lead to an abundance of handmade items that I wanted to share with others. I started to sell some of my creations at pop up markets around Houston. My handmade collection has grown from one small table to a total menagerie of crochet art, stuffed animals, paintings, clothes, home goods, and accessories. I also have my own physical shop at Creepy Hollow Haunted House in October.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road. As someone very hands-on in everything I do, I find my challenges in two areas: online promotion and time. There are a million crafters out there on social media, and I do better with in-person interactions and sales. I want you to pick up and squish my stuffies, try on the quirky jewelry, and experience the love and attention I put into my craft firsthand. I’m trying to bridge my own disconnect from the digital world and am currently working on my website, and starting to post more on socials. Hopefully, I can learn to put as much effort and care into my internet presence as I do crafting.
Finding time for all the other things in my life including self-care has also been a big challenge. In between technical theatre work, creating my own art, balloon twisting for parties and events, and preparing for art markets, it can be hard to find time for anything besides work. In the past, I confess that I was not the best at handling workloads which affected my physical and mental health in negative ways. When Covid took the world by storm theatre and live events stopped entirely. Both a blessing and a curse, this shutdown forced some unplanned downtime on me and allowed me the opportunity to reassess how and where I put my energy. Not stretching myself too thin and consuming myself with work continues to be a challenge, but something that I have improved on dramatically in the last few years.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a true Renaissance woman, I do a little bit of everything. As an adult with ADHD, I find that my work and the items I make is constantly changing. Though when it comes to arts and crafts I always fall back into crochet, making things such as amigurumi, clothes, hats, accessories, and home goods. One of my most favorite things to make and one of my top sellers is my small crochet mushroom and ghost keychains. I do a lot of sewing as well. I stitch a variety of sewn plushies that always go through a rigorous squish test to make sure they are perfect for cuddling and squeezing. Upcycling and reducing waste from fast fashion is also something I try to be conscious about. Instead of letting older clothes go to waste in a landfill, I repurpose the fabric to create new wearable items. Some of the pieces I am most proud of are my long upcycled sweater coats made with anywhere between 5-9 abandoned sweaters combined into one long and glorious wearable piece of art. I also enjoy upcycling other goods such as fashioning old toys and board game pieces into unique jewelry and accessories. I also tend to focus a lot of my attention towards headwear. I fashion a full variety of crowns and cat ear headbands using a range of supplies such as zip-ties, florals, beads, fabric, and metal findings.
I also work as an artist and entertainer doing balloon twisting, glitter tattoos, and face paint. I mostly focus on creating smaller balloon sculptures for individuals at events, bars, and birthday parties because that’s what brings me the most amount of joy. I’ve also used my balloon twisting skills to create a variety of balloon décor as well including archways, columns, numbers, and even the occasional balloon dress. Yes, a dress for a person made out of balloons. Balloons are actually quite unique and I am always amazed at how versatile this art form can be.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I believe that a combination of uniqueness and attention to detail in my work is a big reason for my success. Everything I make is an extension of myself. I put my all into the design, building process, and finishing off everything I put my hands on. I’m not afraid to take out 5 hours of a crochet project if I am not happy with it and rework it till it’s perfect. I believe that if somebody spends the money on something you created, they deserve something that is well made and not just slapped together. I also find that my vast interest in different crafts allows me to put a very fun and unique spin on everything I produce. Each item I create has its own special touches that set it apart from any factory made item on the market. Those small details make a huge impact in choosing a more expensive handmade product over a cheaper mass-produced product.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftingcatalyst/
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