Browsing around our most recent market, I came upon Nicole Bloch and her display of what can only be described as true funkiness. Like many of our vendors, she repurposes old materials and gives them new life, saving such hidden treasures from an eternity in a landfill. What makes Bloch unique is her medium of craft. Indeed, this unconventionally inspired craft enthusiast makes many of her pieces from old shotgun shells, used bicycle chains and gears, and the occasional eye-catching swathe of fabric. Her quirky jewelry and household decorations constitute Bloch’s business, known to the experienced IMI! shopper as Erra Creations . Though Nicole remained resolutely humble as I wracked her brain, her pieces may very well give expression to a new meaning of ‘upcycling.’
The large majority of the world doesn’t think about bicycle gears very often. In fact, I’m willing to bet that even the most eccentric artists don’t meditate upon the artistic potential of a greasy metal chain with any regularity. Nicole is different, and explains her attraction to crafting as an inherited trait to some extent, saying “I grew up with the mentality ‘waste not- want not’ by way of my grandma…and now, whenever something isn’t able to be fixed, my brain and hands just always seemed to make it into something new.” She grew up “Totally immersed in and surrounded by art,” as her family owned an arts and crafts supply shop. As many young people do, she attempted to get away from her roots and rebel, but eventually she came back to the visual arts world, explaining, “you can’t deny what you really love and what makes you happy in the end.”
The Erra creator prides herself on the spontaneity of her vision. “Inspiration is a complex grey area…when I was in school, I was required to analyze and re-analyze everything,” Bloch reflects. She believes that such focused attention on the minutiae of a piece can put a damper on creativity. Her materials are in keeping with her lighthearted philosophy of following her own inspiration, and their past life as mechanical tools only adds to their appeal. The Erra Creations entrepreneur finds joy in the manufacture of her jewelry and house wares, admitting that her favorite part of the job is that she “get[s] to play with power tools, get dirty, and then clean up and make awesome wearable and other art.”
She identifies strongly with her I Made It! co-vendors, and seeks to give them due credit for their work, acknowledging that “we are all the same in that we all love what we do and happily pour countless hours perfecting and fine tuning our trade.” One distinguishing quality of this innovative crafter is her deference to those who have supported her work–specifically her friends and loyal customers, of which she has many. This comes as no surprise, considering her humor, excitability, and passion for her work.
Nicole Bloch’s zest for life, and its expression as Erra Creations are forces to be reckoned with. We are incredibly lucky to have her in the I Made It! and Pittsburgh community. Erra Creations is blooming–it is sold in twelve stores and counting–and thanks to her loyal Pittsburgh fan-base (“they rock!”) the entrepreneur is seeing growing success. The next time you’re at one of our markets, make sure to stop by the Erra Creations display and pick up a quirky bike gear clock or an eccentric typewriter key ring, or stop by the Erra Creations website or Etsy page. You can be assured that your purchase is a unique piece fashioned by a unique and passionate crafter.
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Hi, thanks for sharing.