Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

Interview with Carrie, SepiaLepus

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Carrie moved from Long Beach, CA to Quincy, MA about a year ago. She’s now just south of Boston and can be there in a matter of minutes. Providence, RI is also very close, and while “It’s like a different world here.“, she likes it very much and her dog, Francesca, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, loves the snow!

Carrie describes herself as an artist, animal lover, some-time nihilist, and some-time optimist. Carrie says, “I wish I could say that I had all kinds of free time for fun stuff, but I also work full time as a picture framer to help pay the bills. Between my job and keeping things organized at home, I don’t have much time. I do however make sure to spend lots of time walking my dog at the beach down the road.”

Carrie likes to play ice hockey. She says she’s terrible, but loves it. Check out all her wonderful illustrations at her store SepiaLepus.

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How long have you been creating?

Drawing dinosaurs was my thing when I was about 4. That’s as far back as I remember. I also had an obsession with drawing Sperm Whales battling Giant Squid in 2nd grade. I still love to create images involving creatures with tentacles. I was always drawing and that was what I was known for from elementary through high school.

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Do you have a favorite type of art style you do?

I don’t really have a favorite style. I do try to mix things up from time to time. It’s great to experiment and see how your work evolves. You take in so much in your day to day life and it influences you even if you don’t really notice it.

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Why did you start?

Good question. I can’t really remember! It’s been so long.

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Where do you get your materials?

I have tons of art supplies that I still use from when I was at art school. We had to use so many different mediums and techniques that I ended up with a surplus. I’m only now starting to have to replace things. Luckily, my frame shop has a pretty good array of supplies. I did get my Print Gocco and I continue to get supplies for it from Etsy sellers.

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Can you tell us a little of your process?

My sketch books are a constant source of material. I have so many books filled with doodles and quickly sketched out ideas. I often go back to something that I drew years ago to turn into a finished illustration. Something small like a little character study can turn into a whole series of paintings.

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Do you have a dedicated work area/room?

My small studio is just too small for me now! We are moving next month to a much larger place where I will have my own studio room upstairs and a basement. I have big plans for the basement. Metal arts and ceramics studio. We really lucked out with this new place.

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Is this your full-time job? Hobby? Fun?

I have a great time creating and I wish it was my full time job. I am working on making that happen. Maybe this will be the year for me!

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Where do you get your ideas?

Animals and nature. I love everything that creeps, crawls, swims etc! One thing that I have always been grateful for was the fact that I have never had a problem coming up with ideas. I only wish I had the time to finish more of them!

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Do you have a best seller?

I think that my best seller is my print called Arctic. It’s one of my favorites.

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What is your favorite?

Right now my favorite is Runnnn! because it makes me laugh.

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What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?

Making a living doing what I love. I hope to have my freelance career up and running. I would love to illustrate children’s books and of course keep creating and selling my prints.

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Have any advice for people trying to start their own handcrafted business?

I’m usually looking to others for advice! I would say don’t limit yourself to one venue. Etsy is great but it’s so easy to be buried especially now that there are so many shops. Get out and book some craft shows. There are some great indie arts and crafts fairs out there. I have only recently started doing some smaller shows and I have had pretty good luck. I’m hoping to make it a regular part of my weekends. I’m lucky that my husband likes to go with me!

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Favorite quote?

“Quo me amat, amat et canem meam. “Love me, love my dog.” St. Bernard

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Interview With Carita, Jealousy Designs

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Carita has been living in the countryside of Sweden all her life. Her current housemates include two cats and a lizard. She describes herself as an analytic, business minded nature lover with too much creativity. Carita loves fashion, especially shoes, shopping, modern design and long walks in the nature. And of course creative work, like claying, painting and silversmithing.

On a normal day, you’ll find Carita working in her studio wearing work clothes and finally getting around to breakfast around 1pm – toast, tea, fruit and yogurt. Check out her store here and her blog here.

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When you talk about Swedish Jewelry and Design elements in your work, what do you mean?

Most of my work is inspired from the nature here in Sweden and my designs are often pretty clean in the design, and that is what you usually call “Scandinavian design.”

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How long have you been making jewelry? How did you get started?

I started to make beaded jewelry back in the beginning of the 2000, I got a “jewelry start kit” from my boyfriend. This was the beginning of my jewelry company but after a while I felt that I wanted a development from the beads and the material I had been working in. So I started studying various metalsmith techniques. The material I most liked to use became sterling silver and a little more expensive gems and stones of all kinds. And there is where I am today.

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Is it hard to work with metal?

Both yes and no, it is not hard to make simple designs like just a hammered wire etc but if you want to make more detailed work and get a perfect result you need to put allot of energy and work hours for one piece. You need to think over the whole process at once, most of the time you can’t go back and change the design later. To work in metal is not anything for too restless persons I guess.

Did you go to an art school of some kind?

Yes, I studied in art school for a couple of years, this was a wonderful time when I everyday could spend all hours a day with different creativity processes.

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Is this your full time job? Hobby? Fun?

Both yes and no. I have been running a company as an interior/exterior house painter (paint, repaper etc) for many years now. But last year I decided to put that company in rest and I am right now living full time on my jewelry making but also looking for a new job and challenge.

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Where do you get your materials?

This is a hard question because I get it from so many different places. I buy the metal from a company who has recycled metal; the stones in my work are from all around the world but many of them I pick up myself in the nature around me. I like to use rough stones in my work but if I also cut out and design some stones myself.

Where do you get your ideas?

I am a person who takes my inspirations from my own impressions, things in life and nature.

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Do you do other kinds of crafts?

Yes, I am an educated artist and I love art! I work in clay, wood, and paint.

What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?

In 5 years I still live in my house, have a bigger studio and am running my successful jewelry company.

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Interview with Leanne, StudioLeanne

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Leanne lives in beautiful Melbourne Australia, overlooking the beach, where she has lived all her life and loves it. She has a daughter at university, a husband who dotes on her and a cat whom she trips over constantly. Leanne describes herself as a ‘do it right now’ person who is busy creating. You can see all her creations at her shop, StudioLeanne. Her secret is that she has been 38 years old for some years now.

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How long have you been creating? Why did you start?

My more meaningful creative life began during school years where I discovered a passion for pottery. In keeping with my secret age, I have been potting for some 20 years now, creating ceramic pieces in stoneware and porcelain. During this time I discovered the magic of glass and have incorporated this medium into much of my work.

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Where do you get your materials?

Living on the beach allows me to find the most fascinating driftwood pieces which I often incorporate into my ceramic wall art. Recycled paper and card go into my decoupage.

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Can you tell us a little of your process?

I mix many of my own glazes and still enjoy throwing a pot on the wheel. Each ceramic piece is allowed to dry then it is high temperature kiln fired. The next process is glazing. The pieces are then fired again, and sometimes a third firing depending on the effect I want to achieve.

How long does it take?

The complete process can take up to two weeks.

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Do you have a dedicated work area/room?

With 2 kilns in my studio, one for ceramics and the other for glass, I am kept constantly warm in winter and perfectly poached all summer long.

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Is this your full-time job? Hobby? Fun?

I’m passionate about my work, it is fun and a wonderful outlet for my creativity. Some years ago my daughter wanted a specific piece of ceramic jewelry which I made for her. From that, a range of unique, oversize and outrageous jewelry pieces developed.

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Where do you get your ideas?

Inspiration comes with the seasons. The beautiful sunsets, the stormy skies, the surf and the evening calm provide the individual colors and designs of each piece.

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Do you have a best seller?

“I HEART U” – an oversize, outrageous 2.5 inch red ceramic cocktail ring, is by far my most requested item.

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What is your favorite?

My daughter’s favorite is “RockStar” a 6 centimeter ceramic cocktail ring in black and my favorite is “Caribbean Fling” a beautiful blue glass ring which covers three fingers of my hand.

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What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?

In five years time I hope to be a little more outrageous in design and still only 38 years old.

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Have any advice for people trying to start their own handcrafted business?

Believe in yourself. If you love your product then why wouldn’t everyone else love it too? Never give up, just persevere.

“In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different” – Coco Chanel.

Interview with Sheryl from Jochris12

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Sheryl from the Jochris12 jewelry store on Etsy creates amazing glass pendants, earrings and more. As a kid she was quiet but very creative and it shows in her work. On any average day you’ll find her walking around in jeans and a sweatshirt, and of course, Jochris12 Jewelry.

How long have you been working with glass? How did you get started?
I guess I have always had a love affair with glass. I have collected glass since I was a small girl. I started fusing glass in 2000 and started making fused glass jewelry in 2002. I had watched a program on tv on fusing glass and instantly knew it would be a passion for me. I am completely self taught. I have read lots and lots of books and learned lots from my mistakes.

I love the Color Explosion pieces. How do you come up with the color combinations? How are they made?
The Color Explosion pieces are made in many different steps. All the little pieces in each piece are fused separately and after they are fused I put together the pendants. I just put them together in such a way that appeals to my eye and hopefully the customers eye too. After they are put together they will be fused again. Then cold worked to shape and then back in the kiln for a fire polish.

Where do you come up with your ideas for new pieces?
Ideas come to me no matter what I am doing. Sometimes shopping I will see color combinations and then sometimes I wake in the night and I have to write down a idea. My creative mind never sleeps.

How long does it take to make a piece? Can you explain the process in simple-ish terms?
The fusing process depends on what fusing technique you are doing. You might just be doing a tack fuse that will just take one fusing and grinding to shape and then another fire polishing. Some of the more advanced pieces will take a minimum of 4 firings and sometimes more. I can sometimes work on a piece for weeks and then sometimes everything will come together and not take very long. I just love every minute of this process. This is when I am at my happiest.

Is the process different for the pendants with butterflies, birds and flowers on them?
The fusing process for the pendants that you see the images on starts out the same as any other pendant. After that has been completed the image will be fused into the glass. The images are then a part of the glass.

Do you do any other types of crafts/art?
I have always had a project of some kind going. I love to crochet and knit; those are my favorites next to glass. I have probably tried everything from cake decorating to scrapbooking, but I am totally in love with glass.

Tell me more about you?
I don’t know if I have a favorite color, but I am sure you can tell I love color of all kind. I guess if I had to pick one it would be in the green family. I love my morning coffee. My favorite cereal is cheerios.

Interview with Will Wagenaar, ReClaim2Fame

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Will Wagenaar lives in Port Richey, Florida with his cat, Lyle. He sculpts and when he isn’t sculpting, he’s thinking about sculpting and looking for parts. Will has been a professional artist since 1972 and also has an interior design degree. He once ran a mural painting business and later opened a storefront in Miami Beach where he sold his work – taking found materials and creating usable objects and fine art. His work is at least 80% recycled materials. Check out his shop!

A few of his sculptures can be found at EcoArt LA gallery right now (not sure how long they’ll be there).

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How long have you been making sculpture?

Since high school.

What are the materials needed to make them?

Recycled is the most important quality. Other than that: wood, metal, glass, ceramic. Mostly discarded household and garage items. I prefer to work with materials that show their age.

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Where do you get your materials?

I have been to 4 flea markets in the last 3 days. Also, thrift stores and yard sales, estate sales. Occasionally, I am able to liberate trash from the streets.

Can you tell us a little of your process?

I let the material speak for itself. Sometimes my usage is obvious. If I am really curious about something, then there is usually a reason. I keep playing with it until an idea strikes. Sometimes it is about the relationship of one or more pieces, the shapes they create together.

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How long does it take to complete a sculpture?

Once I have an idea in mind, I work quickly doing all the difficult things first. Then I slow it down a bit for the final effects and finishes.

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Have you had a favorite piece?

I have had several favorites. It is such a thrill to sell a piece that is a favorite because those are the most validating sales.

Do you do other kinds of crafts?

I was a mural artist and did architectural finishes for almost 30 years. My work is in many fine residences in several states and corporate locations as well.

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What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?

More of this, I love this.

Have any advice for people trying to start their own handcrafting business?

Just do it. There is every good reason to try. Just do every task to the best of your ability. People will find you.

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