Elijah + Rhonda Wyman: Figs and Ginger2. What is your favorite tool to work with?
Our new battery operated Dremel is fantastic. No more flexi shaft! It's super freeing.
3. What/who inspires you?
Forests, cute animals, our pets Crashdog and Puppykitty, traveling, and each other!
4. Man-bag or murse?
Is a murse a male nurse? If so, a murse with a man-bag.
5. Where do you see your business in 3 yrs?
Hopefully making us a stable, livable income while having a previously unheard of amount of fun.
6. If you only had one thing to tell someone starting a craft/indie business what would it be?
Make up your own rules. Just follow your bliss! Nice guys don't finish last anymore. Love and kindness are the new business model. It just makes sense to be a sweetheart to everyone. Competition only exists if you make it!
7. Rock, paper or scissors? Rock. Rock always wins.
8. Are you a full time crafter/designer? Yes! This year is our firsty at not having a 9-5!!!
9. Do you have a craft crush? (A designer or indie/craft business that you admire.)
Oh man, so many...Iff'n Books, Poppy, The Postcard Machine (Seriously the best idea EVER!), My Favorite Mirror, 80 Grit Art, The Candy Thief, and a million more I can't remember right now.
10. What is your favorite current indie/DIY trend? Oh man...
11. What was the best compliment a customer ever gave you?
A lady came to our table at the Bust Show in Manhattan with the most janky, beat up bird necklace we've ever seen, and said that she loved it so much that she didn't even take it off while sleeping. She had completely disfigured it within a year. We fixed it up for her...which was basically sending her a new one. That was super flattering.
12. What craft would you like to try or learn? Welding, letterpressing, and blacksmithing.
~~~
Suzanne L. Vinson: Silver Tree Art
1. How did you get started with your business?
I've been giving away handmade projects for over twenty years. Through some talented women here in Richmond, I was encouraged to move from hobby into business. Silver Tree Art evolved into being quite naturally. I needed to "support my habit" of creating and it made sense to expand. Friends asked for my work and it continued to grow. Etsy made it possible to have an online shop while I work toward creating my own site online. The shops which carry my work help me to keep challenging myself to create something new and inviting. The core of my work centers around my love for my grandmother and her quilting. I have fabric that is over 50 years old from her quilt remnants. I wanted to keep a piece of her with me and made vintage fabric pendants encased in resin. Folks went wild and that has become my signature in my work. Friends and family have expanded my collection of fabrics. Each season inspires me to create new pieces using the colors I am most drawn to. Now I hope to inspire others using their own fabric within my pieces. Often it's a way to capture a memory or set of memories. My business is meant to inspire creativity in others and to attempt to teach others how to use their creativity through retreats and workshops.
2. What is your favorite tool to work with?
My hands. I love using my hands working with clay, stitching fabric, or forging metal. If I had nothing else to work with, I'd play in the yard making mudpies!
3. What/who inspires you?
What: color, nature, fabrics, found objects, family treasures, and a good story! Who: my friends, my family, and food! I love what those three can do to enable the mind, body, and spirit. And there's nothing like creating with a good movie or good music playing while drinking a glass of wine. A perfect way to unwind, I'd say.
4. Man-bag or murse? Super Handy bro-bag.
5. Where do you see ! your business in 3 yrs?
Exploding. I have grown in the last couple of years with some devoted clientele. Silver Tree Art would have expanded into more stores around the globe. By then, I hope to have space which will enable my creativity to expand.
6. If you only had one thing to tell someone starting a craft/indie
business what would it be?
7. Rock, paper or scissors? Scissors. I can cut some mean shapes!
8. Are you a full time crafter/designer? I am a full-time mom, artist, crafter, minister, etc. I use my arts and crafts experience in all that I do, whether leading retreats, support groups, or preaching a sermon. And I'd be your kind of preacher. I hope to launch my cottage business into full force in the near future. Spread the word! Silver Tree Art is expanding.
9. Do you have a craft crush? (A designer or indie/craft business that you admire.)
More than one! My latest is artist Sarah Neuburger with The Small Object.
She has great taste and I love her little clothespin people! Another is Jenifer of Sprout Studio. I love her colors! There are many local Richmond artists I love. I am always drawn to folks who have a similar style and who make me want to run and grab my materials and work.
10. What is your favorite current indie/DIY trend?
I have loved reusing materials for years. Reusing materials has certainly picked up as a trend.
11. What was the best compliment a customer ever gave you?
A dear person whom I admire told me once that if she made jewelry-it would be just like mine. I love that compliment!
12. What craft would you like to try or learn?
Do I have to tell you just one? I would love to delve deeper into pottery, learn welding, continue printmaking, attempt etching, and do more metalsmithing. There's always a new creative adventure that awaits tending.
~~~
Valerie Williams: Holland Cox
1. How did you get started with your business?
I was having my quarter-life crisis and started sewing again after a long break to try and get over it. I decided to try and sell the things I made so I could afford to buy more fabric! :)
2. What is your favorite tool to work with?
Not technically a "tool," more like materials, but my *favorite* thing to work with has got to be cotton velvet. So delicious!
3. What/who inspires you?
Saturated color and bold patterns inspire me, and in turn, anyone who is unafraid to wear such color and pattern every day, not just for "special events."
4. Man-bag or murse? No man-bags!!! Sorry guys, your clothes have pockets.
5. Where do you see your business in 3 yrs?
I hope to still be sewing happily in three years, hopefully in my own sewing room instead of my dining room!
6. If you only had one thing to tell someone starting a craft/indie business what would it be?
Be patient with yourself. Take the time to make things exactly as you want them to, whether it is your product, your web site, your business card, whatever; there is no race, and the only real deadlines are the ones you set for yourself.
7. Rock, paper or scissors? Definitely scissors!
8. Are you a full time crafter/designer? No, I have a day job as a higher education lobbyist.
9. Do you have a craft crush? (A designer or indie/craft business that you admire.)
I have so many crushes! Gerbera Designs, Supermaggie, Sommer Designs, Mohop...to name a few.
10. What is your favorite current indie/DIY trend?
I find myself very attracted to charm bracelets of all kinds lately.
11. What was the best compliment a customer ever gave you?
That I had an excellent eye for color and design! It was wonderful.
12. What craft would you like to try or learn?
I am dying to learn how to make furniture, but I am terrified of power tools.
~~~
Erika Brent Hollen: Jackson Sage, LLC
1. How did you get started with your business?
I woke up one morning and thought to myself "Self let's go into business." A month later Jackson Sage was up and running but it took almost a year before I began to see the true vision and style of Jackson Sage.
In reality the creation of Jackson Sage took almost 15 years. Jackson Sage was first born when I began studying herbs when I was 15. I then studied art: painting and fibers, While in art school, I struggled with the concept of how to make art interact with the viewer on a small scale and personal level. After graduate school I began to be influenced by romance comics of the 1970s, as well as the concept of beauty and commodity. I also was/am very influenced by fashion catalogs.
When I woke up a year ago I thought the best way to combine my sketches and art with everyday life was skin care and soaps. Since I had been studying herbs for 15 years and art just as long, I was amazing it took me this long to put the two together.
2. What is your favorite tool to work with? Earth
3. What/who inspires you? Nature, Beauty, Art
4. Man-bag or murse? The Bro
5. Where do you see your business in 3 yrs? Hopefully growing
6. If you only had one thing to tell someone starting a craft/indie business what would it be?
Don't under estimate the time, money, overall amount of work, and the sacrifices.
7. Rock, paper or scissors? Paper
8. Are you a full time crafter/designer? Currently Jackson Sage is part time.
9. Do you have a craft crush? (A designer or indie/craft business that you admire.)
Ryan Adams.... Ok, he is not "craft" but music is a craft, right?
10. What is your favorite current indie/DIY trend?
I like the idea of supporting local and small businesses.
11. What was the best compliment a customer ever gave you?
That they had tried every chemical and product there was and my cleanser helped their skin. It was nice to know that I made something that helped someone.
12. What craft would you like to try or learn? The Bedazzler
Come one come all to the craftiest lounge in town!
Keen
Lark Studio
Twist
Bees knees Studios
Crystal J
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?
