04.03.08
Posted in Uncategorized, jewelry, shopping, site promotion, interviews, paper crafts, clothing at 8:02 pm by KellyM
Please meet Annie Weihrauch, Founder and Designer of www.modern-material.com
Where are you located? Online, based out of Columbus, Ohio.
What do you design? Paper, Apparel and Accessories.
Where/How did you learn this? I landed a job right out of college as a packaging and accessory designer for Bath & Body Works where I learned a lot about retail and fashion accessory design. I have taken my experiences and translated them into my own vision.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? Gwen Stefani. She has defined our generation as a style icon.
Where does your inspiration come from? Rock & roll, fashion magazines, and other designers.
What do you do to combat creative block? I’ll give myself a few days to catch up on things I neglect such as cleaning and organizing, and then I can’t wait to get back to what I do best.
Where do you design your creations? Living room, studio, hallway, kitchen, bedroom, basement….every inch of my house is covered with something I’m working on! It drives my husband crazy!
What does your work space look like right now? A disaster.
How does your family feel about what you do? They are very supportive.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? Start small and dream big.
Best advice you received when starting your business venture? Networking. I’ve met so many great people with great connections along the way.
Favorite part of owning your own business? Actually doing something with my designs instead of archiving them in a folder titled “old” becasue they weren’t chosen to move forward.
Least favorite? No free evenings or weekends!
How do you relax? Taking a trip to Hawaii will be the first time I’ve had to relax in months.
Favorite color? Depends on what it is going on. Black or white if it’s on me. Aqua if it’s on my walls or my umbrella.
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Absolutely. It’s the foundation of my brand.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Designing more.
A sample of Modern Material products. For all products, please visit Annie’s website.
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03.26.08
Posted in Uncategorized, fun, shopping, site promotion, interviews, paper crafts, Glass at 8:00 am by KellyM
Meet Emily Goodwin, Owner of www.emelegifts.com.
Where are you located? Crete, Greece.
What do you design? I make handmade cards and home decor gifts, such as painted flower pots and decorative glass jars which make great candle holders! I have plans to add magnets and keychains to the site in the not so distant future. Some items are one of a kind. I also do custom work.
Where/How did you learn this? Through books and magazines and also by trial and error!
Where does your inspiration come from? I have more ideas than I know what to do with, but each one gets noted down so that I can come back to it. Most of my business ideas come to me when I’m just going to sleep so that I have to put the light on and write/sketch them down before I forget. Always keep a pen and paper by your bed!
What do you do to combat creative block? Usually I’ll just move onto another project or spend more time doing website things or concentrate on my photography until the creativity comes back. It always comes back eventually.
Where do you design your creations? The spare bedroom is my workspace for creating. The laptop and random pieces of paper sit on the dining room table for when I’m doing website things, promotion etc etc etc.
What does your work space look like right now? Messy!
Best advice you received when starting your own business venture? I’m not sure I received any, but here’s something I soon learned. Build a website and they (visitors) will come is a lie! you have to work hard to get visitors and then to get those visitors buying.
Favorite part of owning your own business? Being my own boss.
Least favorite? Not having a “regular” income every month.
How do you relax? I always seem to be doing some form of work as I love what I do, so, “Huh, what’s relaxing?” But I guess I do the usual…Watch TV/films (not horror, I have nightmares!) I read a lot and love taking photos. Photography is my hobby, although it’s slowly turning into another business!
Favorite color? Purple, yellow and green. Impossible to choose just one!
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Not so much in my work, but I have a purple and yellow website!
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Everything that I love-Website design, crafting and photography.
A sample of Emele Gifts products. For all products, please visit Emily’s website.
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03.12.08
Posted in Uncategorized, fun, shopping, site promotion, interviews, paper crafts, Art Deco, Calligraphy at 7:15 pm by KellyM
Please meet Cara Buchalter, Owner of www.octavineillustration.blogspot.com and http://octavineillustration.etsy.com .
Where are you located? Beautiful Portland, Oregon.
What do you design? Art Deco inspired wares; calligraphy, custom invitations, posters, logos and labels.
Where/How did you learn this? I began by creating a marriage contract in Hebrew calligraphy for a friend about 10 years ago. As word spread, I began to receive commissions for calligraphy and then illustration work. Over the years the business has grown and I have calligraphed and illustrated numerous marriage contracts, invitations, public murals, logos, tattoos, concert posters and even a wine label.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? Henri Toulouse Latrec
Where does your inspiration come from? Research. Before I begin a project, I look through my designs library. Garning inspiration from photographers, illustrators, advertisements and magazines infuses me with creativity and barrages me with ideas. I order boxes upon boxes of ephemera from estate sales on ebay and simply pour through them when in need of new images, fonts or layout ideas. I have a rather methodical (some may say anal) process in which I must first conceive of the painting or alphabet completely in my head.
Where do you design your creations? I have a studio which recently became home to the cast from the Secret of NIMH. Lately I work on my dining room table. I like to be in the center of things rather than relegated to a basement studio. And my mastiff Belle does not like to go down in the basement and I enjoy hanging out with her whilst I work.
What does your work space look like right now? Well, I recently cleaned out the basement studio but have yet to go down there for any amount of time. Thus, the dining room table is usually piled with books, sketches, gocco supplies, calligraphy inks, rulers and paints. It drives my husband batty.
How does your family feel about what you do? Usually very supportive (see above). My dad’s an artist as well so he understands the life I lead quite well. My mother’s a bit more practical and forces me to look at the business side of it all. My sister, a local music booker networks me in with that crowd and my husband is happy as long as the house isn’t one big art studio.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? I do all my work by hand, including font-design and calligraphy. My only advice is to figure out your niche, promote yourself and make sure that you have a comfortable working environment.
Best advice you received when starting your own business venture? Have one big goal in mind. Visualize acheiving it. Everything you do should be a means towards that.
Favorite part of owning your own business? Only I can tell myself what to do.
Least favorite? Only I can tell myself what to do.
How do you relax? Reading mystery novels, watching reruns of Law & Order, walking my dog.
Favorite color? Tangerine
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Oh, yes it does.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Promoting, promoting, promoting.
A sample of Octavine Illustration products. For all products, please visit Cara’s website.
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02.24.08
Posted in Uncategorized, jewelry, style, fun, hand crafted jewelry, shopping, site promotion, interviews, paper crafts at 8:51 am by KellyM
Meet Anna Sofia Poirier, Owner of http://www.annasofiadesigns.com/
Where are you located? Monterey, MA
What do you design? I make glazed paper jewelry~Earrings, bracelets and necklaces.
Where/How did you learn this? I’m self-taught. I wanted to make jewelry with paper, but I didn’t have a fixed idea of what that would look like. I just let it take shape on it’s own. I played and experimented until I came up with my flat glazed paper beads. I continue to incorporate new techniques ~ I’ve started doing cut-out style beads ~ very very fun.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? On the wall above my work space, I have a gorgeous photograph of orange blossoms by Thea Coughlin, and an illustration of a stout boy with an orange fox by Terese Bast. Two amazing artists. I’m really inspired by all of the people out there following their dreams ~ it gives me the motivation and excitement to keep going.
Where does your inspiration come from? People who follow their passion in life and are true to themselves are huge inspirations to me. Music~everything from the Beatles, to Sinatra, to Swing, to Samba, to classical piano, jazz, doo-wop….I could go on and on! Dance. Color. Pattern. Nature. I get to work with the most amazing papers ~ it’s outrageous ~ I want them all ~ my favorite are the papers from Japan.
What do you do to combat creative block? A change of scenery or activity. If I get too immersed in what I’m doing I can easily get stuck. Getting away from it helps refresh my perspective. And it reminds me ~ taking breaks is essential!
Where do you design your creations? In my home office, which gets flooded with sunshine ~ it’s awesome.
What does your workspace look like right now? I sit at a long work table that faces the window with a lovely view of the trees, and lots of black-capped chickadees. I have a pretty vase of eucalyptus on the table which is very calming. I keep essential supplies within arm’s reach ~ scissors, x-acto knives, my box of beautiful paper organized by color, adhesive, sealer, pliers. Everything else is organized in nearby cabinets and shelves. I like to keep my space in order. I’m more productive when everything’s organized.
How does your family feel about what you do? They love it and are super supportive. I’m very lucky to have that.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? Be inspired by others, but be original ~ let your own creations emerge.
Best advice you received when starting your own business venture? To charge what you’re worth. To have patience with the process of building your business.
Favorite part of owning your own business? Having such a flexible schedule.
Least favorite? Taxes. And the unpredictability of income.
How do you relax? Sitting in front of the fire. Dancing. Reading. In the warmer weather, feeding the birds by hand in our yard.
Favorite color? Orange.
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? It does. I’m nuts about orange, among all the other amazing colors out there. Certain colors just have that wow factor. Right now, I’m loving orange, lime green and turquoise.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Reading, cooking, relaxing.
A sample of Anna Sofia Designs. For all products, please visit Anna Sophia’s website.
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02.16.08
Posted in Uncategorized, fun, shopping, site promotion, interviews, paper crafts, crochet, knitting at 8:03 am by KellyM
Meet Steph Calvert, owner of www.heartsandlaserbeams.com.
Where are you located? Long Beach, CA
What do you design? All sorts of arts and crafts items, ranging from paintings to plates to stationery to handknit/crocheted/sewn items.
Where/How did you learn this? I’ve always been super into making things, and have been drawing since I could hold a pencil. I went to Savannah College of Art and Design for my bachelors in 2D animation, and have picked up a bunch of skills through my various day jobs since then, including being and artist at a kids educational website, a graphic designer for Oshkosh b’Gosh and Mighty Fine, and most recently and Assistant Designer at Intercontinental Art Inc. I’ve taught myself how to knit and crochet, and took sewing classes through a local community college.
That sewing class was awesome. My sister and I took it together, and everyone else in the class was much older women than us making very traditional projects, so we decided each homework assignment needed to be as over the top as possible. My vest project ended up being a floor lenth pink pleather travesty with maribou trim around the neckline and horrendous pink and green floral lining. I still have it tucked away in a closet somewhere. There’s no way I’d ever wear it out of the house, but it’s amazing and I just can’t seem to put it in the Goodwill pile!
Favorite Artist who inspires you? Oh there’s a ton of them! Paul Frank, Fawn Gehweiler, the folks at Gama-Go, and friends who are doing amazing things with their art including Melissa Contreras, Brian Viveros. I love certain companies like Cram Cram and Harajuku lovers for their design sense. I’m just super into fun happy graphics!
Where does your inspiration come from? I get inspired by all sorts of things. A lot of times it’s jokes between my husband Josh and I, or things that have happened in my life. Sometimes it’s movies or songs or TV shows or vintage graphics. Pretty much anything that has some sort of impact on me.
What do you do to combat creative block? Doodling is the answer for that. If you just sit there not doing anything, complaining that you have no ideas, you will get no ideas. Make yourself do something, anything, to move forward and it’ll help the ideas start flowing again.
Where do you design your creations? It’s a tie between my computer in our bedroom and the kitchen table. If I’m knitting or crocheting, that’s usually on the couch, or with the Long Beach Stitch n Bitch Group. They’re an awesomely fun bunch of ladies!
What does your work space look like right now? Two words. Mess Eeee.
How does your family feel about what you do? My husband is the most supportive person on the planet in terms of my quest to be a full-time Hearts and Laser Beams employee. He’s super helpful at craft shows and he’s always coming up with fun ideas for me to use. He’s the perfect partner in crime! The rest of my family is pretty awesome about it too, very excited about the progress I’ve been making lately!
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? Just keep going, going, going towards your goals and have a blast doing it. That’s what’s been working for me!
Best advice you received when starting your own business venture? Get EVERYTHING in writing when it comes to business agreements! Receipts are a must!
Favorite part of owning your own business? Having projects to work on where I don’t have a boss telling me what to make and what it should look like. It’s been a blast thinking “Hey, this stuff is funny. I want to make it like this” and then doing exactly that. Then having people come up to my table at craft shows and start giggling!
Meeting all sorts of other awesome crafty people has been totally cool too. I’ve joined forces with the Long Beach Craft Mafia (www.longbeachcraftmafia.com) and it’s really been helpful in finding out about shows and sharing information as to what works and what doesn’t for various crafty ventures. I’m excited about venturing into print advertising with them this year to get our names out there more!
Least favorite? Trying to learn all about running a small business is a little intimidating! I’m plowing through it. Though, I’ve been arming myself with books, like Small Business for Dummies to learn important things like how to write a business plan to keep me on track to meet my goal of making Hearts and Laser Beams my only job.
How do you relax? I love to watch movies, the cheesier the better. My husband and I rediscovered laser tag with some of our good friends which has been absolutely AMAZING!
Favorite color? I don’t really have one. I’m just typically drawn to all kinds of bright happy colors.
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Oh totally!
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Making tons more stuff for craft shows and my site! Going to the gym! Eating candy!
A sample of HeartsandLaserbeams products. For all products, please visit Steph’s site.
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