Art Bash Preview: Meet the Artist behind Mitten Made

Allie Chantial Maldonado will be appearing for the first time as a showcased artist in the annual this Saturday.

For her, that means being as excited for others’ art as she is to share hers with Berkley.

“I’m always inspired by others’ creativity. To me, their art is seeing the world through their eyes,” the 32-year-old artist from Dearborn Heights said.

She runs Mitten Made, a hand-made line of knitted accessories inspired by pop culture and novelty items (The crocheted beard she sports in the attached photo certainly captures her fun vibe).

You can find Maldonado and her pieces—which range in price from $3-$150— at the Art Bash this weekend.

Here, we asked her a few questions to get to know the eclectic newcomer.

Patch: Tell us a little about the creations you offer.

Maldonado: All of my products I crochet myself. I mostly work with wool yarns but this year I am expanding into acrylics for those with sensitive skin or vegan friendly peeps. I focus on fashion and novelty inspired pieces including shrugs, mustache sticks, bearded masks, fingerless mittens, hobbit hats and much more.

Q: How did your journey with art and crafts first begin?

A: I was 9 the first time I picked up a crochet hook. My Aunt Yvonne was my first teacher, teaching me everything from how to hold a hook, how to slip knot, to make a chain and my first single crochet. In my later years (at) 12 years old, I was making 3-inch wide scarves. My grandmother was amazing in her technique (and) was so patient. Every row she would show me how to complete step by step. That started my obsession and love for the art of crochet.

Q: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

A: I find inspiration in colors, pop culture and vintage fashions.

Q: Walk us through the process of making one of your pieces.

A: My process starts with colors and from there I can usually visualize the color as one of my pieces. I then get to choose my hook. I have to say, I have an amazing collection of hooks, including Victorian Ivory pieces and hand carved hooks. I also have the old faithful metal and plastics. Depending on the fiber I am working with, I will find a proper hook. And from there it's just a matter of crocheting with lots of love.

Q: What does being an artist mean to you?

A: Being an artist defines who I am. I don't know if I could do anything else. Even if I never started Mitten Made I would still be crocheting. If tomorrow I could no longer sell a single item, I would still crochet. I hope that my pieces inspire a younger generation to learn the art crochet.

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