Artist Spotlight: {Eye} Wonder Workshops + Giveaway

Eileen Nishi by Thea Coughlin

I had the pleasure of meeting Eileen Nishi, creator of {eye} wonder workshops, last fall at Squam.  She is incredibly talented and full of inspiration.  I participated in her class last fall and learned so much about my self and my creative journey.  I am pleased to introduce you to her and her workshops.  Please welcome Eileen from {eye} wonder workshops.

How would you describe yourself?

I am a global "waker", enlivening and inspiring others as an insightful photographer, e-course instructor, loyal friend, mixed-media artist, blogger, mom of two hilarious boys, and believer in the universe.

How did you get started in photography?

I took a photography class when I was about 10 at my alternative elementary school in Eugene, Oregon.  I remember learning about how to load film into our cameras (35mm), and how to process our black & white prints in the darkroom.  Looking back I can’t believe we were using all those chemicals!  As an adult I picked up a camera again about 6 years ago when I was navigating a rough time in my life.  I had decided to start a blog, and told myself that a good blog had to have good photos.  And to take good photos I needed a good camera.  I’ve been taking pictures ever since!

How did you come up with the name {eye} wonder workshops?

I have two boys (11 & 14), and along my journey as a curious Mom I’ve found myself on countless occasions saying “I Wonder . . .?”  When I was brainstorming for class names that popped into my head and it was just right!

What is your favorite photo that you have taken?

Urban Laundry by Eileen Nishi

This was one of the first photos I took with my new camera years ago, and I love it because it is an image that begs to tell a story.  Whose pants are those?  And how did they get there?  Additionally, I think I had to climb on a trash-can to get this shot – and when I look at it I’m reminded that it’s OK to do things a little outside my comfort zone to get pictures I love!

Why is the intuitive process important when documenting daily life?

Life doesn’t come with an owner’s manual, so my belief is that if you can learn to use your intuition when approaching photography, it will in turn help you navigate your life journey as well.

How or where do you gather inspiration?

1.  Spend time with kids.   I know not everyone has kids, and not everyone even likes kids – but if you have the opportunity to spend a little time with some nieces & nephews, or maybe your friends’ kids, or even volunteer in a classroom from time to time?  I’m pretty sure you’ll walk away having learned something new or feeling inspired to get in touch with your inner child!

2.  Move – Sometimes I find the easiest way to get inspired (& get un-stuck!) is just to MOVE.  A quick walk around the neighborhood or several laps around the track down the street, some simple yoga stretches or just shaking my arms & legs around can get my creative juices flowing.

3.  Expose Yourself to Art –  Go to museums, galleries, libraries, and keep your eyes peeled for public art.  Inspiration can hit when you least expect it.

What do you wish the participants will gain from taking your workshop?

I want my students to learn how to slow down and really see the world around them, which will help them capture photographs they are really excited about.  The class includes some personal growth prompts and projects as well – which are a big part of the process.   If they walk away with a new way of seeing the world and seeing how they are being in it?  I will be thrilled! 

by Eileen Nishi

You work full time, you are a mother to two boys, and you run workshops.  What advice do you have for other women when they are on the fence about taking your class?

My approach to e-courses is to carve out a little time in the evenings or weekends when there is a break in the chaos to watch the class videos or devote some time to the assignments.  My kids are at an age where they are pretty self-sufficient, so of course that helps.  I don’t give a lot of homework in my class – and I think the projects I do assign are one’s that can easily be done at any time if my students want to take notes & practice on their own later.  The idea is that they’ll be gaining lifelong skills – so if someone doesn’t get a chance to do the assignment or post their photos . . . they can still get something out of it.

Do participants have to come to your class with special knowledge or equipment?

No!  In fact, my belief is that good photos are a product of the person behind the camera (rather than the equipment), so no fancy cameras are necessary.  You can even use your phone!

What is your next big project?  Anything bubbling?

The winter months are when I do my best brainstorming, and at the moment I’ve got a few ideas that are rising to the top.  I’d love to teach at an art retreat in person, and also add another class (or two!) to the series of {eye} wonder workshops.  I’ll keep you posted!  

++++++++++

The next session of {eye} wonder :: intuitive photography for everyday people will start on April 1st, and go through May 10th. As a bonus, there will be an extra week of class added to the curriculum (it used to be 5 weeks, now it’s 6)!

In addition, Eileen is offering a FREE SPOT in her class to one lucky reader. 

To enter, leave us a comment below and tell us why you think you deserve a spot in {eye} wonder workshops. You have until March 1st to enter. The winner will be announced March 4th.

Website  ||  Blog

Shop

Twitter  ||  Facebook

Artist Spotlight || Studio CB

Oh, do I have a treat for you.  I have the pleasure of spotlighting a fellow Squammie as part of the artist spotlight series.  One of the best experiences about Squam is meeting truly wonderful people you would not other wise meet.  Cathleen Bradley, known as CB, is a friend to one of my Squam cabin mates.  While we enjoyed a lot of laughs, and I purchased one of her amazing recycled pieces at the art fair, I didn't know the full scope of her work until I asked her to do the interview.  Her work and her mission are amazing and I can't wait for you to meet her.  Here is what was recently written about CB from her latest show.

image || Cathleen Bradley

Divergent thinking defines Cathleen E. Bradley’s mixed media art. It’s CB’s natural inclination to be curious, try new techniques and think of different ways to use objects.

“I love a creative challenge. My visual-kinesthetic approach to learning and expressing comes through loud and clear in this body of work. Each composition here holds two common threads: the physicality exerted in the process and the exploratory road-trip to visualize it. I layer, scrape, scratch, sand, tear, cut, burnish and rearrange ---all to give my thoughts imagery --- to give the stories in my mind tangible existence.

Painting came alive for me when I was introduced to a palette knife; a mode I could honestly relate to after years of manipulating clay, glass, fabric and wood. In my hands, discarded objects and vintage graphics and text get a second life as they take on new roles to play. Though my heart wonders about their origins, my mind twists their fate. Ultimately, my constructions and assemblages evoke feelings of familiar and mysterious histories.

Inspiration comes my way through listening to the news of the day or by coming in possession of a fabulous old implement that begs for a new life and provokes a quest. As the right side of my brain works over-time, I am continually drawn to combining mediums and trying new techniques. I often feel like I am just scratching the surface of a new way to express myself. “

CB’s work requests viewers to take a moment, look deeper and think twice. Do not just skim the surface; dive in.

Please welcome CB...

+ When you are not busy with art installations you teach art classes. What joy do you get out of teaching others art?

I completely enjoy encouraging creativity. I am all about divergent thinking ... stretching the right side of the brain, so to speak ... helping others to look at objects in a new way. No kit, just creative wit, is my m.o. in my home studio classroom. The notion repurposing is always present in my studio as well as my home. I also teach teens and tweens how to use tools ---such as hot glue guns, hand drills, pliers, irons, screwdrivers, etc. It is empowering; it builds self-confidence.

Also, my third grade teacher wanted to buy one of my art projects from me and also had me copy a poem (the first poem I ever wrote) on a large poster, which she then plastered on our classroom’s door. Those two acts made a dynamic impression on me, so now I am paying it forward. (Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, wherever you are.) 

images || Cathleen Bradley

+ In addition to teaching, you create and sell art. Tell us about what you create.

As a mixed-media artist, I am always working on various projects --in various mediums, simultaneously. (That might be the result of having ADD, which manifests in me as curiosity, creative energy and spontaneity. Good things for an artist!) Presently I construct assemblages made from salvaged implements, timber, leather and found objects. I also paint with acrylics, fuse plastic bags and sew. 

image || Cathleen Bradley

+ Your work includes materials that are recycled from all manner of places. Why do you love incorporating used materials in your art and where do you find your materials?

It’s almost as if vintage objects call out to me. Seriously, my pulse races and this strange excitement resonates within as I peruse through estate sales, flea markets, antique stores and old barns. I am probably best going alone as I hyper-focus and start visualizing. Patinas, vintage graphics and game pieces, hardware, jars of once- cherished ephemera catch my attention. I tend to visualize how objects might have been used and wonder about their origins. I have a respect for their history. It’s almost like the soul of an object gets resuscitated as a new use for it unfolds. Okay, I admit as a kid, I favored those old black and white cartoons where inanimate objects came to life and danced by the light of the moon. I do love old movies, jazz music, biographies, architecture and treasure hunts. Shake it all together and that’s my art.

image || Cathleen Bradley

+ Do you have a favorite piece? 

After a project is finished, it is my favorite until a new one takes its place ---- which can happen the next day or week.

+ How or where do you gather inspiration for a project? 

Inspiration comes from stories in the news (tsunami in Haiti), a salvaged object (diary found at a flea market), vintage illustrations (old Red Cross booklet), texts, photographs or personal experiences. In a painting, I might explore a new technique which lends itself to an emotional adventure, although most of my paintings are mixed media. 

image || Paige Gilbert Goldfarb

+ Is there a media you prefer to work with? 

It depends on what I am exploring at the moment. My circle of mediums keeps broadening and I don’t let go of one as I take on another. There is a connecting thread. Part of it is the physicality I put in to my work. I thrive on that, whether it be scrapping, sanding, chopping or tearing. Doodling with ink on paper, moves to sgraffito on clay, in paint or with thread in free-motion sewing. 

image || Cathleen Bradley

+ What has been your most interesting or challenging project? 

The challenges can be mental or physical. They can also keep me at bay for awhile. I don’t give up easily. Sometimes it’s a matter of finding that lemonade beyond the lemon. Last week it was a lampshade I had redesigned. After I fused a new cover and inverted it, I had to invent a way to fasten it to the harp. Hanging out in hardware store isles brings out the jigsaw puzzler in me. The blue timber lamp base, made from a century-old farming implement and rescued from a dilapidated barn snow pile, brought challenges, too. I wish I had a camera filming my grunting angst as I hulked over it, forcing its heavy rusted hardware free. I had to reach out for drill-press help and I learned that as wood ages, the grain tightens and it can even pull a 24” drill bit in the direction it wants. Gratefully, the lamp design I envisioned did not end up on the cutting room floor.

+ You followed your dreams started selling your art. Do you have a motto or advice for other artists just starting out? 

Take risks. Veer from plans. Keep learning.

+ What are you working on now? 

I want to go bigger with my 2D assemblage constructions. I would love to finish some tall lamps I have designed. I have a large gessoed and cradled MDF substrate calling my name every time I pass by. Do you notice a pattern here?

+ Do you have any other words of wisdom to offer?

”To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.”—Thomas Edison

++++++++++++

CB has plans for a website and online shop.  In the meantime, if you are not in her neighborhood, you can still purchase her pieces.  View the art to sell gallery and contact her for pricing and shipping information. 

blog || art to sell

contact - studioceb {at} comcast {dot} net

                        

Photography Classes

I have immersed myself in photography lately.  I took a class at Squam with the lovely Thea Coughlin and something seemed to shift in my mind's eye when it comes to taking a photo.  Currently, I'm taking an on-line course with Eileen Nishi, whom I also met at Squam, and I'm enrolled in another on-line course, again with Thea set to start in January.

Many of you have asked how my photos have gotten so much better since I started blogging.  While it's been a lot of trial and error, I've also spent time learning from pros/friends that know what they're doing.  These two ladies get it.  Not only is there camera instruction that is easy to understand, you get a little extra.  Secrets I can't give away. 

So jump in, sign up, and don't be afraid of your camera!  These ladies will walk you through it all.

++++++++++++

While it's too late to sign up for Eileen's fall class, I know she'll be hosting another class after the first of the year.  At least bookmark the page, and I'll post info when she opens registration again.

{eye} wonder workshops

++++++++++++

Thea is full of energy and authentic.  The best way to describe her is genuinely happy.  She is a teacher at heart and her instruction on how to use your camera is easy to understand.  A definite must! 

Intuitive Lens with Thea Coughlin from Squam 

Artist Spotlight: Jenna from UpCountry Living

I'm very exciting to be introducing Jenna today. I met her through an online class, and after checking out her blog I quickly realized we have a lot in common. Later this month she will have a guest post with more great information for the September 4(for) green acres challenge. In the meantime, I wanted to spotlight her and get to know her better.  She offers a great perspective on how to just begin.

Please welcome Jenna from UpCountry Living...

I’m Jenna and I’m a professional writer and blogger that lives in northern Maine. I am a reporter for Fiddlehead Focus and creator and contributor for my blog UpCountry Living. I love soft sweaters, button-down skirts, and books I can’t put down.

Why did you start UpCountry Living and what can readers find when they visit your site?

I started UpCountry Living as a way to document my journey back home. Though I’ve lived for most of my life in the Saint John Valley,  I discovered that I was a stranger in my own land. I did not know the old ways or realize that where I lived was special.

UpCountry Living chronicles my research, discoveries and stories and encourages readers to embrace the process of establishing roots.

I frequently write about my experiences with first-year gardening, food preservation, supporting the local food market, community events or descriptives and ways to pursue simplicity.

Could you tell us why Saint John Valley is so special and where it is located?

The Saint John Valley is the Great Valley of northern Maine. If you watched Land Before Time a thousand times as a kid (and continue to watch it with delight in your grown-up years), then you know what I’m talking about. It’s the paradise at the end of the hero’s journey. It’s where life can be sustained after tragedy befalls you. It’s where all the tree-stars are (a.k.a. leaves).

The Valley spans over 70 miles and is home to about 25,000 people. Though residents of the Saint John Valley are assumed to be American, the Valley actually includes Canada, our neighbor nation that shares the Saint John River.

Canadians contribute to the local economy through commerce and employment. Mostly, we all get along. Sometimes groups of 19-year-olds from each country start disputes with each other. Just your run-of-the-mill border town dramatics.

It’s special because it’s home to farmers, artists, writers, mill workers, teachers, and all-around hard workers. If someone from the County (Saint John Valley is the northernmost part of the Aroostook County) migrates out and applies for a job in another Maine region, it’s very likely they’ll be hired. We’re known in the state for our work ethic and dependability.

Most Valleyites speak English and French and are primarily of French descent, though there are some towns with Scott-Irish and native descent.  My parents’ generation grew up in bilingual homes and, unfortunately, were discouraged from speaking French in school as the region became more anglicized. Because of the alienation they experienced when speaking their native language, the strength of the French language started to dwindle about 50 years back.

The Valley is a place where you don’t lock up your home or your car and where crime doesn’t kill people but the moose sure try to. It farms buckwheat and potatoes, contributes to Maine’s logging industry, and hosts annual dog sled races.

What are some of your interests?

I am a voracious reader of primarily non-fiction: books about gardening, homesteading, food politics, botany and even a bit of neuroscience. I am learning how to garden, cook, get handy around the house, and play the harmonica. I also knit, crochet, and play basketball with my niece and nephew.

I hope to someday play the mandolin and write songs that have recipes for lyrics.

You are new to gardening.  What has the journey been like?

A rush. The journey has been incredible. We started our garden by building raised beds, and watching all of that come together gave me such a feeling of accomplishment. It had been years since I’d played in the dirt and I had forgotten just how natural it felt.

Even though my mother had a garden when I was a kid, I didn’t help out too much and hadn’t learned any basic skills about sowing and tending. Thankfully Mr. UpCountry has some experience and was able to provide me with some delicate mentorship.

Through hard work, experimentation, and too much time spent watering (here’s looking at you, drought), we produced a bumper crop of cukes, tomatoes, carrots, beets, kohlrabi, peas, beans and mint. The veggies that suffered were broccoli, basil and peppers.

The best thing about mistakes is that they’re just investments towards success in the future. Now I know not to plant my broccoli so close together and to keep mint out of the raised beds because they want to choke out everything else.

When you don’t feel like doing anything, where do you find motivation or what keeps you inspired?

Three things!

1. Past accomplishments.

2. Being mindful of how a series of little baby steps has led me to a completely different place than former years.

3. Trusting the process.

These three things keep me inspired. I don’t always follow through with my inspiration and actually “produce” anything, but it helps keep the guilt out of it. A lot of my lack of motivation comes from thinking “I can’t,” so if I remove those words from my vocabulary and think about what’s already been done, motivation becomes more natural.

You recently purchased a local broiler chicken.  What was the deciding factor?

I realized that, with pretty minimal effort, I could eat a chicken that had been raised by a local family in a happy environment, eating the feed that it wants to eat. Through this purchase, I could support the local economy, local farmers, organic farming, and my own health (by not eating a chicken that had been fed on antibiotics and corn). “Why I Bought A Local Broiler” covers this decision in detail.

Where do you learn your homesteading skills?

It’s a combination of “asking around” and research (primarily on the internet). I’m continually surprised by little “common knowledge” I have. It inspires me to ask questions of my parents, my grandparents, and other folks in my community. I usually get a very practical answer and also learn more about my heritage and this place.

When that method of research doesn’t work, I turn to books and the internet. Amazon’s recommendations always extend the library wish list and keeps the good books stocking up the shelves. Online, I rely on resources like Mother Earth News, MOFGA, Cold Antler Farm and good “old-fashioned” Wikipedia.

You talk about making your journey practical, what are some of your goals to accomplish that?

What I don’t want is a head full of facts. I want hands that are working through the process itself. I can share links on social networks til the cows come home, but if I don’t actually make laundry detergent myself, how is all this research actually enriching my life?

With that being said, do you have any advice for someone wanting to live more consciously?

Start small. It took me a long time to take the step to make laundry detergent for myself. I had done the research and knew that it was cost-effective, customizable and pretty natural. For some reason, I had Resistance about actually doing it. (I’m pretty sure my primary excuse was, “Well, couldn’t I just buy it?”).

Eventually I started asking myself, “Shouldn’t I just make it myself?” Instead of asking, “Why?” I challenged myself with “Why not?”

It took me 15 minutes to make my own laundry detergent. The momentum built from there. Now I find myself attacking challenges with a sense of eagerness and excitement. I know I can do things now, simply by doing them. It sounds ridiculous, but it’s one of those honest truths I had to ease up to.

You are passionate about our food system, give us a fact that might encourage us to think about what we eat.

There are lots of scary facts out there about America’s corn and soy monocultures and the sad state of our meat system, but more jarring to my former philosophy was finding this particular quote: “Shake the hand that feeds you” {from “In Defense of Food,” by Michael Pollan, personal favorite).

Also, in one of my multiple documentary viewings, I must have heard the following statement. I can’t place the specifics, but the concept itself has been sticking with me:

Paraphrasing: We can be very particular about who works on our car or who works on our house. We ask each other about good mechanics and contractors to work with. We put faith in these people to take care of us. But, for some reason, the majority of us have no idea where our food comes from. Food: the stuff we put in our mouths to fuel our bodies and keep us alive.

What information will you be sharing with indigo 26 readers later this month?

Along with being a first-year gardener, I’m also a first-year canner. I’ll be sharing my experiences with first-year canning and will focus primarily on all the forms of Resistance I’ve encountered since first deciding to learn some food preservation techniques.

Jenna can be found here:

UpCountry Living

Twitter

Facebook

Thank you Jenna for answering all my questions.  I'm looking forward to reading more later this month. 

What inspired you about Jenna's interview?  Leave us a comment below.

*** photos provided by Jenna ***

And the Winner Is...

Thank you to everyone that left a comment for Katrina about her interview.  I too believe her work is amazing and I was lucky she agreed to be spotlighted.

The winner of the giveaway was randomly selected by using random.org.  Katrina's beautiful stationary goes to...

Lina Decker 

It was really cool to see the actual process! I love the feeling of embossed paper - it is the same as the wonderful feeling of opening a blank notebook. Newness, crispness and possibility!

Congratulations, Lina.  Please contact me with your address so we can get your stationary in the mail.

Don't forget Katrina for all your letterpress needs!

Website || Blog

Etsy Shop

Twitter  ||  Facebook

Artist Spotlight || Ma Joie Press

I have always been a fan of paper goods.  I hoard stationary just to look at it and I believe that a handwritten letter is one of the best gifts a person can receive.  Therefore, it should come as no surprise that I am introducing Katrina from Ma Joie Press to you today.  She is a local (to me) artist that has developed her craft and her dream into a full time business.  She has mastered the art of beautiful, handmade letterpress that makes me want to have a party just to send out her invitations.

Katrina has taken the time to answer a few questions about her art.  She is very inspiring and what I find unique about Katrina is her method.  She still prints on vintage presses.  An art that is truly almost gone.  Please welcome Katrina and be sure to read all the way through.  There is a surprise waiting for you at the end. 

Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm Katrina, I make home and stationery from a little house in Plano, Texas.  I love art and history, and letterpress is such a perfect marriage of the two. I spend my days chasing, playing and teaching my adorable baby, and my nights drawing, printing and emailing clients all around the world.  My husband and I live in our little creative home, and pride ourselves on green practices.  I love baking, biking, and decorating.

Why Ma Joie? What was the inspiration behind the name?

My middle name is Joy, and as a kid, my father called me "kate-my-joy."  In a less obvious way, it's in honor of my father and family.  They have always been my biggest supporters.  I think "Ma Joie" captures what this whole operation means to me.  It is a joy to have the opportunity to draw and print and be creative.  To be able to share that with so many people during their special occasions makes me feel like what I do makes a difference.  In a sense, my joy becomes theirs', and that makes all the difficulties involved with working with antique equipment more than worth it.

Your husband Tyler is also connected to Ma Joie.  How does he influence your work?  

Tyler helps in every way you can imagine.  In the beginning, he helped me create my business plans, and traveled with me to find the right equipment.  These days he acts as a great taste-tester, if you will, helping me focus my work to fit within my aesthetic and target market.  He is my co-blogger, head of IT, and he has taught me so much about photography.  I'm lucky to have such a fun and creative husband.  He keeps me hip!

You mention your daughter Magnolia is your purest inspiration.  Tell us more about that.  

Nolie is the most amazing, gorgeous, sweet, smiling baby in the whole world.  I look down and see my husband in her face, and I am so proud to know she is mine!  I want to provide for her.  I want to make her happy!  She changed me in ways I never knew needed change.  With her arrival, I had to learn to balance all of these different aspects of my life.  Honestly, I think I had to grow up a lot, and I am sure there is plenty still to learn.  Now, there is no time to procrastinate.  If I actually want to grow my business, I have to do it in the 2 or 3 hours I have to work while she is napping or playing with my husband.  She inadvertently streamlined my process, and I am a lot more efficient and focused.  She is beautiful and fun, and I really think my primary role in life was becoming her mother.  I want her to believe in herself, and I think the best way to teach this lesson is leading by example.

You are self taught.  What has been the hardest challenge?  

Finding equipment!  It is hard to come by letterpresses that are in condition to be used.  I didn't really have the resources or the knowledge to fix one up, so I was lucky to find some that were still being used in print shops.  Learning the craft was definitely tough.  I mostly relied on information I could find on the internet, and a whole lot of trial and error.  My craft seemed to get better with each project, and that encouraged me to try another.  Eventually, I had my system down pat, and I haven't looked back!

You use vintage Kluge and Chandler & Price presses for your business.  What draws you to the older technology versus modern equipment?

There is so much that I have grown to love about my presses.  I love the sounds they make, and being able to get my hands dirty.  In these digital times, beautifully printed paper can make such an impact on people. The thick, supple paper, and the deep crisp impression isn't something we see daily.  The whole effect is more valuable because of the time and love and care put into each individual piece.  Much like a painting in comparison to a digitally printed representation, there is just more soul in the original work.

In college your interest in art was sparked.  How did that come about?

It is kind of funny, but I did not ever consider art as a career option until college.  I had no idea I could even draw!  I sort of happened into an Intro to Interiors course to fill a core credit requirement, and I was hooked.  The Interior Design program required many drawing and design classes, so I gave it a shot, and ended up surprising everyone.  Now, I can't imagine myself doing anything else!

When you start a new project where do you gather inspiration?

I am inspired by people mostly, and I love solving problems.  Every project and every client is an opportunity to give someone something they love, and I truly want to do so.  I love everything about giving gifts.  Often times, my best ideas start with the thought that someone might like to have this or that.  I am hugely nostalgic, and unbelievably emotional.  I also find a lot of inspiration in supplies.  Craft stores are very dangerous for me!  I walk in, and my head starts spinning with ideas!

What has been your most interesting or challenging project?

A few years ago, I was fortunate to be a part of a project with a band named Da Di Da.  We printed their album cover and track list on these fantastic recycled paper sleeves.  I was so in love with the project, I actually did it for free.  Tyler had fun too, he actually ended up playing organ on a song for the album.  It was a great experience, and I always hope for more artist collaborations in the future.

When working with a new client, how do you get to know them?

All of my projects begin with an email conversation.  Truthfully, most brides have a pretty good idea of what they want, or at least a mood they want to convey.  They send me pictures they have saved, and personal photos, even fabric samples.  I think this is the best part of my job.  It is fun to meet people from all around the world, and really challenging and rewarding to translate their ephemera into a wedding suite.  I think it makes the process more meaningful than picking something out of a book that a thousand other people have.  Some people love being a part of the project, and I love being a part of their wedding memories.

You followed your dreams and started a business.  Do you have a motto or advice for other artists just starting out?

Try not to delay when you have an idea!  If you don't act fast, you might lose the driving inspiration, or someone else might think of and do the same thing!  Life is busy, but you will be so happy when you work hard for something and find success!

Do you offer a retail collection as well as custom work?

Most of my time in the studio is devoted to custom wedding suites.  There are not that many letterpress printers who do fully bespoke wedding orders, so it has kept me very busy in the past.  Recently, I have been working to create a line of designs that I can offer for everyday use.  I learned a lot when I first started my Etsy shop, but my efforts were a bit scatterbrained.  I am so close to having a cohesive collection to represent my brand!

What are you working on now?

I currently have an À la carte wedding collection, some mixed media art prints, and some all occasion stationery for my Etsy shop in the works.  I took a long hiatus while I was pregnant, then a good while to learn to balance a newborn and a business.  During this time, it seems like I was hoarding ideas and inspiration, so I am eager to relaunch my shop with fresh products.

Website || Blog

Etsy Shop

Twitter  ||  Facebook

Katrina has offered one lucky reader a chance to win a set of her beautiful handmade stationary.

TO ENTER || Simply leave a comment below stating what you enjoyed about the interview with Katrina.  To enter twice, in addition to leaving a comment, tweet about the giveaway by linking to this post and include Katrina and I in your tweet (@abbyb26 & @katemajoie).

All comments will close at midnight CST on Friday, August 24th. The winner will be randomly selected and announced on Monday, August 27.  To receive notice in your inbox sign up for updates in the top right tool bar.  

Thank you, Katrina, for sharing your inspiration with us today and for the lovely gift! 

And The Winner Is...

Thanks to everyone that stopped by and left a comment.  The winner was chosen using a random number generator from random.org.   

The upcycled pouch goes to...

Jenni from Engineered Style

Here is to another great year!  Jenni please contact me with your address so we can get your pouch sent over to you.  

Artist Spotlight: BUTTER Design Lab

I'm very excited to spotlight Laura from BUTTER Design Lab today. Laura is a local (Dallas) artist that works primarily with upcycled materials and remnants to make pillows, tea towels, handbags, pouches, and more for her online etsy shop. She claims to be a thrift store junkie that loves the challenge of taking something that has reached the end of its current purpose, and finding new life for it.

Right now she is a proud resident of Oak Cliff, Texas a very artsy neighborhood of Dallas, but prior to that she lived in Savannah, Australia, St. Louis, and Virginia. She got her Masters in Furniture Design from Savannah College of Art and Design about 4 years ago, and moved to Dallas to work for a national retailer. Designing for mass production made her want to get back to working with her hands on unique items, so she began creating things in her spare time.

Laura has two dogs and three cats, all rescues, and a wonderfully supportive husband. She grew up learning the value of handmade with her mom sewing most of their clothes, and her dad building their house. Please welcome Laura...

Q:  By day you are a furniture designer.  Why did you also start an etsy shop called BUTTER?

A:  BUTTER serves as my hands-on creative outlet – I get to be creative at work, but just through sketches and the computer… so it is wonderful to be able to come home and work with my hands.

Q:  Why do you choose to use upcycled materials versus new? 

A:  There is so much potential in materials that are at the end of their life cycle, and it is rewarding to know that you are preventing things from going to the landfill.  I like the challenge that comes from designing new objects from old materials.

Q:  You print awesome lines from songs on your pillows and towels.  How did that come about?

A:  I’m a big music fan, and I’m usually blasting 70’s and 80’s music while I’m sewing…

Q:  You have been known to dumpster dive for furniture that has been thrown away.  What has been your favorite dumpster project?

A:  Probably my desk chair… I found it in an alley and it was pretty dang disgusting!  It took a lot of TLC to transform it into what it is, but now it’s something I see everyday and it inspires me. 

Q:  You have lived in many places including Australia, how did you land in the lone star state?

A:  I came for a job, not expecting to stay more than a year, but four years later here I am – this place certainly grows on you!

Q:  You researched traditional handcrafts such as weaving and knitting for your MFA thesis and mentioned that it has influenced your life and work.  In what way? 

A:  I did a lot of conceptual work on designing methods of mass production that created uniqueness in items through the hand of the maker. There is something so special about items in which the process of making is apparent...  similar to wabi-sabi and the beauty of imperfection, I guess. 

Q:  Who are your favorite designers?

A:  Ray and Charles Eames are incredibly inspiring – they found beauty in everything. Current designers include Patricia Urquiola, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Marcel Wanders, Front Design, anyone involved in Droog… there are so many great designers out there!

Q:  When you start a new project how or where do you gather inspiration?

A:  Many of my projects stem from the materials available.

Q:  Do you have a motto or advice for other designers just starting out?

A:  Don’t give up, believe in yourself and stay creative!

Q:  You are a member of Etsy Dallas.  Tell us more about that.  

A:  I love Etsy Dallas – it’s such a supportive, creative group and everyone is very committed to spreading the handmade love around Dallas!

Q:  What is your next big project?

A:  I’ve got a lot of things in the works right now… I’m developing a line of handbags made from upholstery swatches, as well as some furniture projects made from reclaimed wood.

Is there anything else that you would like to share?

I’ll have a booth at the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash on May 5^th at the Palladium. 

Also, I’ve added a coupon code to my etsy shop, readers can get a 26% discount with code indigo26.

Not only can you find Laura at area events she can be found on the web...

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram: butterdesignlab

Website:  butterdesignlab.com

Thank you Laura for being featured on indigo 26 and for the awesome discount code!

++++++++++++

Laura is offering a zipper pouch to a lucky winner to help me celebrate.  There is still time to enter. Just click here.  The winner will be announced tomorrow.