05.12.08
Posted in Uncategorized, jewelry, fun, hand crafted jewelry, shopping, site promotion, interviews, handbags, Soap at 7:39 pm by KellyM
Please meet Jamie Dobbs, Owner of http://forbiddenfruit.etsy.com, http://www.myspace.com/forbiddenfruitcuiosities.
Where are you located? Knoxville, TN.
What do you design? Handbags, Jewelry, Accessories and Soaps.
Where/How did you learn this? Trial and error for the most part! I learned quite a bit of crafting from my grandmother though.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? I would have to say my grandmother, Betty Luton.
Where does your inspiration come from? Music, movies, television, books, comics….I’m an entertainment junkie!
What do you do to combat creative block? I listen to music, surf the web for inspiration, or even go through my craft stuff to get inspired.
Where do you design your creations? I’ve converted my dining room to a craft area. My family eats in the living room anyways, so it was wasted space! My crafty stuff sometimes spills out into the living room as well sometimes.
What does your work space look like right now? Super messy! I have so many tubs of fabric, and other stuff, that you can barely walk.
How does your family feel about what you do? They know it makes me happy, so they are pretty supportive.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? Don’t give up. Keep trying until you get it right!
Best advice you received when starting your business venture? There will be dry periods when you don’t sell anything at all, but don’t give up! People will come back around!
Favorite part of owning your own business? The freedom. If I ever need a handbag, piece of jewelry or whatever, it’s like I have a whole store to choose from!
Least favorite? Sometimes I can be really shy, so selling my things in public can be a bit rough for me.
How do you relax? Listen to music, knit, read.
Favorite color? Purple
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Most definitely. I have to constantly remind myself not to make everything purple. It’s not everyone’s favorite color!
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Crafting and writing more.
A sample of Forbidden Fruit products. For all products, please visit Jamie’s website.
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05.10.08
Posted in Uncategorized, jewelry, hand crafted jewelry, shopping, site promotion, interviews, Glass at 10:42 am by KellyM
Please meet Nichole Moraila, Owner of www.Mucha-Muchacha.com.
Where are you located? In the sunny city of Los Angeles, California. I live in a cool little neighborhood on the northeast side of the city called Atwater Village.
What do you design? I design fused glass jewelry that is sleek, fun and colorful with a Modern aesthetic.
Where/How did you learn this? I think I’ve always had a connection to glass and I’d always wanted to learn to blow glass and decided to research what I needed to get started. My research led to glass forums, which led me to a local glass supply store, which I decided to visit. Have you ever been to a stained glass supply store? It’s incredible! Needless to say, I fell in love with all of the huge sheets of colorful glass and decided on the spot that I’d like to try my hand at glass fusing.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? There are too many to just name one, so I’ll just say Colors.
Where does your inspiration come from? It comes from everywhere, but I do find that I am particularly inspired by other chicano artists. Probably because of their passion for art and free use of color. There’s no fear there, they just embrace it and I love that.
What do you do to combat creative block? I go to a lot of galleries and indie craft shows. Also, just seeing lots of color at once helps me a lot.
Where do you design your creations? I feel so lucky that I have a garage in the city. That’s where my studio is.
What does your work space look like right now? I keep things pretty tidy. You sort of need to keep things neat when you work with glass or it could get hazardous very quickly!
How does your family feel about what you do? They absolutely love it. I feel lucky that my family is so supportive.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? For glass designers? Keep it clean. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Follow your bliss.
Best advice you received when starting your business venture? I actually didn’t know anyone else who was selling what they created when I started out. I just sort of felt my way through it. In retrospect, I’m glad that it worked out that way for me because it forced me to take chances and develop business instincts. Of course now, most of my friends are artists and designers and I do give them advice if they ask for it.
Favorite part of owning your own business? Being able to sell what I design and create. I love when people see my designs and get really excited. That fuels my love and excitement for what I do.
Least favorite? Taxes.
How do you relax? My husband and I are both beer brewers and fabulous cooks, so we enjoy hanging out with friends, drinking homebrew and eating yummy food at home or friends houses. I’m definitely a backyard party kind of chick!
Favorite color? Turquoise and Red.
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Definitely, it’s all over.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Creating more!
A sample of Mucha-Muchacha products. For all products, please visit Nichole’s website.
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05.05.08
Posted in Uncategorized, fun, shopping, site promotion, interviews, clothing at 7:36 pm by KellyM
Please meet Angela, Owner of www.joliehandmade.com, Eleventeen Aparel.
Where are you located? Winslow, Maine…About 15 minutes from Augusta.
What do you design? I design clothing. I used to make a lot of children’s clothing (I have 2 little girls), but recently changed gears and started sewing for young women. I was always intimidated by sewing darts, adjusting ease, and getting things fitted just right around all the “girlie parts”. Last fall I took a night course in alterations and that changed everything! It is so rewarding to be able to design a garment, have it fit, and have someone comment on it.
Where/How did you learn this? I was exposed to sewing at a very young age. My mother has sewn ever since I can remember. I have two younger sisters. She made so many outfits for us…everything from pajama bottoms to my high school graduation dress.
Favortie Artist who inspires you? I’d have to say that anyone who has ever made anything by hand inspires me. I can relate to them. I understand the time, love, and often tears that go into getting their craft “just right”. I’m inspired by the artists who have the courage to realize their life dreams and follow them. Those who love what they do never work a day in their life!
Where does your inspiration come from? Inspiration for my clothing line comes from a lot of different places. Sometimes I see fabric and know exactly what I’m going to make from it. Other times it’s lack of something in my own closet that sparks interest in making a particular garment. I’m not real big on “trends” and what is “in” for the season, but I do take note, and if I like something I may work it into a few of my pieces.
What do you do to combat creative block? Usually I will go through old patterns and see if anything jumps out at me like a certain neckline or skirt style. Most of the time I’ll find something that “clicks” and I can go from there. Flipping through the latest issues of fashion magazines helps too! Again, I’m not a big “trend” follower, but I’ll often find something I can put my own take on.
Where do you design your creations? Hahahaha! I wish I had a room totally dedicated to sewing! Right now, my sewing area is on one side of my office/sewing/play area for the girls. Because of lack of space I don’t have room for a cutting table which unfortunately means cutting on my kitchen table or on the floor. Believe it or not, the setup is pretty good. The girls can play at the kiddie table or read books while I sew or use the computer. It’s nice that we can all be in the same room and not in each other’s way….too much. 
What does your work space look like right now? Well…as I turn around in my computer chair, I am facing my sewing workstation. It’s pretty piled up with fabric right now. I have some pink jersey with brown polka dots over there and some light green jersey. I have a finished halter top and a white dress folded off to one side. (Those will be going in the shop soon.) On my dress form I have a seagreen one-sholder dress with a chiffon ruffle at the bottom and at the neckline. I’ll include a picture of that one. You’ll see it first! It’s not up on the website yet!
How does your family feel about what you do? My 3 year old LOVES that mommy makes dresses! She is always saying “Oooooh I LOVE your dress mama!” She also loves the fact that I make a lot of things for her as well. My 9 month old could really care less at the moment, but I know she’ll love her one-of-a-kind handmade dresses someday too! My husband likes that I have a “hobby”. He’s supportive of my venture as long as I don’t quit my “real job” yet! He’s been at me to make him a big pimpin’ terry cloth robe for months now….I really need to get that done! Really though, he’s put up with a lot…trips to the fabric store, random piles of fabric in the house, little threads all over the rug, scissors that he can’t touch….he’s great!
Best advice you received when starting your business venture? Have faith in yourself and in your craft. We are our own worst critics. People buy handmade because they know that there is attention to detail and there is love that goes into every item we make.
Favorite part of owning your own business? Deciding what to make, when to make it, how to make it, and loving what I do!
Least favorite? The start-up phase! This is the phase I’m in. It’s very hard getting your name out there, making yourself stand out from everyone else, and having people buy your products with very little “feedback” from other buyers. I’ve always sewn for just myself and my girls. A few months ago, I purchased Jolie Handmade and decided to start listing my clothing. It’s been a slow start, but I’m confident in my clothing label. I know there are people out there who will enjoy wearing my pieces as much as I enjoy creating them!
How do you relax? Well… I don’t think I do relax….hahaha! I’d say “in my free time…” but I really don’t have any! With a job that pays the bills, my two girls and husband, my growing clothing business, and household duties, I have very little time to do anything else! In the evenings after the girls are in bed, my husband and I like to have a drink and play Scrabble or Cribbage (does that make me sound old?). I also enjoy scrapbooking, though it has taken a backseat recently.
Favorite color? Yellow. It’s such a happy color!
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Not lately. I do currently have a yellow v-neck shirt in the shop, but other than that I currently don’t have any yellow pieces out…maybe that will be next on my to-do list.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Taking more walks with my girls, spending more time with my husband, and definitely more sewing!
A sample of Jolie Handmade products. For all products, please visit Angela’s website.
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04.28.08
Posted in Uncategorized, jewelry, fun, shopping, site promotion, interviews, Found Art Sculpture, Paintings, Vases at 2:51 pm by KellyM
Please meet Corinne, Owner of http://daydreamartstudios.com.
Where are you located? Beautiful Grand Rivers, Kentucky, between two lakes.
What do you design? Vases, paintings, jewelry, found art scultpure. I also paint in oils and acrylics and have been painting for years. I am primarily a self taught painter and am learning and experimenting all the time. I tend to have a short attention span, a love for the process over product, a passion for all mediums, so my work can be all over the map.
Where/How did you learn this? A lot was learned from experimentation. I read a lot of books and I also took tons of art classes in high school and college, where I graduated with an AFA in Art Education.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? I like different artists styles different days. I love Salvidor Dali, Van Gough, Matisse, Picasso, Lichtenberg, Mary Cassatt as some all time faves, but I also love to discover up and coming and great new contemporary artists and learn from them.
Where does your inspriation come from? I am inspired in art from the beauty around me and like to exaggerate and show off the beauty in the everyday and mundane. I am inspired in life by my 9 year old daughter, whom I am fortunate enough to home school and spend all day, everyday, with.
What do you do to combat creative block? Haha, I really have more ideas than time! When I do have a block, I sketch out and draw things others have requested (I draw a lot of tattoos for people), which always requires I focus more on technique than ideas. I try to draw everyday, to stay in practice, but also to stay inspired. Sometimes I force it, but it always pays off!
Where do you design your creations? Everywhere! I have a small studio in my home, which is so stuffed to the gills with supplies, I end up working in my kitchen, my living room, the driveway…I am in the process of converting/remodeling my outbuilding into a large working studio that offers studio space for rent, workshops, and after school programs. I currently take donations on my blog and website to help me get the funds to meet this goal.
What does your work space look like right now? Haha! It’s actually pretty annally organized, but since I have more supplies than space, it overflows.
How does your family feel about what you do? They are very supportive and seem pretty proud of me really. But then, they get great gifts! My daughter wants to sell her artwork already, so I guess she likes it!
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? Have patience, be willing to learn from your mistakes. My mom always said it’s only a mistake if you didn’t learn from it!
Best advice you received when starting your business venture? Gosh, I don’t think I received a lot of advice, I am still winging it! I once heard an overnight success takes 10 years. I always remember that when I am frustrated. I have also heard to be successful, fill a need that no one else is. In art, though, that can be hard.
Favorite part of owning your own business? Freedom, loving what I do-by far! I am a very lucky girl!
Least favorite? Wow, you can never escape! It’s always here, staring me down. My husband is more bothered by this than I am. Sometimes he begs me to stop drawing and watch TV with him!
How do you relax? LOL, I paint! I also love the outdoors, so I hike, go out on the lake, camp or sit on the beach.
Favorite color? All of them! I love pure, bright colors.
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? All my paintings are vivid and bright.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Painting or sculpting.
A sample of Daydream Art Studios products. For all products, please visit Corinne’s website.
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04.27.08
Posted in Uncategorized, jewelry, kellymalouf, shopping, handbags, Tote bags at 7:56 pm by KellyM
I really apologize for taking so long in writing a post. But I have a pretty good reason.
I just got a new item of mine in a store here in town called Funky Things. My family and I are beyond thrilled with this new opportunity! These items ~Totes~ I made my daughters and I, on a whim, for the beach and boating season. Once I found that the store owner wanted these Totes in her store I had to run out and get the materials to make a bunch more. You can see the slide show and order from my site homepage or visit Funky Things yourself. It’s a really fun store too. I finally had the chance to walk around the store and see all the great products she has. Boy, could I spend a bunch there (and probably will)!
There are a couple of things I’ve learned from this wonderful experience however.
One, name your business wisely. By having my business in my own name I am safe in changing the type of product I offer without having to rename my business for the product to ‘fit’. My Totes do not have any beading on them. I made them to keep them totally washable (which is much needed with active kids). If you notice on my website, I’ve changed my ‘headline’ to read differently.
The other, be open to change. If you are a crafter with many talents, use them! You never know which product will sell or who will be interested in what, so use your talents to the fullest. Jewelry is my favorite item to make, for me. But, there is an overwhelming amount of competition out there for the same style, this makes it more difficult to show that I am better or different from others. By opening myself up to utilizing my other skills, I am able to stand out more from the competition.
Many skills, various types of products and a business name open to these factors, I believe, is the key to standing out from your competition, showing your products in their best light, and making a name for yourself.
How do you find that you stand out from your competition? Do find showing more than one skill beneficial?
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