shannon mulkey of i love patina has been making things her entire life. “i am lucky to have a very crafty mom who encouraged all of my crazy ideas.” shannon dabbles in almost everything handcrafted, but she specializes in clothing, which she began to sell in 2004. she now sells at markets in austin, chicago, san diego, providence, boston and brooklyn. regarding her work and inspirations, shannon remarks, “i make reconstructed knitwear, hand-dyed slip dresses and small-run seasonal pieces. patina is always changing to reflect where i am as a designer. we live in a world full of choices. making stuff presents even more choices. you can literally create the life that you envision. resourcefulness! recycling! use what you already have.”
in addition to i love patina, shannon founded the indie craft experience (i.c.e.) in january 2005 with christy petterson and susan voekler. in an interview in creative loafing atlanta, shannon says of i.c.e., “we all shared a vision for an indie craft market in atlanta. at the time there was not a market that focused on nontraditional crafters and up-and-coming designers…we have partnered with many local organizations, businesses and galleries. it’s great to be a part of this community and to provide a market for this genre. i.c.e. continues to grow each year. one aspect that makes i.c.e. stand out is our goal to create an ‘experience.’ we offer the best selection of crafters and designers from around the country, great music and diy projects. we want people to walk away inspired.”