Feature Friday: Flatlanders Soap Co

Meet Sarah Fox of Flatlanders So co. Sarah started making natural soap because of her sensitivites to the chemicals often found in commercial soaps. Coming from a long line of artisans she, along with her mom, have taken soap making to a new, and unique level - felted soap! I had never heard of felted soap until I saw Sarah's, what a neat idea!

What is your favourite item in your shop and why?
The trio of Aqua & White Felted Peppermint Soap Balls. I really like colour combination and the vintage aesthetic. My mom felted them and I love her work, she is very creative and talented. She does about 1/2 - 2/3rds of the felted items in the shop.  She is the one who introduced me to felting in the first place when she gave me a lovely pair of felted slippers for Christmas a few years ago. She also introduced me to felted soap. I was making plain soap bars at the time, developing my new soap company, and she stumbled upon felted soap on the internet and made me a bar. The rest is history. I still make plain bars, but making the felted soap is a really fun process.

Long term aspirations for your shop? 

Well, I plan to continue to be active on Etsy to keep a regular connection to other Winnipeg Crafters. Etsy was a great way for me to get linked into the local crafts community. I also have the goal of having at least 100 items in my shop and to get enough sales to support myself financially.

Advise to those planning to open an online shop...

I have two bits of advice: 

Have good photos. I've noticed that items for sale that have a very good quality photo tend to be favorites more, which gives them more exposure. Take a look at Etsy's photo tips and heed their advice.

Be active. Join a local street team, they tend to be very supportive and willing to take time out to answer questions you may have. Join a treasury team, create treasuries, favorite items and shops you really like. Add people to your circle who favorite cool things you like.

What /who inspires what you?

Architecture, quilt patterns, vintage wallpaper patterns, the thought of being my own boss. 

I like crafting because I think I would go bonkers if I couldn't make art. 

Some of the crafts that I make aside from (soap) are,

Honestly, I don't have time for other crafts presently, but if I were to do another project it would probably involve finishing the blanket I started crocheting 2 years ago. I might also knit myself a new winter hat or something. In my fantasy life I can quilt, make patterns and sew remarkably well, make bonsai trees, and lace.

I choose handmade because

I think knowing how to make things with your own two hands is important. I find handmade products to be of a higher, often timeless quality. I take issue with modern manufacturer’s planned obsolescence of their goods. Handmade products often last longer and can be repaired more easily. I also think it is important to support small scale, local economies.

I am currently reading

The Man Who Never Died: The Life, Times and Legacy of Joe Hill, American Labor Icon. It's pretty amazing. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about history, particularly histories of the oppressed.

I am currently listening to

In the Aeroplane over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel

I combat creative blocks by

changing up my routine.

Other non-crafty things I like to do:

tend to plants, cycle, hang out with my fur-baby Judy the Cat, travel, sleep.

You can aslo find Sarah at;
www.facebook.com/pages/Flatlanders-Soap-Co/267885379929893 
https://twitter.com/#!/FlatlandersSoap

Feature Friday: We Are Bound Together

Andrea Davis is the artist behind We are Bound Together, she enjoys doing many artsy things, but currently bookbinding is on the front-line. Her desire is to use her talents to help others. This is why her store "We Are Bound Together" was started. Proceeds from the sale of her books go towards supporting persecuted Christians around the world. Read more about the causes she supports and about Andrea herself in this interview!

My favourite items in  We are Bound Together are the flower stitched spines. The idea for those came out of the WEST March Design Challenge. I didn't know if it was possible to do that on the outside of the spine, while maintaining functionality, but it was. I guess it's my favourite because I succeeded in something I didn't know was possible. I really like how it turned out.

My long term aspiration for We are Bound Together is to include fabric backed books. It's funny because that is what I originally started out doing when I learned bookbinding. Due to circumstances, I didn't have my materials for making fabric books, so I started with duct tape instead. The goal of my shop is also to raise money for Christians around the world facing persecution for their faith. By this I mean people who are actually being killed and their families left with no way of supporting themselves. Most of us have no idea what it looks like to have to face something like that. We don't have to wonder if our families will be starving on the street because there is no one to help them. I desire, one day, to have a steady flow of sales in my store to be able to donate to organizations who can help. 100% of the proceeds (minus cost of supplies), when I start getting sales, will go to organizations like Voice of the Martyrs or Open Doors for this cause.

I guess I've never thought about why I like crafting. It's something that I've always done in some form or another. I like creating with my hands, be that a garden, preparing food or works of art. I love making things beautiful and watching things grow and become.

Along with bookbinding, I also enjoy painting (watercolour and oils) and drawing. I know most don't consider playing the piano, writing or gardening “crafting”, but I also enjoy those as it's something that I can both build up and watch turn into something beautiful.

My husband and I made the decision a while ago to, whenever possible, buy things which are ethical. By that I mean that I would be satisfied with the working conditions of the one who made the item as if it were myself in those conditions. Buying handmade also supports people who enjoy doing what they do, like myself, and you're a bit more connected to that “real person” on the other end of the item.

I am currently reading Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand. He is the guy that started Voice of the Martyrs after being released from 14 years of imprisonment in communist Romania.

I am currently listening to Ludovico Einaudi, modern classical piano and I also have his piano book.

I combat creative blocks by variety. I don't typically get creative blocks, maybe because I'm always jumping from one thing to another before I get stumped at any one thing.

Feature Friday: DragonNerd

Meet DragonNerd: Mike and Shaunna: they make fractal and geeky jewelry. Mike handles the metal bending, fractal research and about half of the design. Shaunna handles the jewelry assembly, shop maintenance, PR, socializing and half of the design (usually pointing out where Mike can make something better).

Mike is a bit of a math geek and after discovering the Dragon Curve he had the realization that this was a fractal that he could MAKE. So he made a huge wall art installation of this fractal, and gave it to his wife. He then made a hoard of smaller ones to make into a cube of Dragon Curves for himself. His wife saw the individual pieces, and suggested to turn one into a necklace. His wife wore that necklace out with her friends. So that first necklace turned into another for her friend, then another for that friend, then another for the friend's friend. Well, you get the picture. 

And here's what they have to say to us today...enjoy!

What is your favourite item in DragonNerd and why?

My favourite pieces are my Dragon Curves. I love how no matter how many times I repeat (and grow) the pattern, it still slots together just right. I really like how the earrings have turned out; the tight turns really bring out the pattern. My preferred metal is the bare copper. (Mike)

I think my favourite are the Kochs. Or the hearts... hmmm... or... I think I'll choose Kochs this time. My favourite of them is still in drafts waiting to be published, so I'll choose part of it as my favourite. (Shaunna)

Long term aspirations for  DragonNerd?

Well in the real long run, quitting jobs. But in the real life version, being able to explore new shapes and combinations and maybe even paying for most of the crafting materials that come in the house would be great.

Any advice to jewelry makers and fellow geeks who might want to open an Etsy shop?

Learn to take pictures of your products. Read a couple of amateur photography blogs and find out what some of the settings on your camera do. Also, make sure your pics are focused. If they click on the picture to see it bigger, and can't, that's a killer.

Also, from my own limited experience, take a little time and practice a bit first. You might *think* you have your craft down flat, but after you make 10 in a row? You'll develop shortcuts, or make improvements. Then you'll look back on your first attempts and be amazed at the difference in quality. (Mike)

Make sure that you get out there and spread your name. Join teams that share your interest and region. Comment on blogs and such of people who share your opinion or interests. Be friendly and talk to everyone (for me - WAY easier through a keyboard!). The more people know about you, the more can find you. (Shaunna)

I like crafting because I like making something with my bare hands. (Mike) ... I like seeing a project evolve from raw materials into something to be cherished. (Shaunna)

Some of the crafts that I make are: 3D geometric forms and string art. You can see some here. (Mike) Currently I am obsessed with crocheting. I also dabble with plastic canvas and painting (acrylics). I'm sure I do other stuff, but I haven't had time recently. This blanket was made for Mike for Christmas. (Shaunna)

I choose handmade because it is more original than mass produced stuff. 

I am currently reading... Bloom by Wil McCarthy (Mike). Legend by David Gemmell. I also just read some GREAT books by Robin Hobb too. I couldn't put them down! (Shaunna)

I am currently listening to Energy 106.2 fm at home and Power 97.5 when we are out.

I combat creative blocks by...

Truth be told, I have a list of about 2 dozen ideas to try out after I am done filling out my stock. If they work, I'll have dozens more to make, trying out different colours. But I do go seeking inspiration and I keep a list of what I want to try and what I "need" to make. If I am ever stuck for an idea, I know where to go to get them back. (Mike)

I normally have WAY too many projects on the go - sometimes to the point that I freeze and don't do any of them. This is particularly bad because I seem to prefer BIG projects. When I can really see them going I don't want to stop--but starting can be awful. Sometimes working on a smaller project helps, so that I can be finished something. Sometimes planning helps (I love me some lists!). And some days I spend WAY too much time on Pinterest. :) All in all, I want to make more when I am making. But I stop, and it can be hard to get the momentum back. (Shaunna) 

Feature Friday: Birdie and Dot

Today we talk to Alison and Leslie, they are two sisters that work together to make quality, cute and fun handmade items for moms, moms-to-be and children!

How is it like to work as a sister team?

Alison and I are very close! We are 2/3 of triplets. We both have our strengths in different areas so we work as a great team together. It is usually easy to get things done because we know what each other likes and know what each other is thinking. We started our Etsy shop on February 10, 2012 (Our Birthday!). We have been talking about making and selling items for sometime (over the phone) and finally decided to jump in!

What's a day like in your creative lives? 

We often have many ideas and find so much inspiration throughout the day. The hard part is finding the time to be creative! So really, a typical day in our creative lives is having too many ideas and not enough time to make those ideas a reality.

What inspires your lovely creations?

We are inspired by all the beautiful things that surround us! We love pretty things, fun fabric, cute animals. We are inspired by the creative process of coming up with ideas and seeing the final product.

What is your favourite item in your shop and why?

We love all the items in our shop! We loved making all of them and love their uniqueness.

Long term aspirations for your shop?

Our long term aspirations for our shop are to have fun! We also want to someday venture out into the world of craft sales and grow our shop. 

We like crafting because it provides us with a break from everyday life. It is a great feeling to make something from scratch and we love to learn new things.

Some of the crafts that we make are scrapbooking, quilting, cardmaking, and cake decorating.

We choose handmade because we realize that there is a great interest in quality handmade items - especially for babies - and felt that we had something unique to offer. We appreciate the time and effort that goes into a handmade product and like to support local artisans.

We are currently reading 'What to Expect in the First Year' (Alison) and 'A Stolen Life' (Leslie)

We are currently listening to Cuff the Duke (Leslie) and Lady Antebellum (Alison).

We combat creative blocks by either looking for inspiration on Pinterest or shopping for fabric and supplies.

Store Makeover Part 1 - Tags

Sage and Olivia run by Simone and Cara has agreed to let me use their shop for a makeover/ tutorial lessons. SageandOlivia sells jewelry made from semi-precious gemstones such as coral, agate, turquoise and onyx. Their shop has great pictures of the products, and they have a great mannequin for the necklaces (I am actually jealous of the nice texture on it).   Here is the shop home page for you to see:

 

As you can see they have a lot of great products: bold and colourful  necklaces and bracelets plus a few earrings. Now they have a few sales and in January have been adding lots of products, but they not getting a lot of hits to their pages. Why? I think one reason is their tags.  

Let's look at one of their new items:

This is a great piece;  the pictures are clean and well merchandised.  They only thing I would add is a shot with a size comparison, like place the necklace beside a quarter so people can  gauge the bead size. 

If I were looking for an item like this, how would I describe it?

Bold

Chunky

Asymmetrical

Statement piece

Mixed Metal

Black and White

Red Coral

Let look at their tags:

hmmm, Sageandolivia tags are correct, but I do not think they describe their necklace as well as they could. 

The next step is to search Etsy for similar products to yours to see what tags others are using. I entered "Statement necklace" into the search bar and this what happened.

Options popped up underneath with the most common searches on esty connected to what you started to type. I selected the "chunky statement necklace" and found:

Bingo - this more like what SageandOlivia is doing!!! I then looked at these items to glean other ideas for tags. If you click on the tag - it will show all the items with that tag. If it looks like your type of product write it down. I have a list taped to my computer of what tags to use.

There are two important things that I want to share with you about labeling/tagging your items (taken from the Do and Don't section on Etsy Help: http://www.etsy.com/help/article/483).

• You may use a short descriptive phrase as a tag if it accurately describes your item (for example: "sterling silver," "messenger bag," "steampunk cufflinks").
• You may not stuff multiple words into a single tag that do not comprise a descriptive phrase (for example: "beach water sunset," "handbag purse clutch," "green red blue black." 

Previously you were not to put multiple words in a tag but that changed when relevancy became the default search. So now you can use terms like: 

Statement Necklace

Vintage plate

Children's toque

So if I were to change SageandOlivia's Tags for this item I would use:

1) Jewelry

2) Necklace

3) Stone

4) Statement Piece

5) Chunky necklace

6) Statement necklace

7) Black and White

8) Red Coral

9) Bold Jewelry

10) Mixed Metal

11) Winnipegteam<---- Please tag 25% of you items with these--it helps with treasuries

12) Asymmetrical 

13) Coral Necklace

Bonus

Another thing I would do to SageandOlivia's Shop is add more categories to the shop settings (not more types of items). Since they only have three catergories right now - I would put all the bold chunky statement necklaces in one category and all the long or fine chains in another category. This well help the customer find more of the similar products in their shop quicker. If they come and look at one Statement necklace, they might like to see your other options.

Feature Friday: Smash Knits

Have you ever fallen head over heels for something while browsing on Etsy, and then you get to know more about the person who makes it and you like even more what you already considered a favourite? That happened to me with Ashlee of Smash Knits, one of our newest and most enthusiastic team members. In this interview we learn where her DIY love comes from and why she decided to open an Etsy store after years in the making. She also describes a day in her handmade life, shares her "I'm not cluttered, I'm creative" motto with us and much more! Enjoy...

How did your love for DIY got started? 

I am a "hands-on, hands-dirty" kind of girl, through and through. Ever since I was little, I’ve been surrounded by crafts and DIY hobbies. Growing up, my Mum was constantly making something, be it sewing, knitting, baking, ceramics and beyond. My Dad was handy around the house, doing construction and some small building projects, and those traits have certainly been passed on to me! As I got older, I came to appreciate the sense of accomplishment I'd get after I finished making something. And I won't lie: being a true Winnipegger at heart, saving a few bucks along the way never hurt either! 

Why did you open an Etsy store? 

After a few years of knitting and sewing up a storm, I started to build a little bit of a stash and wasn't sure what to do with everything. I couldn't validate just making a bunch of items without an intended recipient. At the urging of friends and family, I decided to start selling some of my items. I created my shop on Etsy in late 2009, however I didn’t list my first item until November 2011 due to life getting in the way. So it has been a few years in the making! I love everything that Etsy has to offer; the variety & creativity continues to awe me on a daily basis. I'm so happy to be able to be a part of such a fantastic movement!

Which are your favourite tools to work with? 

I tend to have a little bit of crafting ADD, so my favourite tools vary from week to week. One thing that is constant: I LOVE working with bold, jewel-toned hues, no matter the textile. I recently said farewell to my trusty, vintage industrial Viking sewing machine which has been a dream to sew on... in order to make way for a brand new machine as a result of a fantastic Christmas gift (aaaaah!). I'm certain it will soon become a new favorite :)

Describe a day in your handmade life... 

I tend to get a bit cranky if I don't have a little time carved out on a near daily basis to create something. Winter weather is perfect for curling up for an hour (or three!) in front of the TV with one of many needle projects. I'm fortunate enough to have a great room entirely dedicated to sewing & crafting, so I like to spend time in there often, even if it’s just flipping through pattern books … though right now it's a bit of an organizational disaster, shhhh! Without question, I need to have some form of creativity in my day to day life.

What is your favourite item in your shop and why? 

Ooooh, what a tough decision. Currently, I love these gigantic & bulky crochet cowls and I'll always love my big bow headbands, especially in yellow.

Long term aspirations for your shop? 

I hope to continue to develop a distinct style as I create more pieces for my shop. I plan on adding several knit/crochet accessories specifically for the summer months, so I'm excited to see how those will be received. I'd love to get involved in more local craft markets, and continue to broaden my horizons online. Not to mention, I'm so looking forward to connecting with all of the other local talent on Etsy.

I like crafting because: It's therapeutic - and a lot cheaper than therapy ... well, most of the time :) It allows for so much individuality and self-expression. It's nice to have something to come home to after a day at the office, and I love being able to "get back to the basics" in this high tech, fast paced, go go go go world we live in. It's also an awesome feeling to be able to make things for myself and not have to rely on buying them at a store. As a newer homeowner, my DIY attitude is coming in VERY handy! 

Some of the crafts that I make aside from knit/crochet accessories are: I sew clothing, shoulder bags and home decor pieces, knit/crochet any and everything, embroider, dabble with jewelry design, scrapbook, re-upholster and refinish furniture (LOVE Kijiji for this!). I have a pair of leather mukluks that I have been working on with a girlfriend for two winters – sewing leather is tough, but I can’t wait to finish those puppies! My friends like to tease me that my answer to almost everything is "that's so easy, you could make it." While this is certainly an exaggeration, I do like to try to make something before dropping the cash for it. I am plotting a veggie garden for the very first time this spring/summer, so I'm very excited to try my hand at canning in the fall. Also on my list: pottery and screen-printing. 

I choose handmade because: Simply put, it's amazing. It’s great being able to make the perfect gift for the special people in my life. There are so many talented artisans out there, and I love the idea of a handmade community, so I try to buy handmade when I can. Why settle for something that millions have when you can find or create something unique and personalized? I also believe in the importance of recycling and upcycling where applicable instead of buying new, and try to incorporate eco-friendly practices into my life. Always room for improvement!

I am currently reading: The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. After reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett when it first came out, I was hungry for more books about this part of history. This book absolutely fits the bill, and I definitely recommend it!

I am currently listening to: King by O.A.R (Of A Revolution). I don’t know what it is, but I really dig the lead singer’s voice and have for years. I always wish for summer when I listen to them. Five more months to go!

I combat creative blocks by: Creative blocks are not an issue for me (knock on wood). Usually, it's quite the opposite: too many projects on my list and not NEARLY enough time!! My hope for 2012 is to work at a more tidy studio; my motto of "I'm not cluttered, I'm creative" is wearing thin with my main man, hehe. Hopefully an organized space will inspire me even more! I do cruise other Etsy shops, Ravelry, Pinterest and Craft Gossip on an almost daily basis to drool over everyone else's creative prowress. Being active or just getting outside for some fresh air is always a nice breather, too.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to share a little bit of myself with everyone! It's so wondeful to be welcomed to the W.E.S.T. with such open arms. I love how many doors the handmade community has opened, and all the new and talented folks I've met and continue to meet. Here's wishing everyone a very creative 2012!

Feature Friday: Katie from HeartfeltYarnWreaths

Today we share our conversation with Katie from HeartfeltYarnWreaths, a true prairie girl who loves coffee and stationary, and makes the most wonderful wreaths and felt flower brooches I have ever seen! Read about why she likes wreaths, what social media had to do with her opening an online shop, a bit about her personal tastes, the work she does within the justice system and a very special surprise for all of you!

When and why did you start making yarn wreaths?

It feels like I've been making yarn wreaths my whole life, but in truth, my very first yarn wreath was made in November 2010. At that time, I had just graduated with my Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy. Upon graduating, I found myself with so much more free time - more than I knew what to do with! In looking through blogs (read: wasting time on the internet), I came across the concept of a yarn wreath. I loved all of the textures and the clean lines of this modern decor idea. I began shopping on Etsy (read: wasting more time on the internet), and finally elected to make a yarn wreath myself.

I set off to Michael's, 40% coupon in hand, picked up some teal yarn and some felt, along with a $5 glue gun. A few hours later, with half charred fingertips from the glue gun burns, I had self-taught myself how to make yarn wreaths.

Fairly pleased with myself (and still wasting time on the internet), I posted a photo of my creation to Facebook. I thought nothing more of it, until I started getting lots of requests for me to make yarn wreaths for others! After a few months of selling locally, I opened up Heartfelt Yarn Wreaths on Etsy.

Why do I make yarn wreaths? It's a wonderful, therapeutic outlet. Wrapping the yarn round and around and around appeals to my perfectionist nature, and I absolutely love dreaming up colour combinations and bringing them to life with felt. I have met so many wonderful people through this little adventure, and love having an outlet for my creativity.

What inspired you to make your modern felt flower brooches?

More of the same! I saw the idea and decided to try it. I already had the felt and the glue gun (and burned fingertips), after all. I also loved the idea of a modern, textured brooch. I also really enjoy the process of cutting out all of the little tiny petals, and watching them come together to create something bold and beautiful!

Your yarn wreaths and brooches are so colourful and unique, what inspires your designs?

Thank you! I love colour. I find inspiration for colour everywhere! More commonly, however, it find I am rather impulsive as I wander down the yarn aisle and come across a beautiful colour. Then, I go home, lay out all of my felt colours (my supplier has 80 different colours to choose from) and play around with all of the tones until I have found a combination that I love! It's a pretty organic, unsophisticated process for me. 

I have also really enjoyed blending modern designs with traditional colour palates for popular holidays including Christmas and Valentines Day. 

I also recently discovered Design Seeds and love seeking inspiration through the beautiful photographs and colours.

What is your favourite item in your shop and why?

Hmm. Good question! I tend to have different favourites depending on the season. Right now, my favourite is this soft, romantic Valentines Day yarn wreath. A hint of Valentine's day without being too Hallmark-y. :)

Long-term aspirations for your shop?

I would love to expand my product lines! Yarn wreaths will always be my true love, and those will always be a staple in my creative processes. I have more ideas than I have time to make. 

I also completed my first winter craft show circuit in November/December 2011 and look forward to exploring the craft show scene further in the coming years.

I like crafting because it's a way to express another part of yourself. I think sometimes we can become so busy with other aspects of our lives that we lose out on the pieces that are sometimes just beneath the surface. For me, dedicating time out to play with my yarn and felt is very important. As a career, I have chosen to follow my passion and work within the justice system with male offenders who have mental illnesses. It's important for me to take time for myself at the end of the day, too! 

Some of the crafts that I make aside from my wreaths and brooches include my love of refinishing furniture. I have my garage (well, my husband's garage), filled with half-finished pieces of furniture. I have, however, finished recovering all of the chairs from my vintage dining room set. I absolutely love them! I also love graphic design - designing invitations, posters, etc. I could see myself getting more into card making, too! 

I choose handmade for oh-so-many reasons. I love buying handmade gifts for others because it is so much more fun to find an absolutely unique and perfect gift for someone. I also love working with other artists, and love to marvel at the talents of others. Plus, I buy most of my handmade stuff from Etsy, and then get to come home to presents in my mailbox. Fun! 

I am currently reading Bossy Pants by Tina Fey. I just love her.

I am currently listening to Coldplay's latest album, Mylo Xyloto. It's also snowing outside, which usually leads to me listening to Sigur Ros. 

I combat creative blocks by browsing Etsy, Pinterest, and the internet at large. Inspiration is never far away. Or, I take my little pup Lewis for a brisk walk. He's great at keeping me on my toes, of course!

A message with Katie:

Thank you so much for interviewing me! I love meeting new people, so please do not be afraid to ask me questions. Also, I absolutely LOVE custom orders. It has been one of my favourite aspects of my Etsy shop. And, for all my favourite readers, until the end of January take 15% your entire purchase from my shop using the coupon code "ILOVEWEST". Thank you so much!

Feature Friday: SecretJewelry

I know most of us are rushing with last details about our holiday celebrations, and what better time than the pre-Holiday rush to grab a cup of a beverage of choice (hot cocoa for me) and read this interview! Today we talk to Christa from SecretJewelry: she tells us how a day in her life is, some of the things that inspire her and how her mother's text messages inspired one of her creations. 

What is the inspiration behind your ear cuffs?

Beads are my main inspiration. Anytime I look through my beads or go into a craft store I am always inspired to try something new, and see what unique designs I can come up with.

What made you start making jewellery?

At a young age I would always make friendship bracelets, but the biggest spark was when I was 12. My older sister (Carla) was into making hemp necklaces; she later showed me how to make them. At the age of 14 I was making rings out of clothes pins and necklaces out of staples and other things from around the house. I slowly grew out of making jewellery, and into making bath bombs and my own make-up. After a little while the spark came back and here I am making jewellery again.

I absolutely adore your rings, how did that idea came about?

Thank you. After quite a bit of trial and error I have successfully figured out how to combine my artsy side with my jewellery. I would have to say my mom was the reason I started making rings. She would always text me and tell me about a beautiful new ring that she just purchased, the type of stones, and the way it shines. I was already making ear cuffs, earrings and pendants, so I asked my self: why not rings? That's how my first hand painted ring was born.

Could you describe a day in your jewellery-maker life?

Every morning starts off the same: I wake up and I spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 4+ hours outside with my Siberian Huskies & Alaskan Malamute.  With the right weather conditions they love to pull me around on a kick sled. On occasion we rescue and adopt out northern breed dogs, as well as cats.  We also help educate families on preparing how to care for a dog/cat or a puppy/kitten and what they should do before bringing one home. We encourage spay/neutering, but if done right we support ethical breeders. After I get a few things organized in the house I sit down and work on my rings/pendants. It normally takes anywhere from 3-7 days to completely finish one ring/pendant. But the finished result is always worth it. Once I have a few rings curing I will then work on a couple ear cuffs and the odd earring. Once I'm finished with that I take the evening to relax with my husband, or go out to visit friends and family.

What is your favourite item in your shop and why?
Dreaming Blue Ring. The colors stand out to me, it's very eye catching, and nicely blended.

Long term aspirations for SecretJewelry?
I want to spread my wings and fly: to craft shows, other stores and more. I want to continue to expand and continue to learn new crafts and help inspire others and put a smile on someone's face.

I like crafting because... after I finish an item I love the "wow" factor.. where you just sit there and look at that item and you're like.. well.. Wow! Crafting gives my mind a break from the world, it helps relax me, and it's a lot of fun!

Some of the crafts that I make aside from jewellery are... Eyeshadow, Foundation, Face Primer, Nail polish, Bathbombs, Shampoo/conditioners, face masks, nail polish rack/stands, magnets, nail decals... the list goes on and on! LOL

I choose handmade because... I love creativity, and I love to support the creativity of others.

I am currently reading... I'm not sure if I own any books! LOL but I do enjoy reading my subscription to "Wolfdog magazine."

I am currently listening to... Heavy/bassy dubstep, death metal, grindcore, classic rock, and at this moment my husband's video game music.

I combat creative blocks by... working on another craft, or going on a nice long walk in the hills/trees with one of my dogs.

A message from Christa:

I encourage questions, and will do my best to answer them, so if anyone has any questions for me you're always welcome to ask! Happy Holidays!

Christa

Feature Friday: Just the Goods

I had the pleasure of interviewing Milena from Just the Goods who is a Winnipeg-based producer of handmade, natural and affordable skin care products. We had an in-depth conversation about her natural skin care products, a very educational insight on why every day indulgences shouldn't cost the earth or our health, her wonderful product photography tips and a fast Q&A about some of her personal tastes! Enjoy!

Your product is so unique, how did you start making them?

I started making natural skin care products in 2007 in response to three things. First, my partner developed an allergy to petroleum products and we needed to find alternatives. Next, I was troubled to see how natural skin care products were often positioned as luxury goods, and thus unfairly expensive. Third, I was frustrated to learn how many of the brands I was buying were actually owned by corporations that have other brands doing significant environmental harm. Making my own products meant being sure about ingredients while also finding a way to opt out of conventional consumerism. Thanks to positive feedback from friends, I decided to start making my work available on a wider basis =-)

How do you educate others regarding the benefits of your natural skin care products?

I am a fully compliant member of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, and have recently achieved Champion status, which means that—through an analytical tool developed by scientists affiliated with over 150 better health/environment organizations (i.e. Environmental Working Group)—it has been determined that my ingredient choices are among the best possible. Between 2004 and 2011, over 1500 companies signed with the promise of improving their production practices, but as it turns out, only 321 of us actually fulfilled that commitment. 

Talking about the goals of the compact, and it's online service known as the Cosmetics Database (www.ewg.org/skindeep/), has been a great way to engage with people about the nature of ingredients in conventional products, which are selected by corporations for various reasons, including extending shelf life to facilitate the profit-oriented goals of mass production. 

With regard to the safety of ingredients versus things like animal testing, I like to explain that our skin is our largest organ, and everything we put onto it ultimately enters our bloodstream, etc. If we're not comfortable with ingredient choices to the extent that we'd need to prove their safety by testing on animals, why would we even want to go there? If we wouldn't want something inside our body (formaldehyde, parabens, artificial colours and fragrances) why would be want it on our bodies? 

Fortunately there is more and more information about this issue available to people than ever before, and that's thanks to fantastic health and safety advocates =-). 

What is your favourite item in your shop and why?

I'd have to say my favourite item is my toner for oily/combination skin, which has made my complexion better than ever before and to never again smell the harsh stench of what I used to use... what a relief! Ha ha!

Long term aspirations for Just the Goods?

I must be honest in writing that I'm amazed Just the Goods has taken off in all the ways it has because I'm always juggling it with other work and responsibilities, and have never given myself an opportunity to form a “real” promotional or growth plan. That said, I'm excited about the possibility of my products becoming more widely available, but I am being very thoughtful about how this happens as each new opportunity presents itself because I want to maintain my handmade promise as much as I want to ensure my products are truly safer choices. 

I like handmade and natural skin care because... it makes a tangible impact on people's lives and the earth itself. By reducing our collective exposure to petrochemicals, we can become healthier and ensure fewer toxins are released into our soil and water. I also like providing an alternative to the mainstream beauty industry that thrives on making people feel poorly about themselves in order to generate profit. 

Please give us some photography tips, yours are outstanding! 

Thank you for this kind compliment!! Etsy suggests photos be taken with natural sunlight, so I've often worried that mine are too dark and dramatic, but since I don't have access to space with abundant natural light, I've had to make due ;-) I set my products on a non-reflective backdrop, direct incandescent light onto them in an otherwise darkened room, set my camera to the macro (close up) function, and shoot as many photos as possible from different angles, adjusting the light after several takes. I shoot with the highest resolution possible, because it's always easier to shrink down than enlarge. My camera (a rather cheap compact, not a high-grade digital SRL) offers an alignment guide in the viewfinder (like a tic-tac-toe grid), and I use that to make sure the bottles look upright and not tilted. After selecting the best shots, I colour adjust as necessary using a free, open source photo editing software program called The GNU Image Manipulation Program (aka GIMP). I also take this opportunity to crop images, blur dust spots and otherwise remove anything that prevents the image from looking spotless. I've gotten better at this over the years – I'd really like to go back and replace some of my older pics, but I have yet to find the time!

In case you craft asides from producing skin care products tell us what you make... I'm a curator, writer and event organizer, so although my other production activities aren't physical, I do certainly make other sorts of things =-). I would love to take up sewing again... it's been over 10 years since I've made anything. 

I choose handmade because... mass production carries with it many of unfortunate consequences, both social and environmental. I feel we need to re-think our sense of needs and wants, and insist that all things be made with care and integrity, as well as ethical production practices. 

I am currently reading... a whole bunch of super awesome things! Realizing the Impossible: Art Against Authority edited by Josh MacPhee and Erik Reuland, and Art and Liberation: Collected Papers of Herbert Marcuse edited by Douglas Kellner are the two grabbing my attention the most. 

I am currently listening to... so much! Lots of The Raveonettes, Lykke Li, Editors, and New Young Pony Club, but I've also recently discovered Boxer Rebellion, The Cinematics (which broke up not too long ago – sad face!), and The Dead Weather. 

I combat creative blocks by... If you can believe it, I actually don't have creative blocks with Just the Goods since the list of products I'm eager to develop is as long as my arm, but I do have energy blocks. When I'm tried in the lab and have deadlines to meet, I pick myself up with aromatherapy – rosemary to refresh and awaken, neroli to lift my spirits, and lavender to stay calm when it seems like there is no way I'll get everything done ;-) A lil' vegan dark chocolate helps, too ;-)

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