Who doesn't love to snuggle up in a hand-knitted scarf on a cold winter day? Just looking at the beautiful hand-knit designs of today's indie artist makes us feel all warm and cozy inside. In addition to creating eco-concious knitwear and bags, Erin Mapes is also an elementary school art teacher by day for the Washington D.C. public school system.

Tell us a little about yourself and your work. My name is Erin and I am the creative force behind Designs by Erin. You can check out my shop at erinmapes.etsy.com. I hand-knit scarves, hats, and other items, and upcycle old clothing into bags. I try to live my life in a simple, peaceful, and environmentally conscious way, and my craft reflects that way of life. I call my work "environmentally conscious" because I try to keep the environment in mind when making my work. Sometimes that means using all-natural materials or buying materials from local sellers. Other times it means saving materials from becoming trash by reusing, recycling, or upcycling, whichever you prefer to call it. Like I say on my site, I believe that with a little creativity, you can find a use for almost anything.

How did you get started as a designer? Well, I've been creating things in some capacity my whole life. I did a lot of crafts as a kid, and then started taking art classes in high school, which led to a major in visual art. I do still draw and paint, but knitting is now my main love. I got started about three years ago during my junior year of college when a friend gave me a "teach yourself knitting" book, a ball of yarn, and a pair of needles. And as they say, the rest is history.

What inspires your work? So much. A new yarn, a new pattern, colors, an idea ... Sometimes I'll see a yarn and know exactly what it needs to become, or I'll come across a pattern and just have to try it out. I love to learn new things and gain new skills. I'm very inspired by nature and many of my creations tend to be named after things found in the natural world. And finally, I'm inspired by my philosophy of environmental consciousness, and like seeing how that affects what I create.

Who are your favorite designers? My fellow Etsians, of course. :) I love buying handmade because it's so much more personal. You can meet a lot of great people on Etsy. Some of my favorites include Folktale, who sells handspun yarn, and Gaia Conceptions, who makes beautiful eco-friendly clothing.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? I'm a very simple person -- I don't wear makeup and I don't use hair products other than good shampoo and conditioner (Hugo Naturals, for anyone wondering), but I do have a few things I cannot be without. My lips are easily chapped, so I keep chapstick close by at all times. In fact, I just got this amazing lip balm from Etsy seller Beyond the Picket Fence -- it came free with a handmade soap my boyfriend bought for me! I also like to have some hand lotion or balm with me. My current favorite is a body balm from another Etsy seller, Herban Lifestyle, who is awesome! I love to use all-natural beauty products. Weird ingredients freak me out. :P

As for the fashion side of things, it's pretty low-key there too. I love hats and scarves. It's one of the reasons I started knitting in the first place, to make my own awesome knitted things. My style is kind of bohemian and a bit classic. I like wearing natural colors and fabrics, long skirts, and flowy shirts, but also jeans and t-shirts and sweaters. The thrift store is my best friend. You can find a lot of cool stuff in there.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers? If you know what you want to do, then you'll find a way to do it. Maybe it's not the easiest path to take, but it'll be the most fun and most rewarding. Set goals for yourself and be prepared to work hard to reach those goals. But never forget why you started doing it all in the first place (because you love it).

Where can people find your work? Right now, I only sell in my Etsy shop, erinmapes.etsy.com. I'm also looking to start doing craft shows this spring, so if you're in the DC area you should come check out my work in person! I'll be putting all the details on my site.

Anything else? Buy handmade! :)

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there and we wanted to find out more about what makes these creative types tick. If you do too, check out more of our Indie Designer Interviews.