Meet the Artist: Midnightsky Fibers

Midnightsky Fibers is an UFS artist based in Seattle, Washington. This eco-concious company is run by owner-creator Jenn Wisbeck. Many of the yarns are vegan, and the company also reuses water, uses nontoxic dyes and mordants, and supports other green businesses when possible. Let’s find out more about Jenn and Midnightsky’s story….

How long have you been running your fiber art business and what inspired you to do this for a living?
I have been doing this since I graduated high school and all through college, paralegal certification, and now I do it full time! I switched to only natural dyes after interning for 9 months with Earthues, a natural dye studio in Seattle, WA.

What part of your work do you enjoy the most?
Getting to be creative. I don’t do large lots or repeat colors, though my training is in color matching. I like to keep everything a bit unexpected and unusual but still totally useable. I like yarns and patterns that are clever for easy to work with.

What part of your work do you enjoy the least?
There is a very good reason I have 2 accountants, can we just leave it at that? In all seriousness, the financial aspect isn’t too bad, most of it is automated.  Most of the legal and financial stuff I would be dealing with even if I didn’t run a business though!  Besides that, I hate going to the post office! The one right by me closed, and the other ones nearby have terrible parking.

What styles, artists, designers do you find more inspiring and why?
Elizabeth Zimmerman for clever yet simple construction and seamless sweaters.

Being self-employed can be hard to maintain motivation. What do you do to keep the creativity flowing in your everyday work?
I must live a charmed life-I don’t really have an “every day”, or week even for that matter! Working on planning classes and patterns motivates me for the type of yarn I want to spin and dye for. I also don’t work to the point of insanity- yes, I have the long days, but I take days off, go on vacation.

What blogs/magazines/books do you like to read?
I have over 1,000 blog posts in my blog reader every day. Really, I read a bit of everything.

Do you have any hobbies other then fiberarts?
Boating, kayaking, metalwork…but really, most of what I do relates, even if only tangentaly, to fiber.

Anything new on the horizon for your business?
Start looking for my patterns- they are mostly only available to yarn stores and yarnies, but they are a great resource for people who want to buy a pattern license and not need to buy patterns over and over or who don’t have the time to design or have designed a pattern for their shop/yarn/kit.

Thanks Jenn! Be sure to come by the studio and check out Jenn’s newest products which include naturally dyed rovings, batts and yarns!