Meet Fitty Updike and Get Custom with Made by Fitty

She’s Crafty

So right now, Karen (Fitty) is up to a bunch of different things. She recently finished the biggest scrapbook job she has ever received-  a 60 page wedding album, from engagement party to honeymoon. You can imagine the brides face when opening the gift and Karen up all night long hot gluing with several cups of Joe. Ahh, the life of an artist.

What’s cool is that her sewing requests have been piling up. She credits this rise to a combo of blog posts about sewing adventures as well as parading her gorgeous daughter around in hand-made clothes. It could have very well been the Bo Peep Halloween costume that stirred quite the incline. Check it out by viewing her blog.

Karen’s even invented a product. It’s called a wall pocket. It’s like a hanging wall organizer. She’s also sewin’ up some burp clothes (for babies, NEXT GENers), skirts, art smocks (Annika Connor, are you reading this?) and more.

Her ongoing gang of customers get a 2-page scrapbook layout every month. With photos sent over to Karen via photo accounts, she prints them out, makes them spiffy and sends them along. She’s also into digital scrapbooking for millennial souls.

COOL LOVE NOTE: Karen’s hubby is a drummer, and Karen also teaches music, piano and voice. They’re teaming up to develop a “Crafty Show” soon. So read today’s interview, watch her video, and make sure you subscribe to her blog. She’s a keeper in the arts world.

Get crafty with Fitty Updike Today >>>

How did it all begin for you as far as crafting goes? What sparked your inspiration?
I guess crafting is the kinda thing you just do from birth. I always did crafty things as a kid. I was lucky, my mom let me paint pictures on my bedroom walls growing up and I also used to do a whole lotta weird things with shoe boxes… like make machines that did useless things like spit out cotton balls, or put on theatre productions within the shoe box… complete with drop down scene changes. I’m pretty sure I was a loner…actually, I’m pretty sure I was also mute for most of my childhood.

When did you start turning your hobby of crafting and arts into a business?
I never actually made the decision to turn it into a business. Friends or acquaintances would offer me money for this or that, and over time I just decided to explore it as a way to make some money on the side.

What inspires your work?
Really, I think everything inspires my work. People, music, kids, nature, magazines, and my family. When it comes to scrapbooking, my favorite topics aren’t the big events like holidays, birthdays, or rites of passage, it’s more fun when it’s something ordinary and everyday like going to the park or library, or when your kids do funny things.

How old are you? 33… 34…  33!  One of those… I didn’t think I’d forget how old I was until I was in my 50’s… who knew…

What did you study to make this a creative gig for yourself? Were there classes or workshops that showed you how to get started?
Not really, I think this was just a gradual kind of thing. I mean, nothing official anyway, anything I learned, I learned from a book or was inspired by something I saw online or in a craft magazine and said, “Oh, I have to learn how to make that!” Though I am trying to attend a weekend scrapbook retreat in January, and I hoping to catch up on my personal scrapbooking then.

What’s your favorite piece ever that you’ve created and why?
That would probably have to be an altered book I made for myself. Well…  it’s actually never finished. I keep adding to it. So you could call it a journal of sorts.  It has poems I wrote, pictures of people I love, bands I like, stories I want to remember,  and a mixture of paintings, scraps, twigs, fabric, and a metal bit here or there… all bound in an old book I found at an antique shop. So obviously it’s my favorite because it’s full of things I love! And the altered/mixed media style seems to be one of my favorites. Mix it with a little “vintage” and forget it, I’m all screamy inside like I just jumped under a pile of fresh out of the dryer blankets!

Where do you see yourself in five years in terms of the arts and what you’re doing with your biz?
I see myself inspiring other artists with my magazine, tv show, and online interworld! Oh, and my books and cd’s will be must-haves!

What has a person said to you after they’ve seen your work that has impacted your life in a positive way?
When I gave someone an altered book as present and they said, “Karen, this is the most amazing book I’ve ever seen!” That was a sweet and dear friend, but it still meant a lot to me.

What is your proudest moment with your artsy job so far?
When NextGen asked to interview me!

What creative folks make you star struck?
Michelle Caplan, Karen Michel… Ann Baldwin… love their stuff. There are so many… really, any work that I see in any Somerset magazine amazes me.

If you could have dinner with any celebrity who would it be and why?
I know this is probably everyone’s answer… but I’ve been an Ellen DeGeneres fan ever since I read her book “My point, and I do have one…” which was probably over 10 years ago… I think I peed my pants a few times. So yea, I think as far as a dinner date, she would be entertaining as well as someone whose brain I could pick.

Tell us a funny story about your crafting?
Well, every time my daughter is involved in crafting, it’s a funny story because shes either dumped out a bottle of glitter all over my work… or dips her feet in paint and traipses around the house… it’s always an adventure.  I used to get angry and frustrated, but now I just let it be.  It’s the only way I can get anything done, and also I think about how boring it would be if everything just went smoothly all the time.

Great response. Kids! The NEXT GENers!  So, tell us what’s your most popular request?
Anything kid/baby related.

And what’s your best advice for other young artists who would like to be more like you?
Try not to focus on what other people think. I can’t even count how many times people told me I have too much time on my hands when they see what I create.  And really, it has nothing to do with time. If you love to do something, there is always time for it. Do what makes you happy. If you have time to fit in Family Guy on Sunday night, you have time to crochet a hat.  Wait, scratch that, if you have time to sleep 8 hours a night, you have time to make a paperclip sculpture!  Sleep and me are always at battle!  I mean, I know sleep is important… but how can you work when you’re sleeping? If we didn’t have to take an 8 hour break every day, we’d get sooo much more accomplished!!!

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to read. I started a book club on Facebook so I could have some friends to discuss books with. We just finished the Hunger Games trilogy…  OMG. And I’ve been doing a lot of baking on the weekends. My daughter has a lot of food allergies, so I try to keep her supplied in safe goodies to bring to the nursery. So I like to experiment with new recipes that she can have.

I also like to take pictures. A lot of pictures! I have no photography classes under my belt but it’s on my TADA list, though someone suggested to me that I might not want to take any photo classes in fear that it might ruin my style. So I might also not take any photography classes.

What has been your biggest obstacle to overcome? How did you overcome it?
I would have to say my biggest obstacle was myself.  It’s so easy to hold onto all the negative you hear. It takes literally 2 seconds to go from elated to depressed when you let it all in. So I really had to learn to just turn off my brain, and realize that holding on to that stuff was really serving no purpose for me. I had to just trust myself and keep moving.

Your favorite song right now is?
“All I need” Radiohead
Not a new song, but it just never seems to get old to me…

Latest technology that you love?
Pretty much can’t live without my iPhone. I don’t have the latest version… but I find it’s so helpful for Artsy people. The photo apps are amazing! You can do so much!  And as far as being inspired, you can have your etsy, pinterest, and evernote at your fingertips at all times!

Your latest Favorite YouTube clip?
That target 2-day sale lady!  Can’t seem to get enough of her!!

How can we find you Karen Updike?!?!?!
Email: karenupdike@rocketmail.com or madebyfitty@gmail.com
Visit www.Madebyfitty.com
Find me on Facebook by searching: Fitty Updike or click here.

Well, you heard it here first. This is Karen Updike and she’s your NEW go do creative gal for anything crafty in 2012 and beyond.