Meet the Maker | Part I - 2018

I know, I know, this isn't really how #marchmeetthemaker is supposed to work. The beginning of the month was crazy busy with non-craft things and I didn't find out about the Instagram tag until days after it had started. So, I thought I would compile all of the prompts into one big blog post. That way everything is contained and easy to read. (And I can work on sections at a time so that it's ready to go by the 31. Or cheat by writing things out ahead of time. Whatever works, right?) This will be in two parts since some of the sections are lengthy, and there are a lot of images to add. Also, sorry ahead of time for not having a corresponding image for every single number--I guess I totally reworked the challenge.

To start, here's the official prompt list:

1. You

My name is Kirstin, I'm an artist, and I'm quickly approaching my late twenties. I drink a lot of tea and I like to bake for others. When I'm not working on Cadenza Dolce things, I enjoy seeing what others create and can often be found playing video games (artsy narratives anyone?).

2. Where

My workspace is currently in a private office (second bedroom) in an apartment in Arizona. I've been in the same town for over 15 years and will be here for a few more. Arizona is also the only place that I've sold my items in person, at small craft fairs and local businesses. Some day I hope to relocate to the Pacific Northwest, but until then I'm a high desert dweller.

3. How you started

I found a tutorial on repurposed teacup candles in a mainstream craft magazine (something like Real Simple or Martha Stewart) and started collecting teacups from thrift shops. I was interested in the idea of using something for a new purpose, but I was also interested in the feminine, vintage flair. So in fall 2010 I brought 20 or 30 teacup candles to a local event and nearly sold out. After that I tried selling yoga mat bags (also a hit, but not creative enough to keep me interested), earrings, collage note cards, herb soaps, light bulb hot air balloon ornaments, flower crowns, catch-all dishes, and junk journals. While none of the ideas were entirely my own, I always made sure that each piece was unique--either by color or materials--and unlike any others that I had seen.

Here's some products throughout the years:

4. Favorite to make

Probably junk journals. I've made a lot of different crafts and experimented with a lot of different mediums over the years, but picking out different papers is by far the most fun. They also have the least amount of down time, so the creation process is constantly flowing.

5. Photography

I want to say that I'm a photographer first and a crafter second, but I guess that's not entirely true. I do shoot all of my own product and publicity photos for my website, social media, and online shops. And I have a degree in photography. My photographic work is incredibly different from the soft, colorful products I make for Cadenza Dolce, but the camera knowledge is so useful for aspiring business owners--crafts or otherwise. Seriously, go take a class at a community college. Yes, you can learn gear technique or camera settings online, but it's so helpful to see others create work and grow from mistakes (both yours and your peers').

I'm currently using a Nikon D3300 and an iPhone 6S.

6. Workspace

I was lucky enough to "acquire" a private room recently just for making crafts, shooting product photos, and packaging orders. My husband and I moved into a two bedroom apartment and I set up my desk and shelves in the smaller bedroom. There's a ton of natural light (mostly because it's Arizona) and a big closet for storage. It honestly couldn't have worked out better.

Sorry, the closet is too chaotic to share. But here's the rest of the room:

7. Routine

I'm not very good at keeping up with things--in any aspect of my life. I tend to work sporadically, which is both a blessing and a curse. But so far it's worked out. All of my items are made before they are listed, so I don't have to worry about struggling to fulfill orders. Then I can make a whole bunch of things at once, photograph them together, and package them as they are purchased. I'm always planning new things though. Junk journals, for example, are all different themes, and I try to collect as much material related to that theme as I can before compiling the pages into a finished book.

8. Flatlay

I've become obsessed with flatlays recently. I love the simplicity of things against a plain background. I also love the challenge of arranging products and props into a scene or aesthetic. Product photography is such an interesting genre, and it's been changing so much recently. I've often used a deadpan/facade angle (from above, see also #thingsorganizedneatly) in my photographic work, but it's fun to take to a smaller scale (i.e. a tabletop). I've just been using a white poster board for my backgrounds. I want to start experimenting with some wood panels, but for now the clean, bright look is standing out.

9. How it's made

This one is going to be wordy, since I have so many different mediums. Since I've done slightly more in-depth posts about each process, I'll link those here and here (I still need one for hot air balloons). But here's the CliffsNotes version:

Catch-all dishes are rolled out from twisted ropes of clay. The clay is then cut into circles and placed into an oven-safe bowl for baking. Once they are cool, the edges are painted with metallic paint and the entire dish is sealed with a lightweight gloss.

Junk journals are created from pieces of new and upcycled papers. The pages are cut to size, stacked, and punched to be stitched into a cover. The covers are made from old food boxes and are covered in scrapbook or wrapping papers. Once the cover and pages are ready, they are stitched together and lightly embellished to inspire creativity.

Hot air balloons are covered in tissue paper. Once they are dry, the metal end part is painted with metallic paint. Then a ribbon is tied and glued to the top and sides, hanging down past the base. Finally, a bottle cap is added to the ends of the ribbon to form a basket.

10. Time to relax

Since I work so sporadically (see number 7), I actually have quite a bit of down time. But even if my hands are at rest, my mind is still thinking of new options. I know this prompt was more about using March 10th to relax specifically, I actually finished most of this post on the 10th. It can be relaxing to collect your thoughts and finish simple tasks, so that's my excuse!

11. Branding

This is something that's been evolving over the past few years. It's something I wasn't very good at or worried about until recently--and even now it's not perfect. Since I have such a small shop and make so few sales compared to other artists, branding was hard to feel strongly about. But I've realized that it can just be used as a way to make things look organized and uniform. For me, branding isn't just about the logo. It's also about the uniformity of the product images, how I word posts on social media, and how the products work together. I've often thought that my items are feminine and colorful--and I try my best to reflect that feeling across every aspect.

The fonts I use are Grand Hotel and Enriqueta, which are free to download and are available on most sites that allow customization (Storenvy and Wix for example). All of the graphics on my cards are (supposedly) public domain and were found through Google searches.

12. Postage and packaging

To keep with my repurposed tagline, I often reuse shipping boxes that I've received other things in. I've never gotten a complaint, so why not, right? But I always make sure that the inside is clean and neat. My catch-all dishes, for example, are wrapped in tissue paper and nestled in a bed of crinkled kraft paper. I always include a packing slip with a short thank you message and a business card. I print postage on white sticker sheets (these are such a time saver!) and seal every box securely.

13. Work clothes

Sometimes I wear everyday clothes (skirts, sweaters, and dresses), and sometimes I leave my pajamas on. Since I work on all of my items at home, no one really sees me. And since most of my crafts aren't too messy, I don't worry about ruining my clothes. If I'm dropping off packages or attending a craft sale I always look presentable though. Basically what you see in number 1--I always dress nice, no matter what the occasion.

14. Dreams & plans

I've been struggling with the idea of how to work full-time from home selling my own work, but I can't say for sure when that dream may become a reality. If creating things did become a career, it would more likely be fine art photographs and books, but I wouldn't rule out cute crafts completely--it would be wonderful to be able to do both. As far as doable plans, I am going to keep creating things for Cadenza Dolce no matter what else is going on in my life. I don't have any ideas for new products at this time, but I do have a few variations planned of things that I already have for sale. They will be available before summer.

15. Boomerang

After some searching, I have confirmed that this means post a clip made with the Boomerang app. Since I don't use the app and don't want to download it just for this challenge, I've decided to tweak the meaning a little. The verb definition of boomerang is "(of a plan or action) return to the originator, often with negative consequences." Going off of that, I figured I would share some aspects of being a shop owner and creator that haven't really gone as planned. Unfortunately, I've had two orders arrive to buyers broken. Even though I packaged the items as securely as I could, outside forces caused the packages to get knocked around a little too much. Another instance is the creation of some of my products. There have been a few creations that just haven't gone over. Some of them were even things that I received positive comments on at in-person events--but I'm still stuck with full tubs of them. For both of these cases, I still learned from my mistakes: go even further to make sure that everything goes smoothly and make things because you like to, even if they sit in storage. Everything works out when it's meant to (it was over a year before my catch-all dishes started selling, but those that have purchased some have left glowing reviews).

Well, there you have it: the first half of Meet the Maker. Part II is scheduled to come out on March 31, so stay tuned.

#personal #list #meetthemaker