Twelve Questions, Crafty Answers: Disquieting Designs, A.Bel Studio, Weehah!

Spring Bada-Bing! was the happening today. Of course, you knew that already... you were there too, hanging out with (and buying from) some of the coolest indie artists and designers in the country. Ever wonder how your favorite artist got started or what inspires them? We do too! So we asked our vendors 12 questions to get a sneak peek into a crafters world.
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Megan Brame: Disquieting Designs
1. How did you get started with your business?
--I knew people that had some pretty serious allergies and decided to try my hand at making some crafty lip balms...it took on a life of its own pretty quickly after that
2. What is your favorite tool to work with?
--shea butter is my reason for living
3. What/who inspires you?
--Other crafters, there are some people out there doing really rocking things and keeping true to themselves. As cheesy as that sounds it's really a great way to keep inspiration going.
4. Man-bag or murse?
--Murse. who doesn't love a mishmash of words?
5. Where do you see your business in 3 yrs?
--Living off of it without a *really real* job, supporting myself, the Mr., and our beloved cat, Bettie.
6. If you only had one thing to tell someone starting a craft/indie business what would it be?
--You know, I saw this sign at a bar once that said "never ever ever give up." and I try to pass that on to everyone I can. It gets hard, and sometimes you wonder what the pay-off will be...but you'll never know unless you keep at it! Never ever ever give up.
7. Rock, paper or scissors?
--Dude. scissors.
8. Are you a full time crafter/designer?
--85/15
9. Do you have a craft crush? (A designer or indie/craft business that you admire.)
---See that chick with the squids? She rocks my world.
10. What is your favorite current indie/DIY trend?
--I really love the whole movement. I think it's so crazy that it's a way of life.
11. What was the best compliment a customer ever gave you?
--I had a girl pull her mom over to my table and say "Smell this, you'll die." I told her that would be my new slogan.
12. What craft would you like to try or learn?
--I'd like to get back in to knitting. I tried, but I never made anything. Any day now!
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Amanda Krueger: A. Bel Studio
1. How did you get started with your business.
--I saw other people doing it, and I thought, "Hey, me too!" I know everyone seems to hate that phrase, it has such a stigma about it. But I really think it's fantastic, and sums up the whole DIY movement in a lovely and honest way.
2. What is your favorite tool to work with?
--Probably mod podge. Wait, maybe a seam ripper. No, definitely mod podge.
3. What/who inspires you?
--Vintage books and trips to the thrift store.
4. Man-bag or murse?
--My sister wears a fanny-pack (if that helps.)
5. Where do you see your business in 3 yrs?
--Making money (I hope) so I can continue doing it.
6. If you only had one thing to tell someone starting a craft/indie business what would it be?
--Get thicker skin. That's pretty much the best advice of all time, for every part of life. Artist-types (myself included) are already so damn sensitive. Get over it. Toughen up. Keep going.
7. Rock, paper or scissors?
--No thanks, I'm full.
8. Are you a full time crafter/designer?
--Yep.
9. Do you have a craft crush? (A designer or indie/craft business that you admire.)
--I have remained pretty loyal fans of the few etsy/bloggers I met in the very beginning. we all started at about the same time, and it's so inspiring to watch each other expand and flourish.
10. What is your favorite current indie/DIY trend?
--I'm loving the vintage doilies that are popping up all over the place, but I don't really get the matryoshka doll-craze. Sorry, not a fan.
11. What was the best compliment a customer ever gave you?
--"Wow, you started this business all by yourself and you never even finished college!?" (Ok, I made that up... but I would consider it a great compliment.)
12. What craft would you like to try or learn?
--Book binding looks terribly fun, and I've always thought real soap making would be interesting, too.
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Louisa Wimberger: Weehah!
1. How did you get started with your business?
--It started as a hobby while I was a high school English teacher, and it just grew and grew! I left teaching several years ago to give weehah my (almost!) full attention.
2. What is your favorite tool to work with?
--Colorful cardstock. When I see new swatch books released from certain companies, I squeal.
3. What/who inspires you?
--So many things. Certain color combinations, pithy responses from friends, and, of course, a hankerin' for the handwritten word.
4. Man-bag or murse?
--Murse. : )
5. Where do you see your business in 3 yrs?
--In a studio outside my home with hardwood floors, lots of light and surface space, on the lovely pedestrian mall in Charlottesville, in even more boutiques and shops than I am now.
6. If you only had one thing to tell someone starting a craft/indie business what would it be?
--Love what you do. Base your designs on what YOU love, not primarily what others will love. Make it be from who you truly are and "they" will come!
7. Rock, paper or scissors?
--Paper, of course, I'm a greeting card designer. : )
8. Are you a full time crafter/designer?
--Yes, but I do fundraising for a tiny school, too, just a few hours a week. I started out as an educator and it's hard to totally leave the academic community!
9. Do you have a craft crush? (A designer or indie/craft business that you admire.)
--I do but, as always, I must keep my crushes to myself for now.
10. What is your favorite current indie/DIY trend?
--Simply that it's growing so much! Shows like Bada Bing, sites like Etsy . . . makes me very happy.
11. What was the best compliment a customer ever gave you?
--Someone recently told me she wanted to EAT my cards.
12. What craft would you like to try or learn?
--Oh, so many . . . and so little time. I'd love to make cool pendants, learn pottery or ceramics, and work a letterpress machine.
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To be continued...