You’ve heard of neocolonialism, Neopets, Neapolitan, neodecanoic acid (ok, maybe not that one), but have you heard of Neogranny? Yes? No? Well, it just came across my radar screen this summer myself and I must tell you that I am smitten.
Smitten enough that I decided to interview Molly Reilly, the designer behind Neogranny, for this week’s Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx. Enjoy!
What’s the name of your business, what do create and sell and how did you get your start?
My business is called Neogranny. I create vintage-inspired wooden jewelry. When I was living in San Francisco, a good friend started working with a laser cutter and asked to send along one of my drawings. I drew up my Retro Bowling Lady and had it cut. I was hooked! At first is was a small icon and then I started wearing it as a necklace. What a stopper—I got so many compliments, I began drawing more designs.
Why do you do what you do?
There is the pleasant smile from folks who buy my jewelry, kind of like they found a really cool cracker jack prize. I want my pieces to be fun and affordable. I make what I like and the end result is very much a vignette of who I am. My dream is for Neogranny to really blossom so I can continue to work independently from home.
What have you learned as an adult that you would have liked to know as a kid?
Well I have a baby girl now and I am constantly thinking of how I want her to be a confident, self assured person. I think I doubted myself often and talked myself out of good ideas. I guess if I were standing in my old bedroom, I would say, “You are good—go for it!’ I’d give myself that boost I was always looking for.
What are your favorite colors?
I am pretty biased to robins egg blue—will buy anything in that color.
Share something silly about yourself.
Strangely, ‘silly’ is what my brothers would call me and tease me to no end. I grew up in a big family—smack in the middle. Humor was a key element for getting along as well as getting back at one another! I was always retreating into my room to get away from all the ruckus. I think this fostered my imagination.
What’s better all the money in the world or all the free time?
If I had all the free time, money would just be right around the corner! I would much rather be meandering about working on projects, visiting people and traveling, so free time it is!
What does indie mean to you? You can give a literal definition, choose to be a little esoteric or a combination of both.
Indie really means doing your own thing! I love what I’m doing, making all the decisions for the designs, graphics and production of Neogranny. I even love going to the post office to send items out, especially the one right beside the Goodwill!
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I draw inspiration from things I find and collect—absolutely enamored with 20th Century design—I have been a thrift store junkie for as long as I can remember.
I love this shop! I have to say that I really, really love that typewriter necklace! Too cute!