Let's give a warm welcome to Liz, owner of Bella Vista Knits + Fibers!
All About Liz
Where are you located?
Milwaukee, WI
Do you have a job outside of this?
Yes, I’m a pharmacist in a community hospital in
Milwaukee. My career is what brought me to Wisconsin in 2015 when I moved here
for residency training.
What’s your dream vacation spot?
Anywhere with a beach, but I would love to go back to Italy someday.
What’s your favorite color(s)?
Purple
What’s your favorite food/meal?
I love Italian food
What’s your least favorite food/meal?
Anything with mushrooms
Do you have a favorite movie or TV show?
Favorite TV show would be Gilmore Girls,
I re-watch the entire series every year. The Wedding Date is one of my favorite movies.
What’s a quote that you live by?
I don’t really have one…but maybe “Do what makes
you happy”
Do you have other hobbies?
Reading and I love to dance
What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve done in your life?
Flew to India alone
after I graduated from pharmacy school. Once I arrived, I stayed with a friend who had just moved there 2 years earlier.
Do you have a favorite holiday?
That’s a tough one…It’s a tie between Halloween and Christmas and 4 th of July
Do you have a favorite season?
Definitely Fall
What inspires or motivates you?
I grew up being inspired by my mother, but in
recent years I find my inspiration within myself. I strive to challenge myself and
grow continuously.
Anything else?
I’m originally from
Philadelphia, PA . I moved to WI 5 years ago. I have a dog named Chevy, he’s a pit-mastiff mix and is the biggest sweetheart.
Other than my own hand dyed yarn, I love Malabrigo Rasta. Lion Brand Wool-Ease-Thick & Quick is also one of my favorites for beanies.
All About Bella Visit Knits + Fibers
How long have you been crafting?
Crocheting
– 5 years, Knitting – 4 years, dying yarn – 2.5 years
When did you start Bella Vista Knits + Fibers?
2016
Why did you start?
When I moved to Wisconsin, I was looking for something to fill my time. Just before I left for Milwaukee, my sister was crocheting a baby blanket and she tried to teach me to crochet but it was a disaster! I ended up with a triangle and gave up! So when I was trying to find something to fill my time in a new city where the only people I knew where my co-residents, I decided to make a stop at Michaels and buy some yarn and a hook to attempt crocheting again. This quickly turned into my new hobby (i.e. obsession). The next year I learned to knit because I prefered the look of a knit hat and really wanted to make the Big Braid Beanie from Prem Knits. Then I tried her hand dyed yarn and was immediately hooked. The
following year I decided to attempt dying my own yarn and that’s when Bella Vista Knits + Fibers was born.
What’s your favorite thing you’ve made?
A crochet blanket of Stitch from Lilo & Stitch for my nephew.
What’s a piece of advice for someone just starting out in your field?
Don’t get discouraged and just do what makes you happy.
Does your company have a mascot?
No.
What was your most memorable success?
When I started hand dying yarn and a fellow maker reached out wanting to purchase one of my very first skeins.
What was your most memorable challenge?
When I started experimenting with hand dyed yarn and another maker told me “quit while I’m ahead” because there were already enough dyers. This was very discouraging but I never allowed it to squash my creative energy. I just hit the block button on IG and moved on
What’s next for the future of Bella Vista Knits + Fibers?
More hand dyed yarn. I wrote my first knitting pattern this year, The Lake Effect Beanie, but don’t think pattern writing will be something that continues for BVK.
The Future for Bella Vista Knits + Fibers
What’s your latest project?
I’m working on my first official hand dyed yarn
collection. I released new colorways before but haven’t used a theme to drawn
inspiration from in the past. I’m a little nervous for this one!
Where did the inspiration come from for this project?
The inspiration came from the
city I was grew up in and is still my favorite place to be…Philadelphia.
Have there been any challenges with this project?
Not yet
Where can we find this project when it’s finished?
The yarn
collection will be revealed on my instagram and available for purchase on my
website.
When will it be finished?
My goal is February
Go and give Liz some LOVE! Like, share, or check out her beautiful yarn. Remember, supporting Liz is supporting a small business and a local maker’s dream.
Here are the links:
Instagram: @bellavistaknits
Facebook: Click Here
Website: www.bellavistaknits.com
Comment below if you have any questions for Liz or Bella Vista Knits + Fibers
And THANK YOU so much for reading and joining along on our Maker Spotlight. You can see a new maker right here EVERY Monday. I have some AMAZING makers lined up and I cannot wait to share them with you.
xoxo, Lindsey
#MakerSpotlightMonday #puglovecrochetblog #allaboutmespotlight
