Featured Artist~ Derniere Fois

Be sure to stop by featured artist Derniere Fois for a great selection of knitwear and accessories!

What would you like people to know about you as a person?
My name is Fernanda Figueroa, I'm 24 and I live in Guelph, Ontario. I am a photographer who's almost out of school and is in love with film.
I love knitting, crochetting and making jewelry. My new favourite material is polymer clay.
I absolutely love fashion magazines and I'm obsessed with the 20's and 30's (I firmly believe I was born in the wrong decade), from the clothes to the music to the general lifestyle, I love everything about it!

Pink Spiral Scarf

Tell me a bit about your art and your products? What inspires you?
I make knitwear and accessories. I've been knitting for a while now, the jewelry making is brand new. I had always wanted to make pendants because I'm the kind of person who has something very specific in mind when shopping, and I would get disappointed to see that I couldn't find what I was looking for. However, I thought I needed a big factory to make my own stuff.. that is until I discovered the wonders of polymer clay!
For inspiration I go to fashion magazines, websites like Etsy and Not Couture and also art exhibitions and craft shows. I also get inspiration from books (I love Gregory Maguire!) and fairy tales.

How do you share your creations? Where can find you?
I have a website http://www.dernierefois.com, as well as a facebook page where I share images with my fans (I usually upload images there before I put the listings up on etsy, so it's like a special preview!) http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Guelph-ON/Derniere-Fois-Knit-Couture/234016942779, you can also order through the page/website if you don't have an etsy account.
As for my photography, I have a website http://www.fernandafigueroa.com where you can see my work and get prints!

What is your most important lesson since starting your craft/ business?
It would have to be not to give up easily. It's really hard to start your own business, some people won't like your stuff or just won't buy it.. but it's really important not to get discouraged and just keep trying and do your best. I've tried contacting stores everywhere to carry my lines and very few have responded, I try to not let it get to me, it's been a hard lesson to learn! But the business has been picking up lately, and that makes me want to keep going.

Rainy Cloud Scrabble Tile Ring

Some fun tidbits:
-Coffee, tea or hot chocolate?
Oh, boy. I honestly drink A LOT of all three. I drink coffee in the mornings, tea in the afternoon and hot chocolate when I can't sleep (which is often).
-Your favourite candy?
Dark chocolate, absolutely dark chocolate.
-Your favourite colour?
I enjoy most colours, but lately I've been favouring grey. It goes with everything!
-Your favourite movie?
I can't ever pick favourites in this department. But I love old movies, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Doris Day, Huphrey Bogart.. now THOSE were actors!
-If I were to catch you grooving it would be to this song….
It would definitely be jazz. Probably Louis Armstrong or Louis Prima.