Inside the Indie Studio: episode 5
I am very excited to have as my guest today Amby McNeil of Julip Bags. You have seen her bags on the Chum before. Welcome Amby, we are big fans of yours.
How did you get started knitting and fiber arts?
It’s funny, but knitting was one of the last
fiber arts I learned how to do. My mom
taught me how to sew and needlepoint when I was really young, I learned a
little more about sewing in Home Ec, and then I learned to crochet in
college. I taught myself to knit five
years ago on Super Bowl Sunday, the Style Network was having a “Modern Girl’s
Guide to Life” marathon and they interviewed Suss Cousins. I thought “Y’know, I’ve always wanted to learn
how to knit!” so I went and bought one of Boye kits at Michaels. I learned how to spin a couple of years after that.
When did you start making knitting bags?
I started sewing again in the summer of 2007
when I made a Roman shade for our living room window and realized how much I’d
missed it. I am a bag and purse junkie,
so sewing bags for myself seemed like a logical step.
How did Julip Bags come about?
Well, in August of 2007 I decided there are too
many gorgeous fabrics out there to not make lots and lots of knitting bags out
of them. Unfortunately I’ve run out of
closet space to keep them all for myself, so I decided to open an Etsy
shop. I try to really think outside the
box for every design I create. I want
there to be a reason, a function for my bags, not just a sack made out of
pretty fabric.
What is your favorite color? Fiber? Material to work with?
I love blue. Any shade, any hue. Red is a
close second, though. Fiber…merino! I’m not a fan of spinning long staple lengths. Material…probably cotton, because it’s so
forgiving and you can do so much with it.
Where do you find your muse?
Ideas come to me when I’ve zoned myself out,
turned off my brain, so to speak. I tend to be high-strung and can’t stand to be idle, so when my brain is engaged,
there’s not much room for creative daydreaming. I still work a full-time day job, and have a fifty-mile daily
commute. I find a lot of ideas pop into
my brain when I’m sitting in traffic, because that’s the one time when I CAN’T
multi-task and I think I’m more receptive to my unconscious creative muse at that time.
Where is your favorite place to be?
My parents’ home in Kentucky (where I’m originally from). They live on a lake and built a 500-sq foot room addition to the side of
the house overlooking the lake. It’s
beautiful and warm and quiet, with hardwood floors and vaulted ceilings. The light and scenery are perfect. When I’m told to go to my Happy Place, that’s where I go.
What do you love to knit?
I LOVE knitting lace. I love the intricacy and the brainwork to it,
the same way some people love Sudoku. I
like knitting socks as my mindless knitting, and I like knitting sweaters
because I have a sweater at the end (hopefully). I also really enjoy seaming up the
sweater…seriously, seaming up is my favorite part! Because then BAM! A sweater!
What do you hate to knit?
Miles and miles of boring stockinette or
garter. I think most of the projects
I’ve abandoned are because I got bored and needed some kind of instant
gratification. I also don’t like
knitting anything on needles larger than a U.S. size #9.
Best Project ever? Why?
Probably my Nantucket Jacket, because I made so many modifications to it and it fits perfectly and
looks great. I did scary things like
dropping down stitches to re-cross an incorrect cable! It’s the only sweater I’ve knit that I truly
love and wear all the time.
And now the 10 Questions:
What is your favorite word?
Peachy!
What is your least favorite word?
Can’t
What turns you on creatively, spiritually emotionally?
Music! My
mom was a music teacher, and I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t surrounded
by music, or I wasn’t playing an instrument. It affects my mood more than anything else I can think of. It energizes me, relaxes me, makes me cry,
and brings me joy. I can’t work without
some kind of music in the background. Interestingly enough, though, I can’t carry a tune to save my life. When I sing the dogs howl and glasses
shatter.
What turns you “OFF “?
Learned helplessness and laziness. Quit whining, get off your duff and DO.
What sound or noise do you love?
My two Jack Russells making little squeaking and
sighing noises when they’re dreaming, with paws twitching and noses wiggling..
What sound or noise do you hate?
My two Jack Russells when they think a leaf may have blown by the house, or a squirrel attack may be coming. They bark and howl until I turn into a sniveling bowl of cookie batter (to paraphrase Erma Bombeck).
What is your favorite curse word?
DAMMIT! It can be used in so many different ways! And you can say it in public without getting
too many scowls or dirty looks.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I would really really love to go to nursing
school and become a RN. Nothing about
the human body grosses me out, I’m fascinated by it and I’m definitely the
nurturing type.
What profession would you not like to do?
I could never be a chef like my husband. I’m still so in awe of his ability to make
things all come together at the same time, and taste fabulous to boot. Customers would be sending stuff back to the
kitchen constantly if I made it. Plus
I’m kinda clumsy and would probably be scalding myself on a regular basis.
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive
at the Pearly Gates?
“Now you can just RELAX!”
Thank you to Amby for taking time to be with us today. It was a real treat. You can see Amby’s amazing bags for yourself right here. I have my eye on one or two myself.
If you would like to be a guest on an upcoming episode please email me at sandyknitsATgmailDOTcom
See you next time!
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