Wood Working with KissLooms
Kelly of KissLooms
Have you ever met a wonderful person and then realized that she also had amazing handmade work that was perfect for a project you were working on? I recently had the privilege to meet and get to know the owner and maker of all things weaving looms and more, of Kiss Looms! Kelly creates beautiful looms, easels, string art and more! She’s amazing to talk with and has become an essential piece of my own artist journey (to be shared with you in later posts :). I hope you enjoy reading about KissLooms and seeing Kelly’s unique and wonderful looms as much as I have!
You can also see more of what you can do with her beautiful looms on our article about Crochet Painting.
Wood Working to Make Weaving Looms with KissLooms
What gave you the idea/inspiration to start KissLooms?
I actually inherited the business from a friend that I met through loom knitting, Cliff Roush. He passed away 9 years ago. He was a good friend and mentor and I'm glad he adopted me into the Kiss Loom family. He came up with the idea for Kiss Looms while going through chemo. He tried the round KK looms and knew there had to be a better way.
How did you get started in making looms and weaving?
I started wanting to knit after my son was born, 15 years ago now. I wanted to make him a blanket and didn't know where to start. A retired school teacher at Hobby Lobby showed me the KK looms and helped me pick out some yarn. I've been knitting ever since. I started helping Cliff about 13 years ago with some marketing for the knitting looms and got him involved in doing a few fiber festivals. He started getting sick in 2010 and my parents came on board and my dad started making some of the looms. I also started collecting a few tools over the next couple years so that I could help. In 2012 Cliff passed the business on to me and my parents and he passed away shortly after.
I started weaving about 4 years ago with the triangle looms and fell in love with them. The first triangle I wove on was one that I made myself. They have been a very popular item in our product line and I've since added rectangle looms as well as pin looms in square and hexagon shapes.
What’s your favorite loom to make?
I love doing prototypes of new products. Custom orders of sizes or new products always get me excited. A lot of times those custom pieces end up in the new product line announced in August each year. The triangles are also easier to make as they go a little faster, with a little more variety in how they are made.
How do you choose the woods you work with?
I use hard wood maple for the knitting and weaving looms. They used to be made of oak when Cliff first started, but it's a much harder wood and often can cause splits while make the looms. The maple is great to work with and rarely has a bad spot in the wood. I also choose a special exotic wood to use once a year for a limited edition Heirloom Loom. I make one or two products in that wood for a limited time starting in August. That is a lot of fun to choose new woods. Sometimes the sample I make will cause me to have to change the wood, if it won't hold up to the drilling due to grain issues. But I try to find woods similar in grain and hardness to the Maple.
How do you choose the designs you create – ie is there something that you take inspiration from when you start a design?
I want all my designs to be as functional as possible. I don't want to be in the box! I want my looms to be something that will last and be passed down. Most of the looms I make are adjustable in some way, gauge on the knitting looms, or length on the rectangle looms. I also take into account storage and shipping. I don't want someone to get a 6 ft triangle in one pieces and have no where to put it. A lot of my inspiration comes from customers that ask me to make them custom items. Some of these are great ideas and fit perfectly in with our product line.
What do you wish people understood about making looms?
Sometimes it takes longer than you think. I don't have room to stock all the items I sell and when I make a loom, 90% of the time I'm making it specifically for the person who ordered it.
What would you tell a new weaver or fiber artist for encouragement?
Explore something new! There are no mistakes, just lessons learned and happy accidents.
What is something you are passionate about and why?
I love teaching new wood workers. My son and daughter both help me in the shop and my son's girlfriend has also started helping. I want young people to know the skill of building something on their own and not just going out to purchase something. I want them to understand homemade quality and be able to make their own projects.
If you had one (or several) things to share with a woman entrepreneur, what would it be? What would you encourage them about?
Don't give up. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. We are women after all! We always can find a way ;) Also, encourage other women! Don't make it a competition with each other. One of my favorite movie quotes is “one raindrop raises the sea”. If we lift each other, we will all be able to float.
If you had one (or several) things to share with a woman entrepreneur who was a mother, what would it be? What would you encourage them about?
Don't forget to take a break. Be spontaneous, but also set boundaries. Let you kids see what hard work looks like. Bring them along for the work if you can. Give yourself Grace for work and play!
Fun question – if you could meet one person in history or present, who would it be and why?
Abraham Lincoln. He has always been my favorite person from history. He was an overcomer and wanted to make the world a better place. I was the crazy teen with a picture of Lincoln on my wall instead of music groups.
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How has COVID changed or impacted your vision/strategy?
During Covid, sales were greatly increased as people got back to a more crafting, self sustaining lifestyle for a while. People wanted to reach out and connect in any way possible. I'm not sure it's impacted my vision or strategy but I think it did impact my business with more people seeing what I have to offer.
What is something that has helped you get through during this global pandemic? Something encouraging or positive?
My family and church. We had parking lot services every week when we could not be in the building together so we were able to keep our connections strong.
What is your dream for Kiss Looms to be (where do you see Kiss Looms in 5+ years)?
I'm very excited to get back to doing some events. I would like to be able to attend and vend the Convergence Weaving convention within the next year or two. Something to work up to. Working up stock for an event takes lots of time and energy! I love to teach and would like to get more of a local interest going or some online classes.
Is there anything (message or topic) you would like to talk about that we did not ask about?
You asked some really tough questions! I'm glad to be able to do this.
How can I and my readers help you with your dream for KissLooms?
Just spread the word. My business has been mostly word of mouth and I want our product to speak for itself and and be recommended by others.
Thank you for joining us for and interview with KissLooms! And thank you Kelly for completing this interview with us! What have you purchased and made using Kiss Looms? I can’t wait to see what you create with Kelly’s amazing looms and to show you what I’ll be making on mine!! :) Tag me on social media, comment below, or email us what you’ve made on a KissLoom!! Take care and have a wonderful day my friend!
Have you ever met a wonderful person and then realized that she also had amazing handmade work that was perfect for a project you were working on? I recently had the privilege to meet and get to know the owner and maker of all things weaving looms and more, of Kiss Looms! Kelly creates beautiful looms, easels, string art and more! She’s amazing to talk with and has become an essential piece of my own artist journey (to be shared with you in later posts :). I hope you enjoy reading about KissLooms and seeing Kelly’s unique and wonderful looms as much as I have!