Meet Featured Artist Sarah Love of SarahLovesLamps!

What is your business’ name?

SarahLovesLamps and I’m Sarah Love!

What sort of items do you make?

I make functional art in the form of custom lampshades. The lampshades are made with a special lampshade backing and then covered with fabric. There are so many great fabrics available now, that using fabric to decorate a lampshade can personalize and accentuate a lamp.  At my booth I sell lamp bases, shades, pendant lighting and vintage items. In addition, I also custom make lampshades to fit customer's lamp bases.

When and how did you learn your craft?

I started out experimenting with lamps when I would buy vintage lamp bases that came with broken, unusable shades. I loved the bases, but needed to improve the shades. Wanting to improve my shades led me to teach myself my craft by reading about lamps and lampshade design. Then I started making shades and I was hooked. It takes a lot of time and patience to make a lampshade, but I really enjoy the process.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from friends, family, and junk. I have many friends that are creative muses. Their work inspires me to be crafty and unique. My family, especially my father, instilled the thrill of searching for hidden treasures in others' junk.

How did you get started doing this as a business?

I have always loved lamps - hence the name SarahLovesLamps - but always had trouble finding the perfect shade. I would see a lamp base that I loved, but then the base would either be missing a shade or the shade would be in horrible condition. Buying a new shade was always such a headache because pre-made shades are astronomically expensive and/or boring. So, I set out to solve the problem myself by creating my own lampshades. I found the results so satisfying, that I wanted to share my art with others.

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

Going from creating and crafting to a business is a learning process. Every time I do something new, it takes a long time for me to figure out what I want to do, and how I want to go about it. It's frustrating, I get angry, I make mistakes, but I always try to remind myself that the next time I do the same thing, it will be easier. Try to be easy on yourself and remember that everything is a process.

Anything else you would like to share?

Lampshades can be both fun and functional. I love making lampshades and am thrilled every time someone appreciates my work.

SarahLovesLamps will be a featured artist at the First Friday Indie Market on June 6, 2014.  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 SarahLovesLamps?  Find her on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/sarahloveslamp

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 June 6, 2014.  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 Kim Koltzau of Steampunk Cellars!

What is your business’ name?

Steampunk Cellars, jewelry and accessories for the slightly askew and I am Kim Koltzau!

What sort of items do you make?

I make jewelry and accessories, some mixed media, and some sculptured from polymer clay. I make pins, brooches, earrings, hairpins, necklaces, etc. I also make small sculptures. I get bored easily so I am always changing it up.

When and how did you learn your craft?

I have been making jewelry for about ten years and working with polymer for about three years. I always like to try new things, so I had bought a book on polymer clay techniques, and decided to give it a try. I worked my way through the book slowly, trying to find a style that I felt was me. It’s amazing what you can learn from reading a book. Since then I have expanded my knowledge base a bit, and feel like I have found my niche.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Ha ha! I am up way too late at night. No, I really love science fiction and fantasy, both book and on the screen. There are a number of artists I follow on Facebook and Tumblr, as well as friends that work with polymer like I do, and we bounce ideas and concepts back and forth between us. My customers also give me a lot of ideas, and I keep a list. If it’s something I think I can make in my style, I give it a try.

How did you get started doing this as a business?

I think it happened the same way it does for most artists and crafters. A lot of encouragement from friends and family, and plenty of persistence. 

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

If you are looking for an easy or quick way to make money, crafting and artisan work is not it. It takes a lot more time than you would ever imagine, more work than you put in as an employee, and family that is supportive and willing to hear you cry and get upset at failure. Startup costs, supplies, and show entry fees can add up. If you can push past that, join art support groups. Talk to others at shows, listen to their advice on shows and how they have been successful. Develop an online presence. Always be positive with your customers both online and in person. And most importantly, listen to your customers, the good and bad. It will help you shape your product, and figure out what your target market is, and how to reach them. 

Anything else you would like to share? 

I love the First Friday Indie Market. While I am not always able to be there, I use the opportunity to reconnect with local crafters, buy things I am out of, like soap and coffee and yummy banana pudding, and develop relationships with my repeat customers. I am so excited to be back this year, even if I had to wait until June!

Steampunk Cellars will be a featured artist at the First Friday Indie Market on June 6, 2014.  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 Steampunk Cellars?  Check out Kim’s Etsy shop at: www.steampunkcellars.etsy.com or find her on Facebook at: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=248137198584232

Come Out and Celebrate the 4th of July at the First Friday Indie Market!

The First Friday Indie Market is changing times for the 4th of July! We'll be open from 10:00 am until 6:30 pm as part of the festivities in downtown Greensboro! Interested in being a vendor? Applications are open until June 10th! For more information, please click here.