07.14.08
Posted in Uncategorized, jewelry, hand crafted jewelry, shopping, site promotion, interviews at 7:30 am by KellyM
Please meet Alison Armstrong, Owner of www.everythingworksifyouletit.com.
Where are you located? Online boutique, based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
What do you design? Pretty & quirky handmade jewelry and accessories. Everything is made for nice girls or girls who wish they were nice. Always adorable, always affordable.
Where/How did you learn this? I learned over the span of about 15 years through a lot of trial and error and tyring to figure out how other people made their stuff. I’m completely self-taught, that’s why it took so long.
Where does your inspriation come from? Crazy stuff rolling around in my head and observing creatively-accessorized people walking around.
What do you do to combat creative block? I always tend to get burned out after the holidays or a busy art show schedule. I’ve learned to deal with it. I put the beads aside for a while and do other things…work on my website, catch up on paperwork, play with my dog. The creativity always seems to work it’s way back.
Where do you design your creations? Right now, I’m pretty much based on the living room couch. I had a studio once, but it’s been turned into a nursery for the impending birth of our first child (a boy!) coming this summer.
What does your work space look like right now? It’s as organized as can possibly be, and that’s not saying much.
How does your family feel about what you do? They’ve always been supportive, even though they thnk that I’m wacky.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? Go for it. Three years ago, I didn’t have a company name, know anything about building or maintaining a website, creating business cards ect. When it’s your own deal, you don’t mind investing time and energy into it, even though you may screw up a lot. For everything I’ve done right, I’ve done 20 things wrong. I’ve come a long way, baby. And trust me, if I can do this, any gal can.
Best advice you received when starting your business venture? I didn’t tell anyone but my mom and my husband, I was too afraid of getting negative vibes thrown at me. I was a closet starter-upper.
Favorite part of owning your own business? The idea that maybe someday, I can support myself being creative and not have to keep working for the man.
Least favorite? Going to work for the man everyday, when I would rather be on the couch watching a Cubs game, playing with beads.
How do you relax? Eat candy and make fun of people. You know, regular stuff.
Favorite color? I’m in a big orange phase right now, along with loving the combo of turquoise and lipstick red.
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Heck yeah. I have to love the pieces I’m making, or I’m a horrible salesperson.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? I would love to learn to make gourmet chocolate, resin jewelry, or clean out my purse, but there never seems to be enough time.
A sample of Everything Works If You Let It products. For all products, please visit Alison’s website.
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07.10.08
Posted in Uncategorized, jewelry, hand crafted jewelry, shopping, site promotion, interviews at 6:04 am by KellyM
Meet Marilyn, Owner of http://pulpsushi.etsy.com.
Where are you located? New York
What do you design? Jewelry, buttons, magnets, and other accessories.
Where/How did you learn this? I learned on my own, reading tutorials online, and just playing around with wires, beads, and charms.
Favorite artist who inspires you? I have a couple, many whose blogs links you’ll find on my website (http://pulpsushi.typepad.com). I love artists who embrace colors and mix them up. I also love low-brow and artists like Shag, Coop, and Mitch O’Connell.
Where does your inspiration come from? Inspiration for me happens unexpectedly. I could be reading a book and happen to notice the colors on the cover, a store front with a funky display, or in nature. I love colors. I always keep an eye open but I don’t go out of my way to seek it out.
What do you do to combat creative block? I just let the block happen. I acknowledge when I am in a rut and focus on something else. Catch up on some reading (books or blogs), it passes.
Where do you design your creations? I wish I had a studio but I share a 1 bedroom apatment with my boyfriend. Most of my creating happens either on the dining table or the coffee table.
Favorite part of owning your own business? I love the creative process and putting something together. I am not my own boss…yet, but I am learning quite a bit and it is helping me come out of my shell. I’m a pretty shy person.
Least favorite? Promoting! Especially as a jewelry designer, you have to work extra hard to stand out. There is a lot of competition out there and a lot of great talent. You mustn’t let them intimidate you.
How do you relax? I am a yoga fanatic. I love my yoga classes, it’s the only time where it really feels like MY time. I also keep a yoga blog ~ http://cupcakesyoga.blogspot.com. I love to write too, it’s another release for me.
Favorite color? If you look in my closet you will see a lot of burgundy, black, and browns. Mostly earth tones.
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Not quite. You see a lot of black but you also see a lot of pinks and bright colors. I love a lot of colors, but there are certain colors that will not go with my complexion.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Spend some more time outdoors and take photos.
A sample of Pulp Sushi products. For all products, please visit Marilyn’s website.
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07.05.08
Posted in Uncategorized, jewelry, fun, hand crafted jewelry, shopping, site promotion, interviews, Chain Maille at 10:56 am by KellyM
Please meet Theresa Anderson, Owner of http://tstreasures.etsy.com.
Where are you located? Las Vegas.
What do you design? Chain Maille Jewelry
Where/How did you learn this? I started taking classes in February 2006 at a local bead store in Henderson, NV.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? If I had to name just one inparticular, I really love Spider’s jewelry designs (www.silverweaver.com ), she has turned this ancient craft into beautiful wearable designs which is what I try to do as well.
Where does your inspriation come from? All over really, but sometimes I look at a jewelry design in a book or magazine and try and imagine it as Chain Maille. Often times it is just from looking at a bead and envisioning what would go around it, what would make it flow.
What do you do to combat creative block? I also do a lot of bead weaving such as peyote or right angle weave, so when my Chain Maille juices are not flowing, I will weave something. It keeps me from thinking about it too much and sometimes I will get an idea while I am weaving, for a great design. Other times, I might take all my rings and beads and just start looking at them, going through them to see what would work well together.
Where do you design your creations? Well, since my husband and I live in a small one bedroom apartment, it is usually sitting at the “kitchen” table or with my work tray on my lap in front of the TV.
How does your family feel about what you do? My husband is 100% supportive since he knows it is something I love to do. Besides, it keeps me busy so he can watch the sports on TV without me bothering him. 
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? Have fun with it. Always think outside the box.
How do you relax? We love to travel, to go to sports events or concerts, so we try to do that as much as we can. On a day to day basis, jewelry making is my relaxation though the occasional crossword helps too.
Favorite color? Pink and Green
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Not really since I realize that not everyone has the same tastes as myself.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Making more jewelry and learning as many other crafts as possible.
A sample of TS Treasures products. For all products, please visit Theresa’s website.
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06.20.08
Posted in Uncategorized, fun, Twenty Wishes at 8:33 am by KellyM
One of my favorite things to do while relaxing is to read. I don’t get to do this often, but when I find I’m reading a good book, my relaxing time often extends itself until the book is finished or I get to a point where I can put the book down for a minute or two. Being a business owner, this can be a problem. But, I’ve had to reschedule my work time to allow for my kids being home from school for the summer, so that seems to leave me with a bit more relax time.
The other day, I read a book by Debbie Macomber, TWENTY WISHES. It inspired me to make my own list of 20 wishes (and yes, I read it in a day -Ooops!). I figured it would be a great way to get me refocused and inspired. I thought it would be easy and fun too. As I read the book, I figured I could write my list in no time and have to start again. Nope! It’s harder than I thought. But I am having fun!
Want to make your own list of 20 Wishes? The sky is the limit. They are your wishes. Things that you want, miss, wish you had, wish you could do etc.
One line of dialog from the book can help too, “Your heart has to let your head know what it wants”. Hmmm. You can almost look at it like Aladin with his Magic Lamp, where the Genie comes out and will grant you 20 wishes, except there is no lamp and no Genie.
The characters also get creative in making their lists. One makes a 20 page Scrapbook, one for each wish, with pictures to go with each wish and a pitcure of that wish being “granted”.
The characters do meet occasionally and share updates on their lists. I don’t think we can meet in person, but we can still share our updates here.
What would your wishes be? Make your list to find out and share here!
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06.15.08
Posted in Uncategorized, shopping, site promotion, interviews, paper crafts at 1:15 pm by KellyM
Please meet Brian Kenny, Owner of www.briankennychicago.etsy.com.
Where are you located? Chicago, Illinois.
What do you design? Note cards, custom made occasion cards.
Where/How did you learn this? Self Taught, trial and error, observation.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? Cedric Gibbons.
Where does your inspiration come from? Anything and everything.
What do you do to combat creative block? I run. I watch old technicolor movies, go to the paper store, pour over the police blotter.
Where do you design you creations? On my sofa, laying eveything out on my coffee table.
What does your work space look like right now? The wreck of the hesperis.
How does your family feel about what you do? My siblings have been most supportive. My parents are still on the fence.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? Do it because you love it and never judge your work by others opinions.
Best advice you received when starting your own business venture? Do not undersell your talent.
Favorite part of owning your own business? The flexibility of hours, being able to make the pieces I love and not have to go through committee or proxy.
Least favorite? Sales Calls! God invented sales reps for a reason and as soon as I sell enough cards I am getting one. Keeping track of office supplies.
How do you relax? I run or lift. Go to the museum, go shopping, have something polished, tweezed, waxed, peeled or injected.
Favorite color? Bruma (it’s the color of frosted glass).
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Occassionally. It is very hard to find paper in this color.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Taking on more retailers, making more cards. I have 27 years to make up for, so there are never enough hours in the day!!
A sample of Brian Kenny Chicago products. For all products, please visit Brian’s website.
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