Etsy's Handmade Blog
Special Interview: Amy Sedaris

To those of you who are familiar with Amy Sedaris, please join us in excited squealing. To those of you that haven't yet had the pleasure, The Storque is ecstatic to introduce the hilarious crafty lady known as Amy Sedaris, aka Jerri Blank. Amy is best known for her cult television series Strangers with Candy, her affinity for rabbits and fake food, her hit crafty hostessing book, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence, and her wickedly unique sense of humor (and voice!) that gets inside your head and just never leaves.

The Storque is SO EXCITED to give you this special interview with Amy. But first, here's a little video introduction, where Amy appeared on Todd Oldham's (her bff) television show, Handmade Modern. (They decoupage tables!)

 


 

Without further ado, here's Amy!

How do you, Amy Sedaris, set the mood for entertaining at a party?
Lighting helps me in this situation, as well as music, and the pill I just swallowed.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorites was getting my best friend to load up my lunch box with candy. Her father was a candy distributor, so there was a huge closet full of candy in the house.

What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I enjoy all the holidays. I like having something around to keep me in the spirit. Halloween I get a pumpkin, Christmas I put up a tree and I will dye eggs at Easter. You know, the usual.

Do you go back to North Carolina for the holidays? Do you consider yourself a Southern Belle?
I consider myself a New Yorker when I'm in N.C. and I consider myself a Southerner when I'm in N.Y. I go home and visit 3 times a year.


What do you like to give as gifts for loved ones?
I just like a gift that shows you put some thought into it.

Do you incorporate any of your costumes and personalities into your parties?
Sometimes. The last time I dressed up in full costume was for Sangria Night.

If you were to take one of those magazine quizzes about your fashion sense, what would the results be?
"Costume. Too young. Too homemade looking. Rickrack?"

Your fake cakes are really popular. What's the secret?
Having someone else frost them for me.

You'll be at the Bust Craftacular. (Etsy is a sponsor. We'll see you there.) Have you enjoyed this event in the past? What sort of reactions do you get from people who meet you? From your fans?

I've never been a part of this craft fair so I'm excited. I love meeting crafty people.

Would you like to share a recipe with us?
Hillbilly Milk Shake:

Take an empty, unwashed jelly jar.

Add milk.

Shake.

Can you tell us about your collections and what drives these passions?
I like to hang on to things in case I need them to use for something else. I love a good prop. I would love to have my own prop and costume shop. I have stuff from first grade. Some things I keep for fear of running out, like cupcake pokes. I have too many.

We love seeing you on Letterman. Can you tell us a bit more about your relationship?
I don't kiss and tell.

To buy Amy's book, go here! If you're in the NYC area, you should come to the Bust Craftacular on December 8th, where Amy will be signing books and selling her wares. (And Etsy will be there too, handing out Etsy promos!) She's a crafty lady's funny dreamboat, and we love her to bits.

Below, you'll find some of our Amy-inspired picks! 

Tags Amy Sedaris, Brooklyn, BUST Craftacular, humor, interview, New York, Strangers with Candy
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43 comments     Login to add your own!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 12:54 p.m. stilettoheights

squeal....I LOVE Amy Sedaris!! Great interview.

Dec. 7, 2007 at 1:17 p.m. saltandpaper

sigh!
she makes me pee my pants every time

Dec. 7, 2007 at 1:18 p.m. peachpops

Lol, the Hillbilly Milkshake....too funny! Great interview. :-)

Dec. 7, 2007 at 1:28 p.m. emilybidwell

candy, candy, candy !!!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 1:35 p.m. opheliafelt

I LOVE HER!!!!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 1:38 p.m. cuppycakegumdrops

amy sedaris is my best friend - in my dream, fantasy world where we hang out at the pro nail shoppe getting redonkulous long, airbrushed acrylics while holding our bunnies in our laps while making and eating a batch of cuppycakes. amy - call me!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 2:21 p.m. artyfakt

She's so great!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 2:24 p.m. LazerBeanz

Th Storque is so lucky to be graced by Amy Sedaris. She is the best. I'd love to be bff with her and her bunny!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 3:12 p.m. jenglo

SQUEEEE!!!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 3:20 p.m. animalia

famous!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 3:28 p.m. studio67

I love Amy, I saw her in San Francisco a couple years back when she was promoting her new book, or was it her new movie? Actually the movie wasn't released yet, so it must have been her book.

Anyway, she is so quirky and fun to watch during a live interview forum.
She is the real thing for sure.

Dec. 7, 2007 at 3:30 p.m. hobocampcrafts

i love amy sedaris.(obviously that is where our name comes from) i'm sad i won't get to meet her. I really wanna go but I've been sick for the last few days. Psst!

she rocks!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 3:47 p.m. MillieDogDesigns

I LOVE Amy! Excellent treasury too.

Dec. 7, 2007 at 4:23 p.m. Slowshirts

My afternoon was just sucked away watching numerous sedaris video clips on utube.

Dec. 7, 2007 at 4:26 p.m. Slowshirts

oh! and p.s. One of the first shirts i ever made was a drawing of jerri blank stuck inside a tv set.

Dec. 7, 2007 at 4:29 p.m. reqbat

aw, you guys! thank you for including me in the treasury for this GODDESS. mwah!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 4:31 p.m. absolutelysmall

Thank you so much for including my little creature! My head has somewhat exploded with the awesomeness of it all!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 5:06 p.m. bonspielcreation

eeeee! We were just discussing Ms Sedaris and her bunny (Dusty, isn't it?) this morning. It seems a natural fit, her and etsy, but what about getting Steven Colbert to do an interview?

Dec. 7, 2007 at 5:10 p.m. cigarboxbeads

I love amy, too ---i watch letterman every time she's on--her 'costumes' are the best!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 5:36 p.m. moogancreations

great interview!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 5:43 p.m. pressure

She's such a hoot! Why no bunny items in your treasury selection though? I've got two in my shop Ms. Sedaris would love.

Dec. 7, 2007 at 6:35 p.m. bluedogrose

Amy is also a very funny and talented lady! These items crack me up.

Dec. 7, 2007 at 7:04 p.m. catrocks

Amy YOU ARE SO MY IDOL!!!! :)

Dec. 7, 2007 at 7:40 p.m. barflybling

OMG I lurve Amy Sedaris. *squeal*

I want a cupcake! I want a cupcake!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 8:02 p.m. selflesh

Amy is super kick ass!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 8:33 p.m. SalmonStreetStudio

Cool!
Can she get David in on this too?
(ok, maybe that is asking a little too much) : )

Dec. 7, 2007 at 8:36 p.m. ChristyKane

Amy is HIL-AR-I-OUS!!!!
And her book is wonderful!!
If you don't have it go get it, you'll be glad you did!!

Dec. 7, 2007 at 11:35 p.m. hmmmbymel

I picked up Amy's book this past summer, and couldn't put it down. It is the greatest comedy/recipe/how-to guide ever. Amy Sedaris is a funny gal who knows what it takes to wear pantyhose...

Dec. 7, 2007 at 11:36 p.m. ebbtides

Ms. Amy lightens my sometimes weary soul with her wit & wisdom...I would like to be a fly on the wall of one of her parties, or perhaps just enjoy a morning cocktail...is that wrong??

Dec. 8, 2007 at 8:44 a.m. elisasherejewelry

Amy Sedaris is the best! I love how bizarre and hillarious she is. Great job getting an interview and nicely done, as well.

Dec. 8, 2007 at 9:48 a.m. bamboobaby

Cool and funny! Amy Sedaris! Love her!

Dec. 8, 2007 at 11:26 a.m. sleepingdogstudio

you would have to be insane not to love amy. she is such a great voice for the rest of us! gotta go squeal now... thanks for the window into her world!

Dec. 8, 2007 at 1:40 p.m. bethanycooper

WOW! amy is one of my idols!
I am so thrilled to see this interview.

my north carolina-born daddy told me about another hillbilly beverage (besides moonshine, of course):

1 bottle of mr. pibb
1 bag of shelled, salted peanuts

poor bag of peanuts into the bottle of mr. pibb. eatin' and drankin' at the same time, y'all!

Dec. 8, 2007 at 5:39 p.m. littlebitsys

I love Amy! Yes, I have done the same thing, watched all her YouTube appearances, the Martha Stewart are my favs. Great interview!

Dec. 8, 2007 at 5:51 p.m. rls2131

I heart Amy Sedaris, and the collection of related items...amazing!

Dec. 8, 2007 at 6:23 p.m. livefunky

Amy Amy Amy can't you see?
Somehow your words just hypnotize me!

LOVE YOU AND ALL YOU DO!

Dec. 8, 2007 at 9:23 p.m. SimplyWired

Amy Sedaris friggin' ROCKS. No doubt about it. How wonderful to read this interview in the Storque! Thank you thank you thank you!

Dec. 9, 2007 at 8:13 p.m. AbbieRoad

I miss Strangers with Candy, that was the best show! Amy Sedaris rocks!

Her & Julie Brown, def the best lady comedians out there!

Dec. 9, 2007 at 8:41 p.m. Thaidreams

Totally love Amy Sedaris, cool interview. Thanks :)

Dec. 9, 2007 at 11:58 p.m. joemomma

I love her! Very cool!

Dec. 10, 2007 at 1:19 a.m. phoebe1

marvelous!

Dec. 10, 2007 at 6:25 a.m. sixsisters

I love Amy. She always makes me laugh.

April 20, 2009 at 9:47 p.m. santosleather

Oh yeah ! Fabulous !

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