Happy Birthday JerseyGirlDesign

Happy Birthday to Lauren of JerseyGirlDesign...another year of glittery goodness!

Happy Birthday Jenni!

aka Lana Bella

Hello! Who are you? Give us the 411 about yourself.

Hi I'm Jenni from Lana Bella. Well first I'm a mom of a large brood. We have 6 yes 6 children between my husband and I ranging in age from 17- 2. Three of three of the children are currently being homeschooled. One will graduate next month (so proud of you Brenna)!

When/how did you start your business?

I initially started my business in the spring of 2004 as a cloth diaper maker. I also at the time made wool diaper covers and wanted a wool wash I could send as a sample to care for the covers and also for additional purchases. So Lana Bella (beautiful wool) came from that about a year later. I ended up making more and more soap as our family grew because in the same time it would take me to sew one complete diaper I could complete 2 batches of soap.

What inspires you?

Everything. Food. Color. Kids. I love plants and herbs and love walking with my kids and seeing the herbs popping up from sidewalk cracks or even out of tree trunks. I recently made the decision to discontinue all of the synthetic fragrances and concentrate on the herbal and essential oil blends as a way of being more creative.

What's your favorite thing about your craft?

That everyone uses soap of some sort. I love when people who think bar soap is drying or "old school" try it and fall in love. There are so many ways I can branch out with the herbal line. I love making things that help people.

If you could have one wish granted for the craft community, what would it be?

That people would be more understanding of what it takes to be a micro manufacturer. That its rude and hurtful to stand in someone's booth and say "I could make this much cheaper" and that my time is also valuable and this is my job. I would wish that small makers would be valued, appreciated, and compensated for their true worth.

by LanaBella & Lexi

Note: My daughter Lexi is assisting on this series as part of a home-school project.

Happy Birthday Brooke!!

aka Fuzzy Mug

Hello! Who are you? Give us the 411 about yourself.

My name is Brooke Behnken, but any day now will be Brooke Behnken Mulholland. I got married last May and love "Mulholland" but just haven't gotten around to making the official change. It's been a busy year! I am a Baltimore native and headed north for a few years to get my BFA in Graphic Design from Drexel University in Philly. I've been working as a graphic designer for 13+ years and went out on my own in August of 2004. I run Brooke Behnken Design, Ltd. and FuzzyMug out of my home studio, surrounded by way too many computers and three silly dogs and three cats. My husband and I joke that the dogs are my Board of Directors.

I love to hike with the dogs, take spinning at the gym, and recently took up running again after an 8 year hiatus. We're doing the Frederick 5k on May 7th and actually looking forward to it. I'm addicted to soup (homemade vegan with lots of kale) and eat it for lunch pretty much every day and I recently gave up coffee for tea. I've been on a big health kick lately.

When/how did you start your business?

I started the concept for FuzzyMug in December 2008 when I was trying to come up with handmade gifts for my friends. I had taken a great picture of my best friend's dog and wanted to make her some note cards but didn't just want too slap a photo on them. I started experimenting with the image in PhotoShop and after a lot of undo's and using tools in ways I never had before, my first pet portrait was done. I did another friend's cat and the note cards were a hit. She showed them to her co-workers and orders started coming in. My regular design business had slowed due to the crappy economy and I was feeling a little burnt out on corporate design, so it all just came together at the right time. FuzzyMug made it's official debut at The March for the Animals in April of 2009 and later that month, the Etsy store opened.

What inspires you?

I adore my animals, and your animals, and animals waiting at the shelter - pretty much anything with fur or feathers and a sweet (or spirited) disposition. It's so exciting to be able to support rescues and shelters across the country with in-kind donations. I also love people who love their pets - they're a quirky bunch and just fun to interact with. Good design, quality craftsmanship and a gorgeous sheet of recycled paper are also high on my list.

What's your favorite thing about your craft?

Wow! There are so many things...definitely when I get a new portrait commission and am wowed by the all-out cuteness of the image I get to work with. I'm also a sucker for positive feedback and making people happy, and people really seem to be thrilled with their completed portraits. Emails with "Awesome!!! I love it!!" definitely make my day. I like exclamation points and smiley faces.

If you could have one wish granted for the craft community, what would it be?

I wish that crafters, especially on Etsy, would realize the value of their product and stop underselling to compete. If you provide a unique, quality product, people will pay for it with no complaints and come back for more!

by LanaBella & Lexi

note: my daughter Lexi is assisting on this series as part of a home-school project.

Happy Birthday Clare!!

aka Fiorella Jewelry


Hello! Who are you? Give us the 411 about yourself.


Hi I am Clare Hayes, Fiorella Jewelry

When/how did you start your business?

I started selling jewelry about 2 years ago, though I have been making it for many years for myself and for gifts

What inspires you?

I am inspired by so many things, but to keep it brief--art, fashion, people on the street, and nature

What's your favorite thing about your craft?

Making jewelry is creative and technical at the same time, so it satisfies both those needs. Sometimes I feel I want to communicate a feeling to people, and my jewelry helps me do that. I  also like to master a skill  really well and they're are so may to learn if you want to make nice jewelry. I have tons more learning to do!

If you could have one wish granted for the craft community, what would it be?

My wish for the craft community is that people out there, consumers, start to think more about who made their products, and how that was done. To take pride in buying something that someone made with pride.

by LanaBella & Lexi

note: my daughter Lexi is assisting on this series as part of a home-school project.

Happy Birthday Sara!!

aka heavens to bessie

Hello! Who are you? Give us the 411 about yourself.

My name is Sara Robbins-Page. I am a native Baltimorian who happened to graduate from the University of Evansville (Southern Indiana) in 2005 with my BFA in metals/jewelry and painting. I have been working as a full-time jewelry designer ever since. I am one of the lucky few who get to do what I am passionate about everyday! Now back in Baltimore, I run my little business from my home studio. I spend hours upon hours in my little creative haven under the watchful eye of my dog Presley. I work mainly in Sterling Silver but have just recently been working in gold and gold filled materials and I am loving it. I suffer from a hopeless addiction to coffee. I am a hair dye enthusiast and a lover of impractical shoes. Above all, I am wholeheartedly devoted to the creative process in all forms.

When/how did you start your business?
 
My business, lovingly called Heavens to Bessie, after my grandmother who taught me all I needed to know about making anything out of anything, has been going strong since it started in 2005. I hit the ground running right out of college. In 2006 I owned an art gallery in Southern Indiana. There I represented other artists, which was amazing but took more and more time away from my own work. I realized then that I wanted Heavens to Bessie to be my full time job. And with the support of my husband and family, it has been ever since. It has been a process for sure, but their encouragement has gotten me where I am today.

What inspires you?
 
It sounds strange but I get a most of my inspiration from previous designs I have created. My work just kind of evolves and builds off of one another. Perhaps this is due to the solitary life of the studio artist or perhaps it is just my process. I surround myself with visual stimulation of course, playing period piece movies while working and having pictures posted throughout my studio, but really my work simply evolves. Every piece I created teaches me something new and pushes me a little further towards the discovery of something new.
 

What's your favorite thing about your craft?
 
I can’t tell you exactly what it is about jewelry that has my heart, but it has been a fascination of mine since I was a little girl. I remember going to the Walters Art Gallery with my mom when I was young and seeing the jewelry at the Egyptian exhibit and just like that I was hooked. I later had a birthday party there and we made beads out of paper and then used them to make necklaces. I never stopped. I think of handcrafted jewelry as wearable art. It can be worn to make the everyday outfit something special or to have something special and meaningful with you everyday. Handcrafted jewelry has been around for centuries and I love to think that I am carrying on that art form while putting my very own signature on it.

If you could have one wish granted for the craft community, what would it be?
 
I wish for a harmony and a cohesiveness within the crafting community. Moving back to Baltimore from a small town in Indiana I was so excited to immerse myself in a large artistic community. It was not that easy. I got in touch with several groups simply looking for a creative sounding board and like minded people to talk to. Without even seeing my work or hearing what I had to offer I was turned down with “Group is full” as a response. I found the clique like tendencies to be discouraging and frustrating. I finally found my way into groups who are open and accepting of fellow members of the artistic community and it has been invigorating. My wish for the crafting community is that as a whole, we all realize that supporting one another is just as important as having the general population support artists. I feel very lucky to have found BEST and to be a part of this immensely supportive creative community!

by LanaBella & Lexi

note: my daughter Lexi is assisting on this series as part of a home-school project.

Very Merry UN Birthday to Jen!

aka yummy and company

Hello! Who are you? Give us the 411 about yourself.

For starters, I'm Jen, and I'm the designer behind Yummy & Company.  I live in Baltimore, and on most days can be found in my studio working on my latest creations.  When I'm not working, I like to do yoga, paint, hang out with my hubby, friends and family.

When/how did you start your business?
I began my artistic career as a painter, but, after much prodding by my mother-in-law, I started designing jewelry in 2008.  She has worked in retail for years and kept telling me that I had a "great eye" for design and I should design jewelry.  What started out as "Okay, okay, I'll try it!" has turned into a wonderful career for me!  I get a lot of joy out of making things and I feel lucky to be doing it at a time when people understand and appreciate the value of well made, locally produced craft.

What inspires you?
Well, besides everything, let's see...
my family and friends, nature in general, art, color, music, light, texture, pattern, textiles, fashion, history, food, life, love, reading and being around other creative people.
What's your favorite thing about your craft?
I pretty much enjoy every aspect of it.  Except cleaning up!

If you could have one wish granted for the craft community, what would it be?
I think as a whole, the craft community is pretty amazing.  The amount of talent out there is inspiring and I just hope it continues to grow in ways that we can all be proud of.

by LanaBella & Lexi

note: my daughter Lexi is assisting on this series as part of a home-school project.

Happy Birthday, Stacey!

aka studioG

Hello! Who are you? Give us the 411 about yourself.

I am Stacey Phinney of studio G. G used to stand for glass, graphics and Grabowski, my maiden name! Now that I am married, I still use studio G, though. I am one of those people my sister likes to call "artsy fartsy". I have always liked making things, and what I do currently is make fused glass plates and jewelry and, with my creative husband, Mike, we create hand turned wood pens.

When/how did you start your business?

I started my business 7 years ago after taking a fused glass class and getting hooked. I had purchased some fused glass items in the past and just fell in love with the art form.

What inspires you?

I am really inspired by texture, patterns and color. There are so many different types of glass that I use, and I get inspiration from them all, from irridized and frit to stringers and noodles!

What's your favorite thing about your craft?

The thing I like best about my craft is that it is so versitle.The possibilites in glass are almost endless. You can make plates, vases, platters, jewelry, boxes, wall art and more! And you can also put all your scraps to use too!

If you could have one wish granted for the craft community, what would it be?

One wish I have for the craft community locally in Baltimore, is to have a really nice juried craft show where we could highlight all the beautiful art made by so many artists right here in Baltimore. I would love to see a craft show in Patterson Park or Druid Hill Park that would draw people from all over.

by LanaBella & lexi

note: my daughter lexi is assisting on this series as part of a homeschool project.

Happy Birthday, Jen!

aka Littlest Bean.

Happy Birthday, Jussara!

aka SpaTherapy

Happy Birthday, Monica!

aka sugarpaperie.

Happy Birthday, Dana!

aka greenstarstudio.

Happy Birthday, Cat!

aka herekitty.

Happy Birthday, Sherry!

aka dandelionblu.

Happy Birthday, Yovetta!

(Belated!) aka yjennings.

Happy Birthday Jill!

aka jillpopowichdesigns.

Happy Birthday Tara!

aka tarabu.

Happy Birthday Erica!

aka CEKcustomdesigns.

Happy Birthday Juliet!

aka thebrokenplate.

Happy Birthday, Anita!

aka miscelena.

Happy Birthday Jamaila!

aka anapurna.