The Indie Fixx Shop is participating in Squidfire’s Spring Art Mart on Saturday, May 10th. It’s being held in Mount Vernon Park in Baltimore, so make sure to come visit me and do some shopping! Puls, everyone who stops by my booth and mentions Indie Fixx will get a free button!

There’s some really awesome vendors participating, including some of my faves showcased below.

Darin R. Gehrke Ceramics

Built in Pittsburgh

Wondercabinet

April Scott

Jenny Jen 42

Jon Wye

A galleria is a roofed or enclosed courtyard of shops and my latest project, the Indie Fixx Galleria, is an online galleria of independent artists/crafters/designers and independent boutiques. It’s a juried monthly showcase for your browsing and indie shopping pleasure. Featuring a mix of goods including jewelry, accessories, homewares, plush, clothing and more, the goods and shops featured on the Indie Fixx Galleria will change monthly. The Galleria is a showcase only and does not offer products for sale, so if you see something that you’d like to buy or get more info about, just click on the buy it or shop links.

Enjoy and please feel free to let me know what you think of this new feature!

Also, if you are an indie designer/crafter/artist or boutique that sells indie goods and would like more info about how to be a part of the monthly Indie Fixx Galleria, just send me an email. I am currently accepting applications for June.

I know I’ve missed TGIF: Thank God for Illustration Friday 2 weeks in a row, but it’s back this week! Fridays for some reason have been run-around-like-a-crazy-woman days lately and I’m not really liking that trend. Besides leaving me feeling frazzled, it means you have missed your TGIF posts unless I was able to write one the day before.

So, today I’d like to share an artist with you who’s work really helps combat frazzley days. Terese Bast’s sweetly magical & whimsical illustrations just make you stop a moment and contemplate simpler times. Her work really brings a smile to my face and I hope it brings one to your face as well.

I’m very happy to share selected prints from Terese in the Indie Fixx Shop.

For those of you who live in the US, I’m sure that you’ve heard that the economic stimulus checks have started to go out this week. I’m also sure that plenty of you are going to do exactly what the government doesn’t want you to do, put it in savings or pay off debt. I know I plan on doing that with most of mine, but before I deposit mine in my savings account, I plan on treating myself and supporting some independent design as well. According to the U.S. Government, that certainly would be the most patriotic thing to do (written with a certain amount of tongue in cheek sentiment).

So, I plan on doing my civic duty and here’s some of the goods I have my eye on. What are you planning on doing with your check? Whether we agree with the strategy or not, the checks are on their way, so are you planning on supporting indie design?

I’ve had my eye on the carved resin necklaces from Hotcakes for some time now, ever since I first saw them in person at my local indie brick & mortar shop, Bloom. I’m attracted to their bold statement and graphical pendants.

I really, really , really love the screenprinted bags from Jenna Rose. The Rooftops Porter Bag in natural cotton canvas is the one I’ve been coveting.

I featured the handmade journals by Five and a Half earlier this year and ever since I’ve wanted one. I always carry a journal around with me to record thoughts, to help me stay organized and to sketch new designs.

I’ve been a long time fan of the Bella Lucce line of skin care products and the Wildberry goodies are among my favorites.

I have a pair of the Mohop bent ply sandals and now I’d like to get their newest addition, the Wedge Sandal.

The Split Pod from Whitney Smith Pottery would look so lovely on my desk and now that’s spring, I could use it to bring a little bit of color in from the flowerbed.

The only problem with getting one of the recycled skateboard necklaces from 2ReVert is, which one to pick?

These cross-stitch pieces from Chez Sucre Chez would look fabulous in my new office.

The Mimosa Earrings from Prismera Design are just absolutely stunning. I really feel that I need to own them!

Andre is so sweetly melancholy and cute! From Morninglori’s cast of adorable little characters.

The porcelain cup and saucers from Bailey Doesn’t Bark are so lovely in all their quirky simplicity.

I’m also thinking of adding one of the Chair series of prints from Desire to Inspire to my office.

For today’s Indie Artist Fixx I’d like to share my interview with super talented artist Dolan Geiman and his girlfriend and business partner Ali Walsh. I’m very happy to be able to share Dolan’s work with you, since I’ve been a fan since he burst on the scene in 2005. Whether he is creating colleges, shadowboxes, art decor, sculpture, paintings, rescued wood assemblages and more, Dolan infuses his work with his unique perspective of the world. He is a southern boy living in the big city of Chicago and his work is in large part based on this dichotomy, themes of both nature and contemporary life can be found throughout his work. Learn more in my interview below with both Dolan and Ali.

1. What’s the name of your business and what do create and sell?

Dolan - Dolan Geiman. I create contemporary art and décor, ranging from framed collage to sculptural works on wood.

2. Tell us how you got started with your indie business.

Dolan - My mother helped me get started as she has always been a professional artist. I learned a handful of things from her before I moved to Chicago, but I still needed some help developing the business side of my work. When I met Ali, she was really excited about working on something new and she was very motivated to work outside of the gallery spectrum.

Ali – I attended undergrad at the University of Chicago. While doing coursework in chemistry, physics, and other pre-med requirements, I found myself increasingly interested in Chicago’s cultural community versus summer internships in labs or hospitals. I interned for the Museum of Contemporary Art, I spent my spring and winter breaks volunteering for arts organizations. I even dabbled in PR work, mentoring with a freelance public relations consultant for arts organizations. Dolan and I met at an interesting juncture in my life – I had lived in China and had aspirations of promoting Chinese artists in the States but needed more money, experience, and connections to really do anything serious with my interests. I started working with Dolan and, essentially, began learning more about the art world, arts administration, and business start-up by way of promoting him. We made a great team from day one. We are very fortunate that we can make a business relationship, especially one of artist and manager, work within the confines of a personal relationship as well.

3. What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

Dolan - If I could just grow a beard and live in the woods, I would be very very happy. So I would have to say that Mother Nature keeps me going every day….which is a lot to say, living in the city. Every chance I get I try to go out to the woods or at least stick my feet in a river.

Ali – I find inspiration in my parents whom also have a personal/business relationship and built a company from scratch that provided a very comfortable life for myself and two sisters. I also find inspiration in businesses outside of the creative sphere and thinking of ways to reinvent their means and methods into our own tiny company. I’ve always had this insane work ethic which, I admit, borders on unhealthy at times. At least, six years later, I’m working around the clock because I love what I’m doing with Dolan so much. Maybe I’ll also exhaust myself to the point that country living with Dolan sounds pretty darn appealing.

4. Are there any pearls of wisdom you’d like to share with newbie indie business owners?

Dolan - Everyone always told me to save money along the way, to just put some aside for later in life. I think that’s a great sounding idea, but it’s not practical at all for young business owners who are just getting going. So I would say, instead of being constantly worried about money, just be more focused on what you are really good at and what you enjoy. Ironically, that sort of mindset makes your company grow, become more profitable, and more sustainable overall.

Ali – I’m happy to field questions from anyone in the creative field. While our travel schedule sometimes limits my availability, I do my best to respond to all inquiries via phone or e-mail.

(Continued)

Since we have the new kitty who is going to only be an inside kitty, I’m looking for a planter to plant some kitty grass in for the house. Of course you know I don’t want a mundane planter, but something that’s a little quirky to fit in with my eclectic decor. I came across these stoneware guys from The Plane Jane Project and I think they may just be the thing I’m looking for.

Hello, dear readers! Let me introduce you to our latest guest blogger—Fina Tejada. Fina owns Miss Fruitfly, an indie lifestyle company featuring artwork and home accessories. She is also a blogger who loves to cook, is a closeted reality show junkie and supports independent designers. She will be posting periodically on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog featuring international indie crafters & bloggers to find out what motivates them creatively, how they started their businesses and how they approach the U.S. market. Read Fina’s first post below and please join me in welcoming her to Indie Fixx!

I am in complete awe of U.K. crafter, Laura Howard and her top selling Etsy shop called Lupin. Laura creates all kinds of goodies from brooches, pin cushions, wall art, felt disguises, zines and more. When Laura is not working on inventory for her shop, she’s maintaining her blog and a flickr group called Crafting 365 for crafters who make a commitment to create something new everyday. This sounds like something I should try, though the procrastinator in me is giggling. Currently, Laura is obsessed with British wildlife, loves to drink lots of tea and nibble on cake.

1. Tell us about your business.

I sell an assortment of hand-stitched felt “treats” - colourful brooches, mobiles, textile art, and fun things like moustache disguises. I decided to try out selling my work when I discovered Etsy and realized that I could dip a small toe in the pool of Internet commerce without too much effort. I started working on business much more seriously when I realised just how much satisfaction I was getting out of making stuff.

2. What did you do before you started your business?

I was actually unemployed (after graduating with that most practical of degrees, English Literature) when I started my business - my crafting was born out of the boredom of being stuck home all day with nothing to do! Now I work part-time in a local gift shop and the rest of the time work for myself. It’s very interesting experiencing two different sides of retail simultaneously, and the regular wage is nice too!

3. Where do you sell your products?

My business is pretty much 100% Internet based. I started out selling on Etsy - I love the community there (very supportive and a mine of great information), it was so easy to set up shop and I love how it connects buyers with sellers in such a direct and friendly way. This year I’m setting up on Dawanda, Pink Doodle and ICraft, all of which I’ve heard about through the crafty grapevine. The latter two are very new (as are my shops there!) but Dawanda is a little more established and I am absolutely in love with their shop layouts: so crisp and clean. Eventually I’d love to have my own website, but at the moment I’m trying to take baby steps with confidence instead of running before I can walk.

4. What can you tell us about your international customers?

Very roughly, about 60% of my customers are from the US, 30% from the UK (my home market) and the rest are mostly from Canada and Australia. As most of my items are small and light they are very affordable to ship, so it’s quite easy to market my items internationally. I’m hoping to attract more European customers by adding a middle rate of shipping, in-between my domestic and (currently flat-rate) worldwide shipping. Unfortunately, this is quite a complicated thing to do on Etsy as you have to add each country individually, but I think it will be worth it. People who shop on the Internet frequently are pretty savvy about how much shipping should cost.

5. What do you consider is the best way you’ve attracted customers?

Working on my photography has been hugely important - there’s no point working on an awesome design and making it top quality if your photos don’t reflect that. I rely a lot on passing traffic on Etsy, and good photos are vital to standing out amongst all those other items!

6. How do you stay motivated?

I try to keep a balance between the more exciting and creative parts of my business, and the more everyday or repetitive parts. I think it’s really important not to get bored, or to become more like a production line instead of a creative person. I share my work in progress on my blog and my Flickr account, it really helps me think about my working processes and to keep track of what I’m working on. Connecting with the crafty community through blogs and Flickr also helps keep me inspired and itching to try new things.

In the Handmade Wilderness series, artist Jennifer Khoshbin is creating a number of wall-mount deer “trophies”, which are made from paper mâché and decoupage on resin cast heads. Jennifer is attempting to reimagine the celebration of the deer as an emblem of nature, so instead of celebrating it’s death the deer can actually be revered in life. Visit Jen’s Etsy Shop called Ruby’s Lounge to purchase one of your own from the Deerhead Project.

If I had a mantle, I would definitely be getting one! Which one do you like?

I collect art prints of women and girls and my collection includes work from The Black Apple, Pencil Shavings, Tsai-fi, Jen Oaks and more. As you can see, I am drawn to artists who include a certain amount of whimsy and fantasy in their work and I think I may have found a new artist to add to my collection…Lindsay Brackeen. I just love the storybook quality to her work as I am still a kid at heart. I think I may have add Lindsay’s work to my upcoming birthday wish list—hint, hint!

Once again, I gotta say this week’s Indie Artist Fixx is better late than never. I was busy working on some other stuff and almost forgot to post today’s interview with the wonderful collage artist, Claudine Hellmuth. Oops!!! I’m back on track now, so here it is.

Thanks to Claudine for allowing me to interview her and I do hope you guys enjoy reading it!

1. What’s the name of your business and what do create and sell?

I don’t have a separate name for my business, so what I create all falls under my name. My work goes into many categories but the main focuses of my business are: creating custom artworks for clients using their photos, I also create illustrations for companies and I have written 2 books with a 3rd due out this fall. You can visit my website to learn more.

2. When did you get started with your business and why did you decide to open your own indie biz?

I went to art school and graduated with my BFA in fine arts in 1997 and then after that to make a living I got a job in web and print design. I never really liked working for someone else all day so I knew I would want to be in my own business at some point. It didn’t take too long for that to happen!

I officially got started full-time in my own business in 2001 when I got layed off from my job in web design. Fortunately, I had started working in the evenings and on weekends slowly building my business in 1998 so when I got layed off I was just about ready to go full time anyway. It didn’t make it any less scary but at least I had my business ready to go!

3. What’s the creative process like for you?

Now that I am in my 7th year of working full time for myself, I am finally being a bit more gentle about the ebb and flow of my creative process. Some months I am able to get a lot of work done and others end up being taken over by more paperwork and businessey tasks. Slowly, I am coming to accept this and try to not force what is not happening.

4. Do you have any pearls of wisdom to share with newbie indie bizinesses?

The best advice I can give is to start slow. Try to do what you can while still working at your day job. Don’t feel that it has to be all or nothing in the beginning. You can work at your regular job and build your business on the side. This will give you a feeling of security as you figure out just how you want your business to work.

(Continued)

Ever get sent to the principal’s office, have to stay after for detention or even get in-school suspension when you were in school? Of course you did! Well, hopefully you aren’t as naughty now, but I’m still going to send you to Reform School anyway. Don’t worry, Reform School is a throughly wonderful indie shop and not a place for wayward students. Whether you shop in their one-room schoolhouse Brick & Mortar shop or on the wonderfully fun school-themed Online Shop, you will appreciate the selection of unique goods from some very talented independent artists. Choose from your favorite subjects including Home Ec, Organic Chemistry, Intro to Sewing, Child Development, Art 101 & more and start browsing.

I’ve chosen some of my favorite goods below.

Finish this sentence: I will find…

Leave a comment below with your response and I will pick one winner Sunday, April 6th to win a selection of goodies from past Samplers I’ve received including embroidery patterns from Sublime Stitching, a recycled vintage book notebook from Attic Journals, fill-in-the-blank calling cards for owner and pooch from Busy Nest Cards, a houndstooth wallet/mini-clutch from Ember Bags, assorted notecards and more.

Here’s my response.

I will find….a Wii, if it kills me.

I will find print from Laura George for TGIF: Thank God for Illustration Friday.

This week’s TGIF: Thank God for Illustration Friday is in honor of Earth Hour and features illustrations of lamps and other implements of electricity. If you haven’t heard about it yet, Earth Hour is an annual international event started to promote conservation of electricity in an effort to lower world carbon emissions. Individual households and businesses are asked to turn off all lights and other non-essential electrical appliances for one hour on Saturday, March 29th at 8 pm local time. Last March, the first Earth Hour event took place in Sydney with 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses participating and with an estimated reduction of electricity consumption in Sydney by 2.1%. This year, the event is being promoted internationally and Sydney is partnering with many US cities like San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami and more.

I plan on participating and since it will definitely be dark here at that time, I already have my candles and oil lamps ready. I think Mr. Indie Fixx and I will open a bottle of wine, play a fun board game and appreciate the time spent away from in front of the computer. How about you? Do you plan on participating in Earth Hour?

Featured Illustrators

1. Spark of Love by Vol25

2. Vintage Lamps print from Teresekam

3. The Entry print by Vol25

4. White Chandelier by Jaime Derringer

5. La Rainette by Ma Boutique a Ficelles

6. Quint Cats from Kerry Beary

I love today’s Reader Fixx Pixx from Christine at Flapper Girl. They are spring inspired, quirky and just so cute. Thanks so much, Christine.

Enjoy!

Miss Bluebird Creations

Marmee Craft

Louise Black

Stacey Winters

The Black Apple

{desktop distractions}

I’m going to be moving my office to a different room in the house….it’s a good bit smaller, so as a consolation I told myself that I could get some nifty new stuff to decorate it with. I’m thinking that I’d like to include one of these stitched houses from Stephanie DosReis. Made from vintage and scrap fabric, they come complete with extra special cute details like stitched windows and doors, button doorknobs, appliqué and one even has a little green finch perched on the roof.

I also like the watercolor and stitched original paintings by Stephanie. Wendy in her new coat and Horse Man in his way cool jeans and vest are my faves.

I will definitely keep you updated on my new office and any decor items that I purchase and when it’s all done I will share a pic!

I’d like to share the work of Melissa Moss with you this week for TGIF: Thank God for Illustration Friday. After leaving the publishing world, Melissa studied color psychology and through her studies discovered her love for paining. It’s not surprising then that color features very prominently in Melissa’s work. In addition to the vibrant and lovely color combos, I find that I am really drawn to the content of her paintings. Melissa creates a surreal abstract world and evokes a very clear emotional response with each painting.

I am really very happy to report that I am now carrying selected Melissa Moss paper prints in the Indie Fixx Shop. Melissa offers wood prints in her shop.

Here are some lovely new goodies in the Indie Fixx Shop that I’d like to share with you.

Art is the antidote for what ails you! A clever magnet set made from original Wolfie and the Sneak artwork will arrive in a prescription bottle with the label ‘Art is the Antidote‘. What a great gift for an art lover or your BFF who is under the weather!

Exclusive prints from Wolfie and the Sneak. Very limited series—ONLY 5 have been printed of each print! The print on the left is called Invisible Connectivity and you can read more about artist Renee Garner’s inspiration here. The other print is called Enriching Growth and is my personal favorite.

Are you a clever kitty? Then you need one of these Clever Kitty totes from Cathy Peng. Available with pink, red or blue glasses.

Good Kitty and Bad Kitty stationery sets from Cathy Peng. Get one of each to fit your mood.

Sweet and charming Flower Rings from Intrinsic Garden, just perfect for spring.

Letterpress notecards from Messenger Bird Press. Choose from the Dress Form notecard on the left or the Woodland Creatures Set on the right.

Pure eye candy today for TGIF: Thank God for Illustration Friday from Rosie Music.

Now, I’ve got to run out and do errands and get a massage since my back is still a little wonky, but you guys have a good Friday!

I love hedgehogs and apparently so does everyone else. I’m not sure when this trend of hedgehog goods first developed, but it is here now and I for one will never tire of it. How about you?

1. Card holder from Sea Breeze

2. Sterling Silver hedgehog charm from LuxeDeluxe

3. Jackalop and Friends print from Creative Thursday

4. Hedgehog plush from Little Odd Forest

5. Hedgehog Friend print from The Black Apple

6. Hedgehog Piano print from boygirlparty.com

7. Hedgehog zippered pouch from purlyshells

8. Hedgehog magnet from Dear Sukie

9. Hedgehog pouch from LouLouBell

10. Hedgehog puppet from Burtonwood

11. Pete the Hedgehog notecard from Snowy652

12. Hedgehogs are for Lovers notecard from Mew Paper Arts

The Poppytalk Handmade Market for March, ‘Green Pop’, is up and once again there’s some really amazing shops participating. Poppytalk Handmade is a monthly online street market that is put together by Jan of Poppytalk to promote independent designers. The Indie Fixx Shop is one of the featured shops, which I am so proud of and happy about.

Some of my fave new discoveries from this month’s Market are: Orange Willow, Yellow Owl Workshop and Susan Schwake.