1.) Tell us a bit about yourself (name, location, affiliations, personal stuff).

In 2007 a crafting commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the West Coast underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as crafters of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire Mixed Species.”

Actually, we are a group of four, one in Washington State, two in Oregon and one in California. In aggregate we are a capitalistic hippie, white trash, former model with four kids who plays a mean bass, does PR for a Fortune 50 company and are a former member of too many bands to count!

2.) What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it?

Our first creations were of the typical medium of young lads, dirt! Dirt highways, intricate tunnels, thoroughfares and even a dirt toll booth were constructed for our matchbox cars. Later in life creativity reappeared in the form of homemade photo copied flyers and hand screen printed t-shirts for our bands.

3.) What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from?

Honestly as a group, the four of us are usually coming up with ideas or “one – upping” each other for a laugh. We are constantly absorbing everything around us like a giant newborn child. After everything is soaked up, run through the various filters and processors in our brains, we turn some of the ideas into the veritable Mixed Species smorgasbord on Etsy! Our ideas come from our childhoods, long drives, pop culture, our families, strangers and our travels. Now that we are on Etsy, we are constantly inspired by all of the phenomenal artists we see on a daily basis! Bottom line is, we create most of our products to make each other laugh and then share those ideas/products with everyone else.

4.) What are your favorite materials?

Currently we have begun experimenting with jerky but it proves to be a very finicky medium …… serious. We love to work with our ink and squeegees and anything we can hold down long enough to print or embroider. We are currently improving our sewing abilities and have a few resin castings to be introduced. Who knows, maybe a hand printed wall paper line with a mid century modern bacon motif and matching curtains?

5.) What is your favorite color?

Our favorite color is gravy!

6.) What are your most and least two favorite films?

Since there are four of us, we’ll throw in an extra.

Most Favorite Movies – Happiness, Breaking 2 Electric Boogaloo, Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus,and Apocalypse Now

Least Favorite Movies – Titanic, Beaches and Steel Magnolias

7.) What are you reading right now?

We are currently reading – Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee and Chuck Klosterman IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas.

We are also authoring a few books of our own. Working titles are – “Poppin’ Wheelies, Leaving Marks and Breaking Hearts” and “An Insider’s Guide to Hand Modeling”

8.) Apart from creating things, what do you do?

Between all four of us we enjoy life, wives, a girlfriend, kids, families and friends. We enjoy exploring the outdoors as well as the indoors in the country and cities. We also enjoy sharing and playing music when ever possible.