elfland's Profile

Bio

The BIO of shaina mote = the small elf with nimble fingers and the creator of the tiny independent line
ELFLAND.

I have always had the urge to create. I am inspired by designers who do not consider themselves as such - like the man who owns the scrap metal yard down the street from me, who lives in a trailer with metal pieces and his children’s action figures glued onto it. I am also interested in designing things traditionally fantastical; designs reminiscent of circus, fairy tale and old world Europe.

My tiny clothing line, Elfland, was resurrected in the midst of a sad, yet life changing time. I found that of all things, creating things was what kept me happiest, so that’s what I did. At first, I would make solely for myself; working in my darkroom, on the sewing machine and on paper. It wasn’t until my trip to Europe when I nearly went stir crazy from being without a sewing machine that I decided that designing clothing was my niche. And ironically, I found Etsy one sleepless night in Belgium. When I arrived back in Los Angeles, I began making for my little site and I have never looked back. I source materials with an untainted heart, trying to do what I can to benefit people and the environment. My materials are either given to me by friends and family, purchased from an AIDS awareness thrift store or taken from a “last chance” store that carries ends of bolts and in some way imperfect fabrics that otherwise will be taken to a landfill. I hope that my creations make you happy, as they have made me. Please enjoy the small offering of handmade clothing here on the wonderful Etsy. com!


Fast Facts:
I am currently building a house out of recycled bottles. I try to make feelings into pictures. I am learning to weld so that I can make jewelry from the things I find with my metal detector. I have a hairless dog named Elvis, who is psychic and hides in the bathtub when storms come.

find me on:
www.shainamote.com
flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elflandclothing
facebook: shaina mote

Female, Born on October 17

Favorite Materials

silk, velvet, cashmere, wood, Gutermann thread, naturally dyed textiles, organic cottons, pen and ink, gouache, found paper