Bethany Hockenberry: Cleo Dee's
1. How did you get started with your business?
--I made one for fun and it just sort of stuck.
2. What is your favorite tool to work with?
-- An embroidery needle.
3. What/who inspires you?
-- The history channel, baby name books and checking out different types of jobs.
4. Man-bag or murse?
-- Man-bag, it gets the "I'm still manly" point across better than murse.
5. Where do you see your business in 3 yrs?
-- Hopefully my business will involve me working even faster to increase my inventory which will lead to being able to attend more shows and having enough business to get all the different types of insurances that seem to be popular with folks around here.
6. If you only had one thing to tell someone starting a craft/indie business what would it be?
--Make sure you're doing something you enjoy.
7. Rock, paper or scissors?
--Scissors.
8. Are you a full time crafter/designer?
--Indeed I am!
9. Do you have a craft crush? (A designer or indie/craft business that you admire.)
--The Misanthrope Specialty Company. That guy makes gorgeous prints!
10. What is your favorite current indie/DIY trend?
--I'm enjoying the trend that makes it easier for me to look like I'm vaguely from the turn of the century.
11. What was the best compliment a customer ever gave you?
-- A customer bought one of my squidtivity sets and said she was so excited to have this to pass down to her grandchildren.
12. What craft would you like to try or learn?
-- Knitting and crocheting, I'd love to make myself cardigans.
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Tere Hernandez-Bonet: My Precious Studio
1. How did you get started with your business?
--Both parents were artists so I grew up in a very artist friendly atmosphere. I always knew I'd go to art school but not quite sure what my focus would be. I actually thought of being an illustrator. I also loved photography. Once I got to RISD and got to experiment with different disciplines, I decided on the 3D world. I chose jewelry as my major. No regrets at all. I LOVE jewelry. Once out of college, I moved to NYC. There, I eventually found a job as a jeweler's assistant in a SoHo shop where I worked for 10 years. I produced my own line of jewelry on the side and started building a very loyal client base. I eventually decided to name my studio (My Precious Studio was born in 1997)and to create sort of a "life style" for my work. I built my website in 2002, sold my work to some cool shops and here I am.
2. What is your favorite tool to work with?
-- My hands.
3. What/who inspires you?
--Wow, I could go on and on and on. Recurring themes: death, funerary and mourning objects and rituals, cemeteries, churches, sacred hearts, Mexico, ancient Egypt, my surroundings, flowers and lace, color, tattoos, music, and of course humor...
4. Man-bag or murse?
--I've always called them man-purses...
5. Where do you see your business in 3 yrs?
--I'd love to be fully self-employed with a large studio and showroom, maybe with an assistant, still creating jewelry I love.
6. If you only had one thing to tell someone starting a craft/indie business what would it be?
--Do something you love. Being creative and successful is really hard work so if you don't absolutely love what you do, then what's the point?
7. Rock, paper or scissors?
--paper.
8. Are you a full time crafter/designer?
--I wish! I also have a part time job (jewelry related though).
9. Do you have a craft crush? (A designer or indie/craft business that you admire.)
--Not on any one designer. There are some really awesome artists out there. I'm drawn to designers who have a strong sense of self and who have a strong artistic vision. You know the ones; you see their work and just know they love what they do.
10. What is your favorite current indie/DIY trend?
--I love the creative energy!
11. What was the best compliment a customer ever gave you?
--The best compliment was hearing from a client that she bought something years ago and still loves and wears it every day. My jewelry doesn't fulfill it's destiny unless it's worn.
12. What craft would you like to try or learn?
--Hand engraving, enameling, doll making, quilting, welding
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Kelly Alder: Popidiot
1. How did you get started with your business?
--I've been a working illustrator for the past 28 years or so and I'm always creating images for other people to meet their ideas and needs. A few years back a friend of mine suggested that I should start my own t-shirt line and after thinking about it for a second or two I came to the conclusion that not only was she right but that it'd be a great way to do the kind of work that in all likelihood no one would hire me to do. It was a no brainer. I started out working with a good friend and after a few years he decided that the t-shirt biz wasn't for him so my wife, who's a graphic/media designer came on board and we've been going strong ever since.
2. What is your favorite tool to work with?
--To be honest, whatever tool gets the job done for the problem at hand or achieves the needed end results.
3. What/who inspires you?
--That changes daily.
4. Man-bag or murse?
--A metal Adam West Batman lunch box circa 1968.
5. Where do you see your business in 3 yrs?
--3 years beyond where it is now, we hope.
6. If you only had one thing to tell someone starting a craft/indie business what would it be?
--If you don't love it don't do it.
7. Rock, paper or scissors?
--Matches.
8. Are you a full time crafter/designer?
--If you count my illustration work, yeah I guess so.
9. Do you have a craft crush? (A designer or indie/craft business that you admire.)
--Oura, Jim Callahan, Team8press and El Jefe
10. What is your favorite current indie/DIY trend?
--I don't keep up with that stuff.
11. What was the best compliment a customer ever gave you?
--Last fall we did Crafty Bastards in DC for the first time. As I was going back and forth from the van setting up our booth this gentlemen whom I didn't know approached me. I was wearing our Skelly shirt which he recognized and he excitedly asked if I was with popidiot. Now being that we'd hardly done any shows north of Rich. I was a bit surprised. He proceeded to introduce himself to me. He was none other than Jeffery Everett of El Jefe Design. He told me that he got one of our shirts at the previous years show, my pal Rob Ullman took some to the show for us, and when he'd heard we were going to be at the show this year he was looking forward to meeting us. It was unexpected and really morale boosting to run into a fellow exhibitor who was looking forward to meeting us and especially so after seeing his work, which is amazing.
12. What craft would you like to try or learn?
--We'd like to get into silkscreening posters. We realize it's not a huge departure from what we're doing now but it's different enough and with the help of Spencer Hanson at Team8press we think we'll be doing that next.
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1. How did you get started with your business?-- I have been creating things ever since I was a little girl. I majored in art in college and find myself still making and creating things today.
2. What is your favorite tool to work with?
-- So many, but my current favorite is PMC (precious metal clay). It is a cool new product by Mitsubishi. You can form it and stamp it like clay, but once fired in a kiln it becomes .999 fine silver. It's like magic!
3. What/who inspires you?
--My grandmother has always been a huge inspiration for me - she taught me to draw, paint, and knit. I am also inspired by the simple beauty (a fern leaf, a shell, a rock) I find in nature.
4. Man-bag or murse?
--Um, since I had to google "murse" because I had no clue what it was, I guess I'll have to go with man bag :-)
5. Where do you see your business in 3 yrs?
--I hope to continue to see both my jewelry and fine art business grow and flourish. I think it's important to take new classes and read books and internet sources to continue to grow as an artist/designer.
6. If you only had one thing to tell someone starting a craft/indie business what would it be?
--Make sure you truly LOVE what you make/do.
7. Rock, paper or scissors?
--Rock (got to go with the nature thing ;-) )
8. Are you a full time crafter/designer?
--Yes
9. Do you have a craft crush? (A designer or indie/craft business that you admire.)
--Several, but my current favorite is Jen Maestre. She makes incredible sculptures and pendants from my other favorite medium, color pencils. Her work is just incredible!
10. What is your favorite current indie/DIY trend?
--Owls - they seem to be a hot item right now, which is great because I just love them!
11. What was the best compliment a customer ever gave you?
--I recently had an Etsy customer write to tell me that she loves her fern necklace she bought from me so much that she wears it every single day! I was completely flattered!
12. What craft would you like to try or learn?
--I would love to some day learn woodworking. Learning to manipulate wood with power tools - how exciting!
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