Kelly Lynn Jones

Artist: Kelly Lynn Jones
Web site: Kelly Lynn Jones and Little Paper Planes
Blog: blog.littlepaperplanes.com
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA

What do you create?
I am a painter and a drawer. I also run an online store for artists, Little Paper Planes.

When and why did you decide to start your business?
I started the online store in 2005 so i could sell things I make like t-shirts, tote bags, zines, prints etc and then I asked some friends if they wanted to do it too and it snowballed from there.

Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
For my paintings I am inspired by houses and the lives that have occupied them.



Which of the tools you use is your favorite?
Pencil

What keeps you motivated?
It's not really about motivation but about a way of life. I need to draw and paint.

How do you get the word out about your work?
For paintings I have shows and update people with my website, for the online store, I email mailings a lot, and most of it, is just word of mouth.



What is your main goal for the next 6-12 months?
Well for the online store I hope to have a newly designed website, and well there are a few things I have up my sleeve based around artist exclusive but I am not ready to tell everyone yet. As far as my personal work, I am in the process of applying to grad school so I hope to be in school.

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
Figure out where your work fits in with other artists, use the internet as a tool. I find the internet is a great way of networking vs. me placing ads in magazines. Also make sure you know how to manage your money... a good business sense is pretty important, almost as important as what you make.

What’s the most important thing you’d like people to know/understand about your work? Hmmm...



Who are some of your favorite indie designers/artists?
Everyone on Little Paper Planes.

If you had the time, what new craft/medium would you like to learn or use?
Letterpress/lithography.

What's your definition of a perfect day?
Wake up early, drink coffee, snuggle with my cats, Jane and Justin, water my new garden, go into my studio and look at the lovely view of the trees and the hills of Hollywood, and draw all day until dinner time which I then would go out to dinner with my boyfriend Matt... and actually that is exactly how my day was today.


Thank you Kelly!

Garnish Home

Artist: Meagan Schafer
Web sites: www.garnishhome.com; www.garnishhome.etsy.com
Location: Vancouver, BC. Canada

What do you create?
I have a 9-5 job as a cabinet maker, but I am slowly growing my own business. Right now I am making a lot of wood jewelry. I also make various other items like a wood purse and some home accessories.

How did you come up with your company name?
Back when I named my business I was focusing on the home accessories (breakfast trays, lamps, coffee tables ect..) and the word 'garnish' seemed like such a nice way to describe decorating ones home- thus garnish(home) was named. Then I started jewelry and garnish worked just as well for that too.



When and why did you start your business?
I have always enjoyed having a lot of freedom and flexibility in my life, so being self employed has always appealed to me. Right after I finished school I tried to make a go of it but found it was too hard to make ends meet, so I took a job that I knew I could scale back my hours as needed. I have been slowly growing my business in my spare time.

Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
Quite often when I need something for the home I figure out a way to make it for myself out of wood. I recently redecorated my bathroom and made many of the accessories (toothbrush holder, soap dispenser, towel rod, light fixture etc.). I guess I like the idea of finding ways to make things out of wood that are usually made from metal or other materials.



Which of the tools you use is your favorite?
I like my vacuum press. It is basically a vinyl bag attached to a high powered vacuum. With it, I can glue up layers of veneer over forms to get curved shapes. It has endless possibilities. This is how I make my wood purse.

What keeps you motivated?
I also find it very motivating knowing that I will personally benefit from the work that I do. (I hate the idea of working my butt off to make someone else rich!) Also, as a woman in the trades I have experienced some sexism over the years. This motivates me to be self reliant.



How do you get the word out about your work?
I mainly approach stores to sell my work. I have also sold jewelry at a local monthly fashion market- www.portobellowest.com. And recently I have opened an online store on etsy.

What is your main goal for the next 6-12 months?
I see myself working less (if at all) for an employer and working full time on my own business. I will continue doing jewelry as well as work to get my home accessories line rolling.



What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
Having a job while starting my own business allowed me to slowly buy the tools I needed to start my own business. Starting slowly also allowed me to test ideas as well as get my feet wet in the business world without the panic of having to bring money in right away. Also, be flexible- my business has taken me on completely different paths than I had expected- go with what's working!

What’s the most important thing you’d like people to know/understand about your work?
I guess I want people to know that each piece is made by my hands and is totally unique. In this mass produced world it's really nice to know that many people are willing to dig a little deeper to find unique items and I really appreciate them for it.



If you had the time, what new craft/medium would you like to learn or use?
I went to art school, so I am lucky to have had the opportunity to work with many different mediums. If I had the time and facilities, I would probably play around with incorporating various mediums into my woodworking. Ceramics and glass would be fun!

What's your definition of a perfect day?
Spring out of bed with tons of energy. Eggs benedict for breakfast. I have been working on an idea in the shop for the past few weeks and I go in to put the finishing touches on it and it is perfect! Ride on a roller coaster and eat some mini doughnuts. Have a yummi dinner with lots of ceasars and wine with loved ones.

I think I may have just realized I have a very unhealthy relationship with food. hmmmm


Thank you Meagan!