12fifteen

Artist: Johanna Anderes
Web site: I have two because I want to keep my paper goods (12fifteen.etsy.com) separate from my home goods (12gypsies.etsy.com)
Location: Stamford, Connecticut

What do you create?
Paper goods and screenprinted home goods (at the moment placemats and kitchen towels)

How did you come up with your company name?
Everybody is expecting something v e r y exciting and interesting here (like, 'it's the time of day when I get my best ideas) but it is my son's birthday (which really is only exciting to me ;)



When and why did you decide to start your business?
As long as I can remember I was fascinated with design and paper goods. When my son is born it was harder to take on corporate graphic design jobs and I started doing wedding invitations, birth announcements etc. Then I discovered etsy the beginning of this year and voila, here I am.

Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
Sunday brunch in New York, traveling, watching people on the train, kids books, fabric stores, Anthropology.



Which of the tools you use is your favorite?
A good old pen and my Gocco.

Your work with different mediums. Which do you prefer?
Right now fabric but probably because it's still a new medium for me and I don't get to do it that much.

What keeps you motivated?
Getting wonderful feedback from my buyers and realizing that I am lucky and able to do what I love doing for a living.



How do you get the word out about your work?
Etsy has been a wonderful marketing tool for me. Other than that I advertise on some indie sites, have a few upcoming craft shows. Previous buyers have also done a fabulous job at promoting me (thank you everybody!)

What is your main goal for the next 6-12 months?
To expand both lines and to get thru the holiday season without attacking anybody.



What advise would you give to someone starting a creative business?
Get ready to work hard and learn to enjoy Ramen noodles ;)

What's the most important thing you'd like people to know/understand about your work?
Each piece I design undergoes extreme criticism (by moi) before it ever sees the light and is offered for sale...I have hundreds of rejects in my drawers.

Who are some of your favorite indie designers/artists?
There are so many but just to name a few:
Krista from paperedtogether, Heather from skinnylaminx, Sam from homegrownskinny. And many, many more. I wish I could list them all but guess I should start my blog in order to do that.



What city, that you've never been to, would you like to visit?
Copenhagen

What's your definition of a perfect day?
Lazy Sunday afternoons with family and friends.



Thank you Johanna!

Pravina Studio

Artist: Diana Zlatanovski
Location: Madison, WI
Etsy: Pravina Studio

What do you create?
Mostly handbags, totes and purses. Things to carry other things in.

How did you come up with your company name?
I wanted a name that meant something without being obvious. In Macedonian, Pravina means
honesty, justice, righteousness. Adjectives that I like being associated with my business.



When and why did you decide to start your business?
I started the business just this past year. I have always been involved in some sort of studio art,
drawing, painting, photography. A couple of years ago I decided to try sewing so I bought a great 1970s sewing machine from Casper, a sweet, elderly sewing machine repairman. I learned to use it and haven't stopped since. I decided to start selling the bags because people liked them so much. And I enjoy making them, so everybody wins.

Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
I work as a textile museum curator, so inspiration surrounds me on an almost daily basis. Getting to study contemporary pieces by well known artists next to thousand year old pieces by unknown makers is amazing to me. Imagining who created them, what their inspiration was, what their life was like. Every object holds a story. You can touch something that an artist on the other side of the world created hundreds of years ago. How great is that?

Walking into a good fabric store will also inspire me to no end, but that can be a rather expensive form of inspiration.



Which of the tools you use is your favorite?
The Pfaff 1525. The world's best sewing machine, in my humble opinion. And definitely the
best Christmas present I ever got.

What keeps you motivated?
Positive feedback really keeps me at the sewing machine. My friends, family and customers have all been so overwhelmingly supportive and encouraging. Creating things that people like and want to use is very gratifying. If my bag's new owner is at least half as excited about it as I
am, then my work is done.

I also will keep making bags in the hope that I can interest someone in buying handmade instead of mass produced. That connection between objects, makers and consumers is missing when we buy mass produced items.



How do you get the word out about your work?
I should be better about this! Right now, mainly I use Etsy, blogs, and word of mouth. I am lucky that my ever supportive fan base is really great about telling all their friends about my bags. And I did just get some beautiful new business cards (thank you to Studio VO2!) so those are up next.

What is your main goal for the next 6-12 months?
More purses more purses more purses. I would like to learn some new techniques, I have
been looking into classic forms of hand embroidery, so I hope to introduce that into my bags.



What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
Genuinely care about what you do. Pay attention to little details. Keep learning. Always be professional. Eat your vegetables.

What's the most important thing you'd like people to know/understand about your work?
The excitement that goes into each piece. Whenever I finish a new bag, I usually fall in love with it. Then there is the inevitable struggle to force myself to sell it instead of throwing all
of my belongings into it and calling it my own. Pretty much every time. I love the bags I create and I hope their new owners do too.

Who are some of your favorite indie designers/artists?
Etsy artists: katedurkin, calobee, benben, pirilamporiscado, robandlean, just to name a few...



What city, that you've never been to, would you like to visit?
Virovo, Macedonia.

What's your definition of a perfect day?
Wake up with boundless energy on a thunderstormy day. Have a cup of coffee (with cream instead of skim milk for a change) in a cozy house in the mountains. Spend the first half of the day surrounded by beautiful fabrics and an immense library of great books. Spend the second half at the sewing machine. The evening would be filled with my family, friends, good music, great food and wine. So really, probably my perfect day would need to be at least 40 hours long.


Thank you Diana!

Circa Ceramics

Artists: Andrew Witt + Nancy Pizarro
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Web site: We have 2, because we separate our clay body types; the more active one is www.CircaCeramics.etsy.com for porcelain, www.circaceramics.com for our earthenware, used more as a reference for our customers.

What do you create?
Ceramic wares, tiles, assorted fun items made with clay.

How did you come up with your business name?
We came up with the name in a roundabout way, sort of like soft word association. It started off as 'Circa 1999' but then we nixed it because we figured we'd be dating ourselves. Then we started to think of what the word 'circa' meant, and thought hey, we can call ourselves 'circa ceramics.' The logo we came up with was totally influenced by restaurant tableware from the 50's, where you saw the name of the producer and the city or state of origin. It's fun seeing the reactions we get from people when they see our name on the bottom of pieces!

What is your first memory of being inspired to make/craft something?
(andy) I think I was born in a sand box-I remember being fascinated by water and sand; I would spend hours building "landscapes" out of these 2 materials.

(nancy) Being in a classroom, age 5, for a weekend art retreat. They gave us cookies :) I do remember india ink & a sumi brush. And newsprint!



When and why did you decide to start your business?
November 2000. We did our first craft show and had a great time. We realized at that point we could be independent, and actually make a go of it; we went full time in the Spring of 2003.

Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
Eating at restaurants, drinking at coffee houses and looking at commercial tableware and how people use and interact with it. Also, we have an endless supply of suggestions from the people we meet.

Which of the tools you use is your favorite?
(andy) My plaster moulds - they turn negatives into positives :)
(nancy) My hands! But our Gocco comes in a close 2nd :)



What is your favorite part of your creative process?
(andy) 2 am: "Hey Nancy-what if we..."
(nancy) 2:05 am: "but Andy, what about..."

What keeps you motivated?
(andy) The cycle of idea-create-edit-produce-sell-feedback-
(nancy) Andy :)

How do you get the word out about your work?
Honestly, much of our business comes from word of mouth, at least for our earthenware line, which we bring to fairs & festivals. The porcelain line, which is on Etsy, is self-sustaining, and luckily on the radar of some really lovely blogs. We bring some of the porcelain pieces to events too, and talk to customers about being on Etsy. We also have a mailing/email list &
our Flickr account (because people often don't know it's really just 2 people making all of this ware!)



What is your main goal for the next 6-12 months?
(andy) Getting through the Chicago winter.
(nancy) *shaking her head at Andy* Getting ready for the holiday/gift-giving season from October to December - It's a very important time for our business! Then we usually do a 'creative hibernation" from January to March, where all the notes & drawings from the previous year get a second look.

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
(andy) Whatever you are selling make sure it is made to the best of your abilities.
(nancy) Know your competition, and make sure you stand out.

What’s the most important thing you’d like people to know/understand about your work?
That these pieces really do reflect both of our personalities.

What adjectives would you use to describe your work?
Solid, balanced, happy, cheerful, a little weird...



Who are some of your favorite indie designers/artists?
(andy) I have really been enjoying Whitney Smith's journey to Japan.
(nancy) I have to go for 'back in the day indie' - Jane Hammond. I LOVE her paintings. And Magic Jelly. And Art and Ghosts.

If money, deadlines, scheduling, etc weren’t an obstacle what new project would you like to take on?
(andy) I would build a factory that makes tableware using flyash from coal fired electrical plants.
(nancy) This is so slacker of me, but I have to say take on an MMORPG - for as long as possible :)

What's your definition of a perfect day?
(andy) Spending it with Nancy!
(nancy) *snickers* I'd have to say being productive - Getting everything done that we had to do on that day.


Thank you Nancy and Andy!

A little break

I'll be on vacation next week so I'm posting an extra interview for this week. I hope that everyone is enjoying their summer! :)

xo - Patricia

Edesse Designs

Artist: Erica Walker
Web site: Edesse Designs
Etsy: Edesse Designs
Location: Brookline, MA

What do you create?
I'm a furniture maker primarily but somehow, I managed to fall in love with stationery--I also make dessert inspired erasers and food inspired notebooks.

What is your first memory of being inspired to make/craft something?
As a child, any art form was strongly discouraged. I spent the majority of my childhood and teenage years engrossed in mathematics and sciences. It was my dream to be an inventor/researcher and from about the 8th grade to the end of high school, I worked on trying to find topical cures for skin problems such as dermitis, acne, and strangely enough, stretch marks. So, my first "craft" was a bunch of outrageous skin lotions and potions choked full of everything from herbs to acids.

When and why did you decide to start your business?
After I graduated from college, I got my first apartment and decorating it was a complete nightmare. Given my budget, there was no happy medium. It was either the bottomless couch and tacky lamps my parents kept in the garage or the butterfly chairs, lava lamps, and Christmas tree lights-- items I vowed to leave behind once I graduated from college! After being somewhat frustrated, I decided to take most of my own furniture. I started out by making a cool platform bed and then made a puzzle shaped coffee table -which was a hit with my friends. After the word got around, I began to get quite a few orders so starting a business was the next natural step.



Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
I'm greatly inspired by the works of Maya Lin, Verner Panton and Claes Oldenberg. I love exaggerated proportions and bold colors. I'm also inspired by everyday inanimate objects. I love to take these objects and morph them into other mediums.

Which of the tools you use is your favorite?
Most definitely pencil and paper. They represent the first tangible element of the creative process so they are the most precious to me. They create the theory, which is my foundation, my blueprint.

What is your favorite part of your creative process?
I like the brain storming part. I like whatever it is you do that generates the idea.



What keeps you motivated?
The next idea keeps me the most motivated. The fact that I am convinced that edesse designs is a key destination on the path of my life journey is also motivating.

How do you get the word out about your work?
I advertise on many indie blogs and I send out press releases to relevant blogs and magazines. I consign, I hand out free merchandise, I pass out flyers and business cards, I donate goodies to auctions, I post on message boards….

What is your main goal for the next 6-12 months?
My main goal is to finish up my second furniture collection. I have a tentative date for early fall so I hope that works out. I would like to also get my products into more stores! I'd also like to do a major craft show. I've never done one.

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
Make sure you are committed to what you do. Be motivated more by your creative process than your desire to make money. Don't sell your soul for a sale. Have faith in your product. Find your audience. Be open to criticism. Be realistic about your expectations. Prepare for the good times and the bad times.



What's the most important thing you'd like people to know/understand about your work?
I would like for people to know that although I run a business, my priority is the creative process. My products are more than just a means to pay rent, they are an extension of myself.

What adjectives would you use to describe your work?
Bold, exaggerated, colorful, yummy

Who are some of your favorite indie designers/artists?
I love Avalove, Soapylove , Amy Burhoe, Swirling Thoughts.

If money, deadlines, scheduling, etc weren't an obstacle what new project would you like to take on?
I would like to design a complete furniture collection and open my own indie furniture store.

What's your definition of a perfect day?
I love waking up still perplexed by how exactly I'm going to carry out an idea I was thinking of the day before. It also involves an extra large black coffee with one splenda, an on-time train, no cell phone calls, some juicy celebrity gossip, a sale at my favorite clothing store, a large chocolate brownie, and a glimpse of Jeff Goldblum.

Thank you Erica!

Quilt Baby

Artist: Jesseca Bellemare
Web site: Quilt Baby
Blog: Quilt Baby
Location: Asheville, NC

What do you create?
I create modern baby bedding and accessories using fresh, hip fabrics and clean lines.

How did you come up with your company name?
I wanted a name that was simple and direct, no fluff. At the beginning of m business I was only making baby quilts, so Quilt Baby just seemed to make sense.



When and why did you decide to start your business?
I started my business in May 2006. It started out as a hobby and somehow evolved into a business. I say somehow because I really can't remember where the hobby ended and the business began. But as a stay at home mother to one (at the time, now it is two), young child, I felt a bit guilty for not contributing finically. I was always looking for something I enjoyed doing from home that would simultaneously pay for groceries.

Where do you get your inspiration for your designs?
I get inspiration for my projects from the trial and errors of parenting, from the endless beautiful fabrics available, from designers that I admire, and from my husband.

Which of the tools you use is your favorite?
That's a tough one. I would probably have to say my sewing machine. It relaxes me. I like the way the fabric feels as it moves under the needle. I also like the repetitive sound it makes.



What keeps you motivated?
The fact that people are buying my work for their sweet little babies, or as gifts for a loved one is all the motivation I need.

How do you get the word out about your work? Etsy has been such a fantastic marketing tool for me. In addition I have a flickr page and a blog. And nothing beats word of mouth.



What is your main goal for the next 6-12 months?
Within the next 6-12 months I would like to hire an assistant.

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
I think the best advise I can give is to just stick with it. And to use as many free or low cost marketing tools as you can - there really are a ton available.



What’s the most important thing you’d like people to know/understand about your work?
It would be nice if people knew just how much my work means to me. It is an extension of myself, of all the beautiful things I have to share with others. It is about appreciating good design and manipulating it into something functional. I derive so much satisfaction from every aspect (well, maybe excluding taxes and the like), from my work, and I am excited to think about where it will go in the future.

Who are some of your favorite indie designers/artists? I would have to say that I enjoy the work of the following artists: Modern Art Everyday, Swallow Field, Joom, and Emmalynne.



What city, that you’ve never been to, would you like to visit?
Toronto.

What's your definition of a perfect day? Packing up the kids in the car, sitting back and letting my hubby navigate us somewhere new and exciting. Eating lunch on the patio of a fantastic cafe followed by a cup of gourmet coffee. Then heading to a beautiful park and letting the kids run and play and just enjoy them being kids.


Thank you Jesseca!