work Archives - Try Handmade

Interview with Annie Mohaupt of Mohop

October 27, 2020 by Erika Jurney 4 Comments

What is your craft / art / creative endeavor?

I make wood-soled sandals with interchangeable ribbon ties. They’re sometimes referred to as the “infinity sandal” due to the limitless styling options. The shoes are composed of domestic hardwoods and other eco-friendly components.

How did you get started? Have you worked in other creative areas before the kind of work you’re doing now?

I worked as an architect for seven years before embarking on my new career as a shoemaker. My background in architecture was incredibly helpful in preparation for my shoemaking business, both in terms of design and engineering as well as project management.

Is there a story behind the name of your shop?

Mohop is the phonetic pronounciation of my last name, Mohaupt. Mohaupt is a German name, and would typically be pronounced with all the letters (just like it looks), but the American Mohaupts simplified it.

Do you work alone? With a team? Do you engage your family or friends in the work? What is your process? How do you ensure you get your work done yet still have a life?

I currently work alone, although my husband helps with a lot of the administrative tasks. I’ve had many interns, assistants, friends and family help out in the past, but at the moment, I’m scaling back in preparation for a launch in a slightly different direction later in 2010.

Where do you sell your work? Which venues are your favorites? Do you prefer selling online or in person? Do you attend shows or fairs? Is your work in a gallery or brick-and-mortar store?

Right now, I only sell at mohop.com and mohop.etsy.com. My shoes were carried in close to 30 shops in 2008, but the pressure of the demand was just too much, and I’ve taken 2009 to re-evaluate my business and production methods. I’ve also stopped doing fairs and most events because my online store keeps me plenty busy!

What inspires and motivates you?

I’m inspired by the beauty and sculpt-ability of the wood I use, materials I find around the architectural firm my husband works at, and my preference for comfort *and* style at all times. I’m motivated by the piles of orders on my to-do list that will be late if I don’t put in 15-hours days ;)

Thanks Annie! And if you would like to be interviewed here, just go over to DIY Interview.

Interview with Anne Cope of Mayasmomma's Design Studio

October 26, 2020 by Erika Jurney 3 Comments

I handcraft pirate treasure maps and pirate treasure kits for all the little pirates of the world. I prematurely age a sheet of canvas and lay the artwork down with inks and hand letter everything. they make very unique gifts for those who like their kids to engage in creative play at least some of the time. Video games and tv are fine if they are balanced with creative and imaginative games that all children are capable of.

I also make notebooks out of vintage record album covers and various types of boxboard (like cereal boxes). The remnants of what I cut from cereal and other dry goods boxes are hand punched to make little scalloped shaped tags for gifts or price tags etc. It is a great way to recycle and people think they are cool ideas.

I have also been making and selling primitive hang tags for years.

How did you get started? Have you worked in other creative areas before the kind of work you’re doing now?

I have always been creative and willing to try new things. I have not, however, always been successful. I failed horribly at knitting for example. I did mosaic art for quite a while, cutting all of my own pieces from vintage dinner plates. I really loved the 70’s retro colors but did a lot of cottage chic type of pieces because they were hot sellers at that time.

I did some work with digital graphics for a few years as well during that same time. I then had my son and those two things were just too demanding on my time.

I transitioned into some recycled projects, the primitive hang tags and my latest passion for the pirate treasure maps.

Is there a story behind the name of your shop?
Maya is the name of our family dog. A border collie. I started an ebay account years ago and called it mayasmomma, that transitioned into a store and then I started selling on Etsy and I decided to stick with the name to make it easier for customers to follow me.

Do you work alone? With a team? Do you engage your family or friends in the work? What is your process? How do you ensure you get your work done yet still have a life?

I work alone for the most part on the crafts. My husband helps when I need him to but he is the biggest help indulging my son at those moments when I really need to get work done. My dad is a constant help to me with the primitive hang tags. He is in charge of stringing them up for me which just takes time that I do not always have. He loves to be able to help me and I usually need it!

Where do you sell your work? Which venues are your favorites? Do you prefer selling online or in person? Do you attend shows or fairs? Is your work in a gallery or brick-and-mortar store?

I sell mainly online.

I do a few craft shows per year around the holidays.

I like the interactions with the Etsy members. So many creative minds in one place is very empowering and motivating.

Do you have any favorite handmade shops or sellers you’d like to recommend?

My favorite for quality, handmade knit items: The PunkyToe Co.

What inspires and motivates you?

I am often motivated by others. I am encouraged by friends and family because they think I have a talent for being crafty-licious in general. I try many things and when I can make one work I focus on it until I feel it is something that others would covet.

What do you wish I had asked you?

“Did you ever attempt a new craft that you could never get the hang of?”

I once had this idea to learn to knit so that I could make and sell “matching people and pet scarves”…I really wanted my fur child and I to be wearing matching scarves when we went for walks. FLOP. I couldn’t learn to knit to save my life. I did find someone to knit matching scarves for me.

Snort. I think that’s a great idea even though my crazy dog would just eat her scarf ;) Thanks Anne! And if you would like to be interviewed next, just head over to DIY Interview.

Wild Life

October 20, 2020 by Susannah Rodgers 1 Comment

These colorful prints from Wild Life make me extremely happy! I’m enjoying imagining each picture as a small preview of different rooms in a very tall and very posh apartment complex. Every time I browse these prints I find more to love. Such as the detailed texture of each wall, the proper placement of the animal figurines and the tiniest accessories…oh!

The artist has this to say about his artwork:

Now, where to begin? In my other life I’m a serious award-winning photographer, much given to brooding and brow-furrowing. That part of my life is known as “Bert.”

Then there’s the part of my life I spend hanging out with my little family, building sandcastles, jumping waves, and camping in the northern woods; the “Ernie” part if you will.

Wild Life Prints brings “Bert” and “Ernie” together for the first time, along with a host of amazing animals in their, um, natural habitats!

Oh, my name is Jeff and I love taking pictures of just about anything.

I think the marriage of Jeff’s ‘two sides’ is, simply, perfection!

I don’t know what else to say about this fantastic artist and his beautiful work. Except, maybe, that I want all of them. Now, please!

Shauna Thomas

October 16, 2020 by Erika Jurney 1 Comment

Shauna Thomas: I studied surface design at Bloomsburg University. In 2006 I attended a Surface Design Conference in Kansas City with my professor, which is when I truly realized my love for the medium. I began working on wearable art with the intent of just making beautiful fabrics. All of my fabrics are designed by hand. April 2007 I won Best In Show at a local wearable art extravaganza. I now work from home, where I live with my husband and our beautiful son.

Interview with Manny Neuzil of Mannybeads

October 13, 2020 by Erika Jurney 8 Comments

What is your craft / art / creative endeavor?

I am a jewelry designer and creator with a passion for unrefined stones and other elements that inspire me to create jewelry that is designed with an organic feeling to it: a bit unrefined, beautifully irregular and suggestive of the spiritual. Some of the elements I am most drawn to are organic and unrefined stones, vintage buttons, Tibetan mala beads, and ethnic additions.

How did you get started? Have you worked in other creative areas before the kind of work you’re doing now?

Some years ago I found myself really wanting to breath some fresh air into my creative lungs. I learned how to knit, took some pottery courses and dove into making jewelry. I had been creating jewelry for myself and others for many years but suddenly found myself spotting stones and beads everywhere! I’d collect them up and notice that there were some stones that just felt compelled to share the same future in an earring or necklace design!

Is there a story behind the name of your shop?

Certainly not an interesting one! I was eager to open my first shop at Etsy and needed to create a name so I impulsively picked ‘Mannybeads’ thinking I could change it in the next few weeks without confusing buyers…but at Etsy once you’ve got a name it’s yours for life! And…I’ve settled right into it quite nicely.

Do you work alone? With a team? Do you engage your family or friends in the work? What is your process? How do you ensure you get your work done yet still have a life?

Well, my day job is not jewelry making so I feel privileged to be able to create without the pressures of paying the mortgage. That truly frees me up to follow the ebb and flow of creative energy and excitement without getting in the way. Creating jewelry is very much a part of having a life for me…I’m a bit of an introvert so working alone when I feel inspired and energized is very meditative and so satisfying…

Where do you sell your work? Which venues are your favorites? Do you prefer selling online or in person? Do you attend shows or fairs? Is your work in a gallery or brick-and-mortar store?

I sell my work primarily on line at Etsy, 1000Markets and Zibbet. I also have a virtual table at Poppytalk Handmade.

I participate in just a few seasonal shows and really enjoy that. I think if I participated in more I’m afraid it might start to feel tedious! The preparation and set up is quite something and I really admire folks who do it full time.

Hmmm…favorite venue…I must say 1000Markets is a beautiful site. Just first rate. In terms of exposure and sales I’d have to say Etsy continues to be the Gold Standard for me.

Do you have any favorite handmade shops or sellers?

I do! I have many so these three represent, perhaps hundreds! but here they are…
Desert Talismans (crazy-beautiful, inspired work…)

Artsy (my favorite in assemblage art)

Artquirk (just love this artist and the beautiful rendering of place and time…)

What inspires and motivates you?

I am most inspired by stones and beads that are very earthy, organic and natural in feel. The stone or bead leads me in design rather than having a design in mind that I’m then looking for just the right stones to complete it.

It’s a bit like finding a treasure that you just can’t keep to yourself…and waiting to find the design or arrangement that best supports the essential nature of each stone.

I am also very passionate about working with Tibetan Mala beads. The ones that I am most drawn to are very hard to find so I treasure them when they find their way to me.

Thanks Manny! And if you would like to be interviewed next, just stop by DIY Interview.