Meet Featured Artist Kirsten Hausman of FlowerThyme!

 

What is your business’ name?

FlowerThyme and I’m Kirsten Hausman!

What sort of items do you make?

Handgrown paper flowers; my booth at the Indie Market will be a modern paper flowers including holiday garlands and my new paper poinsettia plants.

When and how did you learn your craft?

I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands and being crafty, but I taught myself how to make paper flowers when I was planning my wedding a few years ago.  I’ve been creating new designs and experimenting ever since.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Everywhere, especially nature.  I love scouting new color combinations and my most popular arrangements are almost always inspired by nature and wildlife.

How did you get started doing this as a business?

When I’d finally filled our house with paper flowers, my husband subtly encouraged me to find a new outlet to help share my flowers with others (and move them out of our home).  Around the same time my sister told me about her Etsy shop and I started my own small shop at as a hobby/experiment.  It kept growing and last year I made a move that I could not have imagined 3 years ago: I became a full time artisan/entrepreneur.

Do you have any advice for other crafters/artisans just starting out?

Running your own creative business is lots of fun, but it’s also really challenging.  Fill your community with mentors and people who can offer educated advice – it can be hard to see what is right in front of your face sometimes, especially when it’s something you nourish and love.

Also, if you want to do this for real (like build a business and rely on it for your income), I really encourage you to make a plan.  Regardless of what your goals are, write them down and keep them handy.  Or better yet, create a full blown business plan.  You don’t have to share your plans with anyone, but it’s important to remember what your big goals are.

FlowerThyme will be a featured artist at the First Friday Indie Market on December 6, 2013.  The market is located on the corner of MKL and Elm St in Downtown Greensboro, NC and is open from 4-9pm. 

 

Want to see more of FlowerThyme?  Visit Kirsten’s web page at: http://www.itsflowerthyme.com/ .

 

Meet Featured Artist Hillary Whitt of Brandtridge Handcrafts!

 

What is your business' name?

Brandtridge Handcrafts, I took it from my mom. Thanks Mom! And I'm Hillary Whitt.

 

What sort of items do you make?

Handcrafted copper jewelry filled with images and phrases, along with mixed media artwork.

 

When and how did you learn your craft?

Way back in college, I worked at a wonderful fine craft gallery, Oaks Gallery in Dillsboro, NC, and there I discovered my want to be able to make beautiful jewelry. It was around the time beading was just getting a foot around Greensboro, that dark path of beads lead to the discovery of my love for fire and the hammer so I took metal work classes. I always lay blame on my wonder mother for my love for painting and mixed media, who taught me all about cutting and pasting at such a young age. It's something I've always done and will have to do so I don't go crazy.

 

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Inspiration comes from just about everywhere. It could be in images that I find at a thrift store to something that I dreamed about. I try to keep a notebook with me so I can write or sketch at any time. I have been known to be sketching on the back of an envelope at stop light because I have to get something down on paper before it's gone. 

 

How did you get started doing this as a business?

I'm sure I started as many do - I just kept making pieces and really needed to sell some to feed the need to buy beads or metal. Plus by selling I had a much better reason to buy more supplies and to take classes. 

 

Do you have any advice for other crafters?

Don't be afraid to ask questions from an artist you admire. If they won’t answer them, fine keep going; just don't be afraid to take chances. I know my work is good, I do it more for me than to sell, just keep working at what you love, keep pushing, and things will start to fall into place. Search out the community of artist or people that will support you and tell you the truth when it's asked. 

 

Brandtridge Handcrafts will be a featured artist at the First Friday Indie Market on December 6, 2013.  The market is located on the corner of MKL and Elm St in Downtown Greensboro, NC and is open from 4-9pm. 

 

Want to see more of Brandtridge Handcrafts?  Visit Hillary’s Etsy shop page at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/brandtridge

 

Meet Featured Artist Rebecca Miles of Sweetgum Puppets!

 

What is your business’ name?

Sweetgum Puppets and I’m Rebecca Miles!

 

What sort of items do you make?

 

I make fleece hand puppets and finger puppets – about 40 different animals and creatures.  I also do beadwork and quilts.

 

When and how did you learn your craft?

 

I started making puppets with my young nephews about 25 years ago, sewing by hand.  A friend gave me a sewing machine and things developed.

 

Where do you get your inspiration from?

 

I get inspiration from animals, imagination, and hilarious wild fabrics.  I love bright, silly-looking puppets.  And I get inspiration from the custom orders people give me – most recently a polka-dot elephant.

 

How did you get started doing this as a business?

 

I got started making bead jewelry and quilting, and then moved into puppets over the past ten years.  The puppets have exploded.  Last year, I was part of Bennett College’s EVA program (Entrepreneurial Visual Artists).  It was a seminar for about 18 women artists, teaching us about the business angles of our art.  It was great!  Now I take part in craft shows, and sell puppets in shops and online.  My ETSY shop (sweetgumpuppets.etsy.com) and Facebook page enable me to sell all over the world.

 

Do you have any advice for other crafters/artisans just starting out?

 

Talk to other crafters and explore the Internet.

Sweetgum Puppets will be a featured artist at the First Friday Indie Market on December 6, 2013.  The market is located on the corner of MKL and Elm St in Downtown Greensboro, NC and is open from 4-9pm. 

 

Want to see more of Sweetgum Puppets?  Visit Sweetgum Puppets’ Etsy shop at: sweetgumpuppets.etsy.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet Featured Artist Jenny Joyce of Jenny’s Creative Inspirations

What is your business’ name? 

Jenny’s Creative Inspirations and I am Jenny Joyce!   

What sort of items do you make

I create jewelry, and finger knitted scarves.  I use a variety of different materials, to create my “wearable art”, such as, paper, wood, rocks (from the shores of Lake Michigan), washers, thread, beads, polymer clay, and fabric. 

When and how did you learn your craft?

My craft has evolved over time and is self-taught by trial and error.  

 Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get my inspiration from anything and everything.  I love to look at everyday things and imagine what they could be.  I remember spending time in The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and being enamored by a chair made out of shoes, a picture made from different colored spools of thread, and a statue created from plastic spoons.

  

How did you get started doing this as a business?

I decided to start selling my creations when a friend, who had received some earrings from me as a gift, asked me to participate in a craft show.  

Do you have any advice for other crafters/artisans just starting out?  

My advice to any crafters/artisans out there would be to follow your dreams, never give up, and count the blessings in everyday! 

Jenny’s Creative Inspirations will be a featured artist at the First Friday Indie Market on December 6, 2013.  The market is located on the corner of MKL and Elm St in Downtown Greensboro, NC and is open from 4-9pm. 

Meet Feature Artist Shann Bryne of Gourdgeous Design

What is your business’ name? 

Gourdgeous Design is my business. I am Shann Byrne.

 

What sort of items do you make? 

I use a lot of natural elements in my art, such as gourds and wood. Most items are dimensional. 

When and how did you learn your craft?

I have been an artist for a very long time. I teach graphic design full time. I have been creating art outside of work since as long as I can remember. I am a process artist and love learning new techniques.

Where do you get your inspiration from? 

EVERYTHING. I travel and am inspired by cultures and languages.

How did you get started doing this as a business? 

I feel into it. I created but then people wanted to buy some so I created more and more.

Do you have any advice for other crafters/artisans just starting out? 

Get involved with local artist groups, vending and Etsy.

Anything else you would like to share? 

Because I am a process artist, my product and medium changes throughout the years. It is fun to see how my skills and styles are influenced by my life. 

Gourdgeous Design will be a featured artist at the First Friday Indie Market on December 6, 2013.  The market is located on the corner of MKL and Elm St in Downtown Greensboro, NC and is open from 4-9pm. 

Want to see more of Gourdgeous Design?  Visit Shann’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/gourdgeousdesign