Linda Fiore: Craftswoman Extraordinaire

Creative Minds
Inspiration can be found around each and every corner. It takes little more than a watchful eye and an open mind to notice the world of imagination and creativity that surrounds us. This is the attitude held by Linda Fiore. We were lucky enough to discover this in a recent crossing of paths. During the Quinnipiac "Successful Women in Business" Seminar, held last year in Hamden, CT, Karen had the pleasure of meeting Linda and learning about her creative way of viewing the world.

How it All Began
For just about as long as she can remember, Linda has loved to sew. On her website, www.tinythreads.com, she says that, "While other little girls were creating potholders and lovingly presenting them to their mothers, I was selling them to my long-suffering relatives for 10 cents each. I learned to crochet when I was 11 and by high school, I was sewing up a storm. Once I had four children, I discovered I loved designing baby and children's clothing." After her children outgrew the desire to wear their mom's handmade outfits, she knew that another market for her tiny, beautiful clothes was needed. Thus was born Tiny Threads, a business centered around Linda's custom-designed children's clothing.

Take a Look Around
Linda gains inspiration from everyday life. She often visits Vinny's Garden Center, a popular retailer that is located near her shop. When viewing all of the beautiful displays, she always discovers just the bit of inspiration that she's seeking. On one visit, she stumbled upon the Karen Rossi pins. She was immediately struck with the idea of incorporating one onto a sweater. For years she has been designing children's themed sweaters, and this seemed like an exciting new idea to explore. "The angel pin struck me right away as a good one for an angel and snowflake theme," Linda says.

Adding a Touch of Whimsy
Linda decided to use Karen's angel pin as the focal piece, placing the coordinating buttons across the front and back of the sweater. Karen's pins are not intended for small children, so Linda encourages the moms to enjoy the pins while the children wear the coordinating sweaters. This unique idea is one that Linda will continue to explore. She plans to create a beach-themed sweater using a Karen Rossi mermaid pin.

Linda's story reminds us that aspiring craftswomen always have to be aware of inspirational surroundings. Be it in nature, a busy downtown street, or a stunning display in a local store, there's always something that's just waiting to be discovered. Linda has learned this lesson well. Each sewn and knitted piece serves as the ultimate proof of her creative mind and artistic spirit.

Linda's Tips for Themed Sweaters

• Try using Red Heart brand acrylic yarn. This washable yarn is Linda's favorite.
  
• Add pins and buttons to any sweater, either handmade or purchased.
  
• Use bracelet charms (available in Claire's stores) as adorable zipper pulls.
  
• Look for buttons and charms in craft stores like Joann's Fabrics and A.C. Moore. Some brands (like Jessie James Buttons) even have sets of themed buttons.