Featured Artisans
Things Katie Bakes Katie McKenzie Torched by Jeremy Jeremy Crabtree Number 51 Creations Grant Chamberlain Katheryn Jeanne Photography Katy Clatterbaugh
How to Craft Your Brand
Works of Art George Neuberger
Your planner, your way
JANUARY | ISSUE NO. 1
www.victoriahalydier.com
ARTISAN A WORKER OF SKILLED TRADE; ESPECIALLY ONE THAT MAKES THINGS BY HAND. There are so many different types of artisans in the world and the list of mediums they use is continuously growing. But one thing they all have in common is their attention to detail, love of their craft, and the amount of effort they put into perfecting whatever it is that they are making. Artisans articulate a vision for something and produce a functional product, usually with their hands. Artisan Boulevard was created with the sole purpose of highlighting artists from around the world, their work, and spark an interest in readers to give something new a try.
We believe there will always be a hunger amongst civilization to create. Having the ability to see random materials, reimagine them using your mental power, and then actually create something useful is life changing. We believe being an artisan is something that can be taught. No one wakes up and immediately creates their first masterpiece. Everyone has to start somewhere. Being a part of sharing stories of how artisans started and then fostering excitement and knowledge are things that make up the core of who we are.
ARTISANBOULEVARD.COM
1
&
Content
5 artisan: things katie bakes
Artisans
11 artisan: torched by jeremy
Katie McKenzie shows us the
Jeremy Crabtree shows us glass
perfect treat for Valentine's Day.
sculpting using torch method.
7 how to make cakecicles
14 Your Planner, your way
Katie McKenzie shows us step-by-
The perfect platform to design your
step how to make cakecicles.
planner in a way that fits your life.
8 artisan: number 51 creations
15 artisan: katy clatterbaugh
Grant Chamberlain discusses how
Katy Clatterbaugh shares her
his military career influences the
photography journey with us.
pens he makes.
9 crafting a brand
19 artisan: Works of Art
Your brand is the single most
George Neuberger uses his rod
important investment you can
techniques to thread pens.
make in your business.
ARTISANBOULEVARD.COM
Note from the Creator &
Editor In Chief I am so excited to release the first issue of Artisan Boulevard. "Creating" is something that I have always done through many mediums; however, "creating" doesn't make you an artisan. An artisan is someone who has failed many times at attempting but kept trying until they honed their talents enough to be considered a skilled individual. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to take my love of bringing things to life and make it a part of my legacy in a lasting way. But what is a legacy without a community of people? I truly believe that people oftentimes just need to hear that they too can create something of value. Many people look at handmade items like artisan soap and say they could never do that. All it takes is a willingness to learn and effort. Those are the two most important attributes a person must have in order to actually produce a functional product. I hope Artisan Boulevard serves as an inspirational place where we highlight those who have put in the work to learn and hone their craft and inspire those who wish to learn something new.
Tori Â
WWW.ARTISANBOULEVARD.COM
FACEBOOK | @ARTISANBOULEVARD
TORI@ARTISANBOULEVARD.COM
INSTAGRAM | @ARTISANBOULEVARD
Things Katie Bakes FEATURED ARTISAN | KATIE MCKENZIE
How long have you been baking? I have been baking as a hobby since I was 12 years old but have only been selling to the public for about 2 years. What all do you make? I do a little bit of everything from cupcakes, tiered and single cakes, cakecicles, and special requests. Cakecicles are a new thing for me. I had never seen them before you started posting on Facebook. Where did your inspiration come from?
I use to have so much leftover cake from things like wedding cake tastings and one day my favorite blogger posted cakecicles and a lightbulb went off. Cake pops are just too small and only tease the person eating it. So I ordered cakecicle molds off of Amazon and they really took off.
What flavors do you offer? I have your standard flavors but I also love to offer seasonal options. My most recent flavors consisted of chocolate chip cookie, mint chocolate chip, french toast, cafe mocha, white chocolate raspberry, smores, almond joy, hot cocoa, and almond cream.
What inspires your designs? Do you have a favorite flavor? It really is customer request but I also put together my own designs based on holiday, party theme, Pinterest, and I keep a sketch book of ideas that just randomly pop into my head.
Vanilla cake with strawberry frosting ranks really high on my list. It would be between that or oreo/cookies and cream.
You have two children. Do they ever help you in the kitchen? Oh yes, they love to help and always ask. I do the baking part and then put extras on the side for them to decorate. They like to put the sprinkles on. What is your favorite thing you have ever created? I love color so my favorite design is a rainbow cake that I did a few months ago.
Is there anything else you want our readers to know? I love cakecicles. They are nice and portable, very temperature friendly, individually wrapped which is nice especially during COVID19 because you don't have to worry about everything touching the same thing. and you can customize them to your heart's desire.
What areas do you service? Do you ship? I currently only serve the Columbia, South Carolina areas. I am not quite ready to take on shipping.
THINGSKATIEBAKES@GMAIL.COM FACEBOOK | @THINGSKATIEBAKES
How to Make Cakecicles Step 1 Bake cake of your choice in a pan. Let cool completely. Step 2 Break cake up in a mixer and add in frosting of your choice until cake is moist enough to form into a ball. Step 3 Press cake/frosting mixture into cakecicle mold. Push a popsicle stick into each one. Step 4 Place in freezer until hardened. Step 5 Melt chocolate in a mason jar or bowl deep enough to fit whole cakecicle. Step 6 Dip each cakecicle into chocolate and place on wax paper. Step 7 Decorate until you are satisfied. Step 8 Leave to harden and then enjoy.
Cakecicles by Things Katie Bakes
Number 51 Creations GRANT CHAMBERLAIN WARMINSTER, WILTSHIRE UK
BESPOKE PEN ARTISAN Grant first became involved in woodworking and wood turning when it was made part of his PTSD rehab program in 2004/5 upon leaving the military after a 25-year career where he served in both the Royal Air Force and Army. He rediscovered pen turning in early 2019 and Number 51 Creations was born in November 2019. Grant is inspired by people and history, especially military history. He finds people would love to give something unique as a gift but don’t know what they really are looking for but through a two-way design process, the customer knowing the person they are buying for and myself knowing pen design making process we make the design journey together. Pen making is a very adaptable craft and Grant loves the new challenges thrown up by some of his recent commissions.
In this photo is a twist action pen which in the centre contains a photo depicting the 75th anniversary of Dday poster and the wooden ends are from a salvaged WW2 1944 Spitfire propellor. Contained in the English walnut pen stand is a 1942 Lancaster Bomber ammeter.
WWW.NUMBER51CREATIONS.COM
GRANT@NUMBER51CREATIONS.COM
INSTAGRAM | @NO51CREATIONS
FACEBOOK | @NUMBER 51 CREATIONS
Crafting Your Brand Branding. What a simple word and is usually only associated with color schemes, logos, and the "look" of your company. However, branding goes so much deeper. It incorporates your story, your position in the market, how it makes people feel, aesthetics, and your connection to consumers. Your brand is arguably the most important thing about your handmade business. YOUR STORY Stories captivate and hold attention. They make you relatable. And relatable makes people feel comfortable with you and what you are offering. Have you ever noticed how the "successful" reality show stars share their stories with you? They need your votes and if you relate to them, then you will vote for them. Think through your company/product story. Why did you create this? How does it impact your life? How will it help others? What are your values and beliefs. Anything that you can outline helps your audience find you and support you easier. YOUR MARKET POSITION You have to define who you are selling to from the start.
Who is most captivated by
your story in a way that they are willing to put down money to try your product. You should be able to break this out into gender, age groups, hobbies/skills, professional/hobbyist, location, etc. The more analytics that you can gather on your audience the more successful you will be in reaching and delivering exactly what they want.
HOW YOU MAKE OTHERS FEEL Are you sophisticated? Elegant? Whimsical? Country chic? Do you make people feel safe or want to try something new? Does your product foster excitement or fear? The personality that defines you and your company will control how others react when they discover you.
AESTHETICS This is the section where we discuss the actual physical look of your products. You need a cohesive design across your logo, website, product labeling, social media accounts, and any other part that makes up your process. When a customer comes across your products or accounts, they need to know by recognition that it belongs to your company. Remember that different markets react differently to colors, fonts, packaging, etc. Defining your audience will assist you in making decisions that will not detract the people you want to reach. CONNECTION TO CUSTOMERS Are you connecting? Do you respond quickly to customer service requests? Your timeliness, or lack thereof, will define who you are more than you realize. If having so many social media/email accounts becomes overwhelming then look into a service that combines all messages into one place.
It is truly a business-saving tool.
CONSISTENCY After all of these steps, you will still need to be consistent with every point mentioned above for the life of your company, specific product or until you officially rebrand. Your brand will take consistent attention and focus. But it pays off more than any amount of investment.
What's your secret sauce? Don't wait until tomorrow to get yours.
Torched by Jeremy JEREMY CRABTREE
FLORIDA
GLASS SCULPTING (BOROSILICATE COE33) USING TORCH METHOD Jeremy developed a love for the craft after many years of collecting glass sculptures. He took a couple classes in Florida and instantly knew he wanted to do it. Jeremy came home and purchased all of the items needed to get started and he hasn't stopped making sculptures since. He has been doing glass work for around 2 years. His work is inspired by his love of any and all kinds animals and plants. Jeremy is always thinking about different animals specifically sea creatures, and wondering “how can I make that?”. Jeremy admits that he often zones out in his thoughts when he try to work through a new project in his head on how to make it. He doesn’t stop until he figures out how to make it. Other times his work is inspired by everyday objects. Like the orchid which was designed after one of his own actual orchid plants. Jeremy enjoys taking on the challenges of new sculptures and ideas. When working on glass sculptures, he always positions their body parts (like heads and fins) to give them their own special personality. Sometimes that personality might be joyful which is done by positioning the head up high to show joy, or sadness by positioning the head low with low hanging fins. For example, the crab has one lifted and lowered claw to show you he’s ready to attack, but doesn’t want to. He would rather just be left alone.
FACEBOOK | @TORCHEDBYJEREMY INSTAGRAM | @TORCHEDBYJEREMY JEREMYCRABTREE520@YAHOO.COM
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Glass Sculpture by Torched by Jeremy
With handmade you are buying more than an object, it's a way of life for someone else, it's years of experimentation and failures. You're buying a piece of someone's heart and soul. You're supporting your community and appreciating the attention and love others put into their products.
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Your Planner, Your Way Canva.com did you just hear the clouds part and a little bit of music flow down. That's about how I feel when I think about all the things I can design using Canva. It's like a beautiful melody of chords that are perfectly complimentary. Yes, I may be exaggerating in my description and no, Canva did not pay us to write this article. We absolutely love their platform. So much so, that this digital publication was designed using their services. I love planners. I love to write things down and mark them off. I love to keep track of what I made for dinner and when I need to complete specific chores. But oftentimes, it is hard to find a planner that fits my family's schedule perfectly. Everyday is a constant balance of multiple people's schedules and business to-do lists. January is the perfect time to start something new. So before you go out and buy a planner that ultimately doesn't service your needs, design your own and print it at home. Canva.com has a free platform you can start with. Just create an account, type in the design topic that you wish to make such as "planner" and choose a design you like. Then customize until you are happy. The advantage of printing at home - you can try a few printed pieces out before committing to print the whole year. Make adjustments in your design as life changes or as needed.
Your capabilities are limitless with Canva.
Katheryn Jeanne Photography
Katy Clatterbaugh is the owner of Katheryn Jeanne Photography – an international, award winning photography business based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been featured in multiple national publications such as The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, Town and Country, and ABC World News. In addition to photographing weddings, Katy is an industry educator, keynote speaker and brand strategist. When she is not behind the camera, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son traveling, cooking and renovating homes. How did you get started? I actually had NO desire to ever run a photography business believe it or not! I was a sales representative for a large pharmaceutical company and it was my “dream job.” I loved the travel, the science industry, making my own schedule, the art of selling, and of course, the money. Life was good, until at 8 months pregnant – I was laid off! At the time, I was devastated, but I always kept faith that it happened for a reason. A month later we were blessed with our son and my life changed forever. While I knew I had to work – I also knew I couldn’t juggle being a full time mom and a full time sales rep – but when there is a will to make something happen, there is always a way. My husband had purchased a photography class for me the year before and it was something I had a natural talent for. I was talented at taking the photo, but had no idea how to turn my talent into a successful business. I gave myself a deadline of January 1, 2015 to make my business successful. I had 6 months to create a brand, business and make money. I knew the ultimate goal was to photograph weddings since that was where the money was but
also needed to get a portfolio and experience under my belt. Insert the power of social media here! I posted in Facebook that I was looking for 10 families to model for me, free of charge, and in exchange – all they had to do was share the photos if they liked them. A week later I had an email saying they saw a photo I took and wanted to know if I would photograph a wedding for a small budget and I jumped at the opportunity. I left that wedding full of conviction that I had found my passion in life. 5 years later and 1000s upon 1000s of photographs later, I am living my dream life. I have built a hugely successful, international business that celebrates life’s greatest moments and documents stories for the generations to come. I built a business that fits into my life, allows me to travel, supports my family, and still be a full time stay at home mom. What would you suggest is a first step to getting into the industry? JUMP RIGHT IN! There is no secret sauce to getting your foot in the door, nor do you need to have a photography degree or special training to excel in the creative world. I am a big believer in doing something well and giving it 100% so I do recommend investing in education early and often! There is always something new to learn and staying abreast will work to your advantage in the long run. Introduce yourself to leaders in the industry and put your name out there as often as possible. You cannot be afraid to put yourself out there and TALK ABOUT your business!! You must remind people as often as possible what you do and what you are wanting to do, because if you aren’t, I assure your competitors will.
How did you start ramping up work to go full time? I took on every wedding I could, no matter what the theme or budget was for the first year. I was never too prideful to say no. Alongside photographing these weddings, I would plan styled shoots (aka FREE SHOOTS) with industry leaders I wanted in my portfolio. I started showcasing my work of these styled shoots on my social media accounts and created a brand around them. As soon as I was able to identify my ideal client, I focused every post at selling to her in particular. I spoke directly to those clients and painted a picture of what it would be like for me to shoot their wedding day. After a solid year of doing this, those “dream clients” started reaching out. I was also very aware of my pricing structure. I started my pricing at $500 because I was willing to put in the work to build a portfolio and LEARN my craft. I raised my prices every third wedding I booked until I was at a price point that was sustainable. Success doesn’t happen overnight, and its ok for things to start slow. Keep going, and keep hustling. It will come! What were some milestones that helped remind you that you were on the right path? I have been so blessed in my business in so many ways. I absolutely love hearing the feedback I receive from my clients after their galleries are delivered. Whether it is a branding client saying I executed their brand and dream to perfection, a couple calling me with tears of joy in their eyes after seeing their wedding photographs, or a client saying she’s never felt more beautiful in a photo, it always reminds me I’m doing what God meant for me to do. The first time I saw my work featured in The Knot Magazine was a dream come true. I cried in the aisles of the grocery store! I was so proud to have achieved that goal!
I will never forget the phone call I received from ABC World News asking if they could interview me for a photo I had taken. The first year I made a profit, I took my family to Hawaii on vacation. The list goes on and on. There have been so many milestones and they are a reminder that hard work pays off, loving and serving your clients pays off, all the tears and growth pains pay off! What advice would you give to other photographers or entrepreneurs in the creative industry? The best advice I can give you is to never give up on your dream. If you can dream it and you put in the work – I promise you can make it happen! It may not happen right away but give yourself time and grace, and keep going. Remember to create for you, for connection with others – but not for validation. Too often we compare ourselves to others in the industry and spiral into dark places because we may not be exactly where we want to be yet, but all that will do is rob you of joy. Celebrate EVERY win, small or large and lastly – surround yourself with people who cheer you on and push you outside of your comfort zone. It takes a village to build and achieve your dreams – those who surround you will be there to pick you up with you fail and they will tell you to keep at it when you want to quit.
https://katyclatterbaugh.com/ Facebook | @katherynjeannephotography Instagram | @katherynjeannephotography katy@katherynjeannephotography.com
Photography by Katheryn Jeanne Photography
Works of Art
GEORGE NEUBERGER | DELAWARE
ROD CRAFTER PEN TURNER MIXED MEDIUM Introduction of Works of Art Formally known as "Customs Rod by Neuberger", George has been building custom made fishing rods since 1975. During the earlier years of the business my work could be seen at the Philadelphia Sportsman show. Word of mouth spread and he found that the majority of my orders were generated from Florida. Back in those days he often found himself in a 9 month backlog which prevented George from enjoying his love for fishing. Hand Crafted versus Custom Made At current shows when George displays his work, he often advises people not to purchase the fishing rods on display. This is often followed by a look of confusion from potential buyers. George has to explain that while the rods on display are hand crafted and reflect the best of his ability, they can only be called "Hand Crafted." While the rods may contain fancy wood inlays or thread wrapping, this "bling" doesn't add to the functionality or performance of the fishing rod. A custom-made fishing rod is a better choice for the customer. The customer is required to complete a questionnaire to be fitted to the rod. Elements such as hand size, arm length, model of fishing reel along with the type of fishing line all combine to designing the ultimate in performance. George says that while the bling may appeal to the customer, the quality is more important and how the parts are assembled. Works of Art will never use inferior components. As a testament to this practice, customers can ask to see rods from George's collection dating back to 1975. Each rod he mades carries his unique signature.
WWW.GNEUBERGER.COM
Component Evolution Customers often see George's products at shows and ask why he displays both fishing rods and writing instruments. Over the years, he has experimented with different material when designing a fishing rod. Cork rings, wood inlays and composite grips can all be used in fishing rods, but George introduces the use of colored epoxy and acrylics in his fishing rods. While researching cast epoxies, George discovered that making acrylic pens used many of the same tools and techniques for making fishing rods. Upon seeing his products, Georges' friend's referred to them as works of art, and that is how the business was named. Coming Full Circle So now that pen turning skills added to his fishing rods, George wanted to bring the rod making skills into making exotic writing instruments. Starting in 2020, George started weaving threads into his pens. He promises that if a customer finds another exact duplicated pen, made by another craftsperson, he will give you the pen free of charge.
FACEBOOK | @WORKS OF ART DELAWARE INSTAGRAM | @WORKS OF ART DELAWARE GNEUBERGER@VERIZON.NET
803-454-9922 www.shirtproco.com Designed and printed by hand in South Carolina.
Be a Featured Artisan We would love to feature you as an artisan in our publication and online. Please submit the following information to tori@artisanboulevard.com. Magazines are published in January, March, May, July, September, November annually. Artisans should submit their work prior to the 10th of the month before publication. An email confirmation will be sent when you have been chosen as a feature. 1. Artisan's Name 2. Business Name 3. Website 4. Email Address 5. IG/FB Handles 6. Medium/Craft 7. Product/Item you want featured 8. 3-5 Pictures of your product (can include a finished product and pictures of the process to make) 9. Answers to the following bio questions: - How did you get started with your creations? - How long have you been doing it? - What inspires your work? - Any special anecdote that makes your creations unique
Submit Your Articles or Photographs We are always looking for contributing writers and photographers. We will consider any article that centers around a specific craft, running a handmade business, social media knowledge, and any other area that affects artisans or running a handmade business. In addition, we always need images to use in our publications. Images should be of a specific medium, either the artisan, finished product, or the process. Submit your work to tori@artisanboulevard.com to be considered.
Advertise With Us Advertise with us. Please contact tori@artisanboulevard.com to work out details. Opportunities currently include advertisements banners on our website, highlights in our publications, and mentions on social media.
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Cake by Things Katie Bakes
www.artisanboulevard.com