Featured Artisan - Tiffany of Fair Trade Family

This week's featured artisan is Tiffany of Fair Trade Family.   Tiffany creates amazing wool and cotton play foods for children and many other things!

You make a great variety of items - which is your favorite?
Tiffany:  The item that makes me the happiest to make is the peeling banana and the cupcakes with swappable frosting because I know they make kids smile. That, in itself, makes it very worth it. I love the finished look of my espressos con panna and anytime I make a whole farmer's market set of unusual veggies I am excited.

What is your favorite medium to work with?
Tiffany:  While I am thrilled to offer vegan items out of cotton, I love working with fuzzy earthy wool, especially Peace Fleece, since the company has a focus on establishing cooperatives between war-torn nations. I also love bamboo and any variegated sock yarn when I have the occasion to work with either for a special order.

What was the first crafty item you can remember making?
Tiffany:  I learned, like most children I know who crochet, how to make squares and then little blankets. I really liked making diaper covers and longies but I like shorter term projects that are more about instant gratification. I love food, especially healthy food, but I never thought I would be making toy foods in the mass quantities I do now.

What does a typical day look like?
Tiffany:  Usually, I begin most days with a spinach-fruit smoothie, fair trade coffee, and breakfast with the kids; a 60-90 minute workout at the gym with my 12yo son (the oldest of my four boys); a day of virtual schooling; church and family time in the evening; and whenever my husband starts his hangout time with the kids or bedtime routines I get crafting. Rarely am I without my projects as we go through the school day and activities. My husband and I also love spending time with friends whether it means babysitting for a young couple, opening our home for parties and events, or having single people over for home-cooked meals. I also love coaching soccer and finishing last in half-marathons (lol).

Where did you learn to crochet?
Tiffany:  While my mother was an avid crocheter, she was a busy single parent and was working and going to community college. A neighbor actually showed me how to make those first stitches. And a childhood friend and I dreamed from ages 9-15 of having a store where we sold our (then super hideously made) crocheted goodies. I am naturally stubborn though so I worked determined to be good at it. I still (after thousands of pieces sold) count every stitch in every row of every apple to make sure they are perfect. It is worth the effort, but feels a little crazy sometimes.

Are you ready for a  giveaway??  Enter for your chance to win a custom apple jacket and a piece of cotton produce!

How to Enter: 
Mandatory entry:
♥ Visit Fair Trade Family and leave a comment here telling you favorite item

Additional entries:
♥ Tweet this giveaway and leave a comment saying you did so
♥ Blog this giveaway and leave the link in the comments
♥ Follow the team blog and leave a comment saying you are a follower (if you already are, leave a comment saying that!)
♥ Fan the team on facebook and leave a comment saying you did (if you are already a fan, leave a comment telling us!)
♥ Fan Fair Trade Family on facebook and leave a comment saying you did (if you are already a fan, leave a comment telling us!)

* Congrats to comment #29 Cabootique, our winner!