Studio Spaces: a peek at some workspaces

December 03, 2008

I asked the Indie Fixx Holiday Galleria participants to send me pics of their studios/workspaces. I am fascinated by other people’s spaces. I know that is one of the reasons I like to read design*sponge so much, especially her sneak peeks. It’s part voyeur, part design interest & another part living vicariously. But, I am really more interested in seeing the spaces where people work. So, here’s some a few interesting workspaces for you.

Alison Broekhoven of Lemon Grove sent me these images of her bead collection, which it looks like she keeps in an old typesetter’s chest. So pretty and colorful, I love the ingenious ways people store their supplies. Alison makes some really visually stunning beaded jewelry with those supplies…I especially like the tube necklaces a lot.

Terry Graziano takes a modern approach to a traditional art form, millinery, and makes some of the most amazing hats. Terry’s workspace is both inspiring and just cluttered enough to let you know that some real work is being done in the space. I like her wall decals, her sassy sign & the boxes & boxes of hats! I also really like Terry’s hats and even though I am not generally a hat person, I’ve been thinking about getting either a Fedorable or the Incognito style.

Laura McConnell’s (of Dog Bone Art) space is so cute and super neat. I only wish all my stuff could have a home like in Laura’s workspace! Laura creates screenprinted tees, plush, totes & more and I’m quite sure that her screenprinting work in done someplace else. I’m really not surprised that Laura’s office is so cute, since her goods are so cute. I love Joe Penguin w/ Scarf, the Pirate CupcakeTote Bag & the Nervous Robot Scarf.

Filed in Accessories, Cute, Galleria, Good Gifts, Jewels, Plush, Studio Spaces | | Comments (0) »

Studio Spaces: Garbage of Eden Design

September 12, 2008

For Studio Spaces I spotlight an artist or designer from the Indie Fixx Shop through an interview and pictures of their studio, work in progress and other pics. Today, I’m sharing my interview with Stephanie Huffaker of Garbage of Eden Design. Stephanie creates jewelry from upcycled plastic bags hoping to help raise awareness about the nasty effects of plastic bag use on the environment. Stephanie uses plastic shopping and newspaper bags that have donated by family, friends and even strangers to make striking and colorful bangle bracelets and other jewelry pieces.

I am happy to say that I carry Stephanie’s bracelets in the Indie Fixx Shop and if you want to add a really funky & colorful bangle (or two) as well as a conversation piece, then head on over and take a look at Stephanie’s designs.

You can also read more about Stephanie, her work and her studio below in my interview and from some pics!

1. What’s the name of your shop and what do you create?

My shop is called Garbage of Eden Design and I make accessories and other objects out of recycled materials, especially plastic, that I collect from the community. I love the challenge of using recycled/found materials. It makes each piece very unique and eco-friendly!

2. What’s your favorite thing about your studio or work space? Your least favorite?

My favorite thing about my work space is that it’s my home as well, I can roll out of bed and have a cup of tea while getting started on my projects. All my supplies and materials (and snacks!) are always close at hand. I guess the only downside is it’s very small, but that’s also good in some ways. It has helped me to become way more organized and efficient. I even have all my plastic bags stored by color!

3. What do you listen to or watch while you work?

Sometimes I pick up some old movies from the library, especially Alfred Hitchcock movies. I like a pretty wide range of music but world music and classic rock are my favorite to listen to while working on stuff. My two favorite musicians at the moment are Seu Jorge and Todd Rundgren.

4. What are some of your inspirations in your work?

All kinds of things! sculpture, traditional weaving techniques, textile design… the list goes on.. I have a blog about them: www.garbageofedendesign.blogspot.com.

5. Anything you want to share? Doing any craft shows this year, have some new products coming out, or get a really big write-up in a national publication?

I’m looking forward to the Greenfest in Philly this year, Sunday Sept. 7th. It’s full of fun and informative environmentally conscious vendors. www.greenfestphilly.com. I’m also excited about some new pieces I’m developing that are made by weaving on a loom.

6. What’s the most fun in the whole wide world?

Tooling around on my bike!

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Studio Spaces: sprout studio

July 28, 2008

An art teacher by day, Jenifer creates a little bit everything in her spare time. Everything including, but certainly not limited to: unique & vintage reclaimed jewelry pieces, all types of wearables & accessories, art for your walls, ceramic lovelies and even skateboard deck stickies. Whether she is fashioning glass pieces, knitting a hat, printing some tees or creating a collage Jenifer aims to create with the goal of making a better place to be & dwell.

Learn more about Jenifer and sprout studio in my interview below. You can also visit her blog and her flickr photostream.

I’m so happy to carry Jenifer’s creations in the Shop and you can see more of her work in the Indie Fixx Shop here!

1. What’s the name of your shop and what do you make?

sprout studio; I make handmade lovelies & art goods (which means, a little bit of everything!)

2. What’s your favorite thing about your studio or workspace? Your least favorite?

Favorite: lots of things to get into & be around & make with. Least favorite: ditto, it can be awfully distracting. Even though I love organized spaces, mine is in constant reworking – so things are never as I would love them to be. Also I live where I work, another distraction – sometimes this is good, sometimes, not so much!

3. What do you listen to or watch while you work?

Lots of music – mostly always CDs – a constant rotation depending on the mood. Occasionally, I’ll watch a movie while I’m doing a more monotonous business chore, but that’s pretty rare (I have no TV and most of the time, I want to pay attention to the movie).

4. What are some of your inspirations in your arts & crafts?

Inspiration comes from so many places; walking around the streets of SF, going into museums & galleries, keeping my eyes wide open to life; my students (I teach art) are all a good, loose inspiration — I try to remember to stay open & try new things.

5. Anything you want to share? Doing any craft shows this season, have some new products coming out, or get a really big write-up in a national publication?

sprout studio was at both Renegade Brooklyn & Renegade San Francisco – I’m very excited to have particpated in both of these shows! Hoping for a few others in the fall.

I always have new goodies coming out – especially spring & summer goodies. I’m working on some new art collage pieces I’m hoping to put up soon as well. I have the summers off, so that’s when I’m able to be most productive!

6. Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Hmmm…that’s a tough one. Miranda July? Just because she might be quirky enough, our resemblance is nothing alike — I just love her vintage clothing style.

Filed in Accessories, Home Decor & Wares, Indie Fixx Shop, Interviews, Jewels, Studio Spaces | | Comments (3) »

Studio Spaces: Tinywarbler Designs

July 11, 2008

For the feature Studio Spaces, I highlight an artist or designer from the Indie Fixx Shop through an interview and pictures of their studio, work in progress and other pics. Today, I’m sharing the plush by Kate Keeler with you. Kate’s shop is known as Tinywarbler Designs and she creates the most adorable animal plushes made out of tweed, wool and bright cheery Japanese cotton prints. Let me tell you that when Kate sends me some items for the shop, it is really hard to part with them once the orders start coming in.

Learn more about Kate and Tinywarbler Designs in my interview below. See more of her work in the Indie Fixx Shop too!

1. What’s the name of your shop and what do you make?

My shop is called Tinywarbler Designs and I make small, soft animals that are entirely stitched by hand. I combine wool with various cotton prints including some from Japan. I like my animals to have an old-fashioned feel with modern elements.

2. What’s your favorite thing about your studio or workspace?

My studio space is our dining room table. I love that I get to work from home. It allows my schedule to be a little more flexible and I get to spend lots of time with our dog. The downfall is the clutter that happens. I can’t stand a mess, so I’m constantly tiding my little fabric piles!

3. What do you listen to or watch while you work?

I love to listen to music while I work. It can range from Neko Case to The Velvet Underground, Ricky Nelson to Ice Cube, depending on my mood. I also love listening to This American Life and the CBC.

4. What are some of your inspirations?

I find inspiration in so many little things. A piece of fabric, a song, going for a walk, watching a great movie. The people in my life inspire me all the time too.

5. Anything you want to share? Doing any craft shows this season, have some new products coming out, or get a really big write-up in a national publication?

I was recently interviewed for the spring issue of Canadian Home & Country Magazine. They have a column called ‘living the dream’ and asked me to share my story. You
can read the article online. I also have some great fabric coming and I am working on a few new animals to show it off.

6. What’s the most fun in the whole wide world?

An afternoon nap in freshly washed sheets is pretty fun! So is relaxing with a glass of wine and listening to some good tunes.

Filed in Indie Fixx Shop, Plush, Studio Spaces | | Comments (0) »

Studio Spaces: Starving Artist Bazaar

June 17, 2008

Periodically for Studio Spaces I highlight artists and designers from the Indie Fixx Shop with you through an interview and pictures of their studio, work in progress and other interesting pics and today I’d like to share the work of Jennifer Syfu of Starving Artist Bazaar. I am a big fan of Jennifer’s glasswork jewelry, especially her amoeba, eukaryote and protozoa deisgns, and I even own a few pieces myself.

Read more about Jennifer and Starving Artist Bazaar below.

1. What’s the name of your shop and what do you make?

My shop is called Starving Artist Bazaar and create lampwork glass beads and pendants, paintings and silver/stone jewelry.

2. What’s your favorite thing about your studio or work space? Your least favorite?

I love how my glass studio is outside and I can look out into my garden. Sometimes, I walk over to the peach tree and grab a peach. The problem with working outside are the wind gusts, dust storms and insane high temperatures in Phoenix, AZ. Oh. And a spider jumped on my neck once.

3. What do you listen to or watch while you work?

Some music I’ve been listening to – Regina Spektor, Grand Ole Party and Jimmy Cliff. When I’m done with a bead and I’m putting jewelry together I usually watch old BBC productions checked out from the library.

4. What are some of your inspirations?

Glass marbles, flowers, biology, Dale Chihuly, Barnett Newman, magazines, television. Lots of things.

5. Anything you want to share? Doing any craft shows this season, have some new products coming out, or get a really big write-up in a national publication?

I just joined the Phoenix Craft Mafia and I’m really excited about that.

6. Do you collect anything?

Paintings and prints from friends and artists I discover at craft shows. Also, I make and collect handmade glass marbles. Marbles inspired me to get into hot glass.

Filed in Indie Fixx Shop, Jewels, Studio Spaces | | Comments (1) »

Studio Spaces: Anna Ruby King

June 09, 2008

Today for Studio Spaces, I’d like to share the work of Lila from Anna Ruby King with you. I’ve been an admirer of Lila’s ever since she burst on the scene last year and I am happy to say that you can find Lila’s rescued fabric and hand-drawn cards and prints in the Indie Fixx Shop. I especially love Lila’s sweet fabric and hand-drawn cards and love that they are all different depending on what fabrics Lila has chosen. Here are some of my favorites that are for sale in the Indie Fixx Shop.

Learn more about Lila and her work from my interview with her and these images from her studio.

1. What’s the name of your shop and what do you make?

My business name is Lila Ruby King and I am a jewellery designer and artist. The business is just in its beginnings, right now I have my little Etsy shop, Anna Ruby King, where I sell my works on paper, soon I hope to get the jewellery side of things going too.

2. What’s your favorite thing about your studio or work space? Your least favorite?

I actually have two spaces for working, I have a messy area, in what is basically a storage room for my in-laws, where I do my jewellery work, and I have a clean area, which is my kitchen table, where I make my gift cards, paint, draw, everything else. I should add that the kitchen table has not been used for its intended purpose (eating on) since I started my business. I have to say that there are not too many things I like about either of these spaces, however both of them do have fabulous natural light, and my jewellery space does have a lot of room. Very soon I’ll be moving into a new place, and I have already designated a room there for my new, super fantastic, combined jewellery and paper work studio, I can’t wait!

3. What do you listen to or watch while you work?

When I am in my jewellery studio, I have my little mp3 player which I listen to, right now I have it playing some Radiohead, Powerfinger, U2, Faker and The Doors. When I am inside doing my clean work, I usually have the tv on, I am totally a news junkie, I guess I feel like I am learning something about the world while I am working.

4. What are some of your inspirations?

As you can see by my work most of my inspiration comes from nature, but what interests me most is the way we as humans classify nature. I love how we have to give things names, put them into groups, put them into boxes with labels, document, classify, explore. I love scientific drawings, maps, historic and new, colour charts, diagrams, books. I am also drawn to colours and patterns, anything bright!

5. Anything you want to share? Doing any craft shows this season, have some new products coming out, or get a really big write-up in a national publication?

I am starting a new project that I am calling The Pigeon Project. I am kind of fascinated by pigeons, yes they have a bad reputation, but you have to give these birds credit, unlike those sensitive animals who struggle to live in this world with us humans, pigeons thrive, is there any city in the world where they are not everywhere? So as part of my fascination, I’ve decided to start to document pigeons. Every day, I will find a pigeon, document where I found it and draw it, partly I want to document the great variation of colours and patterns in their feathers, and also I am curious to see if I will ever find the same pigeon twice. I’m not sure how long I will carry it on till, maybe until I do get the same bird twice!

Secondly, hopefully very soon, I will be up and running with my jewellery work as well, keep checking at my current Etsy shop for any news on both of these!

6. What is something completely whimsical that you enjoy doing?

So, I’m not sure if this classifys as whimsical or somewhat crazy, but I’ll tell you about my future business idea that I like to daydream to myself about (my husband also thinks this is a good idea, so let me share the crazyness around a little.) I’d really like to have one day a nature reserve, a great expanse of land, where there will be lush grassy fields, little winding creeks with pebbles, lots of trees and everything else you need for such a thing. Then I would like to populate my reserve with yellow Labradors, who would roam around all day long paddling in the water, creating holes in the fields, eating all the strange bugs their hearts desire. I could charge entry into my nature reserve, like people go to those safari parks. I am fairly certain that anyone who has owned a Labrador will totally understand the brilliance.

Filed in Got Art?, Indie Fixx Shop, Interviews, Paperie Goodness, Studio Spaces | | Comments (7) »