Meeting The Makers « oh my! handmade goodness

Meeting The Makers

Meeting The Makers: Tara of Ephemera Press

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

I’m thrilled that Tara Bliven of Ephemera is joining us on OMHG today. I first came across Ephemera last summer when I caught wind of Tara’s passion project, The Elevated Envelope, and I’ve kept her on my radar ever since. Because – free flowing letterpress, gorgeous calligraphy and the promise of a mailbox full of art, not bills – what’s not to love?!! Plus Tara’s work is full of character, colour, and plenty of love. Just how we like it around here! I invited Tara to swing by and tell us about her business, inspirations and why she wants to inspire to world (or at least YOU) to step away from our computers, get our hands dirty and send some mail already! Without further ado, let’s meet Tara:

Hi Tara! Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and Ephemera?

I live and work in a fixer-upper on a wooded acre about 20 minutes outside of Seattle with my awesome husband, Dave, and our 2 fluffy gray cats, Henry and Clementine. I started Ephemera in 2006, and make a lot of custom stationery – everything from personalized note cards (my favorite) to creative business stationery and wedding invitations. I also do calligraphy (mostly pointed pen), and a lot of my work features my own hand lettering. Lately I’ve changed it up a bit – focusing on projects that are FUN (rather than formal) and feature only my own design and illustration. My “official” business name is now Ephemera – Liberated Letterpress. I like it when things are not so serious ;)

What inspires you?

Well I definitely feel inspired by all the beautiful mail in my mailbox these days! There are too many ideas landing on my doorstep. Literally. Other than that, traveling always inspires me – I haven’t done as much of it in the last couple of years as I would like, but even a quick weekend trip really refreshes me and allows new ideas to pop into my head. I get inspired by nature.

With running your own business, there are always highs and lows. What do you love / not love about being in business with yourself?

I do mostly love it – the autonomy, the ability to say no to work that’s not a good fit. I like being able to just decide things. With that said, it is a lot of hats to wear, and I’m not an expert at everything (shocking!), so I don’t know if I’m deciding the right thing a lot of the time!

What is the most important thing you’ve learnt so far in running your own creative business?

Working by yourself is hard. Nothing exists in a vacuum. And you’ll go insane without the occasional happy hour. So don’t do it! When you don’t have coworkers, you have to find a way to make a team. Reach out to other creative people in your industry. The Seattle wedding industry happens to be very warm and fuzzy, so I’m friendly with not only other letterpress / paper people, but photographers, florists, etc. Find SMART people you LIKE, and meet up regularly to talk shop or just grab lunch. You’ll be amazed at the ideas that flow and the doors that open. (Not to mention the friends you’ll make.) And when you talk with someone about a crazy idea you have (oh, like The Elevated Envelope!), and they get excited and give you feedback, it propels you to move forward with it and keeps you accountable.

Clockwise from top left: Teresa Banman, Tara Bliven, Debbie Osborn, Tara Bliven

What is The Elevated Envelope project? What inspired you to start it?

The Elevated Envelope is an artistic snail mail exchange that harkens back to those olden times when you had something better than bills in your mailbox. Remember that??? Anyone creative who feels they can “bring it” can sign up to swap beautiful envelopes with like-minded strangers all over the world. It’s a ton of fun!

What inspired The Elevated Envelope? That’s a story that could get long. Suffice it to say there’s a certain envelope postmarked 1995 that’s pretty much my prized possession. You can read the whole story here if you have a little time. (It’s a good story.) Basically, the significance of that envelope, combined with me missing all my old pen pals, and the fact that I love art and calligraphy all swam around in my head until The Elevated Envelope popped out.

It must be an amazing experience to connect with people around the world via mail art (and to have your mailbox full of pretty mail!). For you, what is the greatest takeaway from the Elevated Envelope experience?

Yes, it is really awesome to get such beautiful mail (and so much of it – there are 255 people in the current exchange)!

I’d say the greatest take-away is that it gets people to do something different or out of their comfort zone. Yes, I get a lot of sign-ups (and impressive envelopes) from serious artists or designers, but it’s equally thrilling to get someone who in their “about me” states, “I’ve never done anything like this before…” I mean, an envelope can be pretty tiny. It’s not this huge commitment. It’s an easy way to try something out. All those arty projects you have pinned on Pinterest? Step away from the computer and actually give one of them a go – but just small. On an envelope. Then slap a stamp on there and drop it into a mailbox. Send it out into the world – that’s an important step. Doesn’t matter if it’s to a stranger on your swap list, or a friend you’ve known for 20 years – something about the sending makes what you did become Real. And then it’s addictive. What else can I do?

Could you share your favourite envelope (or envelopes) received from the project. What do you love about it/them?

I really shouldn’t pick favorites, and I couldn’t even if I wanted to! But here are 3 from our current exchange that I’m digging especially at the moment:

A) Bedfordshire Lace Envelope by Kayte Judge from Bedford, UK. This one is special because of all the ways she found to use one piece of lace to create different images, using different techniques (photocopying, sunprints, hand-cut linoprints) – and because all of them were done for this project. She sought out the help of an actual lace-maker and local printmaker. Just for The Elevated Envelope (which is, really, for no reason at all). That’s just kind of fantastic.

B) Garden-Inspired Watercolor Envelope by E.M. Corsa from North Carolina. This is a reproduction of an 1800’s garden map that was then turned into an envelope, and has a beautiful moth watercolor atop it. I love the tiny detailing on the sunshine (gold thread as the rays). But the most incredible part about it is that it’s a series. She painted eleven different watercolors of creatures from her garden for each person on her list. Eleven.

C) Springtime Doodled Envelope by Julie Goette from Missouri. This is a favorite because of its simplicity. Obviously Julie has talent, but what can be done with various Micron pens and markers can be really quite something. Start here.

Visit Tara over at Ephemera for lovely letterpressed goods & custom calligraphy stamps, check out The Elevated Envelope blog for mail art inspiration or connect via Facebook and Twitter. Interested in the next round of The Elevated Envelope? You can read all about the project here! Sign ups are ongoing, but the next round begins June 1st.

Meeting the Makers: Erin Druez

Friday, April 20, 2012

little shop of crochets, erin druez, meeting the makers

We write a lot about growing your business the way that is right for you. You might want to run your biz full time and be the biggest thing since sliced bread, that’s cool! Or you might want to have a little creative outlet where you can showcase your skill part time. Maybe you are aiming for a middle ground. Either way, whether you want to be tiny or gigantical, presentation matters. Today I want to share an Etsy shop that is definitely little, with under 20 sales, but has the class & style of a much bigger business. I was ambling through Etsy land a few months ago when I stumbled across The Little Shop of Crochets. The products were lovely but what kept me flipping through every listing was the pictures! They could be taken straight out of a United Colors of Benetton ad-all the faces were so diverse and full of fun and character. It made me want to know more! So I emailed the shop owner Erin and asked her to come visit us to tell the story of her business. Internet synchronicity being the magic that it is, turns out we had a bunch in common, and Erin has a pile to teach us about staying small but playing big at the same time.

Hi Erin-thanks for visiting us and sharing your beautiful shop, please tell us a bit about yourself and your handmade goodness!

Hello! I am a dorky, overambitious, silly, spontaneous, Sagittarius, clean-freak who takes on far too many hobbies … and this is just one of them. I suppose you could say it all started when my grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was quite young, or when we bought our first home and I became quite crafty with the curtain sewing and other oddball projects, but honestly it’s probably the year I decided to be a total cheapskate for Christmas. My husband used to buy every distant relative something for Christmas and ship it off to all corners of the globe, which I thought was already too much effort, especially since getting married the picking and choosing of gifts had more or less fallen upon me. And then just try to find something for less than $10 during the holidays! So I thought up the brilliant idea (so I believed at the time) of making each of them a scarf!! Plus I figured how much could it be to ship something that weighs less than a pound? Turns out over $100 because the time it takes to crochet 34 scarves takes you just about til Christmas Eve if you come up with the idea right around Thanksgiving. Still, it was a pretty major success gift-giving-wise. So when the holidays were over that year, I realized I was simply having too much fun to stop.

I get lots of maker submissions for OMHG but this time I reached out to you-your photographs completely drew me in. I found myself clicking through one after the other to see the different models. They all look so interesting! I think the best product photos tell a story and make you want to know more so I wanted to share your thoughts on this with our readers. How did you end up deciding to show off your work in this creative way?

I agree that the right photo really sells a product!! Sometimes I get a note from someone on Etsy saying they just love my model or a pose or I made them laugh or think about something, and that is the best compliment. I knew the minute that I wanted to sell on Etsy that I would need to have amazing photos. So I pulled together all of my friends to help me. My friend Beau is my photographer. He takes stunning pictures and he knows a lot about lighting and has all the props. He whipped out the fan for this one. My husband is in there too, just to the right or left, holding the bounce card. My beautiful friends do the modeling and I do all the directing. I tell them to do the “sexy chilly” pose or strike the “rock on”, and we laugh and laugh and laugh. That is completely the point of this for me, to have fun!!

Sometimes I just know when we’ve hit it. This is one of my favorite photos. A cowl is the same all the way around, so I thought why not shoot it from the back, looking out onto our fabulous city!! I think it’s edgy and cool. It’s thought provoking. It made my heart skip a beat. That’s how I knew it was a winner.

Who are the lovely folk in your pictures? Did you set out with the plan of showcasing your designs on a diverse group of models or did it just happen that way?

All of the models in my shop are my friends!! I am so last minute, I think when we’ve done these photo sessions, I send out mass emails about two days before and whoever is free winds up modeling for the day! I do try to spread the love if I can because I really like that I have a lot of different models. And I think the word is spreading amongst our circle of friends that we have a pretty good time. In fact, I usually buy champagne and lunch and try to make it a little glam, tell them to channel their inner Top Model and just have fun with it. I have an amazing group of friends, who are all such beautiful people, with amazing personalities, and count myself lucky to have them.

Do you have a background in photography? So many of your pictures are beautifully done, this one is just stunning! As a very amateur photographer I know it often takes 100′s of pictures to get one you love.

I have always loved photography, especially fashion photography. I remember photos I have been inspired by and I try to work those ideas in when I can. And believe me, there are a lot of them!! I still have some of my Vogue magazines, back from when I subscribed regularly in junior high and high school. You may not know it by the “mom” fashion sense I have nowadays, but I’ve always been addicted to the photos. And honestly, sometimes we have a plan and a photo turns out just the way we envision, but a great deal of the time we rely on inspiration and spontaneity … and that can come from anywhere. Take for example, this particular photo. My friend Debbie, who is the model, told me just that morning that she put in her extensions for me and her big modeling day (sorry Debbie for the reveal). And that’s when I knew that we had to show it off, get in some wild hair flipping and do this whole sexy thing. Plus, she’s so perfect for that! I mean, she’s gorgeous. Funny thing though, the photo we used was actually the very first hair flip we shot.

Any tips or tricks to share with designers wanting to photograph their work creatively?

Have fun!! I think if you are having a good time, the mood will be evident. And bring along someone who makes you laugh!! For me, that’s my husband. Here he is, with no modeling advice from me, just having a grand old time. Oh, and that’s another point! Make the men model. The men come up with the most silly, outrageous stuff, and it always makes for a great day!!

You mentioned to me that your business is little, your shop name even says so! Even though your biz is small you have obviously taken care to present it thoughtfully. Can you give us a bit of insight into your branding and the feeling you want visitors to take away when they check out your shop?

Well, my shop name is actually the connection to my other life. My “real” job is as an assistant editor in television. I knew I wanted a play on a movie title to reflect that, so I went with Little Shop of Horrors and changed it to Little Shop of Crochets. It is silly and ridiculous and I love it, so it seemed quite fitting. Without giving too much away, there is my little storefront with some focus on my flower in the large pot. I asked Stasia Burrington (another amazing Etsy shop owner) to do the banner sketch for me, and she happily included the motorcycle out front too. But don’t worry, I love our dentist and he’s okay!!

I really like that I am a small shop. Etsy may not like to hear this, but I don’t want to quit my day job. I love it!! But I love crochet too. I think if I got too big then I wouldn’t be able to take on custom orders with a good turnaround. I pride myself on quality work!! I never want to be so big I feel pressured to rush through anything. I work fast, but I work well, and I stand behind everything I make. I want people to feel excited about a purchase, to look forward to having it arrive on their doorstep, and when they do open their package that they find it more beautiful in person than in the photo. I want people to enjoy wearing my things. I want them to feel soft and cozy, fashionable … and most of all happy!

.
Where can we find you?! Do you spread your handmade goodness around on Twitter, Facebook or your own blog?

Unfortunately I do not Twitter or Facebook even though all (and I mean ALL) of my friends are telling me I need to. You can still find me on Etsy in my “little shop” and if I’m not on a show, you have a pretty good chance of finding me a couple days a week at the corner table at Europane Bakery, my favorite Pasadena addiction. =)

Meeting the Makers: Matt Snow of Ex-Boyfriend

Saturday, April 14, 2012

matt snow, ex-boyfriend, meeting the makers

Time for a different kind of Meeting the Makers feature! Today we are hanging out with Matt of Ex-Boyfriend and learning about the business he created with his wife Meredith. They have lots of fun & funny goodies in their shop including some spacey designs that are just perfect for our theme this month. Ex-Boyfriend also has a great passion project supporting the SPCA-100% of the net proceeds of any purchase of an art print, magnet or keychain bottle opener made today will be donated to help homeless animals.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

Well, my name is Matt Snow. I’m 31, a Virgo, and love art, music, baseball, and animals. I studied graphic design at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and live in Baltimore, Maryland with my wife Meredith and our three cats, Oliver, Bigby, and Penelope. I’m the owner and designer at Ex-Boyfriend, a clothing, accessories, and housewares label.

When and why did you start Ex-Boyfriend?

My wife and I actually started Ex-Boyfriend back in late 2005 in a very different format. It was really more of a vehicle for Meredith’s handicrafts, which always got compliments from both our friends & family, but also complete strangers. At the time, we focused mostly on belt buckles, duct tape wallets, shrinky-dink magnets, “Japanese pop art” rings, and decorative bracelets made out of recycled beer cans. We just figured that we enjoyed making these things anyway, so we might as well make a little money off it if possible.

From there, we slowly got away from that stuff and started incorporating more of my illustrations into the designs, had some shirts screen printed, and just went from there. I will say that the “official” genesis of Ex-Boyfriend as it exists now was early 2009.

I know you get asked this a lot, but what’s the story behind the name?

I HATE this question because you’re absolutely right — I get asked about it by pretty much everyone I meet, and the answer is pretty boring and long-winded. The easy answer is that there IS no story; it’s just a flirty, catchy, and memorable brand name, like Apple or something.

The real answer is that an ex of Meredith’s left behind a t-shirt that she tailored and embellished for herself, and always got compliments on it. Whenever people asked where she got it, she said “It’s my ex-boyfriend’s t-shirt.” She actually had the idea for the name of the company even before we decided to start it!

How would you describe Ex-Boyfriend’s overall aesthetic?

“Dadaist pop culture bouillabaisse”? There are a lot of influences to my designs, but they all sort of get filtered through an absurdist lens. We try to come up with concepts that are clever and funny, but not so “inside-jokey” that they can’t be enjoyed on their own merits.

Do you consider yourself more of a designer or more of an illustrator?

Yeesh…definitely an illustrator. Meredith is actually the ideas person — she gives me a concept and a couple reference images, and I flesh it out from there — as well as being the final arbiter of when a design is complete. She’s very good at tightening up flawed compositions and helping me figure out how to configure the individual elements in a design.

List some of your biggest inspirations:

Gah! So many! Art nouveau, art deco, de Stijl, pop art, atomic age stuff, pulp novel covers, Communist propaganda posters, Silver Age comics, animals (specifically my cats, but I love them all), my wife, my grandmother, music, John Waters films, John Hughes movies (pre-Curly Sue), John Cusack’s roles in the early-mid 1980s… the list could go on forever, I think!

What do you have in store for 2012?

Well, right now Ex-Boyfriend is running a fundraising promotion for the Maryland SPCA: now through April 15th, we’re donating 100% of the net proceeds from the sales of our art prints, magnets, and keychain bottle openers to the MD SPCA in honor of April being National Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month.

The art prints are actually a new addition to our product line, and we’re hoping to add some more new stuff this summer, like wallets, fun stationery, and of course new designs!

We’re also gearing up for a busy show season, trekking all over the eastern half of the U.S. If anyone would like to stop by our booth for free swag or just to say “hi”, they can get details (and coupon codes!) from our Facebook page or by signing up for our monthly email newsletter on our website!

Thanks for visiting us & sharing your story with us Matt!

Meeting the Makers: Shore Society

Saturday, March 24, 2012

shore society, rachael novak, meeting the makers

Happy weekend friends! Today we are visiting with Rachael Novak of Shore Society and getting to know the maker behind her sweet illustrations and prints. Rachael is a madly talented designer & illustrator with a beautiful style (check out her portfolio for a look at her awesome skills!). Rachael hangs out with us to share her work, creative space and artistic inspiration and a peek into her life as a full time creator of handmade goodness. Thanks for sharing your awesomeness with us Rachael!

Hi Rachael, welcome to OMHG, please tell us a bit about yourself!

I’m Rachael, I love gummy bears, painting my nails, and if left unsupervised, could eat a whole box of Cheez-Its in one sitting. I am pretty silly and I also have a bit of a guttermouth—somehow I was never punished with a swear jar! I live in Cleveland in an apartment with bright green walls. I have a BFA in Graphic Design from Kent State, which I finished in 2008. I’ve always known that I wanted to an artist of some sort, so I’m really grateful that I get to do what I love. Right now, I design cards for American Greetings as my day job, and run Shore Society and do commissions in my own time.

So, when did you start Shore Society?

Although Shore Society just recently got its (official) name, I’ve been growing my side business for the last couple of years. My first “break” came with a gallery show, then shortly after I participated in Made in the 216, Cleveland’s local handmade event. Ever since, I’ve continued selling at Made in the 216, and expanded to sell my product at a few other local shops. My online sales have also grown by continuing to sell on Etsy and partnering with Poppytalk Handmade in this year’s Holiday Market. It’s amazing to be a part of the handmade community—everyone’s been so nice and supportive.

How would you describe your work?

My illustrations are sweet and a little quirky, and usually inspired by animals, words and lettering, and everything nautical (I could stare at boats on the water for hours!). I love Cleveland and love the Midwest so I think my work always reflects that attitude—of friendliness and warmth with a hard-working edge. Process-wise, I typically draw or paint by hand and then do some editing to my art digitally.

Did you ever have an “aha” moment along your journey?

Probably too many to count! But I think my biggest lightning bolt moment was a combination of 1) realizing I didn’t want a traditional agency-type design job, and 2) discovering that I can grow a viable side business that fills my need to create on my own terms. You can’t count on the right job or the right company to make it happen for you. Not only do I feel more in-control of my future, but I feel more satisfied that I’m accountable for my mistakes and successes—no one else is. My philosophy is “if your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it.”

You call yourself a designer and illustrator. Which hat do wear most?

I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive—I think having a designer’s sensibility makes my illustration work stronger. So they work together! I still do traditional print design, but try to lend a hand-done touch to everything. If I’m working on a logo or design project, the more I can draw it, the better. I like to hand-draw my lettering whenever possible. A lot of my early experience involved nudging type around on a computer…I mean, I’m a slave to the details, but that’s just not my style. I like to make bigger moves. Do it by hand, blow it up, paint it differently, crumple it up if it sucks. I need that action to feel like I’m doing something.

Do you have your own studio? What is your workspace like?

I wish I had more of a studio, but right now I work from my own little corner of our apartment. With the limited space we have, I’ve actually been challenged to organize and condense all of my supplies and tools (which is a lot)! I have a wide-format inkjet printer that I use to print my illustrations, and I use a Wacom tablet for drawing digitally and editing. It’s a total full-service corner office! So for now, I have a little home studio, but hope to someday have a full room at home or a space to rent and share with other designers.

What do you like to do when you’re not designing?

I love to cook and bake, but if I’m not cooking for myself, my boyfriend and I love to go out to eat. There are so many great restaurants around here so it’s tempting to go out every night. In the summer and fall, I spend a lot of time outside and by the lake, watching boats, having a beer, riding bikes. Summer around here is a total blast. Other times when I need a break, I also like to go to my mom’s house to see her dogs, they always brighten my day!

So what’s next for Shore Society?

A lot, I hope! I have actually been picking up more pet portraits lately, so that’s a surprising and very welcome development. I love animals and drawing other people’s pets is fun for me. I also hope to partner with a few other online shops, as well as have my work carried in a few more stores. There are some other really exciting things coming up that I unfortunately can’t share quite yet, but I assure you you’ll be hearing more from me this year! Shore Society grew a lot last year and I’m doing everything I can to make 2012 even better!

Say hi to Rachael here in the comments + connect with her online:

<<SHOP>> << BLOG>> << TWITTER>> <<PORTFOLIO>>

Meeting the Makers: Rajshel of Jane Hancock Papers

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Editor’s note: I invited Rajshel of Jane Hancock Papers to share her story when she reached out to tell me about her Kickstarter project and her beautiful work. Whenever possible I ask makers to tell us their stories from the heart so we can learn, share, and connect with them, I am always so happy when I am taken up on the offer! Rajshel’s passion to build her business and do the work that she loves shines through-in her words and her lovely handmade designs. I am happy to contribute $25 to her Kickstarter project in exchange for helping her reach her goal of taking her designs to NSS this year + some handmade goodies too! Read on to learn about her story & how you can support her business goals too!

Meeting the Makers guest post by Rajshel Juhan of Jane Hancock Papers

I never planned on being a stay-at-home mom. When I graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta with my BFA in graphic design, I was so excited. I’m one of the first people in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree. I was ready to work, but after three years as the assistant creative director of a local lifestyle magazine, I found myself laid off and just two weeks from my due date. I knew hitting the pavement and looking for another full-time job would have to wait.

Shortly after giving birth to my son, I started working as a dispatcher for my husband’s towing company, which allowed me to work from home and spend more time with my two children. That was nice, but I was ready to be creative again. The year prior, I had launched Jane Hancock Papers, my own line of whimsical paper products. I had taken several printmaking courses focusing on letterpress and screen-printing and used those printing techniques when producing my product creating notebooks, note cards, bookmarks, coasters and more. Each item had a modern yet funky style to it. I enjoy pairing colors and design elements that were a little off the beaten path, but alas this had become more of a hobby.

When my son turned a year old, I decided to put all of my efforts into the business and make it successful. I participated in 17 different craft shows and put more designs for sale on Etsy. My sales went up, but not at the level I wanted it to be. I went back to the drawing board and worked on my marketing. I had my product photographed by a great lady I met through Twitter, put together a catalog, and hit the streets for wholesale accounts. I saw some success, and by the end of the year, some of my designs had been featured in books, blogs and magazines. I felt accomplished when I received my first two wholesale orders and was hungry for more.

In the back of my head, I always knew that I had to get my work displayed at the National Stationery Show (NSS) in New York City. That’s where all the buyers come to check out the latest and greatest, and if I’m going to build a stationery empire, I need to attend. The NSS is no easy feat, however; the booth cost alone is almost $2,000. I needed some help.

On Feb. 20, I launched my Kickstarter campaign hoping to raise at least $7,000 in just 34 days. As I write this, I still need to raise $5,700. While this may seem impossible, I feel confident knowing that pledges add up like drops of water in a bucket. Kickstarter uses an all or nothing funding system, so if I don’t raise the full amount, the backers keep their money. That being said, if just 230 more people pledge $25, I’ll reach my goal. The cool thing about Kickstarter is that you’re not just handing over your hard-earned money with nothing in return. I have set up several different reward levels from a 5×7 wall print to a tote bag, an entire stationery starter kit or your own custom letterpress business cards. I hope you will all take a moment to look over my campaign, help spread the word and maybe even make a pledge. No amount goes unappreciated. Pledge a dollar and I’ll still give you a shout out on twitter and add your name to a plaque that will hang in my NSS booth.

Click here or on the image below to visit Rajshel’s Kickstarter campaign & help her reach her business goals-the campaign ends this Saturday, we can do it!

Meeting the Makers: Justine of lovemaki

Sunday, March 18, 2012

lovemaki, Justine Cajanding, meeting the makers

Gorgeous design, ethereal pictures, and beautiful products=Sunday goodness from Justine of lovemaki! Justine stops by to offer us a peek into her busy life as a mama, artist and business woman, something I know many OMHG readers can relate to. A visit to the lovemaki shop instantly transports us to a dreamy world filled with soft light and handmade sweetness for little ones (and their big ones too). Justine has created a lovely curated space to showcase her designs and I am so happy for the chance to share her loveliness with you!

Welcome Justine! Thank you so much for coming to visit Oh My! Handmade to share your lovely world with us. Please tell us about lovemaki and what inspired its creation.

lovemaki started when I, (like a lot of other mothers-to-be) began searching the web for furniture and decor for my first child. These searches introduced me to some of my favourite blogs today and the sheer assortment of products out there for a child. Needless to say, I was inspired. I decided to make an ABC poster and a numbers print (which you can find in the shop) for him. I also made a mobile for him, which is probably my most favourite thing I’ve made, to date. Over a year after he was born, and some factors later, I decided to launch a shop on Etsy.

Everything about your brand is beautiful-from the logo and website to your stunning photographs, how have you built your business to where it is now?

It has really been a slow progression. My photos and branding in the very beginning certainly didn’t look the way they look now. There’s been quite an improvement and there’s room for more. Apart from designing and making the things that go in the shop, I’m also the photographer, and web & graphic designer. So getting things done, you can imagine, can take quite a while. It’s also challenging for me as I’ve never been one to be organized with my time, or just simply be organized. Things can get a bit overwhelming, since a lot of the times, ideas are constantly running in my head – whether it be for a new product, or how to style a product, and a whole lot of things. It’s like, ‘where do I even start?!’

There is a lot of trial and error that came when starting my own business. It hasn’t been easy and it’s constantly a learning curve for me.

We love seeing where makers work their magic and as a former interior designer I am sure you have made an inspiring place to create. Can you give us a little peek at your workspace or home?

One would think! My initial “studio” space was actually in the basement which lacked natural light. I have since moved my sewing machine to a corner in my bedroom (which is also the location for my product shoots, due to the fact that it’s the only place that gets washed with beautiful natural light in the morning). I mix my corner up a bit by frequently changing the images taped on the wall, depending on what inspires me at the moment. Sometimes, I like to leave it blank.

You also juggle creativity and motherhood, in fact your shop is named after your adorable son, can you share with us how you work to balance mothering and business?

To be honest, I’m still trying to figure out a balance. My son is with me throughout the whole day, and so trying to find time to do any work is challenging. For most of the time, I work on lovemaki in the middle of the night when he is sleeping. I squeeze in time to answer e-mails while he’s busy and content playing on his own – though I have been tempted to send e-mails at 3 in the morning;)

Luckily, he enters kindergarten this September, so I am very much looking forward to that!

What is next for you and lovemaki? Are you planning new products, adventures or projects?

I am definitely planning new products. I recently started to offer my photographic prints. I’ve also expanded the shop and created scarves for little ones that are hand-dyed and hand-printed. I’m always dreaming up of new things for lovemaki, so expect the shop to expand.
I’ve also just updated my website, which I’m pretty happy about. In terms of other projects, I’ve recently started taking clients for photography. I’ll be photographing my first wedding this March, so that’s an adventure in itself! :)

<<SHOP>> <<BLOG>> << FACEBOOK>> << TWITTER>>

Leaping into Love with Lunenburg

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

I am ending our month of Loving It Up on OMHG with my very own swan dive-thank you Tracey Selingo for having a piece of my safety net incase I go down in a blazing hot mess. I’ve got your book printed out and will keep it close while I jump. Also thanks to Laura Simms, your Roadmap to Action helped me get clear on where I am driving to not just the road I am on.

Until moving to Halifax I always felt like I had a community where I was valued. We’ve been here four years in January and I still haven’t found that sense of place. I’ve met some lovely friends here like Chara and Andrea who keep me from hopping on a plane but I’ve been feeling a need to leave/leap. I just didn’t know where. One place had been calling to me since we moved here so I asked Chris to take me to Lunenburg as a birthday present. It sounded lovely and I knew there was a thriving artistic community, a nearby Waldorf school, and heritage carpentry to interest Chris. Homeschooling Ila since our public school issues also had me looking for a place she could shine and the company of other like minded parents.

My birthday was the most beautiful day and we stopped in The Lunenburg Makery to check out their space in person. We had a great visit and I left my name and contact info just incase. It felt so good to spend my birthday talking and engaging with creative people-doing what makes me so happy online in person again. I came home to percolate on the idea of moving and covet houses.

When I threw my mother a New Year’s birthday party I sent out over 50 invites to everyone I had met in Halifax as a last ditch attempt at connecting here. Sadly only two of our invited guests and Chris’s parents came. Midnight found my mother and I talking late into the night drinking champagne alone. I decided that night it was time to move somewhere again that when I throw a party the house is full of friends. Imagine how thrilled I was when after all our talk about moving I got an email from Leslie, owner of The Lunenburg Makery and Luvly in Lunenburg and partner at Novita Consulting, an amazing and inspiring woman! We had a lovely visit at my house and she arranged for the girls and I to visit Lunenburg last week and stay at the fabulous Lincoln apartment above Jenny Jib.

Leslie planned meetings, gatherings and get-togethers with so many incredible people during our visit. Poor Chris stayed home to start getting our house ready to put on the market. My week in Lunenburg would decide whether we leapt into a new town here or started looking at going back west. My mother came to Lunenburg with me to help out with the girls and share her mamasita intuition (I try not to leap without it!).

Going to Lunenburg felt like coming home. There were visits and dinners with lots of laughter, friends to hold little hands, long talks about life, the universe, and everything. By the end of the week I couldn’t walk down the main street without seeing people and stopping to chat. Wednesday I had a lovely lunch with Micheline of Betty & Bing, who made this beautiful pie with font-y goodness outside and blueberry-y goodness inside.

That night I met with the Castaways knitting group at The Makery (I even stayed out until after 11pm!) an eclectic group of fibre lovers organized by Micheline. Thursday we spent the morning at the local market, hosted our #omhg chat from The Makery and I was part of the launch of their Craft, Paper, Scissors event where I met a great bunch of creative and interesting women. I wanted to steal all of them for one-on-one visiting!

On Friday Leslie and her inspirational and wonderful partner Brian, arranged a Makers Meal potluck and packed the room full of intelligent and creative people. Saturday I had coffee with Elisabeth a homeschooling, minister turned published cookbook author who welcomed my crazed kiddos to her home and sent me home with a copy of her book (yum!). I met artists, writers, musicians, editors, website developers, creative biz owners and so many more interesting people with diverse ideas and talents. There were discussions about building sustainable creative communities, the power of creativity, and the warmest feeling of acceptance and welcome. I had a busier social life and more hugs in one week there then a whole year in Halifax!

Coming back to the city left all of us feeling homesick for a place we haven’t even lived counting the hours until we can find our way back. I couldn’t choose just one picture of our visit so have fun adventuring through town with us in the gallery below-click through for full sized pictures.

The icing on the cake is that Lunenburg is the most beautiful town any creative soul could wish to be part of. There is a sense of history and respect for handmade heritage everywhere without ever feeling like an anachronism or a quaint cliche tourist town. It is a vibrant and alive community full of people committed to building a wonderful place to live and preserving the culture of their town. Like all communities it has its quirks and downsides, our online world does too (we’ll be leaping into that together for our Entrepreneur Ethics theme coming up tomorrow!) but it is a place I can see loving for years to come and one I hope will love us right back. Our house in Halifax is in mid-renovation and feels like we are tearing down our stuck feelings and making space for new beginnings. I’m leaping into love with Lunenburg with all of my heart-I’m going to work out the landing on the way, thankfully I have you along for the ride!

above: words of wisdom at Sweet Indulgence-failure always tastes better with cheesecake!

Have you ever taken a giant leap of faith on a community or a dream? What worked/didn’t work-would you do it again?

The biggest thanks of all time to Leslie & Brian for welcoming us to Lunenburg with open arms and gratitude to the wonderful new friends we made during our stay. Thank you bouquet of flowers made with beautiful papers from Carte Fini crepe paper!

Adriana’s Aeolidia Extreme Business Makeover!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Last night Hollywood had it’s award ceremony and today we get to have a celebration of our very own! Dim the lights, pass out the popcorn, and get ready to witness an amazing transformation. Adriana Willsie entered our New Biz/New Year giveaway in December because she was ready to make 2012 her year and to build a business that would support her while she did the work of her dreams. We were won over by her contagious optimism, bright engaging smile, and the obvious joy she brings to her work. I dare you to watch her entry without smiling. After winning 3rd prize in our contest Aeolidia treated Adriana to a custom logo designed by the brilliant Sara Jensen. Arianne of Aeolidia and I got Adriana’s feedback on her extreme business makeover and if winning our giveaway really did end up changing everything. Watch Adriana’s reaction to winning our giveaway and sound the drum roll please…

Jessika: Hola colorful lady I am so happy to have you here. This is my absolute favorite part of our whole giveaway-the big reveal of your new look. Its like Extreme Makeover Business Edition! You entered our giveaway hoping to propel your new business to superstardom in 2012. Your entry and enthusiasm impressed all of us and we chose you for 2nd place! So, did winning our giveaway change everything? How?

Adriana: Well, let’s just say that in the 45 days since winning the contest, I’ve gotten a gorgeous new logo, redesigned my website, met a couple hundred new online buddies, and did my very first craft show! So, the short answer is: heck yes.

But winning the contest has given me so much more than just the rebranding, the books, and the new connections; I’ve come away from this experience with a whole new level of professionalism and confidence in what I do. I feel like I’ve gone from a girl with a paintbrush and a dream to a gal with a real business and a grown-up brand.

And you know what I’ve learned? Professionalism + confidence = hello, sales! This past month, I did double the sales that I would have previously expected. I don’t say this to brag, but rather to illustrate how making small tweaks and strategically investing in your business can get you big results

Arianne: What surprised you about working with a designer on your brand? Did the process go as you expected?

Adriana: The two things that surprised me the most about the rebranding process were: 1) how mind-bogglingly fun it was, and 2) how brain-twistingly hard it was to make a final choice. The process itself couldn’t have been easier, even if the decision-making was hard. Aeolidia had me start by filling out a detailed questionnaire about my business’s identity and my target market. After reading my preferences and checking out a sample of my handwriting, my uber-talented designer Sara mocked up the first set of logos in three different color palettes.

Let me tell you, looking at your name written in 7 different super-gorgeous and creative ways makes you feel like a kid in a very colorful candy store. I wanted to pick them all! The decision was so hard that I ended up mocking up my website with each different logo, making a PowerPoint presentation, and sending it to some of my friends and family for feedback (can you say, overkill?). I agonized over the decision, but ultimately went with the logo that had caught my eye from the moment I first saw it!

Now that my logo is done (and that I’ve slapped it on absolutely everything) I feel like there’s been a seismic shift in the level of professionalism in my business. I feel as though I’ve officially taken that step from hobbyist to creative entrepreneur.

Arianne: Was it hard to let go and have someone else create an identity for your business? What would you say to other small business owners who are thinking of doing the same?

Adriana: Before working with a real graphic designer, I was definitely guilty of sporting a “DIY or bust” mentality. When I first started my business on a shoestring budget, I had to do everything myself! And I got very used to that. When I won the logo design package, I figured it would be super fun to work with a designer, but I also thought of it more as a bonus than as a necessity. Now that I’m on the other side, and stamping my shiny, new logo on anything that moves, I can really see the benefit of having a professionally-designed brand. It was definitely hard to let go of the creative process. I mean, after all, I am an artist! But the result was so worth it. A painter doing graphic design is kind of like a dentist doing acupuncture. Yeah, you’re sorta in the same field, but you should probably leave that kind of work to the professionals! You’ll thank yourself later.

Jessika: Did this giveaway make your dreams seem more reachable? Of course you were already working hard to grow your business but do you feel having the support of our community and giveaway sponsors has helped you reach further, stretch higher or feel more confident in your work?

Adriana: Oh my gosh, my answer is a resounding yes! It’s been so wonderful to connect with such a talented and incredible group of creative people. As a community, OMHG folks have such a wealth of experience and knowledge, and it blows my mind how openly everyone shares it with one another. I’ve learned so much in the past month from e-books, blogs, and one-on-one conversations. I can only hope that I have the opportunity to contribute as much to this community as it has given to me (a tall order, for sure)!

You won some other fun goodies in addition to your new logo, what did you take away from your books by Erin Giles & Meagan Visser? Also I hope you are writing some handwritten letters with Moxie Pear’s package of sweetness!

Adriana: I’ve been having a grand old time drawing on, drawing with, and reading my package of prizes! The first thing I explored was the Cultivate Your Creativity e-book. It was such a refreshing way to jumpstart the creative process, and I found myself turning to it when my brain needed a break from number crunching. Next, I read through Meagan Visser’s e-book on SEO and search relevancy for Etsy shops. It’s packed with very clearly-explained and manageable tasks that help you pump up your Etsy store traffic! I’ve already implemented about 2/3rds of her tips, and I am seeing my traffic begin to rise. Then on to Erin Giles’ e-book Give It Away Now. I’d never really thought about how powerful a marketing tool giving stuff away could be! What I loved most about her book was that it explained how to market yourself without spending a dime. Yes, please! And I’m so excited to use my Moxie Pear goodies to write my first letter in years! I recently joined a pen pal project, and they will be the perfect set of tools.

Jessika: What is next in your plans for spreading your unapologetic enthusiasm in 2012 & where can we expect to see you taking your business this year?

Adriana: Well, I’m going to start by celebrating my little website’s big new look with a pet portrait giveaway on my blog this week! Be sure to stop by and check it out. And after that, well, I think it’s full steam ahead with reading, learning, writing, improving my marketing, blogging, and meeting new people — all while painting as many pet portraits as I can! Some of my big goals for this year include breaking into the craft show circuit (just had my first show last week!), building relationships with brick and mortar pet stores and groomers, and continuing to meet and collaborate with other businesses online. I cannot wait to see where I’ll stand one year from today with the help of the whole OMHG community!

Follow along Adriana’s journey by visiting her:

<<TWITTER>> <<FACEBOOK>> <<ETSY>> <<BLOG>>

Meeting the Makers: Satchel & Page

Friday, February 24, 2012

Timeless heirloom quality craftsmanship, a business on passion and integrity and gorgeous design, put them all together and you have Satchel & Page. Created by traveller and entrepreneur Daniel Ralsky as a way to combine his love of travelling with a gap in the market for handcrafted bags and accessories for modern men/women, Satchel & Page is an example of how handmade ethics and manufactured products can go hand in hand (pun intended). Daniel visits us to share the story behind his business plus some powerful words of advice to dream chasers of all kinds.

Why did you start Satchel & Page?

My passion in life is traveling and learning foreign languages. I’ve lived in Argentina as a volunteer for a non-profit agency and also Brasil as an English teacher. On a trip to Japan, my 1-month old bag snapped. When I got home I look very hard, but just couldn’t find anything I liked to replace it. Most of the bags looked like they came off the same overseas assembly line. So I decided to replace it myself and create a unique, durable bag with style: Something with character that I could use for any of my adventures. I showed a few friends, and they wanted one too. “I might be on to something here,” I thought. That’s how Satchel & Page started.

What is your design inspiration?

My designs are all inspired by a certain place or adventure. For example, the design of the leather on the Austin messenger makes me think of an old Texan saddle. And the leather itself is sourced in Texas.

The Alegna ipad purse is fun and colorful – It reminds me of my time living in Brasil.

The passport travel journals remind me of backpacking through Europe. I wish I had one of those journals then because many of the memories have faded over time!

What are your company values?

Integrity and character. It’s everything: from the materials in our bags to how we treat our customers.

The materials are carefully selected and all sourced in the USA. Our primary materials, waxed canvas and oil-tanned leather, have very unique aging profiles. So the bags will truly age according to the elements the owner exposes it to. All our products are made one by one, preserving attention to detail and craftsmanship.

I strive to ensure our customers have a great experience with Satchel & Page. There are so many companies that make great stuff, but don’t know how to treat people.

What do you have in store for 2012?

I am very excited for 2012. I’m working on expanding the line of bags. Currently, I am working on finalizing a prototype of a really cool backpack. Also, I’m planning to make a rugged, fun version of the classic briefcase. Once I fill out the bag line, I’ll start making smaller carry goods like wallets and computer sleeves. I also plan to add a charitable component to Satchel & Page. We’re still looking for the right cause to support…Any ideas?

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting something handmade on their own?

Consumers are getting smarter and more thoughtful. Rather than buying something impersonal and mass-produced, people are looking more for things made just for them: Something made by a person, with meaning.

It can be overwhelming to create something and commercialize it. My advice would be to just dive in and do it. You will make mistakes along the way, but you’ll also learn a ton. Make a checklist of everything you have to do and knock that checklist off one-by-one. Chase your dream, whatever it is, because you only live once.

Connect with Daniel & keep up with the latest Satchel & Page news:

<<WEBSITE>> <<FACEBOOK>> <<TWITTER>>

Reignite Your Fire & Pay it Forward at Spark Retreat

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Editor’s note: I invited Deanna, one half of the creative team behind Spark Retreat, to share the story of how the dream to build a place for creative entrepreneurs to reignite their sparks began. Read on for her beautiful post on the power of dreaming and the chance to help bring one woman to new Mexico this week for a business & life changing retreat (psst-I’ll be there too scattering pixie dust, handing out hugs + sparking creativity!). We’ll be visiting with Deanna & Tania (hopefully) from 1-2EST tomorrow at #OMHG about Spark Retreat and how we can keep our sparks shining bright.

Making the decision to start your own business is huge. Some of us make one giant leap out of necessity and others make small amounts of progress over time before declaring themselves a business owner. Nearly everyone does it out of a shared desire for having some say in what we do, how we do it, and who we do it for.

Following a dream (or dreams) requires a lot of digging deep. A lot of giving. Heck, a lot of energy. It’s also rewarding, exhilarating, educational, and fun. But most of all, it’s empowering. In order to maintain any momentum at all there has to be self-care. That’s the common denominator of all the women I know who are running their own businesses. It doesn’t matter what their business is, they all have some routine for self-care.

Relaxation is Required

We all know that living can be expensive and with all the life-stuff that happens it can be difficult to impossible to set aside extra cash for Big Things so self-care often has to happen in small bites and on a budget. Sometimes we are so busy we put it off, or forget. It’s the thing on the to-do list that gets bumped for deadlines, packing product shipments, sick children, etc. For one reason or another self-care doesn’t make the priority list. We don’t have to ask “why” this happens, we all know.

I’ve been learning that some very simple things can help me feel recharged. And if I make these things non-negotiable it’s easier to stick with them. One is to go to bed at the same time every night. Period. Another is to read a book, fiction not a business book or my camera manual. I find that even one chapter in the evenings helps quiet my mind and helps me go to sleep. Reading fiction allows my thoughts and imagination to take a break and go someplace else for a little while.

These little things help along my journey, but every once in a while I need a giant Self-Care Event to really recharge me. For example, last September my husband and I took our dogs and went camping for four glorious days. No cell phones, no computers, we were 100% unplugged. It was glorious … did I say that already? It bears repeating. We returned home relaxed and rested. I was a tad nervous leaving my website, Twitter, and Facebook “behind” but nothing fell apart and it was lovely.

Making the Habit

I’m not yet a full-time entrepreneur, but I’m learning these lessons now and making the habit of small bits of self-care and the occasional Big Self-Care Event so I am in the habit early. That’s the most sustainable way for me to follow my dreams.

There are many women who are dreaming about creating their own business, in the early stages of their business, or wholly in business. Whatever the reason for being in business, it seems there are a record number of women becoming business owners. Isn’t it wonderful?

Craving More

When I started my business it was as a freelance graphic designer. Since then I’ve added sustainable screenprinted goods. I enjoy both aspects because they satisfy different desires and interests I have. As time has passed, I’ve had another desire bubble up and I’ve been working to incorporate something more intangible into my business. Community. Mentorship. Teaching. Learning. Support. Self-care.

Enter Spark, the creative entrepreneur retreat, the intangible part.

Giving Back

The Spark Retreat was created to bring women entrepreneurs together to nurture each other and share. It’s going to be a game-changer for everyone attending. There are many women who’ve expressed a desire to come but just can’t swing it in their budgets. We hear ya’! And we want to give something back.

So we’ve created a campaign to raise scholarship money to bring one fabulous businesswoman to Santa Fe to attend the Spark Retreat. This scholarship needs $1700 to pay for accommodations and food for this lucky woman. If you’d like to help, hop on over to the campaign at IndieGoGo and make a donation of support. You can help with as little as $10 or as much as you want.

Once the scholarship is funded, we’re going to have an essay contest in order to select the recipient. You can join the mailing list on the Spark retreat website if you want to stay in-the-know about the contest. If you make a donation to the campaign, we’ll automatically let you know what’s going on.

Your support is so important to us and will go towards changing one woman’s business (and life) for the better.

Who knows? It could be you!

Donate now!

About the author:

In addition to being the co-founder of the Spark Retreat with Tania Wojciechowski of manusmade, Deanna is the owner of Apples and Orange. She infuses art into everyday life by replacing mass-produced products with unique handmade items and is available for graphic design work and custom screen printing.