I love Owl and Mouse. This small printing company in Missouri is adorable! I love that they make scarves now too! Rock on!

Can you describe yr art and process? Tell us a bit about yrself?

Owl+Mouse Textile Designs is a small printing company based in Kansas City, Missouri. All textiles are hand designed, dyed and printed in a cozy studio by Alice Youngblood and Cristin Llewellyn. Alice and Cristin work together as a duo to create unique designs for Owl+Mouse. They currently print shirts, but would like to explore different paths within the “fiber realm”. They met in 2005 as students in the Fiber Department at the Kansas City Art Institute. Alice, born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, was surrounded by her mother’s sewing and embroidery projects and always knew she wanted to be an artist! Cristin grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma in a family that embraced art. She loved drawing and began taking classes and participating in school art shows at the age of 6. Both currently create, explore, and live in Kansas City.

So – Can you just tell me a few things that inspire you and how you work – yr process?

We are both inspired by the natural world and various forms of art. Although we have separate design processes, we have found that our ideas and aesthetics usually end up going in a similar direction! Alice enjoys collecting an assortment of images from the Internet and books, and then she sketches and collages her own designs. Cristin usually works out ideas in her head then puts them to paper by drawing and piecing units together to form a complete design.

I want to know some things about what is it really like to be a working artist…the good and the bad? What are the three top things you wish you would have known before you started this art/etsy journey?

We have found that it is really hard jumping into the “art world” not having a client base or a reliable source of income. We both recently graduated from college and work various jobs to be able to survive and still make art! We have had to explore and discover our own way, transitioning from being individual artists to becoming production artists, and found that this path is filled with bumps and is not always so clear. It is easy to let fear hold you back from jumping into a new venture. Starting your own business can be scary, but we would not have been so afraid if only we’d known just how many artists and friends would appear out of the woodwork and help us get going and keep us on track.

For us, the best part of being working artists is being in the studio and working side by side in a creative and fun atmosphere. We have found a rhythm in the studio, and everything just comes together when we are working. Also, it has been wonderful to become a part of the Kansas City art community and Etsy. We have met so many new amazing people and artists. Seeing their reactions is what encourages and motivates us to keep moving forward.

What are yr five top blogs/shops/etc on web?
Who would you love to meet online?

sarahkraly.tumblr.com
Sarah is our amazing friend, talented photographer, and biggest fan. She plays a huge part in our company.

www.debbiebarrettjones.etsy.com
Debbie dyes and weaves the most beautiful textiles.

antlermag.com/blog
Great place to find inspiration and discover new talent.

elsita.typepad.com/allaboutpapercutting/
There are no words for this one!

http://creaturecomforts.typepad.com/my_weblog/
This one has cute and informational posts.

We would like to meet the girls from inkandspindle.com because they are a small business that prints textiles they seem sweet and full of knowledge!

Thank you so much! We love yr work!!!!

Check out Owl and Mouse!

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Please contact me at my blog or Etsy or email me at amytsharp (at) gmail (dot) com or twitter to give me scoop on cool things that you find or make! I want to hear from you!

It was a pleasure to speak with Local Library of Etsy fame! I am in love with the simply gorgeous work she makes.

Can you describe yr art and process? Tell us a bit about yrself?

My creation process is somewhat spontaneous and heavily visually inspired. I start by searching for materials that I appreciate. When something grabs my attention I start to see shapes and colors, and ideas come
flowing into my head and out through my hands. I rarely ever sketch out a design – it’s more of a jump-in and-try-it-out technique. Which, as you might imagine, has its flaws. I’ve learned over the years that sometimes it is good to get something on paper first. This helps figuring out the technical side jewelry; will it lie flat, straight, be sturdy and of good quality?
It is very important to me that the jewelry I create is the jewelry I would want to wear. It needs to be beautiful and stand out but also comfortable, classic, versatile, and of the best quality at an affordable price point. And when you’re wearing a piece, I want you feel like you could conquer the world. On some level anyway.

So- Can you just tell me a few things that inspire you and how you work- yr process?

Colors, shapes, and textures inspire me. My favorite designs have a classic, simplified structure with a burst of something unexpected and appealing. Walking through my neighborhood I’m fortunate to be surrounded by people, fashion, art, nature, architecture, etc. This provides more than enough visual inspiration. I enjoy watching people and seeing what they wear, how they carry themselves and what they are doing. I like thinking about the neckline (or wherever the jewelry is suited) as a sort of puzzle; what shape or structure would best compliment that spot? Sometimes after I’ve created a new piece I can almost picture someone I saw days, weeks, or months ago. And in my head, I put the necklace on them and they are happy.

I want to know some things about what is it really like to be a working artist…the good and the bad? What are the three top things you wish you would have known before you started this art/etsyjourney?

Oh, the ups and downs!

Right after I wrote that line I actually googled the well known, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss. Full text available here: http://www.teamhope.com/seuss.htm

Heavily gifted for graduations it actually applies really well to how I feel about my business and being self-employed. It can be amazing and frustrating simultaneously.
The most important things I have learned are time management and staying motivated. I try to plan my weeks out and develop a schedule of work based on a triage system. Through trial and error I’ve found out what methods work best for me. But the same might not be true for everyone. For example, it is easy for me to get distracted working in front of my computer, but at the same time, that’s what makes my work fun and interesting (since I don’t have any coworkers to chat with). And I’ve accepted that a 4 hour production work load might turn into 5 hours. That’s one of the positives; I can make my own schedule. I just have to make compromises. I can take a two hour lunch, but I’ll still be working at 11pm.

Staying motivated takes a little more finesse but when I sit down and think about it, I am so grateful to be at this point in my life. It is truly unbelievable sometimes and to not give it my all would be complete self-sabotage. If I have a bad day, I scoop myself up and try again tomorrow. Chances are I was just feeling tired or overworked. When I give myself some time off I come back fresh: inspired and motivated.

What are yr five top blogs/shops/etc on web?

I love so many places online – I’m not sure where to start!
1) Can I say iTunes? I couldn’t get through a day with listening to podcasts from The Moth, This American Life, The Splendid Table and Ted Talks.
2) I check the Gothamist multiple times a day for little mix of local and national news.
3) I’m also obsessed with packaging design so The Dieline is serious favorite.
4) The Apartment Therapy family of blogs including Unplggd and The Kitchn.
5) And Cake Wrecks because it makes me laugh out loud, even when I’m home alone.

Who would you love to meet online?

That’s another tough question but I think in keeping with the theme of small business and craft and I would answer Emily from The Black Apple. She’s seemingly always creating something new and wonderful and I would love to hear about how she structures her business and daily schedule.

Thanks so much – We love the beautiful art you create! Congrats on all yr success!

Check out Local Library on Etsy!

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Please contact me at my blog or Etsy or email me at amytsharp (at) gmail (dot) com or twitter to give me scoop on cool things that you find or make! I want to hear from you!

I am in love with the photos that this etsy seller takes of her handspun wool. Gorgeous! Here is some more info about this new etsy shop that is turning heads!

Can you describe yr art and process? Tell us a bit about yrself?

Howdy!
I’m Maya and I live near Atlanta, Georgia, with my husband Ross and my
daughter, who I call V when I talk about her online. I’m left-handed,
have lived in three different states in the past five years, and I grew
up loving my stuffed giraffe named Ayapap Ayam.

My art is
spinning yarn on my trusty spinning wheel, which is just the most fun
ever. Right now I’m into dyeing wool a bunch of different colors and
then sitting and looking at it all, thinking of which colors should go
together. I also keep a notebook of ideas to try – like there’s a
particular photograph I love & I want to spin a yarn in its honor.
I need lots of time to daydream, always have. I find that when I think
about not much of anything for long enough, good ideas come to me.

So – Can you just tell me a few things that inspire you and how you work – yr process?

Buttermilk
pie, my Wham-O Magic Window, cat head biscuits, kudzu, old photographs,
my grandmother’s bread bowl, the historic district of any small town,
sweet iced tea, rust, moss & lichen – these & other things that
make the South a wonderful place to live.

Music, movies, art
& especially photography inspire me. Cats inspire me – them lying
around mid-morning all languid & lithe & then play-fighting in
the early evening. Light, shadows, the color of your eyes, the
recurring dreams I have.

I love spinning yarn for many reasons,
but because there are so many steps to go through to take wool all the
way to a finished skein of yarn, it’s ideal for my situation as a work
at home mom. I work in short bits throughout the day & then for
longer stretches at night. It’s refreshing to be able to take breaks
throughout the day – I can build forts with V for an hour & then
set her up with some Playdoh while I spin a skein or check on my
shop/answer emails/etc.

I want to know some things about
what is it really like to be a working artist…the good and the bad?
What are the three top things you wish you would have known before you
started this art/etsy journey?

To me, the only bad things are
that I’m not getting nearly enough sleep and I don’t have enough time
with my husband. I’m just getting started, though, and I’m constantly
trying to refine my process so that eventually I can have more evenings
free. Or free-ish.

The good things are many. Freedom to explore
what’s in and outside my head. Working with colors and textures.
Knowing that there’s always more to learn about spinning; I’ll never
get bored. I love the other spinners I’ve met online; they’re very
supportive and I’ve found it to be a great community to be a part of.
And it’s very cool that I make art – and then other people use it to
create their own art. A hat or cowl or baby cocoon that’s been handknit
or crocheted from handspun yarn is so very cool.

Having the
opportunity to build a business that will allow me to be both creative
and stay home with V is such a blessing. Being able to give my daughter
the chance at developing an entrepreneurial spirit is so important to
me. She’s three & she helps me all the time. We card (blend) the
wool together, and she turns the handle to wind the yarn into a ball
for shipment – she thinks it’s great fun.

Top three things I
wish I could’ve known … hmmm … not to worry so much, not to worry
so much, and not to worry so much. Ha. I have a tiny problem with the
worrying. But ask me again next year when I’ve been doing this longer
and I’ll likely have better answers for you.

What are yr five top blogs/shops/etc on web?

Camp Creek Blog makes me think about how I plan to educate my kid.

The Crafty Crow ensures that my daughter never runs out of fun artsy things to do.
Jessica Claire inspires me with her beautiful photography.
Baby as Art because I love me some babies!
And on Flickr I’m always checking out Tafari‘s & Evan Leavitt‘s photostreams.

Who would you love to meet online?

I
would love to meet the lovely women who have been visiting my blog for
the past year or so & leaving me such wonderful comments along the
way – like Alexis (http://knotsewcrafty.typepad.com), Gayle
(http://planetmfiles.com), Melissa and Claire
(http://knittingsandwich.typepad.com), and many more (I’d name them all
for you if I thought I could get away with it). It is these connections
that make it worthwhile to share your life on the Internet and I’d love
to take a weekend away with all my regular blog readers – they’re
interesting, kind, supportive women. I think of them often & offer
up little wishes for happiness for them.

Thank you so much! We love yr work! It makes me want to spin wool!

Check out Maya here and here.

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Please contact me at my blog or Etsy or email me at amytsharp (at) gmail (dot) com or twitter to give me scoop on cool things that you find or make! I want to hear from you!

I love love love the photography of Kari Herer. I am swooning over some of her prints in her etsy shop.

Check her out:

Can you describe yr art and process?

For my Etsy shop I sell
photographs using a few different processes. One process is called
“through the viewfinder” or TTV. I start with my modified Duaflex Kodak
camera and literally shoot through the viewfinder with my Canon 5D. The
viewfinder of the Duaflex is square and causes an interesting border on
my digital files. I then work in Photoshop to process the RAW files. I
usually bump up the contrasts, eliminate pesky shadows, and color
accordingly.

Tell us a bit about yrself?

I started
photographing professionally for a high-end wedding invitation company
and fell in love with styling/lighting such beautiful products. While
practicing for new ads, I started creating small arrangements of
flowers that I had in my garden. A friend mentioned Etsy and I thought
I would give it a try.

So – Can you just tell me a few things that inspire you?

Food
photography is one of my inspirations – I love to eat (I leave the
cooking to my hubby:) and find so many interesting textures in everyday
ingredients. I also look to nature to provide colors, surfaces, and
variety in my photographs. Cannelle et Vanille is one of my favorite blogs.

I want to know some things about what is it really like to be a working artist…the
good and the bad?

Working
as an artist can be very lonely. I have to force myself to get out and
work with others. Otherwise my work can become very boring. Etsy has
gotten my work to places in the world that my photography would have
never seen. Places like London, Paris, and even Australia.

What are the three top things you wish you would have known before you started this art/etsyjourney?

I
wish that I would have taken advantage of all the Etsy forums before I
set up shop. There is so much information about selling – take
advantage of it!! I also wish that I got involved with my local Etsy
group sooner – although I don’t go to enough meetings, they are a great
resource for local gatherings, craft shows, and charity work.

Who would you love to meet online?

I
would love to meet Annie Leibovitz (but more in person then online).
Not so much because of the stars that she photographed but because of
her talent behind the camera.

What are yr five top blogs/shops/etc on web?

Lens (from the NYT)
Design*Sponge
The Bigger Picture
Cup of Jo
Cannelle et Vanille

Thank you so much! We love yr work! The Paris print makes me giddy! Kudos!

Check out Kari and her website and blog!

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Please contact me at my blog or Etsy or email me at amytsharp (at) gmail (dot) com or twitter to give me scoop on cool things that you find or make! I want to hear from you!

Love me some blackbirdtees. Awesome and Amazing. Like listen:

Can you describe yr art and process? Tell us a bit about yrself?

My
process is pretty disjointed actually. I never set out with a detailed
agenda in mind. The early stages of a new design consist mostly of me
digging through old photo and image archives, mostly turn of the
century stuff–newspaper and magazine ads from the the early 1900s, Art
Nouveau illustrations, film stills, natural history sketches–to gather
inspiration or get ideas. Then I will start drafting a design by hand.
I’ll typically go through at least 3-4 drafts before I settle on a
final version. I then scan the image, pull it into Illustrator, and
play around with size & color variations, shirt styles, layout,
etc. Finally, I print out my transparencies, burn the screens, and
start laying the image down onto shirts.

Most of my
illustrations are created using a pointillism technique. I’m sure you
can imagine how fun this is–slowly drafting an image from thousands of
teeny, tiny hand-drawn dots. Why? I have no idea. It must be some mild
form of OCD creeping up from the depths. It nearly drives me to madness
each time, but I love the texture and silhouette that results. I put
lots of time and care into photographing, naming, and describing new
designs when I add them to Etsy. Ultimately, I feel like it’s the small
details and finishing touches that really bring a design to life and
tie a collection together to tell a story or reveal a theme. It’s all
part of fleshing out a unique aesthetic–something I’ve gained a whole
new appreciation for over the last year.

So – Can you just tell me a few things that inspire you and how you work- yr process?

For
whatever reason, I’ve always been fascinated by women and animals that
elicit mixed emotions. You feel simultaneously drawn in and a bit
terrified at the same time, i.e. femme fatales from early cinema and
animals that will inevitably leave a mark. I went to grad school for
film studies & screenwriting and developed a strong affection for
silent film and film noir, and those influences definitely surface in
my designs. Starlets in both of those film genres could tell you
everything you needed to know about them through purely visual cues.
So, even if there was dialogue, it usually wasn’t necessary. Similarly,
the animals I choose to feature display emotion and intention
visually–changing color, lighting up, recoiling, etc. I’m currently
drafting new Mata Hari and tigress designs for October that also fall
within this general theme.

I want to know some things about what is it really like to be a working artist…the good and the bad? What are the three top things you wish you would have known before you started this art/etsyjourney?

Ahh,
the life of a working artist. It makes me giggle a little to think of
myself that way. For me, this lifestyle consists of 50 hour work weeks
spent shifting between my print studio, my pint-sized boutique, local
farmers markets, and special events. Self-employment can be such a time
vampire, sucking up all hours of the day, every day of the week if
you’re not careful. I think most people have romantic notions of what
it’s like to do your own thing, and I certainly won’t rob them of that
because it can be pretty fantastic, but it’s an exercise in
self-discipline and it can take some time to develop a routine.

Hmm…top
things I wish I’d known. That’s tough. On the one hand, it would have
been great to start off with a stronger grasp of the tax and accounting
stuff. Knowing your way around both makes life significantly easier. At
the same time, I’m somewhat relieved that no one sat me down and gave
me a glimpse into the future when I first started. If I had known all
the challenges I’d be confronting, I think I would have thrown in the
towel very early on. In a way, not knowing protected me from feeling
too overwhelmed.

It’s funny because now I get to see my
boyfriend, who just recently became self-employed, go through the early
stages of this process. Aside from acting as a sounding board for ideas
and feedback, all I can do is cheer him on and encourage him to remain
flexible. Yes, you are creating art, but you really can’t cling too
tightly to any one idea. Public response will often surprise you. Items
you assumed would fly off the shelves don’t, and ones you came up with
on a whim and had serious doubts about will become best sellers. You
just have to go with it. This can be a difficult and humbling lesson to
learn, but if you allow the inevitable mistakes, wrong turns and
failures to completely knock the wind out of you, you’ll never regain
momentum. An ability to rebound quickly and land on your feet is
invaluable. It’s the best skill you can possibly develop and will carry
you through all the ups and downs.

What are yr five top blogs/shops/etc on web?

etsy.com
theauteurs.com
boingboing.net
nypl.org/digital
designspongeonline.com/category/biz-ladies (Design Sponge’s fabulous collection of biz ladies guides on anything and everything small business related)

Who would you love to meet online?

The future me. Let’s say 5 years in the future. I’m nearly certain she would calm all my fears and wire me some money. 

Thank you so much! We adore what you make!

Check out BBT here and a cool hip shop is here:

Flock
7305 Linden Avenue N.
Seattle WA, 98103

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Please contact me at my blog or Etsy or email me at amytsharp (at) gmail (dot) com or twitter to give me scoop on cool things that you find or make! I want to hear from you!

I found Satchel on Etsy this summer and longed for a back to school life so I could buy one of these lovely bags for a pencil case. I realize now that they can hold so many items and I should just give in to my lust. Jenny Andrews of Vancouver makes these gorgeous bags and talked about her creative life here:

Tell us a bit about yourself?
Can you describe your art and your process?

I grew up in the Canadian prairies
with the most amazingly supportive family and friends.  My mother
is an exceptional seamstress and would create things for me that I would
design in my head.  I always envied her sewing abilities and knew
that one day I would like to have the same skills.  Oddly enough
I don’t feel like I was a very creative kid.  I was a competitive
gymnast for 10 + years and focused all my time into that (I guess some
would say that was another form of creativity).  Once I stopped
gymnastics I really needed to focus my energy into something new. 
I started sewing, moved to Vancouver, graduated from fashion design
school, and started working.

My work process is pretty straightforward. 
I do as much as I can while I am not working my other full time job.
I always decide that day how many bags I am going to create and then
I make a music playlist accordingly and just go!

Tell me about a few things
that inspire you?

The people that I surround
myself with really inspire me.  I am around creative people all
the time.  My sister is a photographer and my brother designs furniture
so I think it runs in the family.  My boyfriend has a huge influence
on my work.  He is so great at so many things (music, film, photography,
writing, the list goes on) so that makes me want to learn and take risks
all the time.  Besides people, I am very inspired by movies, music,
and photography.  I also base a lot of my work on colors – colors
are so exciting to me.

What is it like being a
working artist?  Top three things you wish you would have known?

Right now at this point in
my life I am still very young and find that the hardest part about being
a working artist is picturing what the future holds for my design work.
I also find that this is one of the best things.  I could really
be doing anything artistically I want in the next 20 years and what
I am doing now would still be beneficial.  As an artist you are
always growing so that is comforting to me.

Things I would have liked to
know:

1. Save money before
   you jump into a business (most people already know this but I just decided
   to ignore it).
2. Once you invest
   time into your own ideas you will never be able to stop thinking about
   them
3. The main challenge
   in the beginning is getting your name out there.  If you have a
   good product and you are able to do this then I believe you will be
   successful.

Top 5 websites

1. www.etsy.com – I
   am amazed by it everyday .
2. http://www.apple.com/trailers/ – I am obsessed with movies and my
   boyfriend is in film so it is inevitable.
3. http://www.designspongeonline.com/
   - So much of my inspiration comes from this site.
4. www.facebook.com – It is perfect to keep in touch with
   my friends back at home.
5. www.whowhatweardaily.com – This site is fun and is so visually
   pleasing.

Who would you want to meet
online?

If I could meet someone and
talk about their work it would be one of my favorite Etsy sellers Yokoo
(www.yokoo.etsy.com).  I just love her work and she was the first
person that really made me want to open up an Etsy shop.  Other
than that, I would not mind skyping with Larry David..that would be
amazing and hysterical.

Thanks so much! We love yr work! Please visit Satchel here on Etsy and here on her blog!

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Please contact me at my blog or Etsy or email me at amytsharp (at) gmail (dot) com or twitter to give me scoop on cool things that you find or make! I want to hear from you!

I first saw HeyMiemie on the front page of Etsy & wished for a redo of my wedding so I could have had her sweet wedding cake toppers! I think her shop is adorable! I asked Tina-Marie to share with us!

Can you describe yr art and process? Tell us a bit about HeyMiemie!

HeyMiemie is all about felt and needle felted décor and accessories. I cut, assemble and hand-embroider felt birds and flowers. Needle felting involves a rather painfully repetitive process of stabbing wool roving
with a special needle until it felts. I love the result, which makes
the process worthwhile.
The most interesting thing about me
is probably that my maternal grandmother was born in Indonesia, my
mother in Holland, I was born in South Africa and my daughter in the
USA. Wanderlust? You bet. I can only assume that my granddaughter will
be born in Australia. I am married to a contract-working engineer,
which means – besides having someone on hand who can tame electronic
gadgets – that we have lived in four countries and five states, and
have moved more times than I care to remember in the past ten years.
All the moving does appease the wanderer inside though.

I would rather read than do anything else. I would rather do anything else than cook.

Can you just tell me a few things that inspire you and how you work- yr process?

I love just about any form of art and craft, and love trying new ones.
And I absolutely love flowers. I love color. I love happy themes.
Fashion magazines inspire me. Home décor shops and catalogues inspire
me. Etsy inspires me. Sellers who have original products, incredible
photography and organized, attractive shops inspire me. Buyers with
custom orders inspire me. My bird cake toppers were inspired by a
custom order for felt birds for a baby mobile.

I tend to make
rough drawings of my ideas and try to keep them all in one book. But
sometimes they are on receipts or shopping lists or whatever else I can
find in my handbag. I usually have more ideas than I have time to make,
but the book and the notes help me to remember them later.

Most
of my products have developed from something else. I started my Etsy
journey decorating leather baby shoes, then made hair accessories to
match, then started using felt for those accessories, then experimented
with making 3-dimensional felt flowers. Way back at the beginning of my
first Etsy shop, I made a bouquet of flowers out of felt and wooden
skewers. It was very rough and basic, and I always meant to get back to
that theme and work at it some more. A year later I finally did.

I want to know some things about what is it really like to be a working artist…the good and the bad? What are the three top things you wish you would have known before you started this art/etsyjourney?

The
Good: Well, for me it means having something of my own. I cannot work
outside the home because few employers would put up with someone who
can only commit to three months at a time, and then either leave after
two or stay for a year. But I can pack up and take my Etsy shop with me
wherever my husband’s work sends us. I get to stay home and have my
daughter with me most of the time. We can figure out our own schedule.

The
Not So Good: Family life can be demanding and family members not
necessarily understanding or supportive. Sometimes you just have to
stop and eat an imaginary cookie with the dolls. Building a business
takes a lot of time and work. There is no boss to motivate or demand
performance. And there is no boss to pay a salary at the end of each
month.

HeyMiemie is my second Etsy shop, so I have had some
time to practice. I made a few classic mistakes the first time around,
but don’t regret them too much. Etsy is a learning experience, no
matter how well prepared you are. I would suggest reading all the Etsy
How To’s, hanging out in the forums and making a few purchases before
opening a shop.

What are yr five top blogs/shops/etc on web?

Besides Etsy (of course) Craftopolis.com and craftcult.com to keep track of Etsy

Shopping for my daughter at gymboree.com
Making friends in every new town at meetup.com
Sharing photos and keeping in touch with facebook, yahoo mail and Skype

Who would you love to meet online?

Meet
online? Is that how the socially inept like me do it these days? I
would be terrified of meeting any of the people I admire (in any form).
But David Cook seems like a very kind and clever person, I love his
voice and his music and I would love to see him live in concert. And
maybe, just maybe, even say Hello. Does that count? If he’s not
available I’d love to chat with Jane Austen. Provided that she’s not
freaked out by the fact that I come from the future (and wear pants).

Thanks so much Tina-Marie! I love yr work! Please check her shop out today!
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Please contact me at my blog or email me at amytsharp (at) gmail (dot) com or twitter to give me scoop on cool things that you find or make! I want to hear from you!

I loved MEANDMAC the moment I saw the shop. There is something that just calls to me in the work. I love original artwork on Etsy for an affordable price. There is something about having an original work of art that is so divine. For forever hanging in yr home. Love it.

Here is what MEANDMAC had to say to us:

Tell us about yrself and yr art:

I have been a frustrated artist all my life!

I’ve tried every artistic avenue from papier-mache to illustration, from sculpture to fashion. But all the while I always painted. I painted big murals, I painted
small cards and then I landed a job as a Set Painter in the Film Industry. This
was a great job for 6 years but it gradually started to suck the creativity
right out of me. So I stopped. I loved working with paint everyday but there
was no creative spark there for me. Around the same time my girlfriends started
having babies! So I began painting them gifts in the form of canvas art for their
little darlings rooms…then I got a few orders…and WHAH-LA! I finally found
something that I loved doing and people loved me doing!
These friends of mine who were now new parents, said they simply couldn’t find
any original canvas art for kids that didn’t have princess fairies and teddy
bears. This is where the idea to transform my hobby painting into a business
all started.

I would describe my art as fresh, unique, vintage inspired, simple – very
simple and “clean”.

I’ve always loved vintage poster art.

They are a huge inspiration for me. Another is children.

I also work as nanny part time whilst I’m still getting my business up and off the ground.

What is it like being a working artist?

Well, I’m still in the first stages of making it a full time gig. But I am selling, and it’s a wonderful feeling! I was always scared too take the plunge and actually start working as “an artist.” But I’m doing it, and I just love it! It kind of feels a bit strange almost telling people that I’m an artist when they ask me what
I’m up to, because I guess it was always a dream of mine that I thought would
never really take off…. I love working my own hours. But this can be bad too,
as my self-discipline is a little flimsy! And its hard work starting out with
no clear idea of which way to go. I’m currently working the market scene in
Melbourne as well as simply trying to get as much exposure as I can through the
Internet and local street publications. I guess I wish I had someone to tell me
what to do sometimes but I love working it all out for myself too, it’s a great
challenge.

What are some of yr fave sites online:

I just love etsy. It’s pretty new to me but I can’t get enough. I just browse for hours. There are so many amazing artists and “crafties” out there! I found a wonderful artist named Vantiani – she is based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Beautiful pieces created with papers and illustration. Check out her
etsy store.

I also love this blog called “Meet Me at Mikes” – they also have a
store in Melbourne. A cool combination of old and new wares, oh and great recipes!

Who would you love to meet online?

If I could meet anyone online I think it would have to be John Brack, one
little hitch, he died in 1999! Easily my favorite Australian painter.

Hepainted modern Australian life in the 1940′s, right through to the 1990′s.

In 1965 John Brack said, ‘For me I think that there must always be some sort of
comment, but it must never be the sort of comment that could be put into
words.”

A very cool character!

But if it had to be someone living (!!) I would choose another Australian named
Emma Van Leest. She is an incredible paper cutting artist. Her detail and
patience (!) blows me away!

Thanks ME+MAC – we love yr work! Check out MEANDMAC!

Please contact me at my blog, twitter, or email me at amytsharp (at) gmail (dot) com to give me scoop on cool things that you find or make! I want to hear from you!

OK. I am in major love with SewBendy! Friends
across the country work together to make a fabulous handmade goods shop
full of amazing finds! The gorgeous knitting bags are affordable and
will make you the envy of your stitch and bitch! I love everything in
this shop! Jenn took some time to talk about SewBendy with us:

Can you describe yr art and process? Tell us a bit about yrself?

I’m Jenn Irwin and I live in Columbus
(Ohio) with
my girlfriend, Steph, our dog and wee kitten.  By training & education I’m a Therapist,
but really I know I’m just no good at that: I’m nosey, bossy, am prone to
ending other people’s sentences with something more exciting/funny/imaginative
instead.   So I work full-time as an
Advocate at the University, helping students and family members cut-through red
tape and resolve issues. I can hold hands and kick butts at the same time. It
works for me!

For some reason I’ve always had a hard time accepting the
title “artist.” I just think I’m lucky and hope for magic most days.

My great-grandmother taught me the basics of crochet when I was 4 and I learned to
sew pretty early as well. Music (piano, French horn, choir) carried me from age 7 through college. Then collages, photo mashing. Crochet was my gateway-craft in grad school. That lead to knitting, and I’d always been sewing, then I started sewing things to hold my knitting in.

Somewhere I started photojournaling
and picked up cross-stitch. I need a nap.

So – Can you just tell me a few things
that inspire you and how you work – yr process?

I’m inspired by the humanness in every day life, the ordinary and the extraordinary. I love the where and how people express emotion
(and sometimes even how mis-guided the expression is.)

I’m wild about the “other side” of a project
– what’s left over or where it came from. I’m a sucker for plays on words.

Art, to me, is visceral, intuitive and sometimes stiflingly
limiting. Oh how sometimes I wish I could capture the most perfect moments!

The other day I watched Steph while she was laughing – I felt stunted. I can’t knit that joy, or sew it, or even really
capture its pure truth in a photo.

I’m
always hungry for more.

Both of my parents sew (they own a boat canvas &
interior shop) and can each look at someTHING and know *exactly* how to make
it. I’d always revered that gift until I
realized it’d been born in me as well.

I want to know some
things about what is it really like to be a working artist…the good and the
bad?

SewBendy Etsy shop is a joint-venture with my friend Melissa, who lives in Texas. Through blogging we became close friends (once I even tried to teach her
to knit over the phone.) She makes all of the Knit Ditties and I think she has a special knack at finding awesome
fabrics. As business partners we really
compliment each other; she’s great at all of the things I’m not (finances) and
I take care of lots of the correspondence and some of the more visible
stuff.

We’re lucky to be doing this
together as we can have “time off” when we need it – especially because we both
work full-time jobs outside the home as well. That keeps this fun.

File under AMAZING:

I’ve heard over and over that our prices
are “so reasonable.” Lots of bags out there are more expensive.

Years ago I heard a rabbi tell a story about a guy who sold falafal in
Israel. Every day he’d go to him and it was a different price, but
always significantly less than the other falafal stands nearby. The
rabbi asked him why he charged so much less, when he could get more,
and the vendor said, “Because that’s all I need.”

High Five Falafal Guy!!

While we certainly don’t “make” the cost of our time with the sale
of a bag, the income that each bag brings in has afforded EXTRAS that I
normally wouldn’t splurge on. Specifically we’ve taken trips and not
worried about finances…hired professional movers and not had to
budget ahead…tipped generously…and supported other local and Etsy
shops! We’re so very lucky that the shop has done as well as it has.
I have a good job that pays for everything else – for me, the Etsy shop
pays for a little peace of mind.

What are the three top things you wish you would have known
before you started this art/etsyjourney?

1.
I wish I would have known in the beginning that we’d be more successful
than I’d ever have imagined – in the beginning my ego was always on the
verge of a bruise and I could have easily slipped into the “sales =
shop esteem” trap. Once I caught myself and reframed to focus on what
really mattered, sales took off and I realize I never needed to expend
that energy in the first place.

2. That January and February are S-L-O-W in the world of retail in general. (Hello, panic much?)

3. To refine (and re-refine) the shipping policy!

What are yr five top blogs/shops/etc on web?

Moosejaw(http://moosejaw.com) – I could spend hours just reading their witty quips & descriptions. I especially love their “employment” section.

The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks (http://www.unnecessaryquotes.com/)

Indexed (http://thisisindexed.com/)

The Story of Stuff (storyofstuff.com)
- one of the reasons I’m glad I gave up consuming: in 2007, plastic
sacks in 2008, paper products (except toilet paper) AND my car in
2009!

Down Shadow Lane (downshadowlane.etsy.com) – one of my favorite “go-to” Etsy ladies for specialty fabric!

Who would you love to meet online?

Susan B. Anderson
- not only did she have a huge hand in helping SewBendy find its niche
with fiber artists (so I’d give her a great big kiss on the face for
that) ….she also has some of the most adorable baby knit patterns,
raw talent, and a great sense of humor.

Thanks Jenn so much! We love what yr doing!

Please check out the shop and check out the awesome feature on Etsy about one of Jenn’s bags!

AND!!!! Jenn is giving Scoutie Girl readers FREE SHIPPING (Canada & US) …. on all items for sale … for TEN days!!!!!! Just mention Scoutie Girl in order! xoxoxo

Please contact me at my blog, twitter, or email me at amytsharp (at) gmail (dot) com to give me scoop on cool things that you find or make! I want to hear from you!

Ok… I have no pets- but am in love with HannaPT catnip eyeballs! I think they are nifty and amazing! I asked Tessa to talk to us a bit about her small businesses!

Can you describe yr art and process? Tell us a bit about yrself?
My name is Tessa; I live in Vermont with my fiancée, Torrey. We own our business New Duds, where we screen-print and make fabric goods. However, none of that would have started without the Catnip eyeballs! I have two cats, Butters and Orange. When Orange was a little feral kitten we were trying as hard as we could to socialize him and get him used to us. Playing was a major part of that! So along came Torrey’s idea to make him a cat toy shaped like an eyeball. The first few sets were totally hand stitched! I hadn’t yet gotten my sewing machine. I made them from scrap clothing we had around the house. They still are made from the insides of recycled sweatshirts and other fabric scraps.

Personally my art and my process come from a very creative, imaginative background. Both my parents were teachers and I grew up with art and books galore. In college I majored in Painting but not until I started sewing again did I feel like I found what I was looking for.

So- Can you just tell me a few things that inspire you? How do you work?
I’m constantly inspired by my fiancé’s drawing and screen-printing ability. He has that awesome skill of just putting a pen to paper and making something amazing instantly. I also am inspired by my parents. My father is a sculptor and a handyman even though his profession was an Art Teacher. My mother is an amazing sewer and quilter as well as a wiz in the kitchen.
Whenever I get in a creative funk going onto Etsy and poking through the Gift Guides or the Articles really gets my brain flowing again. I also do a lot of my fabric shopping at Thrift stores. A good little scrap or old wool skirt is bound to get me inspired.

I want to know some things about what is it really like to be a working artist…the
good and the bad?
Oh, it’s amazing to be able to do what I love all day, every day. I love all the little things that come with owning a business. I never really was in to photography or bookkeeping before but now I can say I really enjoy both of those things. My brain is constantly full with things to do, and I’m never bored!
However I still don’t have enough time to do everything, we really don’t take days off unless we are out of town. That’s something we want to get better at. We have been planning to go on a hike here in Vermont for months and something always comes up. There is no one to tell you what to do and when to do it, including time off!

What are the three top things you wish you would have known before you
started this art/etsyjourney?
I wish I knew owning a business like ours was a possibility. I went to college and floundered around for so long. I had no idea what to do! I thought you had to have a job that someone else had already mapped out. It’s been the greatest surprise learning the ins and outs of owning a business. I just wish I had known earlier it was a possibility for me! I feel like I could have really taken advantage of some college classes better.

I wish I saved a bit more money, haha! But everything is working out, I know it will be hard the first few years but as long as I can raise a family and own a home in the future I will know it was all worth it.

The last thing I wish I had known before was ETSY! I didn’t learn about the site until fall of 08’. I wish I could have been there when it opened! People say how small it was on 05-06. That would have been so cool to see, where it came from to where it is now. I only hope our business can have a similar successful journey even if it is on a smaller scale.

What are yr five top blogs/shops/etc on web?
Everyday I go to these sites. They are important to me in life and in business.
www.Etsy.com
www.facebook.com
www.flotrack.com – I’m a running nerd
www.alternativeapparel.com – one of our favorite wholesalers, I’m always checking out what new stuff they have!
I love blogs but I’m not great at computers and my bookmark bar scares me! I have trouble finding my way back. I check my bank account every day online. Its sounds a bit nerdy but owning a business has a lot of money flow! I have to make sure everything is legit.

Who would you love to meet online?
I have personal heroes I would love to meet. Like Kara Goucher (elite distance runner) and Jack Daniels (elite running coach). But just as much I would love to meet the folks at Etsy. I know they are just everyday people but they get celebrity status in my book being the gears behind such and amazing website!

Thanks so much!
We love what yr doing!
Cat lovers! Get thee to her shop and check out her other shopand this article on etsy!
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Please contact me at my blog, twitter,  or email me at amytsharp (at) gmail (dot) com to give me scoop on cool things that you find or make! I want to hear from you!