Dan of Dan Morris Mosaics

How/when did you become an artisan?I've always been fascinated with stained glass, and my father taught me how to create stained glass windows while I was in college. I worked on windows for several years, but made the shift to mosaics about five years ago. I love working with glass, and the freedom to let pieces evolve organically without a set plan.
What do you enjoy most about artisan markets and craft fairs?I like seeing other people's creations, which give me ideas for projects of my own. People are clever!
What inspires you and your work?I'm really inspired by the glass. All the glass I use is recycled. Most I rescue from a dumpster, and some glass I get is scrap from a company that does water jet cutting. There's an amazing amount of craft that goes into creating these materials, and I see my work as a way to display them. What do you do when you are not crafting? I'm a public health scientist for the state of Oregon, and love my job. We work to create environments in which people can be healthy, and my job is to help plan and evaluate our efforts.
Describe a perfect day in Portland?In the morning the ground is wet with rain from the night before, but the skies are clear. Plenty of coffee, sushi for lunch, and dinner with friends before an evening concert.
Hometown?
I grew up in NE Portland, just a few blocks from the Irvington Club.

Artisan Profile- Steve of A Second Helping

How/when did you become an artisan?

In most of my early childhood memories, I was making something or pretending to make or cook something. Throughout my life I have been crafty – I love to have parties and love to make things to make my gatherings memorable – the two just went hand in hand. I guess the simple answer to your question is that becoming an artisan chose me rather than I deciding to become one.

What do you enjoy most about artisan markets and craft fairs?
I enjoy the people who attend, (particularly my customers) and getting feed back on the things I create, new ideas I try. I love to talking to other artisans, batting ideas back and forth; talking about what shows worked for them.

What inspires you and your work?
I am a nester by nature and I want people to remember a visit to my home. Nature, my home and garden are important to me. I am always on the look out for things that would make a visit memorable. I think the customers at artisan markets and craft fairs are looking for items that are memorable; that will make their homes welcoming and memorable; their gifts just a little more special.—that is what I attempt to do with my crafts. I do read and research what other artisans are doing. I am always on the lookout for directions and combinations in colors.

What do you do when you are not crafting?
I try to out of doors as much as possible, walking my golden retrievers, working in my vegetable garden and …ugh!, …cleaning the house.

Describe a perfect day in Portland?
A perfect day in Portland is sunny, with a clear view of the mountains; walking and playing with my two golden retrievers – Thurston and Lovey. Stopping to chat with neighbor or acquaintances (with their dogs) in the park.

Hometown?
I grew up in Festus, Missouri a town about thirty miles south of St. Louis.