Artisan Joy, Issue 3

by Alexis Avery.

Letter From the Editor

The August 2023 issue of Artisan Joy is our biggest issue yet! We’re changing our publishing schedule to bimonthly because there are so many talented creative entrepreneurs to cover.

This issue explores a variety of creative businesses—from art to bath-and-body products to fashion to beverages to handcrafted wigs. Seeing the unique ways people have turned their craft into careers is beautiful.

Don’t miss the article on Goimagine, an Etsy alternative that donates its profits

to children’s charities (pg. 8). Another interesting piece is on Springboard for the Arts (pg. 9). Underscoring artists’ value to their communities, this nonprofit in Minnesota supports creative workers with guaranteed income.

Additionally, this issue is dedicated to Janet Buehler. Mrs. B. passed away in September 2022. More than 25 years ago, I was the editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper, and Mrs. B. served as its advisor. She and I spent many afternoons turned into evenings laying out the newspaper. Her mentorship and belief in me gave me a foundation for starting a magazine all these years later, and I am forever grateful to her.

Art

How Mimi Striplin Grew The Tiny Tassel

FROM ETSY SHOP TO BRICK-AND-MORTAR STORE

Mimi Striplin began designing tassel jewelry and explored selling on Etsy in 2015. Realizing she found a niche, Mimi expanded The Tiny Tassel to her own online store and eventually opened a brick-and-mortar boutique in Charleston, South Carolina, her hometown.

In her interview, Mimi takes us through her entrepreneurial journey. The founder also opens up about what she wished she had known when she started her business. Because The Tiny Tassel thrived despite challenges and limited business resources, Mimi wants to help other small businesses succeed, especially those founded by BIPOC entrepreneurs, as Mimi is Black and Asian. Additionally, Mimi shares how she took her business from Etsy to an in-real-life store, how she is helping others

become entrepreneurs, and her mission to help increase diversity within Charleston’s business community. As you read Mimi’s responses, be inspired by her genuineness, positivity and business acumen.

Tell us how The Tiny Tassel began. I started back in 2015, and it was truly on a whim. I’d never made jewelry before. My sister gifted me a pair of tassel earrings, and she’s so practical, and she said, ‘you know, you could probably make these right?’ And I was never the one who wanted to do a lot of DIYs and crafty things. I felt like in my family, I was the least artistic out of my mom and my sister. And now, fast forward eight years, I look back, and I’m so proud that I just took the chance and dove in head first and learned how to make the tassel earrings first and then bracelets,

necklaces. And now, we’re still designing and making, and it’s been really encouraging to other women as well and other people to just show them you can truly put your mind to something and do whatever you want in life. And I used to hear people say that, and I would totally roll my eyes, but it’s just been so fruitful and encouraging to show no matter what point of life, you don’t have to wait until the perfect time. You don’t have to have all the expertise and experience, but if you truly put your mind to it and commit to it, it can work out.

Where did you begin selling your jewelry?

So I would say from 2015 to 2017, I was on Etsy, and that was kind of the place to be. It was a great platform where shoppers were finding me there because it was so niche and specific. A friend built out a website for me with Squarespace in 2018. Then in 2020, we moved over to Shopify, and we’ve also sold a lot through social media platforms. And that’s been a part of our revenue in a huge way that we’ve connected with our customers and sold there.

How did you find the confidence to open up a brick-and-mortar store?

So in 2017, I actually opened another brick-and-mortar store with a business partner. And at the time, I had The Tiny Tassel, but our vision was to create a collective space where we supported and represented other female entrepreneurs and artists in Charleston. That was my first go at it, my first practice round having a flagship store. And I think back to then—I was so new to entrepreneurship. I was 22, and I almost had this naivety in me and innocence that allowed me to take the risk, not blindly, but I didn’t even stop and let myself have the imposter syndrome or the fear of what happens if this doesn’t work out. And I learned so much over

the three years of owning that business. When I left that business in 2020, The Tiny Tassel was at the forefront of my mind. I began asking myself how can I further reach my customers? How can I expand on creating an even-more engaging experience for them?

And the flagship was such an incredible way to do that, but I felt like I had the confidence building over the past three years to say, okay, now I can look at numbers and our customers and all of this data to really decide if that was the right choice. And so, I made a more informed decision then and still had that gumption that every entrepreneur has to take the risk and know that it’s going to work out. I knew that one way or the other, it was going to work out when I took that risk and decided to open the store.

Tell us about your store and team.

We have a jewelry maker who has been with us for over two years now. And when she joined us in 2021, my goal was to be able to step away from the jewelry making and to just fully design and kind of pitch in when we needed the extra hand. But when we were opening the flagship, I knew that I needed to shift my time and focus to build out that team and be in the store as needed. We still have the same jewelry maker today. My mom designs all of our clothing. She has been making our clothing for about five years, and this year, she’s started to head the full design of the company—so all of the jewelry and accessories as well. And that’s been an interesting shift for us. My identity was almost attached to being the designer and maker for so long. And over the years, I’ve realized that it was my zone of excellence that I was working in. But my zone of genius looks so different now, and it looks like leading the company and being more in that CEO role versus being the maker or the designer.

Photos by The Aneris Collective. Provided courtesy of The Tiny Tassel.

I opened my store in Charleston because I never walked into a store here and felt it was me. I didn’t feel seen or heard or welcomed or that my style was perfectly represented. And so I wanted to create that. And now, when we have people that come into our store, shop online, they say, oh my gosh, this is me in a store.

Your sister recently joined the business. Tell us about her role.

She does. My sister, Aiko, joined us this year as our CFOO, and she manages the operations, the finances, our team. It’s been really incredible to build out our team alongside her, alongside my mom, and really figure out what it looks like to have a full-functioning team for our business.

What’s it like to work with your mom and your sister?

There are definitely really incredible days. There are also really hard days, but I think that we set really clear boundaries with each other, and we communicate it. We also aren’t afraid to have hard conversations and direct conversations because, at the end of the day, even though we are family and we have those dynamics, we know that we’re showing up for the business. We all have the best interest of the business at heart, and that’s what we’re working from and working towards. And there are definitely some days where they are either rolling their eyes at me, and they’re like, please don’t send me another thing to put on my to-do list, or vice versa.

But it’s been really beautiful to work with them. I think we’ve all grown so much personally, and our personal relationships have grown into a new direction and level than what we would’ve ever thought would happen. And then our team gets to see that too. They get to see that everything is not sunshine and rainbows. We’re all real people, again, with the same best interest for the business at mine. And they’re able to see us grow as

leaders as a part of this company. And they’re always encouraged by it and encouraged to grow personally.

What’s a piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you first started your business?

Gosh, I was just talking to this with some friends this morning, but I wish that someone would’ve coached me through detaching my personal worth from the business and making sure that I was sure of who I was or at least aware of that before jumping into entrepreneurship and especially being a creative business owner. So many times, our work is directly correlated to the products that we’re making, the products that we’re selling. And it can really take a toll on you. And if someone doesn’t like a design that you’ve created, it can hit you personally. But I wish that I would’ve been coached through that sooner in entrepreneurship, so I could have felt the peace that I’ve now felt for the last couple of years. So many decisions were made. I look back and kind of laugh. If only I would’ve been able to know that my personal worth was not attached to this business, and they’re two separate things and two different monsters—I would’ve been able to move forward with more clarity and just a clearer direction.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to begin selling their art or creative product?

I think for someone who is thinking about selling their art or creative product, the best advice that I could share just from my experience is to own it. Really understand what you want to offer the world, and stick to that. Know that it’s going to change and look different as you and your business evolve, but don’t

allow certain distractions to derail you from what you want to offer the world. And I think that happened to me so many times where I couldn’t say no to different requests for different jewelry styles and clothing styles. And now I look back, and we’re so clearly aligned with what we want to put out there in the world that we’re able to just work more intentionally. And I think that’s the root of it. And when you’re putting your work out there, and it’s creatively driven, just working intentionally, but still feeling that creative freedom, if that makes sense.

When you first started designing, where did you find inspiration?

I feel like it has always been rooted in what I like, the need that I saw. And even though we understand that we don’t sell anything that anyone actually needs, our pieces are just extra fun things. And our team is rooted in that as well. And that makes us even more grateful for every single sale, every customer. I opened my store in Charleston because I never walked into a store here and felt it was me. I didn’t feel seen or heard or welcomed or that my style was perfectly represented. And so I wanted to create that. And now, when we have people that come into our store, shop online, they say, oh my gosh, this is me in a store.

And that was my dream. And when we’re designing pieces, clothing for example, it’s because I have struggled with finding pieces that fit because I am a more petite person. Everyone’s body is made

differently. But when we’re designing clothing pieces, we really keep the pain points in mind. Are these dresses too short, or do you have the size up multiple sizes in order to have the look that you want in this style? And we really take all of that into account. I would say the woman who is looking for really bold, happy, joyful pieces but not quite finding the styles and things that may work for them—we are inspired by that woman. We’re creating pieces for her so that she can get dressed every day and feel confident and feel so sure that she is walking out of her door feeling great. And it just gives her an extra boost throughout her workday, whatever she’s doing that day. And it’s so fulfilling for us to design from that inspiration.

Charleston is a popular tourist city. Can you share what makes The Tiny Tassel a must-visit shop?

The Tiny Tassel is located in the Cannonborough/ Elliotborough neighborhood of historic downtown Charleston. There is a great mix of shops in our neighborhood. We’re all locally owned businesses that offer really great products and great services. The Tiny Tassel is accessible for, what I like to say, the average-income person. They’re able to come in and treat themselves or buy a gift for someone but not break the bank.

Tell us a little more about your store’s price-point. I started my brand about a year after graduating from college. So I was not working with a large shopping budget personally. And I wanted to create really cool,

fun accessories that essentially anyone could come in, whether they saved up extra money that month and wanted to buy one or two pieces, or they wanted to come in and gift it to their 10 grandkids. We wanted to be accessible at a price point that still reflected the quality of it being handmade but wasn’t going to make or break someone’s wallet.

Your business story is an inspiration to women, especially those that identify as a person of color. What does that mean to you?

Gosh, it’s so encouraging because I think back 10 years ago, and I was searching for someone to be inspired by and to see myself in a healthy way. And I think that the way that I’ve been able to build and grow my brand and show up as a business owner, an entrepreneur, has inspired other women to show them they could do it as well. It doesn’t have to be this game of striving, and you can still find joy in your work. You don’t have to choose one or the other. You don’t have to choose success over joy and happiness, or you don’t have to choose relationships or your work. And it is just really, really encouraging that I get to be just a place of inspiration for other entrepreneurs to show them this is possible, they can do it, and they can grow a sustainable, successful business.

As a Charleston business owner, you really show up for other small businesses. Can you share more about that?

We are always really focused on supporting other Black and Asian-owned businesses. Here in downtown Charleston, you don’t see a lot of diversity in the

stores that you shop in, whether it’s the style or the ownership. And we almost feel like it is our mission. It is a part of our purpose to be able to represent those other brands because they’re so underrepresented. And again, there’s such a lack of accessibility, and it almost discourages other business owners from believing they could take the risk and be successful because there could be either a very high overhead cost to renting a space downtown. Or they may not feel like they have the support of the community to show up and support their business if they open a brick-andmortar.

And so, in our flagship store and online, we’ve really committed to supporting these other businesses, telling their stories as well because, at the end of the day, it makes our business even more unique and special that we get to share their products as well alongside our own. And I would love to be able to see our neighborhood, our area downtown, be full of diverse business owners that just are able to offer so many really cool, unique stories and products and services. And that’s my dream for Charleston. And while small changes are happening daily, I know for us, it’s so important to be able to be a beacon or safe place for the people who want that now but may not be able to access it.

When you first opened up your brick-and-mortar store, did you access any resources, or did you learn everything on your own?

I think back to that time, and there weren’t a ton of resources that felt really relevant or impactful. And I did learn a lot along the way from trial and error. And now, I try to be a spot to share resources and to kind of move those other business owners along, whether they need a business coach to coach them through some strategy or some mindset work to be able to move forward in their business, or if they need to be connected to the right bookkeeper or the right marketing professional or whatever it may be. I wish that I would’ve had a place that I could go that was trusted, that was accessible, and that actually worked. And I think back, and there were some programs that I participated in that allowed me to become a little more known in the business community here, but it almost felt like, after the first one to two years of business, it kind of left me in a middle space. You’re not quite an established business, but you’re not at the beginning stages anymore. So where do you go? Who do you turn to? And that’s what has caused my sister and me to build out a new company to help that business owner because there is such a lack of resources.

Please tell us more about that business. It’s called Parfaire. And we’ll take on clients for coaching, bookkeeping and financial advising at the end of August. Learn more about The Tiny Tassel at thetinytassel.com.

Nonprofit Supports the Careers of Artists and Creative Workers With Guaranteed Income

Springboard for the Arts is a nonprofit organization in St. Paul, Minnesota that supports artists.

An Instagram post about the organization’s Guaranteed Minimum Income for Artists program caught our attention, and we spoke with Wone Vang, Springboard’s Economic Opportunity Director, to learn more about the program. “Springboard’s overall mission is to support artists with tools to make a living and to be able to build equitable communities,” she said.

Back in 2021, Springboard’s staff realized that many creative workers were disproportionately affected by the pandemic because people gathering is often essential to their livelihoods. So, the nonprofit sprang into action to provide funds to creative workers who were struggling financially.

“As we know, during that time, there were a lot of artists whose businesses were shuttered, and events were canceled. So, they lost money because of gigs and things that they would normally make money from stopped. We had an emergency relief fund where individuals and artists could apply and say, ‘I need money for this.’ And we were paying $500 a month to these artists. And we were able to collect enough money to be able to support the artists that had approached us about it,” Wone said.

The emergency relief fund morphed into the Guaranteed Minimum Income program, which provided 25 local artists in St. Paul with monthly checks for $500 for 18 months. Springboard has continued the program, which now includes 75 artists in St. Paul and Otter Tail County, which is rural.

“After those 18 months, we were able to secure more private funding for the program, and then we were able to open it up. We were able to take those first 25 and carry them on. And then, we were able to select another 25 within the neighborhood. And then we also wanted an office in the rural community. So, we decided it would be a great opportunity to see how the program would impact artists living in a rural community too.”

Springboard partnered with the Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR) at the School of Social Policy and Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. CGIR studies the impact of guaranteed income programs. Qualitative research scientist Kalen Flynn, Ph.D., worked with Springboard specifically on its artists’ program.

At first, participants used the money for daily living and unexpected expenses. “Dr. Flynn had direct conversations with the artists, while Springboard had a very high-level overview of the the research. When we started getting some of the data from her, we found that artists were using the money towards what we would expect, such as paying rent, some bills, groceries, or paying for things they needed at that moment like house or car repairs,” Wone said.

When the pandemic stabilized, participants were able to use the money to further their careers. “The great thing, eventually—we were able to see that artists started using the money towards further educational things that would help their artistry and career or buying equipment that they need. It was nice to see that once things slightly stabilized, participants got a bit more comfortable using the money towards things that could support them as

Art by Briauna Williams.

“

Artists add

value to different movements within our community. They’re also very essential partners for everybody. They add narrative change; they add storytelling through their work.

artists and help their careers.”

We asked Wone why creative workers are essential to a community and what the Guaranteed Minimum Income for Artists program means to her area of the country.

“I’m a practicing artist, and most of the staff here at Springboard are practicing artists. So, I’m a fiber artist, and I know what it’s like to struggle. You have to determine—do I work a full-time job—or can I do my art? And I think I can. But I also thought, ‘Do I want that risk?’ Artists add value to different movements within our community. They’re also very essential partners for everybody. They add narrative change; they add storytelling through their work. Many artists do community engagement, where they bring a community together. Because they’re so invested in their community, they can uplift and make some type of social change or movement. Artists are so creative that they can make things and change things in different ways for people to look at things differently. And in the end, it just betters a community. Once a community is better, it becomes stronger; it’s more of a durable ecosystem.”

You can learn more about Springboard for the Arts at springboardforthearts.org

This Etsy Alternative Gives Profits to Children’s Charities

Afew years ago, tech entrepreneur Jon Lincoln had an idea—a handmade marketplace that donated 100 percent of its profits to charity. He took his idea to Reddit forums to ask makers what they thought. “I got enough people saying they would be interested. And that led me to start my own Facebook community, Goimagine - Official Makers Group, in January 2020 with about 50 people. And it started with a discussion of what makers would want [in an online marketplace],” Jon said. The founder took their feedback and created the Goimagine platform.

Jon believes that the power of collective impact to create social change is one of the reasons handmade sellers join Goimagine. “There are people that want to see a better world, and they recognize that it’s going to take effort from the community to create that better world, and it’s not going to happen overnight.”

In addition to donating profits to charity, Goimagine differentiates itself from other marketplaces in a few ways. For one, it has strict rules about what can be sold on the platform. It doesn’t allow any mass-produced products. Makers also need to apply to sell on the platform and pay a monthly membership fee ranging from $2.50 to $10 per month. The $10 tier gives sellers their own branded website. The membership provides sellers with benefits, including access to Maker Business Academy and Maker Circle. “Maker Business Academy is a training center where we have a few different consultants constantly giving advice on how to grow your handmade business,” Jon said. Maker Circle is a

social network where makers and artists can connect.

The founder shared why Goimagine gives members perks beyond a place to sell their goods. “At the end of the day, we’re trying to wrap our marketplace together with other benefits so that the makers and artists are getting more than just being a marketplace, which gives them a reason to stick around and support what we’re doing.”

Goimagine’s charitable focus is on nonprofit organizations that help children. Jon hopes that his company’s success will inspire other founders to create businesses for social good. “Our bigger goal is to prove out the model of being a marketplace that gives all profits to charity. It might inspire someone to create the Airbnb to help environmental causes, and someone else will create the Uber to help cure cancer. Someone else will create the eBay to do disaster relief. At the end of the day, Goimagine is proving a model that marketplaces are, as I believe it, a public good, not so much a corporate good.”

You can learn more about GoImagine at goimagine.com

John Lincoln. Courtesy of Goimagine.

HERE’S THE KEY TO SELLING YOUR ART

By Nina Christy

Art, as you know, is a form of expression that communicates powerful messages through various mediums such as painting, sculpture and photography. Some artists and artisans invest years of their lives perfecting their craft, mastering techniques and developing their own unique style. Despite all their hard work, many struggle to gain recognition or make a living from their work. One reason for this is not understanding their target audience.

Knowing who your type of artwork appeals to is the key to finding success. It can help you to better market your work, increase your visibility and ultimately lead to more sales. Let’s explore why understanding your target audience will benefit you. Once you know who your artwork appeals to, there are numerous benefits to this that can help you grow your creative business. Here are some of the benefits:

Enhanced personal brand: When you know who your artwork appeals to, you can focus on the aspects of your work that resonate most strongly with your target audience. This can help you build a strong personal brand, which can lead to increased recognition, respect and success in the art world.

Better networking opportunities: This can include collaborating with other creatives or organizations, exhibiting your work at events that cater to your target audience and building relationships with collectors and buyers.

Increased visibility: By tailoring your marketing efforts, you can increase your visibility and recognition in the art world. This can lead to increased opportunities for press coverage and other forms of exposure.

Stronger relationships with collectors and buyers: Building strong relationships with collectors and buyers often leads to repeat business, referrals and greater loyalty over time.

Increased inspiration and

motivation: Artists are more likely to feel inspired and motivated to continue creating, which leads to greater satisfaction and fulfillment in your business.

Improved feedback: You can receive more specific and useful feedback on your work. This can help you identify areas for improvement and make

adjustments to your work over time.

More effective pricing: By understanding your target audience’s preferences and financial capabilities, you can set prices that are appropriate and attractive to that market. This can help you sell more work and build a stronger reputation.

Improved sales: Ultimately, it will lead to an increase in sales. When you create work that resonates with your audience, you are more likely to receive positive feedback, leading to increased word-of-mouth marketing and an increase in sales.

If you’re struggling to understand your target audience, there are ways to gain clarity and insight on this. One of the most effective ways is to perform market research. This can include conducting surveys, analyzing sales data and gathering feedback from current collectors and buyers.

You can also check your social media

analytics. You’ll gain insights into who is engaging with your content, what types of posts are most popular and what types of content resonate most strongly with your audience.

Finally, you may benefit from seeking the advice of a professional who works with artists and specializes in branding and marketing. These professionals can provide valuable insights and guidance on how to understand and connect with your target market more effectively.

In conclusion, understanding who your artwork appeals to is essential to succeed in the art world. By utilizing specific marketing efforts and networking strategies to connect with your target audience, you can experience a range of benefits, including enhanced creativity, improved sales, better networking opportunities, increased visibility and stronger relationships with collectors and buyers. In addition, this understanding can lead to greater personal fulfillment, satisfaction and a deeper connection to your work.

About the Author Nina Christy, founder of Inspire a Connection Design and Marketing, works with women artists, photographers and makers helping them attract customers and increase sales. She specializes in Branding, Design and Marketing.

Her goal is to help women grow their business so they can continue to do what they love every day. With over 25 years of experience in the marketing and graphic design fields, as well as being an artist herself, she understands the need to be a creative entrepreneur.

Visit www.inspireaconnection.com for more information. Join her Facebook Group: Creative Women Success Club.

Art by Alexis Avery

BUBBY MOON NATURALS: A STORY OF BOTANICALS, HERITAGE AND PASSION

Founder Marshalla Ramos-Inde of Bubby Moon naturals crafts natural vegan and cruelty-free artisan body and aromatherapy products using plant botanicals and essential oils. “I handpick some of the flowers and herbs that go into my products, and I’m inspired by sustainable methods from the African Diaspora and my Puerto Rican heritage.” Keep reading to learn more about Marshalla and her inspiration for Bubby Moon Naturals.

How did you get started creating your products?

I got started in 2000 experimenting with different soap making recipes, and through much trial and error, I created my first artisan soaps using natural vegetables and herbs for myself and family who have sensitive skin. It wasn’t until 2014 that I launched Bubbly Moon Naturals while in a high-demanding career. Bubbly Moon Naturals was born out of my passion to work with plant botanicals and is connected to my

grandmother’s natural gift to create and grow plants and use them as our family’s medicine.

At what point did you realize that you could turn your product into a business?

I realized I could turn my natural skincare products from hobby to business when I received feedback on how my products worked for people other than family and friends.

How do you define success for your creative business?

My definition of success for Bubbly Moon Naturals is connected to building community and profit. I define this by providing products and experiences for customers that bring them satisfaction. I also define success by being able to build a life I love.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in my rich Puerto Rican heritage, customer feedback, through studying herbalism, and

learning about the latest sustainable beauty trends.

What’s one piece of advice you wish someone gave you when you first started your creative business?

Know your numbers—a.k.a costof-goods, which includes labor, packaging and time.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to begin selling their artisanal product?

I would ask them to take my “How to Launch a Successful Handmade Business” course. I created this course for creative artisans because, despite the many business classes I attended and have paid for, they never focused on artisans. I facilitated this course in real life this year and am so appreciative to be of service to fellow artisans and creatives in this way.

What’s something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

During my youth I ate flowers in my

grandmother’s garden. She would always get on me about eating flowers because she wanted me to learn the importance of being able to know if they were poisonous or not.

As creatives, we can be continuously creating and refining our products. How do you handle perfectionism? I have limited my time on social media, so I may control any ego associated with competing with larger companies. I also read inspirational entrepreneurship books that speak to female, Latina and Black founders and creatives.

What’s something that surprised you about running a business?

The amount of online and in-real-life

paperwork associated with running a creative business surprised me.

What advice would you give to someone about handling the highs and lows of running a business?

The advice I would give is to assess what went well and what hasn’t every month. It’s okay to let go of products, services and offerings that don’t speak to you or your clients.

Has someone ever criticized your work? How did you handle it?

Yes, I had a potential customer do so. I calmy explained the product they were questioning and provided them with a listening ear so they could voice their concerns about possibly purchasing. Sometimes people just want to be heard.

What’s a cause you are passionate about and why?

I am passionate about sustainable packaging and having products that are cruelty-free and vegan. Learn more about my company’s pledge to continue to be animal cruelty-free and certified vegan at: www.leapingbunny.

org/brand/bubbly-moon-naturals

Can you share the name of a supplier or vendor that you use for your business that you just love— one that makes running a business a bit easier?

A software that I have learned to love is SoapMaker 3. It is a cost-of-goods software system that supports artisan handmade entrepreneurs with pricing.

What brings you joy?

The thing that brings me joy is having built a company that provides products that help people solve their skincare problems and having a lifestyle that allows me to take care of my family.

You can learn more about Bubby Moon Naturals at www.bubblymoonnaturals.com.

“

I created this course... because, despite the many business classes I attended...they never focused on artisans. I facilitated this course in real life this year and am so appreciative to be of service to fellow artisans and creatives...

Photos courtesy of Bubbly Moon Naturals.

Fusing Art and Fashion

A CONVERSATION WITH KENT STETSON

This year, Kent Stetson, an artisan handbag designer, is celebrating two decades of creative entrepreneurship. His niche is handcrafted handbags that double as art. Initially, the artist explored selling his paintings, but the endeavor wasn’t for him. Here, Kent shares why he cut up his paintings and started sewing them into bags and how he hustled for years to build his business that now employs five. Kent’s fun and vibrant designs spark instant conversations and have caught the attention of national brands, celebrities and fashionistas.

Page 13 photos by Aldana Media.

Page 14 images courtesy of Kent Stetson.

A little background—We met Kent in 2012 at StyleWeek, a New England fashion event, and have kept tabs on his business over the years through social media and at events. We hope you find his interview as inspiring as we do.

What did you study in college?

I went to Brown University, planning to go to medical school with a degree in philosophy and some studio art classes to keep my creativity flowing. Short of taking the MCAT, I finished all the prerequisites to apply to medical school and completed my degree requirements for the philosophy and studio art programs. Early on, I had some DaVincian visions of creating artworks and innovations. I haven’t changed my course all that much as making my ambitions more modest.

When did you realize you wanted to pursue art as a career?

I don’t think there was ever a time when I didn’t visualize my future being inextricably connected with some form of creativity.

Tell us how Kent Stetson Handbags began. From an early age, I got a lot of recognition from peers and adults for my creativity and crafting. Throughout high school and college, I excelled in applying ambition and scale to my art projects, and my grades in these courses regularly came with notes of distinction on my transcript. As is regularly

the case, I walked out with my diploma and had no sense of how to turn the creativity into cash flow. I mimicked the business model I thought turned student artists into having a career as a visual artist: making a grouping of works and staging them in a setting where someone else would sell them. I got whatever venues I could convince to hang my works, like cafes and galleries, lined up press and organized invitations. People came, a couple pieces would sell, and the events would come down, and I would still be working my retail job and squeezing other lemons to pay for these showings.

At one particular rowdy restaurant showing shortly out of school, a large piece mounted on plywood fell off the wall and bonked someone on the head. I got a call the following morning from the owner telling me there was a personal injury lawsuit coming my way. In the end, it was a nothing-burger, but it rattled me up a bit and took the allure of staging shows down a couple pegs for me. Working in retail, I was engaged in a low-risk transactional model that just needed the right type of appealing commercial product to sustain itself. I found selling shoes and personal accessories to be fun and unpretentious, and this suited my strengths in business. The universe was giving me signs that changing the framing of my work would allow for me to take away some of the liability and cater to my strengths of having fun interactions leading up to selling directly to the end-users.

What inspired you to explore handbags as a medium?

I was selling expensive boutique and namebrand handbags in the shoe store where I worked and understood how passionate people were about bags, even more so than shoes and apparel. There was a line of extremely expensive handmade bags that were essentially craft store items hot glued onto made-in-China plain handbag forms and another line of classic and contemporary artworks printed onto leathers that were constructed into various bag forms. I took to my own creative and crafting skills and started making my own unique interpretations of art-to-wear handbags that would stand up alongside these other brands while also being distinct.

What pushed you to continue your creative business?

I had a job working sales in a shoe store, and every time I sold one of my repurposed artwork handbags, it was how I earned my bonus. Affirmations, both transactionally and through encouragements, kept me moving. I would make a piece, and it would sell, unlike my wall pieces which were accumulating and taking up space in my small living quarters.

At what point did you decide to go fulltime with Kent Stetson Handbags?

I first put my name on a purse in 2003 and worked full-time doing other jobs for eight years before going full-time.

How do you handle the highs and lows of running a business?

I fill my calendar when something disappoints—I’ve already got the next thing ahead to focus on. I just keep moving forward. I realized early on that I’m not an event planner—filling a room is not my passion, so I leave that to other people, but taking a little real estate on the shelf in a boutique or set up at a marketplace, I have earned a great track record of success.

What is your advice to someone who wants to pursue art as a career but is hesitant?

Figure out your finances and budget. Short of raising investment capital, I don’t know anyone who is profitable in a startup for the first several years. Sort that out, and then you can start to think about marrying your financial plan and your career goals.

On our call, you mentioned something to

Photo by Aldana Media

the effect of – some people pursue art as a career while others do something else for their livelihood, and either way works. Can you elaborate?

If the reality of conjoining a financial plan and your creative practice is implausible or stifling, don’t take it to mean you are not an artist. Quite the opposite is probably true. Capitalism is not the appropriate spouse for many types of creative pursuits. Making art that is unattached to money is beautiful, noble and a worthy pursuit.

You’re extraordinarily supportive of other artisans. Why is mentoring important to you?

As a creative who is already well into my career, I find it is so helpful to be around people who are wide-eyed, hopeful and enthusiastic about their futures. These are really attractive qualities for people throughout their careers, but they are often purer in their nascency. Customer service is a constant ego-check, and I don’t want my heart to harden with scar tissue from every bump and bruise along the way, offering some guidance or mentorship in exchange for the opportunity to spend time with enthusiastic artists is good for my heart.

What brings you joy?

When I’m working on something, be it physical or in the planning stages, and I feel excited, or after finishing a piece and stepping back and enjoying it wholly, everything in the periphery sort of fading. It’s a feeling of being in new love, and for me, occupying a state of passion is a pure joy.

Thanks, Kent! You can shop Kent Stetson Handbags at www.kentstetson.com.

Photo by Aaron Duke Photography

Sabine Joseph Shares What Led Her to Create Skin Tone Crayons and Become an Entrepreneur

Sabine Joseph is the founder of The Kiind Company, a line of skin tone crayons. Though when she made her first beeswax crayon, she didn’t intend to start a business. Sabine created it to solve a problem she had.

“My daughter asked me to draw a photo of Grandma, and I couldn’t. Grandma had deep beautiful brown skin, and I didn’t have a deep beautiful brown crayon color,” Sabine said. She looked online for beeswax skin-tone crayons, but her search came up short. So, Sabine found a recipe and made her own and posted a photo on Instagram. Hundreds of people commented, asking Sabine how they could purchase them.

“I ignored every single one of those comments. I was a stay-at-home mom with zero intentions of making crayons for hundreds of people.”

The comments kept coming, and people sent her private messages. So late one night, Sabine posted a set of skin tone crayons to Etsy but didn’t tell anyone. Despite a lack of promotion, someone bought the set two days later. The buyer happened to be a social media influencer with 30,000 followers. Sabine added another 45 sets to Etsy, which sold out in 30 minutes. The next batch of 125 sold out in 45 minutes. Today, Sabine has sold thousands of sets.

The Kiind brand brings good to the world by

honoring the diversity of skin tones and being conscious of the environment. Sabine uses sustainably sourced beeswax, plant waxes and natural earth pigments in her non-toxic crayons. In addition, they are free of paraffin, soy wax and chemical fillers. Paraffin is derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource.

Enjoy reading Sabine’s inspiring and uplifting interview.

How did you get started as a maker?

It started with the need to validate every person on this planet’s perfection. I didn’t want my daughter thinking something was wrong with someone’s skin color if the crayon company didn’t want to make it. So, I made it my mission to never make this a thought in any child’s mind because we are all perfect.

When did you realize that you could turn your craft into a business?

When folks started asking to pay me for the crayons, ha!

Where do you find inspiration for your creations?

In the faces of children. Never would I want any one of them to think they are anything less than perfect. I am using skin-tone crayons as a start to honoring their skin tones. I am hoping this leads to acceptance in all the other beautiful aspects of diversity.

How do you apply that inspiration to your work?

Putting the energy of love into each and every shade that I pour. I picture the child using it, the joy they have drawing with it, and the joy someone else may experience when receiving a drawing of themselves in their beautiful skin color.

What’s something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

My drawing skills need some work. I just learned how to draw a stick figure that wasn’t facing forward.

How do you handle perfectionism?

I imagine the perfect world for the imperfection.

When it comes to running a creative business, what keeps you going through the ups and downs?

Reminding myself that all that happens to me is supposed to happen, and there are lessons in all things.

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in putting their creative work into the world but feels vulnerable about it?

I truly believe we are put on this earth to help each other. The world needs your gifts circulating through it, openly and authentically. Your gifts make the world a better place.

Has someone ever criticized your artwork, the goods you sell or your creative business? How did you handle it?

I knew my work wasn’t for them. And I was able to move forward peacefully with that in my heart.

Creatives are often very in tune with what’s happening in the world. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming. If this happens to you, how do you cope?

My spiritual sisters and my women circles keep me so grounded—and therapy.

Are you passionate about a cause, and why?

My family is from the beautiful island of Haiti, and Vetiver Solutions is near and dear to my heart. They partner with farmers to support communityled initiatives.

What brings you joy?

Noticing the love that surrounds me each day.

Thanks, Sabine! You can learn more about The Kiind Company at kiind.co

Photos courtesy of Sabine Joseph.

Behind the Canvas

WITH MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST

JENNA MORELLO

Jenna Morello is a multidisciplinary artist born in New Jersey and now lives in Brooklyn, NY. The artist’s breathtaking murals can be spotted in neighborhoods throughout New York City. Notably, Jenna was one of the artists invited to take her street art to the 69th floor of 4 World Trade Center in Manhattan.

Sharing knowledge and encouraging other artists is also part of Jenna’s practice. Earlier this year, a newspaper in Crawfordsville, Ind. ran a profile on artist Ronnie “Flip” Walters and noted how Jenna’s work inspired him. “Morello helped Walters learn more about street art and encouraged him to stay with it,” wrote Andria Grady for the Journal Review

In her interview, Jenna delves into her journey of turning her

artistic passion into a thriving business. Also, don’t miss the photos of her sculptures.

When did you begin making art?

It sounds very cliche, but the truth is I’ve created art since I was old enough to hold a crayon.

At what point did you realize that you could turn your artwork into a business?

Well, my father is a graphic artist, so I was always aware it could be made into a business. I just thought I’d have to switch over to computer for that to happen. It wasn’t until my late twenties that I realized I could stay true to my style of art and begin to make money off of it.

How do you define success for your creative business?

I define success as being able to wake up every day and create

what I would want to create, whether or not I was getting paid for it.

Where do you find inspiration?

I think inspiration comes from how you train yourself to look at the world. That way, you are able to find it in anything. For me, it comes from all sorts of places— nature, the city, experiences, other artist friends. I pull bits and pieces from all over the place and just kind of subconsciously store them until later on when I need them.

What’s one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you first started your business?

Creatively, it would have been don’t listen to anyone else and just do you and what feels right for yourself. Because at the end of the day, you are the one that has to live with it if you make something you can’t stand behind. Business-wise, it would have been to open an LLC sooner, so I could have written more off. Shoutout to my dad for that one—better late than never.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to begin selling their art?

Don’t cut corners. Even if it becomes a bit more expensive, the attention to detail will pay off in the end. Make a complete product that you personally like, do the packaging, the business cards, stickers, all of it, even if it’s slow to get off the ground. That reputation of someone who cares about what they are putting out will follow you when it does.

I define success as being able to wake up everyday and create what I would want to create whether or not I was getting paid for it.

What’s something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

I’m terrible at coloring books.

How do you handle perfectionism?

Oh, that’s a battle I assume every creative has with themselves where at some point, you just have to walk away from the piece. I could tweak things forever. I’ve learned there comes a time when creating whatever, whether a painting or a mural that the public or viewer just assumes it’s already done. So I could work hours and hours extra on something, and nobody but me would notice the difference. You just reach a point where now it’s you wrestling with yourself, and I’ve learned I will never think it’s perfect, and you have to be ok with that. I think as long as you keep that in mind, it’s healthy to have a goal you’ll never be able to attain because it keeps you striving for better. But nothing’s ever 100-percent perfect.

What’s something that surprised you about running a creative business?

The amount of money you will spend on packaging and shipping supplies.

What advice would you give to someone about handling the highs and lows of running a business?

Just try to stay at a humble medium. If you get wrapped up in the high highs and the low lows, you’ll make yourself nuts, because the pendulum always swings the other way and back again. If you can remember that, you won’t get so caught up in the temporary emotions.

Has someone ever criticized your work? How did you handle it?

For me, I know the work that I make that everyone loves is generally not my favorite.

And the work that I make that I really like is usually not everyone’s favorite. So I actually look forward to a bit of pushback because it makes me feel like I’m doing something right.

What’s a cause you are passionate about and why?

I’ve rescued animals my whole life, so any animal rehabilitation place I’m all for. There’s one in the city I like that takes all the hurt birds and whatnot you find around for little more than a donation if you can swing it. A lot of places won’t do that unless you cover the full bill, so it stops people from trying to help. Learn more at www.wildbirdfund.org.

Can you share the name of a supplier or vendor that you use for your business that you just love—one that makes running your business a bit easier?

Montana for my spray paint. The Complete Sculptor in Manhattan always does right by me as well. They are really good at answering my questions without making me feel stupid since I learned most of what I know casting-wise off of YouTube. And they always have all the supplies I need.

What brings you joy?

Family, dogs, friends, driving stick shift.

Thanks, Jenna! You can purchase her art at jennamorello.com

All photos courtesy of Jenna Morello.

The Art of Handcrafting Wigs

When you think of artisan goods, you probably don’t think about hair extensions or wigs, but Nikia Londy, hairstylist extraordinaire and owner of Intriguing Hair in Boston, is an artist. She and her small team sew wigs and hair extensions by hand from ethically sourced and fair-trade human hair, providing clients with high-quality, carefully crafted hairpieces. And the story behind her business is beautiful.

When Nikia was a child, she often styled her great aunt’s wigs, which ignited her passion for hair artistry and led her to pursue a cosmetology career. “Hair was always something I’ve been doing, even if I go back into my childhood and teenage years, trying to make wigs, trying to color hairpieces and adding hair to my own hair. So that led me to do advanced training later.”

During her schooling, Nikia apprenticed at a high-

end hair augmentation studio in an affluent town in Massachusetts. There, she learned about hair augmentation for medical hair loss and fell deeper in love with the art of creating extensions and wigs.

Additionally, Nikia had a side hustle selling premium hair extensions to local salons and online. Eventually, a lightbulb went off. “When I was apprenticing, most clients were wealthy Caucasian women. I didn’t see a hair augmentation space for black women in the market. So, I wanted to create that space,” she said. Nikia opened Intriguing Hair in 2015.

The business was off to a great start, with clients raving about the salon’s work and telling their friends. And a couple of years later, something unexpected happened. Women from all ethnicities with medical hair loss and transgender women began making appointments at Intriguing Hair. “They had the same pain points as black women. They wanted a private setting—they wanted a higher quality product. That opened my eyes to more—our brand is much more. It’s for more people than just the African American communities.”

Nikia has dreams for Intriguing Hair. She wants Intriguing Hair to be like Drybar, a chain of salons solely dedicated to blowouts. “When you think blowouts, you think Drybar. They’re one-in-one. So that’s what I want when people think of hair extensions and wigs. I want Intriguing Hair to be the first thing that comes to their minds. So that is what I strive for—to go from a small business to a huge brand.”

Tell us about your hair extensions side hustle. I had already been wearing hair extensions, but when I decided to work for myself and start Intriguing Hair, it began with me selling hair extensions out of the trunk of my car. I would go to all the stylists and salon owners I know, and I would tell them, ‘I’ll come to you when you have a customer at whatever time. I could be there immediately,’ and I would just travel all throughout Massachusetts. That’s how I built up my brand name and stuff like that.

How did you learn the skills to make wigs?

We get to make a positive impact on the lives of women who need our product the most.

My great-aunt and my godmother were into sewing. And that was my first interaction with figuring out needle and thread and how to make that work. I think I made my first outfit when I was 10, so it was around nine or 10 that I started learning how to sew. And the same principles apply to hair. We take the person’s custom measurements, and we make the wig by hand to fit their head.

Some people do make them with sewing machines. My issue with doing the machine way is that it never is going to fit the person’s head exactly. Because you have to take it off of the head block. That’s why I prefer handmaking. I can get an exact measurement, and it’s not moving it from the head block to the sewing machine and back and forth, back and forth, and it kind of never fits exactly right. So, I prefer hand stitching.

When did you decide you wanted your own business? What are some challenges you faced?

Well, interestingly, I think it’s always been me. I actually started my first business at 17. I would go to New York, and I would buy stuff and then sell them online. So those same principles applied. But I don’t think for a long time, honestly, I had imposter syndrome. I didn’t think I was worthy of having my own business. I thought it was so hard. Back then, I didn’t think that it was going to be easy to do. Now I think it’s so much easier, and I think social media makes it as people are always giving tips and stuff like that.

But back then, I felt like it was very difficult, and there weren’t too many people that I could look at and say they looked like me. Now I see it all the time on Instagram; people have wig companies and things like that. But when I was growing up, it really wasn’t so commonplace.

What’s a piece of advice that you wish someone had given you when you first started your business?

One thing that I did that I would tell anyone never to do, and I didn’t know until after I started my business. I actually had a 401K plan, and I cashed it out just to get money upfront to start the business. I just told someone this advice recently, and I think this is important. Another piece of business advice is that whatever you think the price is, times it by three because you have to think about the unexpected costs or the costs that you’re not even familiar with.

What resources were you able to access in Massachusetts when starting your business?

I was doing a lot of different programs, and I will say in Massachusetts, there are so many programs for someone that wants to start a business. I went to Roxbury Innovation Center, and I did a pre-accelerator program. Then I went to

Fairmont Innovation Lab, and it helped with public speaking and pitching.

And then, I was part of this program with startup mentors, which is now called Women of Color Entrepreneurs. And they basically help women owners with their business and help them. They give you a mentor, et cetera. I’ve done a lot. I’ve worked with Fearless Fund, and I’ve done work with BeautyUnited. I’m always trying to improve upon what I have. And there’s always help out there if you’re not sure of what things you need to do.

What motivates you to keep going with your business?

I love what I do. It brings me tremendous joy. I’m thankful every day that I get to do what I love. I’m grateful that I have two amazing employees that have been working with me since almost the beginning of when I started my business. I get to work with people I love; not everybody gets to do that. It’s a family unit. Even when there’s so much work, it’s like it’s not work because we’re like a family unit, and we get to make a positive impact on the lives of women who need our product the most.

Every day I get letters. I just opened a letter, and it was a super-emotional card. We make people feel confident and beautiful inside. I have really three core customer bases. African American women. Our work is so impactful to them because they want to wear their hair natural, but it’s not accepted in the workplace. We also help women who have medical hair loss, and they might feel uncomfortable about how they look. They just want to go back to how it was when they did have hair. We also have clients that are transgender, and they come as their other self, and they need help to become this new person. Going on that journey with them is what gets me to today. Seeing the transformation—90 percent of the time, there’s someone smiling, there’s someone hugging me, there’s someone crying.

What does offering a high-quality product mean to you?

There are so many different people that sell hair extensions or are wig makers. I’m always amazed by the level of excellence that Intriguing Hair provides. Sometimes I do trade shows and see multi-million-dollar companies, and then I look at their product, and I’m surprised that they’re selling it to people for three times the amount we sell our product for. It just makes me know that what we’re doing is what needs to be done. Sometimes, you can have self-doubt, especially when things slowed down during the pandemic. But when you are literally doing the best of your ability, having a top-quality product, handcrafting at the highest level of detail—we will always be in business.

You can learn more about Intriguing Hair at intriguinghair.com

All photos courtesy of Intriguing Hair.

KB VEGA ON STARTING AN INSPIRATIONAL LIFESTYLE BRAND

Fellow creative KB Vega started an inspirational lifestyle brand, InspiHER Empire. First, she set up an Instagram account to use as a positivity platform. After it gained traction, KB morphed InspiHER Empire into a clothing and home decor business. Now the creative entrepreneur sells “inspirational and feel-good clothing and products to boost your confidence,” KB said. Read her full interview below.

How did you start your endeavor?

I started as a positivity platform on IG and wanted to incorporate my love for fashion, so I started creating inspirational apparel and products that put a smile on my face as well as boost my confidence while wearing and using my creations. We hope our pieces do the same for our customers!

When did you realize that you could turn your craft into a business? When people started believing in

me, my brand, my mission and my products. Since I started a year ago, the support has been amazing so far, and I am truly grateful for that.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in things that I have struggled with—self-love, body issues, confidence—and turned it into a positive thing. I’m a very colorful person and love using bright colors to create designs that are fun and bold statement pieces. My motto has always been: the BRIGHTER, the BOLDER, the BIGGER, the BETTER! I love thinking outside of the box and making one-of-a-kind designs that people will love to wear and use.

What’s something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

I currently have 25 tattoos and counting. I’m a creative and like to express myself in all different types of ways, including my body ink.

How do you handle perfectionism? Being a perfectionist—it’s a blessing and a curse all at the same time. I will tweak something over and over again until it is to my liking, regardless if it takes hours to get to that point. Sometimes, when I am having designer’s block or my creation isn’t up to par with what I wanted to design, I allow myself to step away for a few just so I can rethink what I am trying to create. Then, I will go back to what I was working on, have confidence in myself and just get it done. Sometimes simpler is better. And to not overthink it!

What advice would you give to someone who feels vulnerable about putting their work out into the world?

Honestly, just go for it! I felt the exact same way when I started my company. I felt like I had to know everything there was to know about

starting my own business and designing pieces—not the case at all. You learn as you go, and you get better along the way. So, there really isn’t anything holding you back except for yourself. You have to have enough confidence in what you are doing to push that fear aside.

What’s something that surprised you about running a business?

It takes a lot of work—especially if you are a one-person show. You literally are doing the job of 20—designer, marketer, problem solver, web developer, etc. You name it. You are it. You know, when I started a year ago, I had no idea that I would have to learn the backends to building my website. I just wanted to design clothes, not design an online store. I guess I could have paid someone to do it for me, which I have done in the past, but I was dependent on that person’s time and schedule, and it was more of a headache than a help. So, the other option was to learn some SEO stuff to execute my online store properly and efficiently.

Has someone ever criticized your

work? How did you handle it? Yes, they have. How did I handle it? The only way I know how— professionally and kindly. Some criticism is not all bad, and I do take people’s suggestions into consideration within reason. When it comes to being an entrepreneur, you can’t always please everyone. I learned that real quick. If you could, we would be living in a perfect world, right? So, when it comes down to it, I do appreciate the suggestions, but the bottom line, it’s what I want to put out into the world for my brand; that is most important to me based on my vision and my creativity.

What’s a cause you are passionate about and why?

The Young Survival Coalition. It’s an organization dedicated to helping with support networks for young women (specifically 40 and under) who are breast cancer survivors as well as their co-survivors. Just recently, I ran a campaign that donated 25 percent of the proceeds from our ‘Pretty & Powerful’ merch to this organization, with the hopes of getting a step closer in providing

more resources of support for survivors. I chose this organization because I found out several older family members were diagnosed with breast cancer, and I wanted to give back and help with supportive outlets for survivors around my age.

What brings you joy?

The biggest thing that brings me joy is helping people in any way I can. With my company, if I can inspire at least one person a day, I know I am doing something right. I have dealt with low self-esteem and insecurities when I was a teenager, so I know first-hand how debilitating that can be, not only physically but mentally too. So, if I can help someone overcome those feelings, then that is what makes me happy. Being an inspiration to them to be the best versions of themselves that they can be.

Thanks, KB! You can shop InspiHER Empire at inspiherempire.com.

Photos provided courtesy of KB Vega.

Sylvie Farrington

On Running a Successful Handmade Bag Business for Over 25 Years

Photos

by Randi Baird Photography, provided courtesy of SylvieBags.

Sylvie Farrington is the founder of SylvieBags. The German-born designer came to the United States at 19. “I began selling newspapers and later worked as an au pair,” she said. Sylvie was passionate about textiles, color and art, so she went back to Germany to complete a fine sewing and design program. After her apprenticeship, Sylvie

returned to the U.S., launched her creative business in 1997 and never looked back. Sylvie designs one-of-a-kind handbags and pillows from upcycled midcentury barkcloth and fabrics.

What’s barkcloth, you ask? It’s a vintage fabric made from densely woven cotton. Barkcloth is strong, durable and textured, so it was once commonly used in upholstery and curtains. Today, Sylvie sources vintage fabrics made between 1930 and 1960 for her timeless designs.

We discovered SylvieBags at an artisan fair in Martha’s Vineyard a couple of summers ago, and we think you’ll love the founder’s story. She’s made over 15,000 creations over the years. Plus, Sylvie’s designs are eco-conscious and vegan.

How did you begin creating handbags?

I fell in love with some amazing vintage textiles at an antique show, purchased a few pieces and started making handbags that were snapped up quickly by private clients and retail stores.

At what point did you realize that you could turn your craft into a business? Immediately, and I have been in business for 26 years.

How do you define success for your business? Success to me is staying inspired, being able

to serve my customers exceptionally well and balancing my family life with my business.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration for my bag styles when I travel in Europe and visit New York City.

What’s something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

I am a foster-to-adopt mom of a daughter.

As creatives, we can be continuously creating and refining our art. How do you handle perfectionism?

I like my products to be perfect because I was trained in Germany with a very high standard of craftsmanship. Sometimes one of my items doesn’t meet my standard, and I save it for my seconds sale at the end of the season.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to begin selling their art or creative product?

Tune into the market and be adaptable with your product, do some form of physical activity so you have the mental and physical energy to run the business and listen to podcasts for inspiration. There are many great podcasts out there for handmade businesses.

What’s something that surprised you about running a creative business?

It has been all-consuming for me. I think about the business at all times of day and night—and what I can improve or change or create.

What advice would you give to someone

about handling the highs and lows of running a business?

It is really helpful to stay levelheaded and not take things that happen in the business personally.

What’s a cause you are passionate about and why?

I am passionate about helping foster kids find a family that will take them in, nurture them, and love them like their own kids. Our family has been on this path, and for us, it has been very rewarding to be able to show a child from a challenging bio-family situation that there is another way. Learn more at togetherwerise.org.

What brings you joy?

My biggest joy is growth and progress, both creatively and in business. I love selfimprovement and see the business as a catalyst to help me take uncomfortable action that, in turn, will make me grow as a person and help the business do better. As an example, going live on social media used to be really difficult for me, and now I enjoy it and appreciate the positive feedback I get.

You can shop SylvieBags by Sylvie Farrington at sylviebags.com

Sushmitha Pidatala founded Arjuna Design Studio after discovering a particular aesthetic missing from the home décor market. So, the entrepreneur created precisely what she was looking for: modern home goods with South Asian style. You’ll see why we were excited to speak with Sushmitha after seeing her gorgeous designs. Keep reading for her Q&A.

How you get started as a creative entrepreneur?

I took the entrepreneurial leap after scouring the market trying to find

Designer Sushmitha Pidatala

ON LAUNCHING A MODERN HOME DÉCOR BRAND WITH SOUTH ASIAN VIBES

elegant home goods that blended traditional South Asian aesthetics with contemporary sensibilities. There was nothing out there that filled this void. That motivated me to explore further, and I discovered that there is indeed a viable market for the aesthetic I sought out.

When did you realize that you could launch a business?

I founded the business as a full-time endeavor and never pretended that I could launch a new brand without committing all of my time and focus into launching a scalable business. A turning point for me was when I created my first home decor product and was met with immediate, overwhelming customer orders and ongoing demand. It confirmed that this

product was not accessible in the market, and it validated my overall thesis.

Where do you find inspiration?

Inspiration tags me from the myriad dwelling spaces and byways of life that individuals from all walks of life occupy. Be they gullies, bazaars, boutique hotels or even just the mundane dining rooms of friends and family. I see

the silent beauty in designs, colors and patterns that occur in these pockets.

What’s something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

I consider myself a modern-day nomad, having had the privilege to have traveled and lived in various countries outside of my motherland. I have developed a refined sense of appreciation for diverse and, oftentimes, divergent aesthetics, as they appear in modern homes from various cultural backgrounds. As a chronic expatriate, I have had to joyously reinvent my home, always consistent with my, and my family’s, shifting environs.

As creatives, we can be continuously creating and refining our art. How do you handle perfectionism?

Perfectionism is a blessing and a curse. It motivates me to remain diligent and detail-oriented. But it can also be fatiguing and selfdefeating. I try to strike a balance by remembering that mine is a service business, where I cater to the sensibilities of my customers and the community I am trying to build. As a result, my creative process is iterative—an exercise in constantly enhancing existing offerings and cultivating more desirable product lines.

When it comes to running a creative business, what keeps you going through the ups and downs?

Remembering the answer to my ‘Why?’ That is to say—always coming back to the impetus behind the business, which is to fill a market void and help creatives the world over find and celebrate the South Asian aesthetic in a way that harmonizes traditional patterns with contemporary styles.

What advice would you give to someone who feels vulnerable about sharing their work?

Just take a leap of faith, however messy or imperfect your vision may be at the moment. Because if you don’t bet on yourself, no one else will be motivated to. Seek refuge in the fact that you can’t control everything. So do your best with the things within your domain and know that, in the end, you had the courage to put yourself out there.

Has someone ever criticized your work? How did you handle it?

Yes. This happens constantly. People are judgmental and the market is unforgiving. After overcoming initial waves of disappointment and sadness, I realized that self-pity will not push the needle further. So, I doubled down on improving the product, actually listening to nuanced customer feedback and being more transparent with my artistic and business (logistics, pricing, etc.) process. There’s a way to be accommodating and respectful and authentic to your customer base without having to be apologetic.

Are you are passionate about a cause and why?

One cause we are passionate about is the mission of Harmony House. The Indian and UKregistered non-profit organization in India has transformed two villas into full-time community centers for over 550 women and children from a nearby slum, where they are offered offer education, nutrition, medical facilities, hygiene facilities, vocational training and social services.

What brings you joy?

Creating something from nothing. Something that’s sustainable and timeless. This is the nature of art. And, in doing so, we are helping identify and promote creative souls, artists, craftspeople and artisans all over the world whose voices we have amplified.

Thanks, Sushmitha! You can purchase Arjuna Design Studio’s products at arjunadesignstudio.com

All photos by Paige Beitler Photography. Provided Courtesy of Arjuna Design Studio.

KAELEN VAN CURA

ON CREATING UNIQUE JEWELRY DESIGNS TO HELP PEOPLE EXPRESS THEIR CREATIVITY

Kaelen Van Cura is the artist behind Darling Marcelle, a line of unique jewelry designs. She believes art and artists make the world a better, more beautiful and happier place, and art inspires her eclectic designs.

Darling Marcelle “makes bold, weird jewelry for creative people who love to express themselves through fashion,” Kaelen said. Each piece is imagined, designed and made in Richmond, California and comes to life when it becomes part of someone’s outfit. Learn more about Kaelen’s journey from making jewelry to suit her personal style to business owner.

How did you get started with your craft?

I originally went to art school for painting. While I was there, besides making art, I always spent a lot of time developing my personal style and I really loved incorporating my artistic ideas into my look. I eventually started making accessories and jewelry when I realized that the art-inspired jewelry I was looking for didn’t exist yet.

I initially I started making accessories and jewelry right around the time I got married. While I was looking for cool pieces to wear with my wedding dress, I realized my dream accessories didn’t exist yet. So, I figured out how to make them myself.

When I started wearing my newly created jewelry around town, I would get stopped all the time by strangers asking me where I got my pieces. Those compliments gave me

the courage to start selling my jewelry.

When did you realize that you could turn your craft into a business?

I had been working a particularly unfulfilling job while making and selling my jewelry on the side when I went to a visual effects conference in Germany with my husband as his plus-one. We attended a conference cocktail party where I was approached by a very enthusiastic British fan of my jewelry who recognized me from Instagram. I was absolutely shocked that I was recognized in a completely different country for my work. It was then I thought that I might just be able to make a living from Darling Marcelle.

Where do you find inspiration?

Most of my inspiration comes from art—both the kind

Photo by Kathryn Colby. Provided courtesy of Kaelen Van Cura.

Product photos provided courtesy of Kaelen Van Cura.

found in museums, such as the dripping paint of an abstract painting or the drawings of animals in old manuscripts, but also the kind seen living in a city—like the curved lines of a scribble of graffiti on an underpass or from noticing the pattern made by a broken window.

What’s something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

Despite a lifelong aversion to math, I once worked as a financial accountant for a local newspaper.

We can be continuously creating and refining our art. How do you handle perfectionism?

One technique I’ve found that helps me control perfectionism is to announce my new design to the public, which puts pressure on me to finish and stop noodling because our customers are impatient to get their hands on new releases.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to put their art out into the world but feels vulnerable about it?

It’s okay to be scared, but put your work out there anyway. Chances are, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how encouraging your friends, family and even strangers will be about your art. Most people wish they were more creative and are often in awe of artists and makers.

What’s something that surprised you about running a business?

I was surprised how little time I have

to actually do the creative part of designing new pieces. There are so many boring tasks that have to be done, from website maintenance to bookkeeping, marketing to packing orders and a million other little things. Even if you have help and don’t need to personally do each task, you still need to make sure everything is being done.

Has someone ever criticized your work? How did you handle it?

I think that having gone to art school gives me an advantage in regards to criticism because as a student, I had to undergo weekly group critiques of my artwork. I quickly learned to accept constructive criticism with gratitude and to dismiss anything else. On social media people can be rude, so when I get a mean comment, I usually respond with a lighthearted joke. No one’s art appeals to everyone, so it’s important to just focus on the people that get it and ignore the people that don’t.

What’s a cause you are passionate about and why?

I feel it’s really important to give back to the community that I live and work in, which is Richmond. A portion of all of Darling Marcelle proceeds goes to Richmond’s RYSE Center, which is a space for Richmond’s youth to experience healing, personal development, to play, to express themselves, to learn, make art and to become community leaders.

What brings you joy?

I absolutely love meeting my customers and seeing them incorporate Darling Marcelle jewelry into their personal style. It means so much to me to make things that other people love to wear.

Thanks, Kaelen! You can shop Darling Marcelle at darlingmarcelle.com

FROM FARMER’S MARKETS TO VANITY FAIR

HOW TWO FRIENDS STARTED A BEVERAGE BRAND

Wisconsin residents Layne Cozzolino and Mindy McCord met in 2010 when they worked together at a café. Their shared passion for local food sparked a friendship, which inspired the pair to go into business together. Layne and Mindy started canning and fermenting jellies, jams and relishes—selling them at farmer’s markets. “As we continued to do that, and our lives changed, and our families grew, we realized that the market was pretty saturated in those spaces. We wanted to discover a product that would take us to the next level. And when Layne became pregnant with her son, she stumbled upon a shrub recipe, which changed the trajectory of everything,” said Mindy.

What’s a shrub?

With roots going back to England in the 1700s, the shrub we’re talking about here isn’t a plant. It’s an old-fashioned beverage. Before refrigeration, people preserved fruit with vinegar. It eventually became fashionable to pour off the fruit-infused vinegar and mix it with sweetener to create a syrup for making beverages.

“We loved that it was something unique and different and that we hadn’t seen or really heard of prior to that. And we started to make them for our farmer’s market stand, and they blew up. People loved them. They thought they were so interesting and fun, and that’s when we realized we were really onto something,” said Mindy.

So how did the duo initially convince people to try a drink

made with vinegar? “We were pretty connected in our community to people that loved food—that was a big part of why people would try it—because they trusted us. We had built-in relationships. We’d been working in the food space for a while. And so, we’d established a rapport in the community. And that was a fun part of getting people to try something that they’d never heard of and get live-time reactions,” said Layne.

The entrepreneurs felt good about the positive reactions the drinks received and launched Siren Shrub Company in 2018. They produce mixers made with organic apple cider vinegar, organic cane sugar or maple syrup, and a fruit, root or herb. They make great cocktails with alcohol or without—you use them a splash at a time,” said Mindy. Siren Shrub also sells a ready-to-drink sparkling shrub. Since the bevvies are non-alcoholic, they appeal to a wide audience, including non-drinkers and kids.

Believing in their business

People often wonder how entrepreneurs raise capital for their businesses. In Mindy and Layne’s case, they funded it themselves. “So, we went all in with each investing our own money, and we started to work with a co-packer right out of the gate, recognizing that we didn’t have all the time that we wished to focus on that,” said Mindy.

For those unfamiliar with what a co-packer is—it’s a business with a commercial kitchen that will produce your food or beverage product. “We send them the ingredients, they make the shrub with our recipes, and then they

Photos courtesy of Siren Shrub Company.

bottle it up, package it up and send it to our warehouse,” said Mindy. The entrepreneurs shared that since most people weren’t familiar with shrubs, they needed to spend their time educating consumers instead of making products in the kitchen, which takes tons of time.

Layne provided some insight into how they made that biz decision. “Since we were both working in the food space, we had knowledge around what it looked like to be selling goods at farmer’s markets. I ran a commercial kitchen at the time that people rented out to sell at farmer’s markets. Through that experience, we were starting to see how much time people needed to spend in the kitchen if they were making it on a really small scale. We had families; we had full-time jobs, and we were starting to sell a product that no one knew what the heck it was. And so, I think that putting our professional experience into play to say, ‘all right, well, if someone else helps us make it, then we have all this time to go out and really talk to people and learn more about what they think about it,’” said Layne.

The women shared how they grew their business beyond farmer’s markets. “So going back to some of those relationships that we’d forged—our community was really supportive early on. And so we were able to get into some small shops and liquor stores. We had at least a baseline to start delivering these shrubs and putting them on store shelves, which was huge. And something that I think sometimes we take for granted is that we had those open doors from the moment we began, but then growing that is a totally different story.”

Working

Then you really have to go outside of that supportive community that loves you and be like, ‘whoa, well, other people love us too.’ And so, it’s a lot of cold calling and a lot of the not-as-fun stuff as having those initial relationships. Mindy has run our Instagram account as long as we’ve been in business. She does tons of recipes there to market it.”

Layne elaborated on their marketing efforts. “We do special events. We go to maker’s markets to introduce and sample out our products. We actually do those more than we do farmer’s markets now. We’ve found that that’s a really nice space because we get to talk to people about it. We get to

the product into specialty, liquor and natural grocery stores.

Supporting local farms

Like their community supported them, Layne and Mindy feel strongly about supporting other businesses in Wisconsin. Siren Shrub sources ethical ingredients, like herbs, honey and berries, from locals, including a cacao nib provider, honey producer, rhubarb grower, strawberry patch, local apple orchards and organic farms.

Sowing the seeds to help grow future food entrepreneurs

Mindy and Layne’s love for local food and community shined through in their interview, and we talked about how they’re supporting up-and-coming food artisans. In addition to co-running Siren Shrub Company, Layne ran a kitchen at a nonprofit focused on local food startups. These experiences provided insight into the challenges of starting a food business. “One of the things that we are working on currently, in collaboration with our city, is to look at the potential of an incubator space that goes past that startup kitchen that I mentioned. It would be more like our co-packers’ facility,” Layne said.

in the weeds of starting a business

Promoting a new business is hard work, and Layne elaborated on what it took to get the word out about Siren Shrub Company beyond their friends, neighbors and local farmer’s markets. “You have that early support.

talk about our farm relationships and really give people insight into our business in that way. We also have done some PR. We have an agency now who’s helping us. That’s how we’re now marketing our business, but it started organically using Instagram—still do that and now have layered on other pieces.” Siren Shrub Company was featured in Vanity Fair, and editor’s named it a “best nonalcoholic drink for dry January.”

Siren Shrubs sells directly to consumers on its website. It also connects with retailers through Faire, an online wholesale marketplace, and three distributors that circulate

She shared that there is a major gap for food entrepreneurs looking to scale. “Food businesses are supported when they’re started, and then you’ve got this growth. But then what’s the next place you go?” Layne said that Siren Shrub Company was lucky to work with a small co-packer, but most co-packers focus on large manufacturing, which requires a large capital investment. “So we’re looking at what a scalable kitchen could look like for food entrepreneurs who are mid-size or small to mid-size and past farmer’s market size. So, we’re currently working on that too.”

You can shop Siren Shrub Company’s beverages at sirenshrubs.com

From left to right: Mindy McCord and Layne Cozzolino.

Fabric and quilt by Katarina Roccella. You can purchase her quilt patterns and learn more about her fabric designs at likeflowersandbutterflies.com. Photo courtesy of the artist.