Future Momo Jewelry

Interview: The Knitting Siren

I've started shopping around for supplies to make holiday gifts and came across The Knitting Siren, who makes beautiful bamboo yarns.  I had never heard of bamboo yarn, but have since learned that it's a nice alternative to traditional wools.  The best part about bamboo is that it's a renewable resource, so it's eco-friendly.  It's also breathable, strong and antibacterials!

 Name:  Melanie Hoffman

Website: http://theknittingsiren.etsy.com

What is your business name and how did you come up with it?
"The Knitting Siren".  I have a friend who teased me saying that I lure her in, singing my siren song of knitting with my patterns and yarns.

What is it that you make? 
I sell hand-dyed yarns, mostly bamboo and cotton blends, as well as knitting patterns and hand-knit items.  I use cloth diapers with my babies and specialize in wool diaper covers.

Where are you located? 
I am near Minot, North Dakota, USA

How and when did you get your start? 
I began knitting while pregnant with my second son.  I loved the versatility of it and how if I could imagine it, I could knit it.  I began working as an assistant to a knitwear designer a few years ago and fell in the love with the whole process of designing.

What inspires you? 
I live out in the country surrounded by sunflower fields, wheat fields and a beautiful river.  We have spectacular sunsets and sunrises here in North Dakota.  I take my camera with me everywhere and when I see a color combination that I like, I take a picture of it.

What is your design process?
For my yarns, I generally just dye when I'm inspired.  For my patterns, I keep myself surrounded by notebooks so that when inspiration hits, I can jot down my idea right away.  Once I have an idea, I look through my yarns to see what would go well with my idea and I make swatches with different stitch patterns and different needles until I find what I like.  I'll knit a garment in my size (or one of my children depending upon the design) and take notes as I go.  I then work up a spreadsheet that helps me calculate the remaining sizes.  Once I have all the sizes figured out, I write out the pattern and send it to my testers.  I try to test each size to make sure the sizing is accurate and fits well.  Once my testers are done, I edit the pattern, make it pretty with pictures.  Depending on how well the first testing round goes, I may do another round to work out any remaining bugs.  Then the pattern is released!  This usually takes about 4 months, sometimes more, to complete.

What's your favorite thing about what you do? Least favorite?
I absolutely love seeing others wearing something I created, whether it's my yarn, my pattern, or an item I actually knit.  My least favorite part of my job is when I actually release the pattern.  It's very exciting, but I get so nervous that I missed a major error.

What advice would you give to new indie businesses?
Just go for it!  It never hurts to try.  If you are worried about losing money instead of earning, start off small.  Save what you earn and put that money back into your business.  Stay away from debt.

Do you have anything new and exciting plans for your business or anything that you want people to know about?
I always have new patterns in the works.  Right now I'm working on some patterns that use my bamboo.  The first is a simple top-down sweater that displays hand-dyed yarns beautifully and the second is a moebius lace shawl.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
My husband.  Being in someone else's shoes helps you appreciate them more.

What is the last book you read?
"The Family Manager Takes Charge" by Kathy Peel.

What was the last movie you went to see?
We took the kiddos to see WALL-E.

What is your most memorable travel experience?
When I was in college, we took an impromtu trip to Canada, stayed at a youth hostel in Winnepeg and just has a great time meeting people from all over the world.

Do you have any pets?
Yes, 1 dog, 1 cat, and 3 Pygora goats.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Aside from knitting and spinning, I love working outside in my garden and going for boat trips in the river that runs across our property.

 What are your favorite blogs to read? Indie businesses to shop at?
My good friend Beth from Doodlebirds.com always makes me laugh with her antics at http://www.xanga.com/theknittingidiot.  I also frequent her shop at www.doodlebirds.com, as well as http://zenyarngarden.com/zencart/, and http://theyarnarian.blogspot.com/.

What is your favorite food?
I love Indian food.  If it has curry, I'll eat it!

Favorite place to visit or place you'd like to visit?
I've always wanted to go to Antactica.  Someday...

Where else do you sell your products?
My own websites - http://www.theknittingsiren.com and http://www.adorabubbleknits.com.  I also keep my local yarn store stocked with hand-dyed yarns.

Interview: Moonlit Herbals

Moonlit Herbals has a fantastic selection of organic, vegan bath and body products.  They make and sell an amazing array of items including eco-friendly house cleaners, incense, and aromatherapy oils and ointments.  Here's their story.

  Name: Heather Davis

What is your business name and how did you come up with it? Our business name is Moonlit Herbals. The name came to me one night while I was sitting in my garden watching the moon shining down on my herb garden.

Website: MoonlitHerbals.Etsy.com

What is it that you make? I make a variety of products ranging from organic bath and body products, natural cleaning products, pagan ritual items and nature photography.

Where are you located? We are located in the beautiful and diverse city of Olympia, Washington.

How and when did you get your start? Moonlit Herbals was created out of our love for nature and the wonderful gifts it has to offer all of us. I actually started making my products about 6 years ago for myself and my husband as well as our family and friends; to break free from the harsh chemical products that we had all become accustomed to using. When we started the business we had our items in a couple local stores and had received such great reviews that we decided to offer our products online so anyone seeking a more natural way to treat their mind, body and soul could benefit from them.

What inspires you? I am inspired by nature and my love for our Mother Earth. My ideas always seem to come to me when I’m in nature; whether in my garden, in a forest or just laying in the grass looking at the sky.

What’s your favorite thing about what you do? Least favorite? I love everything about what I do. I get to work with herbs, flowers and essential oils…what could be better than that?

What advice would you give to new indie businesses? I’d have to say, just believe in yourself and what you do. Never second guess yourself or your products.

Do you have anything new and exciting plans for your business or anything that you want people to know about? Oh I’m always coming out with new ways to expand my shop and the items I carry.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be? I’d have to say Tori Amos. Her music is so inspiring and quirky, she is such a talented and brilliant woman.

What is the last book you read? I’m actually working on a book right now called “The Witch of Portobello” by Paulo Coelho that a dear friend sent to me from Croatia. I highly recommend it, it‘s a wonderful read and is one of those books you have a hard time putting down!

What was the last movie you went to see? Wow, I didn’t realize how long it had been since I’ve been to the movies till I had to sit and think about this question for a minute. I’d have to say that last movie I saw in the theaters was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I’m a big Harry Potter fan!

What is your most memorable travel experience? I’d have to say my most memorable travel experience was driving cross-country with my husband. We got to stop at all the funky road side attractions that most people don‘t bother stopping for…it was a blast!

Do you have any pets? Yes I do! I have an adorable rabbit named Piper that is such a joy to have and is such a special guy with a personality to boot.

What do you like to do in your spare time? My husband and I love going for hikes, walks through the forest, or picnicking at Mt. Rainier. Nature is so grounding and it instantly takes away any stress I have.

What are your favorite blogs to read? Indie businesses to shop at? One of my favorite blogs to read is at http://www.organic.org/blog and two of my favorite Indie businesses are found here in Olympia; Archibald Sisters and Radiance.

What is your favorite food? Hmm…that’s a hard one…I guess I’d have to say fruit. Yum!

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit? My dream place to visit would be Europe, especially Scotland. My family ancestry has its roots there.

Bliss Soybean Candles & Gifts Interview

I recently discovered Bliss Soybean Candles & Gifts, which makes vegan soy candles in delicious scents such as white tea and finger, merlot and clean cotton. I love the simple, classic packaging and the variety of candle sizes available. I contacted the owner to find out more about her and her shop.

What is your business name and how did you come up with it?  Bliss Soybean Candles & Gifts.  It was one of those crazy things.  I was thinking to myself, “What do I want my customers to think of when they use my products?”  Sheer bliss came to mind and from there I went with Bliss.  I wanted people to know what I was selling so I added the Soybean Candles.  Where the Gifts came from, I have no idea!

Website:  I have my Etsy shop – www.blisscandles.etsy.com and also my website – www.blisscandles.com.

What is it that you make?  I make a wide array of soy candles in jars, teas, and the occasional votive (gift sets too!), body products, and pillow covers.

Where are you located?  In the beautiful Grand Haven, Michigan.

How and when did you get your start?  In 2004.  It was all a big mistake.  I was making candles for myself, realized I had too many, gave some away, people raved, I made more and then I had too many so I signed up for a craft show.  I got so many fans from that show that I just kept going!

What inspires you?  My own taste and quality consciousness.  I have always been a fan of interior décor.  I like nice looking jars and unusual lids.  Having used just about every soy wax on the market as well as other ingredients, I realize that all soy candles are not made the same!  I make what I feel is the best quality product out there – otherwise I wouldn’t sell it.  The only downside is the cost of the materials.

What is your design process?  I have always been a creative person.  It truly just comes to me.  I make my own patterns.  I create my own labels and marketing materials.  I had someone tell me once that I am “visually gifted.”  I thought that was the coolest thing!

What’s your favorite thing about what you do? Least favorite?  Most definitely my customer’s comments!  My customers rave about my products and it is so much fun!  My least favorite thing would be keeping up with my more than full-time job and maintaining the business at the same time.  If I could quit the job, I would.

What advice would you give to new indie businesses?  Stick with it.  I joined Etsy back in 2007 and gave up quickly.  I stuck with it this year and the orders keep coming in!

Do you have anything new and exciting plans for your business or anything that you want people to know about?  I’m tossing around ideas for new holiday gift products.  I have had one main gift item for the holidays since I started called the “Holiday Pack.”  I sell hundreds of them each year.  I do have some other gift items on my website but I just want to add more, more, more! 

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?  Any of the princesses in the Disney movies.  I need to find a husband!

What is the last book you read?  Walking in Circles Before Lying Down.  While it can be a tough read, if you have ever been one of those people who always chooses the wrong men in life but the dog still understands you, you will love it!

What was the last movie you went to see?  I don’t have time for going to movies. If I did, I would go to see the Mummy, the Raiders of the Lost Ark movie, etc.

What is your most memorable travel experience?  I don’t have time for travel so it would have to be Spring Break in Daytona way back in 1988!

Do you have any pets?  Yes, I have an awesome Blue Tick Hound named Blu. 

What do you like to do in your spare time?  Spare time is hard to come by so when I get it, quite honestly, I relax or watch a little TV.  I also love to garden.

What are your favorite blogs to read? Indie businesses to shop at?  I don’t have a lot of time to read blogs but I love to check in on a wonderful seller from Singapore.  I believe it is www.florspace.blogspot.com.  She is one of my “fans” and she makes the cutest little purse-type items.

What is your favorite type of food?  Hands down Edy’s Butter Pecan Light Ice Cream.

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?  I would like to go a lot of places.  I love big parks like Disney or Sea World.  Take me to any of them!

Where do you sell your items?  My websites at www.blisscandles.com and www.blisscandles.etsy.com and at Calico Cat in Grand Haven, Michigan.

Interview: Beyond Wonderland

My latest interview is with the wonder Carolina of Beyond Wonderland.  Carolina makes lovely bags and other accessories.  Beyond Wonderland products feature great prints and I adore the owl print in the Little Owl Mini Tote!

Here's Carolina!

Name: Carolina Harris

What is your business name and how did you come up with it?   Beyond Wonderland, well I've always loved reading and stories like the Wizard of Oz and Alice and Wonderland are still some of my favorites and for me it was always fun to imagine what happens after the story ends so that's how I came up with my shop name.

Website: www.BeyondWonderland.Etsy.com

What is it that you make? I make all types of purses: totebags, handbags, wristlets. I also make small accessories such as headbands, business card holders, coin purses and checkbook covers.

Where are you located? San Jose, Ca.

How and when did you get your start? I've always loved crafting, I guess it runs in my family. My grandmothers both sew, knit, and crochet and my Mom has always been very creative and taught me how to do a lot of crafts when I was younger. In 2005 my husband bought me a sewing machine for Christmas and I didn't even take it out of the box until March because I was a little intimidated about learning how to use it. I finally just took it out and taught myself how to use it. I started making a few purses, opened my Etsy shop in April and it's evolved from there.

What inspires you? Interesting and unique fabric, I try to make my bags as simple and functional as possible to showcase the fabrics.
   
What is your design process? I start with a sketch and make up a pattern and then sew up a prototype.  After that I adjust any problems with the design and start picking out my fabrics for the bag and the lining and any other notions I need.

What's your favorite thing about what you do? Least favorite? My favorite is coming up with new ideas and then figuring out how to make them, making patterns and I also like the actual sewing. My least favorite would have to be ironing and handstitching. A lot of my bags have to be hand finished and it can get tedious but I usually do it while I'm watching tv so it goes much quickly that way.

What advice would you give to new indie businesses?  Keep trying and do not get discouraged. If you love what you do it will show and others will love it too.

Do you have anything new and exciting plans for your business or anything that you want people to know about? I am working on a few different purse designs this year and I am also going start printing my own designs onto fabric.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be? I would have to say John Lennon just because he's always been a hero of mine and I really admire his free spirit and his creativity.

What is the last book you read? Handmade Project by Lotta Jansdotter.

What was the last movie you went to see? Juno. It was such a great movie and it has a really great soundtrack.

What do you like to do in your spare time? With two little ones I don't have a lot of spare time so when I do get a little time to myself I sew and work on my designs or play Wii or Lego Star Wars.

What are your favorite blogs to read? Indie businesses to shop at? Favorite blogs are Printandpattern.blogspot.com, designsponge.blogspot.com. I am also an Etsy addict so there are too many shops to name from there but a few of my favorites are PinkyToast.etsy.com and TheBlackApple.etsy.com. I also like to shop at Modcloth.com and cutxpaste.com.

What is your favorite food? My grandmother's Mexican food and I also like Chinese food.

Favorite place to visit or place you'd like to visit? I would love to go to Tokyo and London. I'd need to save up a bit first so I could go and do alot of shopping.

Thanks, Carolina!

Please be sure to visit Beyond Wonderland and snag something while you can!

Interview: The Donut Lounge

Designer interviews are back!  Now that the holidays are behind us, designers finally have a bit more time to participate in interviews and I'm pleased that The Donut Lounge is my latest interviewee.  I "discovered" The Donut Lounge when Donna generously donated adorable smiley faced food badges for the old Mafia Made show last fall.  Donna also makes cards, plushies, bags and more.

Here's Donna's story... 

Name: Donna Lee Buenaventura

What is your business name and how did you come up with it? The Donut Lounge.  Donut is an old nickname.  In second grade we had to do an alliteration type thing with our name and so mine was Donna Donut.  Then in high school, I had a site on one of those free servers and named it The Donut Lounge... I'm not sure why I used "lounge" but I just thought it sounded cool.

Website:  http://www.thedonutlounge.com

What is it that you make? Mainly paper goods... cards, notepads, etc.  I've also made some buttons, bags, and plush toys, but my site is constantly changing.

Where are you located? Fairfield, CA.  For those that don't know where that is it's pretty much half way between San Francisco and Sacramento.

How and when did you get your start?  During my last quarter of college, I saw a local site of handmade goodies... and I thought, "Hey, I can do that!"  And I've always been infatuated with greeting cards and at this time it was right around Mother's Day and graduation so I made about 10 cards, bought my dot com, and started selling them on campus.

What inspires you?  Other designers & designs.  Just seeing something fresh and amazing motivates me to push out new products.

What is your design process?  It usually starts off with a light bulb going off in my head... I try to sketch it out... then I take it to the workbench and make a prototype.  I'd say about 75% of the time my final products don't match my original ideas.  My work in progress usually sparks new directions... then I keep making samples until I'm completely happy with the outcome.

What’s your favorite thing about what you do? Least favorite?  My favorite part is the feeling I get when I've finished making something.  No matter how many times I do it, I still get that giddy feeling after finishing a product. My least favorite part would have to be when my brain fries from designing too long and I feel stuck.  Or when I've spent so long staring at something that I can't even tell if I like it or not anymore.

What advice would you give to new indie businesses?  Focus on finding your niche.  I spent a lot of time trying out several crafty outlets, but realized there were only certain aspects I REALLY loved doing... Once I was able to find that focus I started enjoying EVERYTHING about my business.

Do you have anything new and exciting plans for your business or anything that you want people to know about?  I have a new site out, AGAIN.  I probably change my site every few months, but I think I'm going to stick with this one for a while.  The only exciting plans I have are new Valentine's products and I'll be continuously adding a lot more within the next few months.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?  I'd trade places with Martha Stewart so I could see what it's like to run an empire.  Whether you love her or hate her, you must admit she is one amazing business woman.

What is the last book you read?  It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be. -Paul Arden.  Pretty good motivational book but it's more for those interested in a corporate career.

Currently reading: Craft Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco.

What was the last movie you went to see?  Cloverfield.  Better than I expected.  If you can't stomach a hand-held camera for 1.5 hrs, then you might not want to watch it in the theater.

What is your most memorable travel experience?  My trip to the Philippines about 6 years ago.  A lot of fun shopping, checking out the nightlife, and it felt nice being out of the country for once.

Do you have any pets?  I wouldn't say she's mine because she's my parent's baby girl.. haha.  We have a very chubby, practically blind, 10-year-old pug.

What do you like to do in your spare time?  I'm either eating, sleeping, or on AIM... a very sedentary life, unfortunately.  Or playing rock band!

What are your favorite blogs to read? Indie businesses to shop at?  My bf's blog is always entertaining: http://unsleepable.tumblr.com.  Cool indie shops :D  http://www.maustudio.com, http://www.heyprettycupcake.com.

What is your favorite food?  Pizza!  And french fries.  I'm too in love w/ carbs.

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?  I really want to go to Europe.  I'm trying to plan a Eurotrip this summer... but with work and school, who knows.

Thanks, Donna!

Donna also forgot to mention that Fairfield is near a very yummy place - the Jelly Belly Factory!  She's probably sick of it, but I've only been out there a couple of times, so it's still fun for me. 

Don't forget to visit The Donut Lounge for Valentine's Day cards!  If you order by February 8th, they'll arrive in time for V-Day.  A couple of the designs are also great for any friends that you'd like to give a valentine to.     

Interview: 12 Mood Studio

  My latest interview is with Vanina of 12 Mood Studio.  Vanina is another Bay Area gal and a real sweetie.  I met her at the Craft Inc release party way back when and she participated in the Mafia Made show soon after that.  Vanina makes fun tees and bags and beautiful painted silk scarves.  But, my favorite product is the t-skirt, a skirt made of a recontructed tee shirt.

Here's Vanina's story!

Name: Vanina Doce-Mood

What is your business name and how did you come up with it?  My business name is 12 mood studio. My last name means the number twelve in Spanish, and my husband’s last name is Mood, so I am 12 mood, which is different than having 12 moods. Wait, I probably have 12 moods, but that is not really important now. I have a chart that describes 30 different moods for people studying ESL (like me when I came to this country), and the twelth mood listed is Happy, so I think that is cute too.

Website: www.12moodstudio.com

What is it that you make? I make a little of everything. I don’t have a specific field ‘cause I am always trying new skills and techniques. Screen printing, knitting, sewing, silk painting, you name it and I probably did it. I sell screen printed tees and hoodies, I make t-skirts from recycled tees, I hand paint silk with Shibori technique, sew aprons, do some knittins, handbags, etc.

Where are you located? San Francisco.

How and when did you get your start? After years of being a crafter and designing for friends and family I decide last year that it was time to take it one step further, and put more energy into it. I’ve always been a crafter. I started to selling hand-dyed and hand-painted shirts back in 2005 when I was living in Chicago.

What inspires you? Everything. I like to look at everything and be aware of my surroundings. I look at the city, the people, the life going on every minute. I usually stare at people to admire what they are wearing on the bus, which sometime gets me in trouble.

What is your design process? I don’t have one way of starting a design or piece. I think of what I want to transmit and go from there, but sometimes I see the image or the form first and start like that. I can have an idea for months on my mind before I start putting it outside my brain.

What’s your favorite thing about what you do? Least favorite? I love working with my hands and creating something from nothing. I like the ability of showing what I am or expressing myself thru my designs and creations. I can’t think of something I don’t like, but maybe could be the paper work; buerocracy is not my friend.

What advice would you give to new indie businesses? Hard work, time and networking gets you out there. Don’t get disappointed too easy. Go slow and firm. It takes time to build but hard work always pays off.

Do you have anything new and exciting plans for your business or anything that you want people to know about? I launched the Wear What You Believe line this fall, because we believe that fashion can be fun and make a statement at the same time. These shirts address causes that I support and tell stories that need to be heard - stories that everyone can share by wearing what you believe and spreading the word. A portion of the sale price will be donated to a charity or nonprofit related to the design you buy. The first two designs of the line benefits the American Society for Deaf Children, and Help Argentina, a non-profit helping people in Argentina. This is not too new, but I also did a video tutorial for one of my t-skirt for ThreadBanger, a DIY site. And one of my designs was the October tee at Mailbox Tees.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be? Hmmm. I would like to trade some with President Bush and make things a little different. I would end the war and really start caring a lot more about people, that’s for sure. I would like to trade with Salvador Dali just for the fun.

What is the last book you read? I read a pretty cool book from an Argentinian author, Federico Andahazi, Errante en la sombra (translate Wandering in the shadow) which is a famous tango song title. and I am not too sure about the translation in English. Is a historical fictional story about a prostitute and a tango singer. I am reading now the Myths of Argentina, but more Bust and Good magazines actually.

What was the last movie you went to see? We don’t go too much to the movies, in part thanks to Netflix. I know, I am bad. The last one we rent was Lucia, Lucia by Antonio Serrano, a Spanish movie director.

What is your most memorable travel experience? My trip to Spain in 1999, where I met a wonderful guy that ended it up being my husband 6 years later.

Do you have any pets? I have a dog, Juancho. He is a cock-a-poo, smart and with a big personality. We had a cat that after 21 years of happy life passed away in the spring. My dream house is a farm full of animals.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Spare time? What is that?

What are your favorite blogs to read? Indie businesses to shop at? I like the blog of a fashion student, http://lalatheartgeek.blogspot.com/. She is pretty darn funny. I also like www.threadbanger.com and http://gofugyourself.typepad.com/. We discovered Social TNT and is interesting too. To shop, I like Etsy, of course, and modcloth.com. Also, any of the indie ads at Bust magazine.

What is your favorite food? Vegetarian salmon. I tasted it at my favorite vegetarian restaurant, Golden Era, and became an addict right away. You can find it in the Asian grocery market too. Mhmmm, yummy.

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit? I like to go back home to Argentina. I want to go to Africa and Asia and would like to come back to Barcelona sometime.  But anywhere is fine, traveling opens your mind and is so much fun!

Thanks so much Vanina!

Because of the holidays, I won't be posting designer interviews weekly because everyone's busy making things and doing shows.  I'll get them up as the interviewees have time.  But, I'll be back to the regular schedule soon after the holidays. 

Interview: Mignonette

This latest interview is with Kpoene of Mignonette.  Kpoene is a recent transplant to the Bay Area that I was fortunate to meet online before her move.  She makes lovely, feminine clothes in a wide range of sizes, which I love because it is always so hard to find designers who can (or will) do a variety of sizes.   

Here's her story...

Name: Kpoene Kofi-Bruce

What is your business name and how did you come up with it?  Mignonette.  It means "cute girl" in French. It's the name of a song from my favorite singer, April March. She's an American who only sings in French. I have a bit of a Francophile thing going.

Website: http://www.mignonettedesigns.com

What is it that you make? Dresses and skirts, with a few tops thrown in.   I have this thing for ruffles and fitted pieces and lots of super-girly prints. 

Where are you originally from?  Where are you located now?  I grew up between Pomona, CA and Washington, D.C., then moved to VA, went VT for college, studied in England for awhile, moved to Brooklyn for 5 years, and now I'm in San Francisco.  Whew! 

How and when did you get your start?  I've been sewing since 3rd grade, but I didn't start making clothes seriously until sophomore year of college. I worked in the costume shop and loved the process of making these random lumps of fabric into crazy hoods and petticoats and bustles and things.  When I moved to NY I designed for a huge company and eventually decided that I didn't want to work for anyone else anymore, so I started Mignonette in 2002 under the name Shoot Out the Stars.

What inspires you?  It depends. I read a lot of magazines and books.  Right now I'm obsessed with "The History of Fashion" from the Kyoto Costume Institute. It has 350 years of fashion from all over the world so it's kind of a treasure trove.

What is your design process?  I usually start out draping and pinning a piece of fabric on a dummy until it starts to look like a garment.  I feel like every piece of fabric has a design locked inside of it that just needs a little coaxing out. I think designers are sort of a conduit for the process, rather than the genius behind it.  It's more like the fabric's personal metamorphosis and I'm just helping it along.

What's your favorite thing about what you do? Least favorite?  I don't actually enjoy the pimping myself out aspect of running a business. I like to make exciting, beautiful things, and it's kind of a bonus when people want to pay for them.

What advice would you give to new indie businesses?  You can't do everything yourself and you're going to screw up a lot, so talk to other business owners when you're thinking of starting and throughout the entire process.  There are some amazing resources out there.  I recommend the collective/skillshare that I started in NY, Ladies Independent Design League or The Switchboards.

Do you have anything new and exciting plans for your business or anything that you want people to know about?  I'm currently working on my Spring '08 collection and getting myself into more stores so keep checking out the website. I'm starting a branch of The Ladies Independent Design League here in SF -  we're setting up a mentorship program to pair new businesses with established ones to help guide them through the process.  I'm also organizing the next Craft Congress to be here in SF in March or April.  It's a gathering of organizers of big craft-related events like Renegade and Crafty Bastards, where we talk about the state of craft and how to advance it. 

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?  Oh geez.  Maybe Simone de Beauviour circa 1932, or Djuna Barnes when she was happy.

What is the last book you read?  I'm always reading two or three because I like to reread books, so The Namesake from Jhumpa Lahiri and Madame Bovary.

What was the last movie you went to see? No Country for Old Men, last night! 

What is your most memorable travel experience?  The Costume Museum at the Louvre, drinking wine out of baby bottles in Montmarte, and drunkenly dancing until 3 am on top of a mountain in Ecuador are three of my favorites.

Do you have any pets?  Two kitties, Grumpling and Jasper.   

What do you like to do in your spare time?  I just started working at the Stitch Lounge teaching private lessons, which doesn't really count as spare time because I can work on my own projects while I'm there. 

What are your favorite blogs to read? Indie businesses to shop at?  I love Grace Bonney's blog, Design Sponge.  I like to shop at Unsung Designers in DC (and online), and Made Boutique in Burlington, VT.  I also really like Pretty Parlour in Seattle.

What is your favorite food?  Chocolate, hands down. 

Favorite place to visit or place you'd like to visit? It's a toss-up between Vermont, where I lived for four years, and the Pacific Northwest, where I've only visited.  I also really like taking the train from Norwich, England to London, because you go through all these valleys and fields and there are pheasants and little farmhouses and really beautiful sites along the way.

Thanks, Kpoene!

Interview: Moxieville

This week's designer interview is with Cheryl Aronson of Moxieville.  I had the pleasure of meeting Cheryl recently and she is just a ball of energy and a delight to chat with.  Cheryl is also a member of the Petaluma Craft Mafia.  Cheryl makes beautiful printed items, including letterpress cards, which I adore.

Read on to learn more!

Name: Cheryl Aronson

What is your business name and how did you come up with it? Moxieville. It has a past. Moxie was a commonly used term in the 1940's and 50's. It became some what antiquated by the hip and swinging 60's and then pretty much disappeared from the American slang language. My father is from the east coast, Maine to be precise, where Moxie was a soft-drink brewed in his home-state, and it was also a term synonymous with "verve, style, courage and perseverance in tough times. So I grew up with hearing this term in our own household, though nobody else knew what the heck it meant! It was also one of my childhood nicknames. When it came to choosing a name for my business, I didn't want anything fussy or pretentious, because, I try to avoid taking life too seriously. When I originally named my business,"Moxie Design & Illustration", nobody was using Moxie. One day I looked up and I saw Moxie being used everywhere and by other designers, so to differentiate myself, "Moxieville" was born. That and the fact I own about a dozen domain names with Moxie in it, it could be its own town!

Website: www moxieville.com

What is it that you make? Screen printed and letterpress greetings, invitations, gift tags, wrapping paper, coasters, and moving into the fabric and textile arena.

Where are you located? Petaluma, California, the Butter & Egg capitol of the World (and the seat for world-class Wrist Wrestling championships).

How and when did you get your start? I'm a graphic designer and never had time to do the design I wanted to do, even though I've usually got a personal side project going on. I've always loved letterpress and screen-prints, especially the edgier ones. After several clients who I'd worked with to design custom party and wedding invitations suggested I market them, it gave me the nudge. It's such a different process than designing for clients. The freedom!

What inspires you? Everything! Humor, honest expression, hard work, people brave enough to show their vulnerable side. Color and shape and how they work together to create something beautifully complex or simple. The expression of the human face. The 1940's -60 's inspire me. You have all this hardship and repression and the music and blues of the 1940's, then the kitschy good times in the 1950's America, when everyone got a color t.v., and finally wild rebellion and bucking the establishment of the 1960's. All of these decades produced such interesting people and art, and people really had something to say.

What is your design process? When working with a client you have to be organized from thumbnail sketches in the initial concept to how many comps you will bill for. If not, you waste a lot of time and are essentially are working for free after a while. Time management is everything. Thing is, I work best intuitively. Like most creatives, I don't like restrictions, which may explain why I get my best ideas before falling asleep when I'm truly relaxed. Much to my husband's chagrin when he's trying to get some shut-eye, that light pops on and off and I'm scribbling ideas like a mad-woman in my journal. So, while I do what I have to do with clients, on my own time I allow the ideas to sift in and out naturally. Then, often than not I have what I call the epiphany or the "Ah Ha!" moment. If you're a creative, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Don't you love just those "ah- has!?"

What’s your favorite thing about what you do? Least favorite? Like many creatives, I like being able to be let free on a new project with no restrictions. I'm lucky in that it sometimes happens! Some clients are design driven and really appreciate the process, others are price driven. It's no secret most creatives would rather focus on the work and the creative process than do the other things such as marketing, budgeting, taxes, press releases, copyright registration, promotions, etc. The creative part takes so much time as it is, then you need to wrap your left-brain around the other reality of making a living with it and doing the drudgery. I've come to the conclusion if I can't hire somebody to do it for me, I need to learn to love the other part of it. Since most creatives want some control over the business side anyway, it's really in your best interest to do this stuff yourself or at least learn how to do it so you're well informed. But tedious!

What advice would you give to new indie businesses? Love what you do, and realize it may not be the fast track to riches, so that love for your work has to sustain you and your belief that you can support yourself eventually doing what you love to do. Have a sound business plan with long and short-term goals, and be diligent in checking in with those goals. Also, do something creative every day. Reach into other mediums you find intimidating. You may not stay with it, but I'll bet you'll find that you stretch yourself and become even better at your chosen craft. Creatives can be a solitary bunch, so getting out and meeting other creatives and feeling a sense of community and learning from each other is vital. I know one very talented creative who never comes out of her studio. She does her best work when she, tames her fears and allows herself to get out. Also, read, talk to other creatives. They are the most brilliant source of information. I love them all. If you're just starting out, find a good mentor who will take you under her/his wing. I'm still looking for my mentor! Last but not least, Copyright! If you are an illustrator or create original art and products, you have to protect yourself.

Do you have anything new and exciting plans for your business or anything that you want people to know about? I am planning to buy a desk-top letter press printer. I"m scared to death because of the investment, and by that I also mean the maintenance and long-term upkeep that go into these presses that are no longer manufactured. You pretty much have to rely on the few people around who rebuild and tinker with these presses and parts if something goes awry. It can get expensive. But, I love this process and want a little more control as well as managing to keep costs down. I think it will be a good investment. Also, I am planning on digging into screening fabrics, linens, and other textiles.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be? Mark Twain perhaps. I'd love to be in his head. French author Colette was a deep river and I'd love to have experienced her world, or even the prolific muse and artist, "KiKi" during those thrilling turn of the century Paris years. She had a lot of angst but also much wicked fun, a free spirit with a huge heart.

What is the last book you read? "Water for Elephants", Kurt Vonnegut's "A Man without a country" and "Eat, Pray, Love." (I always seem to have at least three going lately for some reason)!

What was the last movie you went to see? "Into the Wild", Sean Penn's latest film.

What is your most memorable travel experience? Since I lost my mother a few months back, I am longing for those days. My mom, sister and I used to make the drive every year in late November to Reno for a "girl's weekend." My mother, god bless her was a terrible but very lucky driver. Much like Mr. MaGoo. Going over those snowy passes and turns, combined with whatever alcohol infused concoction my sister had whipped up for us back-seat drivers (i.e., god-awful raspberry kool-aid and vodka) were rebellious, simple yet bonding travel times. I miss them.

Thanks, Cheryl!

Cheryl's work can also be picked up at her Etsy shop.

Interview: Love Dog Card Company

This week's interview is with Liza of Love Dog Card Company, who was generous enough to donate cards to the goodie bags for last month's event.  Liza has a BFA in photography and makes fantastic cards using collage techniques.

Here's Liza in her own words!

Name: Liza Schiltz

What is your business name and how did you come up with it? Love Dog Card Company came from an old Valentine's Day card that I made many years ago and it just kind of stuck.

Website: lovedogcardcompany.etsy.com

What is it that you make? Unusual collages with a creepy retro feel that I print as greeting cards, I have prints too!

Where are you located? On an island off the coast of Maine

How and when did you get your start? I started making cards for friends and family over 10 years ago with a stack of old magazines and a color copier.  I started selling them in stores about 3 years ago and have sold them in shops in Maine, NYC, Tokyo and the U.K., and of course in my Etsy shop!

What inspires you? I get inspiration from everything! The smallest detail, a fleeting moment can inspire the look, color scheme and feel of my next creation.

What is your design process? I usually start with an image of a person from an old magazine and build on that. I create most of my collages by scanning the images and manipulating them in Photoshop.

What's your favorite thing about what you do? Least favorite? My favorite thing is when my work makes someone laugh, least favorite is not being able to find just the right image to create what's in my head.

What advice would you give to new indie businesses? I'm not sure I'm in the position to give anyone business advice! I would just say to keep doing what you love and promoting as much as possible. Oh, and try not to get too down when no one is buying, just keep at it!

Do you have anything new and exciting plans for your business or anything that you want people to know about? I've been experimenting with gel medium transfers and hope to have some non digital work available soon. More immediately I just listed some small holiday gift card sets in my Etsy store (shameless promotion).

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, living or  dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be? At the moment I would have to say anyone thin and rich who lives in a warm climate! Maybe Frida Kahlo, although that could be painful...

What is the last book you read? Right now I'm reading "Strange as this Weather Has Been"  by Ann Pancake.

What was the last movie you went to see? I can't even remember the last time I went out to the movies, but the last movie I rented was Quiet Loud Quiet, a documentary of the Pixies, best band ever!

What is your most memorable travel experience? Let's just say the Canadian border police told me not to come back to Canada! I was 16 and with my parents, dumb, dumb. But they did let us in for the weekend, gotta love the Canadians!

Do you have any pets? Yes, a Maine coon cat named Otto who's almost one year old.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Various craft projects, drink wine (or beer or whatever :)), and go treasure hunting at the beach, I have tons of beach glass and other beach junk that I WILL do something with someday!

What are your favorite blogs to read? Indie businesses to shop at?  Well I would love to buy so many things on Etsy.com but due to budget restraints...

What is your favorite food? Potatoes, in any form.

Favorite place to visit or place you'd like to visit? I love to go to Cape Cod, but it's been a while. I would love to visit the Pacific Northwest, Japan and Sweden.

Thanks, Liza!  That trip to Canada sounds pretty intriguing! 

Interview: Ezme Designs

This week's interview is with Chanda of Ezme Designs.  I had been a fan of Ezme Designs for some time and approached Chanda to be a vendor at the Mafia Made show and lucky for us, she participated!  I purchased one of her gorgeous Grace bowls at the show and was going to write a separate "Stuff I like" post about it, but an interview is much better!  I didn't get a chance to talk to Chanda much at the show, so I'm glad for the opportunity to learn a bit more about her. 

Read on for Chanda's story.... 

Name:  Chanda (rhymes with Panda) Beck

What is your business name and how did you come up with it?  Ezme Designs.  One of my favorite movies as a kid was "Foul Play" with Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase.  Goldie's next door neighbor, Burgess Meredith, has a snake named Ezme (actually spelled Esme -- oops!).  The movie is significant to me not only because it is hysterical but because Goldie Hawn's character is a librarian-- I used to work in the library; it is based in SF and I live well in Oakland really. . . and a number of other reasons.  The clincher though was laying on the couch one night feeling really depressed working full time, Monday through Friday 8-5 and flipping on the TV at 2am.  Not only was "Foul Play" on but the scene where Ezme (sic) the snake is laughing was on (no kidding the snake laughs!).  That was it, I had my business name and I made a decision to quit my job and attend school full time for a second Bachelor's degree in Ceramics.

Website: www.ezmedesigns.com

What is it that you make?  Objects made out of clay -- right now it is mainly functional ware like plates, cups, bowls, necklaces, etc but I also work in abstract sculpture.  I am part of a women's group working in the theme of multiples called "Wash Rinse Repeat".  The group keeps me making sculptures when sometimes I feel like I am too busy with my functional art so I am grateful for the nudge. 

Where are you originally from and where are you located now?  Born and raised in Sparks, Nevada (aka Reno)!  I lived in Portland and Seattle for a couple of formative years but got suicidal by the lack of sun being a desert girl and all.  I fell in love with my high school friend's next door neighbor who lives in Oakland, CA so that's where I ended up and live now eight years later!

How and when did you get your start?  I have always had my hands in something artistic and actually started by painting acrylics on terra cotta pots in college to pass the time!  Hahaha!  I've made it full circle!  I started obsessively taking classes in photography, jewelry, woodworking, welding, textiles, mosaicicking,  drawing, etc.  -- anything I could get my hands on!  I ended up taking a ceramics class through The Learning Annex of all places in Seattle and everything just clicked.  I threw pottery for a couple of years and when I moved to the Bay Area, I took a Ceramic Sculpture class at Merritt Community College and saw stars in front of my eyes as I was so in love.  I bit the bullet, took out massive school loans, quit my job and attended the California College of Arts (and Crafts) in Oakland, CA for a second Bachelors degree in Ceramics (previously attended University of Nevada, Reno for a degree in Anthropology and Photography).  After a couple years out of art school, I got "laid off" from my waitressing job, bit the bullet again and threw myself into making a line of functional ceramic ware.

What inspires you? EVERYTHING can be inspiring!!!!  But to be more specific I love flowers, seed pods, Asian art, bonsai trees, textiles and the book, The Secret Life of Plants, which to grossly oversimplify encouraged housewives of the seventies to start speaking to their plants.  Stevie Wonder did the soundtrack to the movie and I saw him perform this year in Concord.  He's pretty freaking inspiring!  I like to read magazines and I tear out pictures for inspiration that once every six months, I obsessively glue into a binder that I then don't look at for another six months!

What is your design process?   I am constantly (probably at an unhealthy level) obsessing about art and design and I randomly doodle. To actually design something new, I have to thank having my own business! I stay up regularly until 3am and pretend to sleep until 11am or so.  I usually am actually awake at 9am or 10am and during that hour or two I am actively designing and creating in my head.  It's best for me because I am still fresh, not distracted (my boyfriend even thinks I am still asleep) and I am not open to self criticism because I am still too tired!!  Then I jump out of bed and jot down my ideas.  Maybe one idea in three months will actually even get made into a relative prototype.  I have books and books full of ideas so that is one of my biggest frustration.  I need more time!!!

What's your favorite thing about what you do? Freedom in my schedule, Zen moments that I have with the clay, and infiltrating other people's houses with something that I hope brings pleasure to people.  Least favorite?  Sanding the clay for hours!!!!  So dusty and my back kills afterward.   I am not big on financial stuff either.

What advice would you give to new indie businesses?  In the Bay Area, there is an organization called The Women's Initiative for Self Employment that offers classes to women starting their own business and I highly recommend them.  Other than that my advice is take classes, read books, magazines, talk to people, work for other artists -- anything you have to do to learn everything you can!  Conquer your fear, self-doubt and most of all persist, persist, persist and work your butt off.  The people that make it in this world aren't better at art, they don't have better ideas, they aren't smarter than you; they just don't give up and they don't second guess themselves all the time.

Do you have anything new and exciting plans for your business or anything that you want people to know about?  I am constantly adding new products!  I would love to make some planters and I have some necklace ideas in the works.

What is the last book you read?  The final Lemony Snicket book and notice the name of my business is Ezme not Esme like the horrible woman in the Lemony Snicket books.  I had my business name before I read the first book.

What was the last movie you went to see?  The Darjeeling Limited.  I liked Royal Tennenbaums better but you really can't go too wrong with Wes Anderson.

What is your most memorable travel experience?  I am very lucky in that I am an only child and my mom loves to travel and has taken me all over the world from the age of five.  My mom was born in Australia so that was my first trip out of the country.   I have been to every continent except South America (got close though in Belize and Guatemala) and the Antarctic.  I really can't pick one experience that stands out above the others because I have seen some mind blowing things but I sure do love snorkeling

Do you have any pets? I have two kitties, Sukie a very, very chubby cat and Mortimer who thinks he is a dog and has horrendous allergies.  We also have a saltwater tank with a very angry looking fish named Roman.  I have a problem with people who don't have pets or plants.  I am not sure they can be trusted...

What do you like to do in your spare time?  Sleep!!!!!!!!!!  Then drink wine, watch way too much tv and play way too many video games.

What are your favorite blogs to read?  Design*Sponge. Indie businesses to shop at?  I am on a very strict budget and am not allowed to shop.  I am not sure I can even open that can of worms.

What is your favorite food?  I am gluten intolerant and allergic to pretty much everything else I touch but if I am going to throw caution to the wind, I would eat a Nations Lettuce Wrap Bacon Cheeseburger, a side of fries and when I get home a hearty glass of Cabernet.  If I am indulging, I love filet mignon medium rare and broccoli is the best vegetable; although, I have a new found obsession for brussel sprouts!   I am so sorry vegetarians!  I had my ten years of vegetarian eating but hey I am allergic to beans, dairy and soy!  SORRY!!

Favorite place to visit or place you'd like to visit?  When I vacation, I love most of all really warm humid muggy tropical islands with snorkeling right off the beach.  That said I really do love New Zealand!

Thanks, Chanda!

Be sure to visit Ezme Designs and find that perfect Christmas gift.  And of course, something for yourself!