Meet a Maker--Hook Line Sinker

For this Meet a Maker series we interviewed Ashley Smith, awesome creator of Hook Line Sinker.
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The Awesomeness: necklaces, bracelets, earrings & keychains



1) Can you tell us a little about your background and what compelled you to start a craft business?
Last year I had gotten into fishing. My fishing partner and I would go to the Bass Pro Shop to get equipped before heading out. I'd find myself just staring at the lures. They were bright, pretty and even some, glittery! I was more like, "this is too pretty to fish with. I just want to wear it around my neck." That was my "ah-ha" moment. I bought a couple of lures and took them home and experimented with them. I then found out that I liked the more vintage and used lures more than the new looking ones. The new ones just didn't mesh as well with the more vintage necklaces that I was using.




2) Where does your inspiration come from?
Fishing!



3) What are your favorite things to do for fun?
Tattoo, ride bikes and play with my dogs!



4) What's next for Hook Line Sinker?
I just came out with key chains not too long ago, which are doing well, but I am looking for more options for a more unisex demographic.



5) Any tips or advice for anyone starting their own craft business?
Keep your receipts.




6) How would you spend a million dollars?
Buying property and paying off college.


7) What would you tell your 16 year old self?
Don't tell mom, but you grow up to be a tattoo artist...




5 random facts about you
1. I am the condiment queen! I put red pepper flakes on EVERYTHING and ketchup in my mac & cheese.
2. I will wear Converse to my death bed.
3. I want to live on a farm and have a dog rescue.
4. The only food I've ate and didn't like was chicken feet.
5. I could eat pho every day for the rest of my life...or pizza...or sandwiches.

You can find Hook Line Sinker necklaces, earrings, bracelets and keychain here at the felt bird!

Wanna know more about Hook Line Sinker?

CLICK HERE to SHOP!

CLICK HERE for TWITTER!

CLICK HERE for FACEBOOK!

Meet a Maker--Sunshine and Carousels

We'd like to introduce you to one of our brand new amazing artist that sells with us!
For this Meet a Maker series we interviewed Erin Wilson, awesome creator of Sunshine and Carousels.
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
The Awesomeness: hair accessories, necklaces, earrings




1. How did you come up with the name Sunshine and Carousels?
I started to think of things that I love, things that reflect me. One of my favorite things in the world are the days when the temperature is perfect, soft breeze and the sky is perfectly sunny. I feel on these days I'm absolutely invincible. With the warm sunlight dancing on my face and the wind in my hair, I can do anything, be anything and it's the most motivating feeling in the world. So this is where the 'Sunshine' comes from. For the carousel...I've always loved carousels. When you go to a fair, zoo, carnival...wherever, the most beautiful thing at these events is the carousel. It's pretty, colorful and down right magical.


2. Can you tell us a little about your background and what compelled you to start a craft business?
I've studied art and fine arts since I was 12 years old. I have a love for painting but starting a family and having little ones around it isn't practical to have hazardous oil paints out everyday so I started putting my artistic mind to work. I began making handmade accessories as a hobby and quickly saw my hobby turn into a full time business. I wanted to create wearable accessories that make women feel magical and pretty.




3. Where does your inspiration come from?
I'm inspired by nature foremost. I was taught from a young age to look at the world differently, to learn to paint and draw, I see the greens in trees and folds in the petals of flowers a little differently than most. A simple fall tree or blooming spring flower can be the most powerful inspiration for me. I also love old movies, period piece movies and anything with Audrey Hepburn ...I love to see how fashion has changed over the years and I try to emulate my love for those things into what I create. Most of all anything that is happy and sweet...from blowing bubbles with my daughter to watching the beautiful scenery on a long road trip all of it gives me the biggest rush of inspiration.


4. What are your favorite things to do for fun?
For fun I love to make handmade decor for my home. It may seem funny that I spend most of my day creating and making...I'll spend an hour a day making a fun project for my house at the end of the day. I love thrifting and hunting for treasures. I also love to bake and make pretty pastries. I give them away as gifts to friends and family but the baking part is so therapeutic for me. You can probably find my husband, daughter and I having picnic dates at the park and random dance parties at our house. Those are the most fun things for me.


5. What's next for Sunshine and Carousels?
I am working on the Sunshine and Carousel's fall line which will include a little more sparkle and magic. I cannot tell you now...it's a secret. :) I'm also working on moving into a brand new studio and making a spectacular place to work and show the ins and outs of my work and special projects on my blog.


6. Any tips or advice for anyone starting their own craft business?
My first advice would be to start slowly and BE YOURSELF. I know so many people that want to have a handmade business and have so many great ideas but end up trying to do too much to fast. I would focus on a few items that you truly love and reflect the things you love and your own personality and put your time and love into making those the best and most quality items and then branch out from there. Most importantly I believe that if you are going to start a business, make things that you really LOVE, because when you love them your excitement shows and that excitement will spread.


7. How would you spend a million dollars?
Start my own brick and mortar boutique with a cute cupcake boutique in the back and teach crafting classes at the tables while people enjoy delicious treats and build relationships I would travel the world. I would love to go backpacking in Europe...catch a train to Paris. All the romantic things one dreams of. I would just love to see everything. Oh, and probably decorate my house with all the cutest things I could possibly find. :)


8. What would you tell your 16 year old self?
I would tell my 16-year-old self that she was going to be pretty darn awesome when she's 26. :) No really, I would tell her to enjoy everyday and enjoy all the little moments in life and to always believe in herself because she can do anything she sets her heart to.



9. 5 random facts about you
- I'm an extreme night owl.
- I drink way to much coffee.
- I love to work, I love my job and creating. I could be out shopping and having the best time ever and I still yearn to be back home working on pretty creations.
- I love hip hop music (even though I'm a strong indie folk music lover) it's a guilty pleasure. Shhh...don't tell.
- I love love love pirates. :)



You can now find Erin's headbands, hair clips, earrings and necklaces at the felt bird!

Wanna know more about Sunshine and Carousels?
CLICK HERE to SHOP!
CLICK HERE for the BLOG!
CLICK HERE for TWITTER!

Meet a Maker--Gleeful Peacock

We'd like to introduce you to one of our amazing artist that sells with us!
For this Meet a Maker series we interviewed Nikki Halgren, lovely creator of Gleeful Peacock.
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
The Awesomeness: earrings, necklaces, bracelets, headbands & hair clips.




How did you come up with the name Gleeful Peacock?
I knew that I wanted my name to really symbolize what I wanted my brand to be about. So I sat down and I wrote down all the adjectives and words that I felt really meant something to me and showed what I wanted to put out into the world. In the end all of the words fit into two main columns, colorful and happy. I had just taken a trip to the Zoo with my family and I spent such a long time staring at a peacock. I was so amazed with the intense colors and how interesting it was. It really inspired me so I knew that would be what symbolized color in my name. I decided that since I always seem to be drawn to things that are not so common I needed a happy word that was not commonly used. Gleeful was perfect since it was a throwback to a simpler time and not a word that was used in the everyday conversation. I asked everyone I knew for their opinion. I would say 90% did not approve of the name. I got a ton of funny looks. When I kept sticking up for it and defending it I knew it was the one. It was quirky and matched me and what I wanted in my business. After that, I stopped asking anyone of their opinion on it and decided that it would no only be the name of my business but a shorted manifesto for what I made and how I run my business.



Can you tell us a little about your background and what compelled you to start a craft business?
There was this watercolor I did in 5th grade. It was a Iris. The center of it bleed out and it made it look so artistic. It was a serendipitous moment. My teacher put it up on the wall of fame. I was so proud and at that moment a artist was born. I was very involved in art all through school. I identified myself as an artist. Then I got into my twenties and 'grew up'. I got a good job and worked my way up. I was all spreadsheets and sales reports. Then right about the time I hit 30 I realized that I had lost myself. I was no longer the artist and the quirky girl I had been. I was pin stripes and slacks. I was also way to serious and not so happy. About that time we moved to Tulsa so that my husband could finish his education. It was the perfect time for me to spend some time getting to know myself again. I got back into crafting and art. I started to find myself again. As part of my journey I got back to wearing clothes that spoke to me. But I just could not find jewelry or accessories that I thought were me. Rhinestones were everywhere and I am just not a rhinestone type of gal. So I decided I wanted to make my own. I taught myself the basics and the next thing I knew people were buying my pieces. One day a epiphany hit and I just blurted out 'I am going to start a business'. That was about 16 months ago. Here I am today, a full time small business owner.. and most of all I consider myself an artist once again.



Where does your inspiration come from?
As part of my journey I wanted to be more present in my life. Be awestruck by my surrounding and all that is beautiful in the world. That is the single most common way I get inspired. Colors speak to me very loudly. So if I am taking a bike ride with my daughter I notice how different colors in a garden make me feel. Particularly how they look next to each other. I also pay close attention to images on TV or in magazines. If I like how a yellow lamp looks on a teal table then the next time I am in my studio and yellow and teal headband might just be born. Although I still am a 5th grader art student at heart and I still chase after serendipitous artistic moment. So I tend to also paint trays and trays of pieces with certain outcomes in mind and then I sit down right before I set them all and place them in piles and they turn into something else entirely. I let what ever colors combination I am feeling at that moment take over. Some of my most favorite pieces and color combination's came about that way.




2 favorite websites:
I love facebook. I know.. not the most creative answer. But I love that it lets me connect with hundreds of people that get what I am doing. I also love to follow what other people are up too. I love to see that other people are making great things and living life to the fullest.
I tend to try and not spend too much time in front of my computer since I feel it can really eat away at my creating time.


What's next for Gleeful Peacock?
I am working on a wedding and a home decor line. I also plan on playing with some new mediums to keep me inspired and learning new techniques. I have so many ideas right now and I am so excited to get them out into the world!



Any tips or advice for anyone starting their own craft business?
The best advice I can give to you is to do your own thing. I can say I am not perfect at running a business and I am learning as I go. But I can say without a doubt that my work is mine and can come from only me. I see people trying to jump on the newest trend and make a business out of it. Producing something that is already being done makes it hard to stand out and lowers your credibility as a artist and a creative business person. Find your art, your style, your inspiration and then find your niche customer base. If you are making something that truly comes from you then you will be proud of it and stand behind it. Handmade customers are intelligent and they want something that you put your heart and soul into. Trends fade but creating something you love will always speak to someone. Also, surround yourself with other handmade business owners that you look up to and can learn from. Then pass along what you know to those starting up. What goes around comes around. You want good crafting karma.


5 random facts about you
1) I am the messiest crafter. I am so visual that I pull out everything out so I can see it. It makes for one messy studio!
2) I make up holidays since I feel like there are just not enough of them in the year.
3) I feel strongly that my most important job as being a mom is to teach her how to be happy. So far so good!
4) I am originally from Utah and have lived in Oklahoma almost 5 years. I dont plan on moving back, ever. I found my home here.
5) I seriously look at the boxes I am mailing out with my product and I envision my love going into them. I usually doodle a peacock or feather on almost all shipments.. even the ones the stores get. I want everyone to know that if they have a GP piece that I really did put love into it. Kind of a silly thing, but it makes me happy.

You can find Nikki's earrings, bracelets, necklaces, headbands and now hair clips at the felt bird!

Wanna know more about Gleeful Peacock?
CLICK HERE to SHOP!
CLICK HERE for FACEBOOK!
CLICK HERE for TWITTER!

Meet A Maker-Collected Thread

We'd like to introduce you to this week's Meet A Maker!
Meet Lindsay Zodrow, creator of the lovely handmade and vintage boutique Collected Thread
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
the awesomeness: sewn headbands & hand-bound journals made from old books

*how did you come up with the name Collected Thread?
My husband actually came up with it. We wanted a name that represented what we were doing in the store, bringing different creative people together within the store.


*Can you tell us a little about your background and what compelled you to start a craft business?
I studied studio art at Oklahoma State University with a focus on sculpture. I have always been drawn to found objects and get a kick out of making them into something else. I have an installation in the store where i attached hundreds of wooden spools to the brick wall in an abstract wave like pattern. Most of my customers don't even notice it when they come in but it makes me so happy.
I have always made things as long as I can remember. When i moved to Oklahoma City, I became friends with a girl named Nora Bonnell. She makes the most beautiful clothing. We started a traveling craft sale where we would set up in different businesses and sell our work with other people. The store sort of evolved out of that market.

(handmade dress by Nora Bonnell)

*Where does your inspiration come from?
Good conversations, color, antique stores, a good book, local musicans such as Other Lives, Sherree Chamberlain Band, Colormusic, Mayola, and Ben Hill.


*2 favorite websites?
decor8blog.com
etsy.com



*What’s next for Collected Thread?
We are working on carrying a bunch of handmade houseware items. We are pretty pumped about it!



*Any tips or advice for anyone starting their own craft business?
Have a lot of grace for yourself. You are going to mess up a million times. Enjoy the challenge of not knowing what you are doing.





* 5 random facts about you!
-Newsies is my all time favorite movie with Little Women and Almost Famous coming in 2nd and 3rd place.
-My husband and I have a green scooter namder Herman and we loved him very much.
-In Junior and High school, i didn't go out a lot. I really enjoyed painting random slogans,bible verses, and images on the walls of my closet. I was not the coolest kid.
-My husband is the interior designer in our home. I always get the credit for how our home is set up but it is totally him.
-My favortie candy is Sour Patch Kids. I eat them until my tongue is raw.

You can find Lindsay's sewn headbands and book journals at The Felt Bird!
Be sure to stop by her amazing handmade boutique next time you're in OKC!

Collected Thread is located at 1705A NW 16th Street OKC, OK 73106
Open: Tuesdays - Saturdays 11 to 7pm!

Wanna know more about Lindsay and Collected Thread?
TWITTER: CLICK HERE!
MYSPACE: CLICK HERE!
WEBSITE: CLICK HERE!

Thanks Lindsay!!

Meet A Maker-Samaria Project

We'd like to introduce you to this week's Meet A Maker!
Meet Jessie Skriner, creator of Samaria Project
Location: Chandler, Arizona
the awesomeness: Love Bot Bots & Mr. Fronch Toast


*how did you come up with the name Samaria Project?
My husband, Vin, and I had just moved to Montana from Salt Lake City, Utah. During one of the many 10 hour drives that we had to do before moving there, I was daydreaming about having a creative business. I kept trying to come up with names that would sound neat and was drawing a total blank - at that second we passed an exit sign for a tiny town called Samaria. I kept thinking that was such a cool name....after we were all moved to Montana the creative business idea came up again as my "side project" (motivated by my wonderful husband). The first name that came to mind was Samaria...and Samaria Project was created!

*Can you tell us a little about your background and what compelled you to start a craft business?
A craft business is probably one of the last things anyone would have expected from me! I graduated with a BA in Art with an emphasis in Photography and Printmaking. Soon after graduating I was swept up into the "glamorous" life of music promotion working with Sony BMG as a marketing rep in Salt Lake City. It did that for a few years and went to thousands of concerts! Then life slowed down a bit and I worked the traditional 9-5 for a few years...but eventually the creative itch came overwhelmingly back. Feeling too disconnected because I didn't have a dark room or printmaking studio to inhabit and feeling sick of the stuffiness of traditional art- I started looking for other avenues of being creative I experimented in a handful of mediums and eventually fell in love with plush making. As you can see I am still dabbling in many mediums (since I have 4 etsy stores! LOL!) I love working with my hands and creating something from nothing :)


*Where does your inspiration come from?
A lot of it comes from my family and fellow artists on Etsy. My first plushies were experiments to make one of a kind gifts for my nieces...since then I have been hooked (and they have been equally hooked up with awesome toys from their auntie Jess!) Once I discovered Etsy - it was like a whole other world that opened up! I couldn't believe it had existed for so long without me knowing about it! It has been such a crucial piece in getting Samaria Project up and running. Another HUGE influence has been being a member of the THE PLUSH TEAM. Such a wonderful, crazy, hilarious, supportive group of plush artists who are constantly amazing and astounding me with their awesome creations. I feel so lucky to be part of it and love the constant challenges to expand!


*2 favorite websites?
Only two?? Well, if I had to admit where I spend a lot of time I would say:
Etsy (of course!)
ICANHASCHEEZBURGER (my daily dose of giggles)


*What’s next for Samaria Project?
More and more plushies!! I am currently dreaming up new characters and thinking about other avenues to take them. Did I mention sewing and more sewing :)


*Any tips or advice for anyone starting their own craft business?
Never give up! I think a huge part of any business is passion about what you are doing. I put my whole heart into everything I make. It is such a huge reward to me that my little plushies make people happy!

* 5 random facts about you!
-I am allergic to tons of foods :( which means I usually have a stash of Jess friendly food with me :)
-I am a huge nerd to the core
-I LOVE puppies - especially Dexter :) What a cutie!
- I work @ a toy store!
- Vin and I move a lot. As my mom calls us, "urban nomads" :)

You can find Samaria Project plushies at The Felt Bird!!
Wanna know more about Jessie and Samaria Project?
SHOP:
Samaria Project
Samaria Project Photography
Cloud Labs
Travel..A Go Go...
TWITTER: CLICK HERE
BLOG: CLICK HERE

Thanks Jessie!!

Meet A Maker- The Knit Owl

We'd like to introduce you to this week's Meet A Maker!
Meet Amby Franks Barnes, creator of The Knit Owl
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
the awesomeness: fabric button rings & bobby pins, wristlet key fobs, and NEW cowls, fingerless gloves and Grecian style headbands!!

*how did you come up with the name The Knit Owl?
I had just started knitting, something I had wanted to learn forever! I seriously used to ask my friends if they had a grandmother that could teach me. Finally, I made myself just figure it out. Around the same time I had started obsessing over cute vintage owls. So the two just came together in my head one day! It's also kind of a play on words, "night owl."


*Can you tell us a little about your background and what compelled you to start a craft business?
My mom is super crafty, so I grew up watching her make lots of cool things. She was always encouraging me to learn, especially when it came to sewing. I wasn't quite as into it as a child, but a few years ago I got a sewing machine and just got inspired to give it another go. I started by making tote bags as gifts and had so much fun that I wondered if I could sell them. I was really unhappy with the job I had at the time and the thought of doing something I enjoyed sounded amazing! At the same time, sites like Etsy were starting to become successful. Once I did a little research and saw just how many people were trying to make a living by selling handmade, I got so excited and dove in from there!


*Where does your inspiration come from?
I read about 15 fashion blogs everyday along with my magazine subscriptions! It really gets my mind going. I also get a lot of ideas whenever I find a new batch of vintage fabric. I always know immediately what each piece will become.


*2 favorite websites?
I can't get enough of this blog: http://cupcakesandcashmere.com/
This is a fun site if you knit or crochet: https://www.ravelry.com/

*What’s next for The Knit Owl?
Well, it's fall and this is when things get really busy and fun! I plan to be at Indie Emporium and some other shows this year. So I am working hard to make some new products. I'm really focusing on cowls and scarves, both crocheted and knit.


*Any tips or advice for anyone starting their own craft business?
Be sure you enjoy making the product, because if it takes off you'll be making a lot of it!!


* 5 random facts about you!
1. Without realizing it, I obsess over a certain color every fall. Last year it was mustard and this year it's navy! I just start noticing a trend in what I buy. Weird, I know.
2. I drink hot tea every morning. It's like my coffee.
3. I love to bake and cook.
4. Rainy days are my favorite.
5. Last but not least, I am a total Twihard...meaning I love Twilight and think everyone should read and see the movies! It's fun to indulge the teenage girl in me.


You can find The Knit Owl at The Felt Bird!!
Wanna know more about Amby and The Knit Owl?
MYSPACE: CLICK HERE
TWITTER: CLICK HERE
SHOP: CLICK HERE

THANKS AMBY!!!