02.20.08
Posted in Uncategorized, jewelry, style, fun, hand crafted jewelry, shopping, site promotion, interviews at 8:25 am by KellyM
Meet Lori Mendenhall, Owner of Sparkle Bee Gems at www.members.cox.net/lorimendenhall
Where are you located? Orange County, CA
What do you design? Jewelry featuring organic and abstract design. I feature polymer clay in most of my work because it truly sets my jewelry apart from others and it’s so much fun to work with! I’ve also begun incorporating resin into my pieces and I am very excited about the results.
Where/How did you learn this? Reading a ton online, participating in forums, buying books, and experimentation are the ways I learned almost everything.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? Lisa Pavelka, Julie Picarello.
Where does your inspiration come from? Many of my polymer clay designs look like they are from under a microscope. I love that organic feel coupled with some sparkle.
What do you do to combat creative block? Just put away and do something else. The more common problem is not having enough time to try all the things I’m envisioning!
Where do you design your creations? I’ve got a studio in my house - it’s actually a large retreat area in my bedroom.
What does your work space look like right now? It’s very organized but right now it’s a bit messy. New pendants waiting to be put away, receipts on the floor, and several pieces of finished jewelry waiting to be packaged up to send to “Bead Trends” magazine.
How does your family feel about what you do? Love and hate! My kids hate when it takes me away from them but they love the things I create. My husband is very proud of what I’ve accomplished but he gets mad when it impacts my household responsibilities.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? Yes, do not be afraid to experiment and ask questions. Research a lot because there is a ton of info out there and people are very generous with their assistance.
Best advice you received when starting your business venture? Don’t underprice, even thought I still do in many cases.
Favorite part of owning your own business? Having all my supplies paid for.
Least favorite? Always trying to get into a buying situation.
How do you relax? Classic movies! B&W only. Love reading non-fiction too.
Favorite color? Copper, Black, really all colors depending on the context.
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Definitely, I do tend to work with monochromatic designs, and also do a lot with neutral colors because that’s what sells best and what looks best to me.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Reading, experimenting with all kinds of materials, shopping, watching old movies, lunching with friends, walking, baking, getting hugs from my kids.
A sample of Sparkle Bee Gems products. For all products, please visit Lori’s website.
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02.19.08
Posted in Uncategorized, jewelry, style, fun, hand crafted jewelry, shopping, site promotion, interviews at 9:08 am by KellyM
Please meet Cristina Amador, Owner of www.cabisuteria.com and www.cabisuteria.etsy.com.
Where are you located? In Guayaquil, Ecuador, down in South America 
What do you design? I design jewelry and sometimes hair accessories with wire, semiprecious stones, pearls and crystals. I’ve recently started making tutorials.
Where/How did you learn this? I’m self taught, I’ve learned most by just looking at things and experimenting as to how they were made. Also with some online tutorials by Eni Oken.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? Eni Oken was my first inspiration, although recently I’ve found other artists that inspire me daily: Scott David Plumlee, Iza Malczyk and Magdalena Borejko.
Where does your inspiration come from? Everywhere! I love looking at my fancy dresses and using shapes from their fabric, patterns in nature (such as leaves), architecture, etc.
What do you do to combat creative block? When I feel as if I don’t know what to do, I look at a journal I keep of my design drawings. If that doesn’t help, I look at fashion magazines or surf the web. And if that doesn’t help me, I grab one of my bead mags or books and follow instructions to do something I like. Even if it’s something simple, making something (even if I didn’t create it), gets my creative juices flowing and usually before I finish the piece, I already know what I want to do next.
Where do you design your creations? I used to do it in my bedroom, you can imagine how messy it was! Beads everywhere! My father called it a “Natural Disaster” area. 
But now I have a small room in the garage (my Dad gave up his tool room) where I have all my things.
What does your work space look like right now? It is organized in my own way . The table looks messy, there are a few things on the floor, but I know exactly where everything is!
How does your family feel about what you do? They’re very supportive, they gave me financial help to get started and a special place in the house to work and they always help me out whenever I make home shows.
Do you have any advice for somone looking to make their own creations using this method? Practice is everything! The more things you make, the better you will become. Invest in good instruction, you will save money (and wire!) in the long run.
Best advice you received when starting your business venture? Good customer service and a smile go a looooong way!
Favorite part of owning your own business? Being able to do what I am passionate about and the flexible hours.
Least favorite? Paperwork.
How do you relax? I like to go wakeboarding, my other passion.
Favorite color? Blue
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Not really, but I think it’s because I don’t have enough blue stones.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? I’d use them to go to the gym!
A sample of Cabisuteria products. For all products, please visit Cristina’s websites.
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02.17.08
Posted in Uncategorized, style, fun, hand crafted jewelry, shopping, site promotion, interviews, clothing at 7:50 am by KellyM
Meet Britney Frady-Williams, Owner of www.beritnewyork.etsy.com.
Where are you located? Brooklyn, NY USA
What do you design? I design clothing, corsets, accessories, jewelry and pillows.
Where/How did you learn this? Cutting fabric comes quite natural to me. It started with me cutting my Sunday dress with toenail scissors when I was 2 years old, to the present day, with me trying to make anything and everything with the best materials I can find to complete my dream world ideas.
I have been doing beadwork for almost 15 years now, and learned it from visiting the Cherokee Nation Reservation every summer. The intricate beadwork inspired me to keep up with the art, and I also saw it as a way to honor my Cherokee heritage. I like to think I can bead practically anything at this point.
My mother taught me how to sew at the age of 10 when she bought me my first sewing machine. I later earned an AAS degree in Fashion Design from the prestigious Fashion Institue of Technology in New York City. Some of my formal training invloves corsetry and couture garments.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? My favorite designer has always been Alexander McQueen but I find many artists who inspire me, all the way from the twentieth century down to the first!
Where does your inspiration come from? Jesus of Nazareth and biblical stories play a huge part in the inspirational process. I also take in a great deal from historical eras, particularly the Middle Ages, Byzantine, Roman, Victorian, and Edwardian periods. I am also greatly influenced by supernatural and fantasy themes.
What do you do to combat creative block? I find watching Tim Burton movies and stories set in the Nineteenth Century help jump start my imagination during a creative block.
Where do you design your creations? I line in a small Brooklyn apartment, and am very limited with space, so I basically use our living room as my workshop and our bedroom as an office.
What does your work space look like right now? It is filled with old inventory and new projects scattered about. Lots of fabric, samples, beads, sketches and other odd accessories everywhere. It’s definitely an “artist” workspace.
How does your family feel about what you do? My family is the main driving force behind my business and I owe most of my business sense and know how to them. Crafts run in my family too. My Grandfather was a carpenter and my other Grandmother is a crafter. My Great Grandfather was a Cherokee wood carver. My family’s legacy and encouragement are just as much involved in what I do as I am.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? I would say that if you are getting into fashion design, to first and foremost go to an accredited design school. When it comes to selling things, make sure you are operating a legally registered business and have created a business plan.
Best advice you received when starting your own business venture? Create a well thought out business plan. This step is vital.
Favorite part of owning your own business? The freedom to make my own schedule and my own decisions.
Least favorite? Taking care of bookkeeping, taxes and other legal concerns. It gets pretty complicated.
How do you relax? In the winter I relax by watching movies with my husband. In the summer I relax by walking in parks.
Favorite color? I know technically it’s not a color, but I’ll just say black, because it’s honest.
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Yes, but I use it more as an accent. Although my wardrobe is mainly black, I have always enjoyed using lots of color in my craft work.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Being more social and spending more time with friends and family.
A sample of Beritnewyork products. For all products, please visit Britney’s website.
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02.15.08
Posted in Uncategorized, jewelry, style, fun, hand crafted jewelry, shopping, site promotion, interviews at 8:31 am by KellyM
I would like you to meet Carolina Estrada, Owner of www.roccadesigns.com and her Etsy shop www.roccadesigns.etsy.com.
Where are you located? Atlanta, GA
What do you design? Everything I can. Jewelry, wallets, hair accessories, etc.
Where/How did you learn this? It has been a process, I started making stuff for myself and after getting compliments and requests, I started making my pieces for other people.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? Where does your inspiration come from? I love Architecture and modernism is my favorite movement. I don’t have just one favorite, I guess Frank Lloyd Wright and Gaudi are the ones I love the most. I also love fashion, Silvia Tcherassi, and I’m loving clothing from the new Jovovich-Hawk collenction. However, I find inspiration in so many different things, it’s hard to name one.
What do you do to combat creative block? I don’t have enough time in the day to create so I don’t really have that kind of problem right now, but I find that the more you stress about coming up with something new, the less ideas you have, so I try to relax. Something eventually will pop in my head.
Where do you design your creations? Wherever is quiet. I work full time so I bring my materials everywhere, or at least a pad to write ideas down. Mostly I do it in a little area of my home. I consider it my studio.
What does your work space look like right now? Right now is a work in progress, since I have a baby on the way. I’m soon to get kicked out of my “studio” for it to become a nursery. But, I started to renovate a small office into a studio, and I’m really excited about that.
How does your family feel about what you do? My husband is very supportive, sometimes even helpful. My 2 year old son does not cooperate much!
Best advice you received when starting your business venture? Patience is key and I tend to have little of it. It is hard not to get discouraged when business does not take off immediately. So if you are not in it for the fun and the long term, don’t even waste your time.
Favorite part of owning your own business? I get to create and express myself and fund the learning of new crafts. There is always something new you can make, all you have to do is look for projects that catch your eye.
Least favorite? Promoting and selling, it is hard to describe your own product and treat it like a product when it is so much a part of who you are. You need to develop a thick skin because some people won’t like your stuff.
How do you relax? Watch TV
Favorite color? Don’t really have a favorite. I like pastels and femenine tones.
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Yes, everywhere!
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Cooking, crafting, taking pictures, and going to craft shows.
A sample of RoccaDesigns products. For all products, please visit Carolina’s website.
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02.13.08
Posted in Uncategorized, style, fun, site promotion, advertising, interviews, fiber art, crochet at 10:08 am by KellyM
Meet Katie Toohil owner of http://dreadlochness.etsy.com.
Where are you located? Currently Gloucester, MA; soon to be Dallas, TX
What do you design? Hats, headgear, bags, and various other fiber arts items.
Where/How did you learn this? I started crocheting as a kid. My grandmother taught me a few stitches, and from there, I just learned by trial and error. Books and the internet have been very helpful to me! I worked at a theatre as wardrobe supervisor, and I learned several handstitching techniques there, but most of my sewing knowledge I’ve come to on my own.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? There are so many, it’s hard to choose! I’m definitely very inspired by tons of different DIYers out there. I’m inspired by anyone who’s looked at something machine made and overpriced and says “Well, I could do that.”
Where does your inspiration come from? Inspiration is everywhere. Sometimes, it’ll be a song. Sometimes, a sunset. Sometimes, it’s a conversation I have with friends. You never know when it’s going to hit, and it’s always fun when it does.
What do you do to combat creative block? It’s important to take a break every now an again and just let yourself recharge.
Where do you design your creations? I design completely out of my home (and when things are slow at my regular job, shhh don’t tell).
What does your work space look like right now? Messy! I have a little corner of the living room that I use to stash my yarn, and my sewing machine is in my bedroom with a pile of fabric just waiting to be attacked. It’s a constant struggle to keep things relatively organized.
How does your family feel about what you do? My family is incredibly supportive of any of the crazy things I decide to undertake. They’ve been wonderful!
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? Practice! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. And try new methods as often as possible!
Best advice you received when starting your business venture? Promote yourself. You can be making gorgeous, quality handmade goods, but if no one knows about it, your business won’t be going anywhere.
Favorite part of owning your own business? I like having the freedom to do the things my own way and not answer to a boss or higher up. I also make my own hours and do what I enjoy!
Least favorite? When it’s just you, there’s no slacking. You have to be going all the time, always creating, always getting the word out there, always moving! (I secretly love this.)
How do you relax? Crafting, which is convenient, because that’s also my business! It’s important to love what you do, that way it doesn’t feel so much like work.
Favorite color? Blue!
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Yes, though I often have to control myself at the yarn store and make sure I’m not loaded up only on blue yarn!
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Working. I’m sort of a workaholic and I’d love more hours a day to build my stock and promote!
A sample of Dreadlochness products. For all products, please visit Katies website.
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