INTERVIEW: In the Field with Rose, Just Rosy

Field Interview:

Rose Koerner, Jusy Rosy

Today's interview is with Rose of Just Rosy. Rose creates high quality minimalist jewelry inspired by natural shape, organic textures and ancient symbolism. She works out of her small metals studio in central MA using a torch, hand saw and tons of other tools.

1.  Do people assume you go by Rosy because of your business name?  What made you choose it?

Yes, this happens all the time, and the story of my business name is actually kind of funny because the inspiration was my first AOL screen name, JustRosie319 (haha!).  Growing up I was a very artistically motivated person but I was discouraged from pursuing a creative career; so when I started my business in 2019 I was actively choosing to believe in my own creativity, skills, and strengths.  I wanted a name that was fitting for this new life direction and I have always loved the meaning behind the word Rosy (blooming, bright, promising, hopeful).  So, I dusted off my old screen name and launched Just Rosy.  

2.  Just Rosy consists of silver and gold minimalist jewelry hand built by you.  Do you have core pieces or collections that you are always creating and have readily available?

Yes, the Everyday Essentials collection has all of my best-selling minimalist designs that are perfect for everyday wear.  These silver and gold pieces are hypoallergenic, waterproof and lifeproof and are always available on my site.  

3.  While your jewelry is minimalist, it also has a bend towards the adventurist.  How do you achieve this aesthetic which is a perfect balance of delicate and strong?

I design pieces that are inspired by my own experiences as an explorer of all the natural corners in New England.  So, even though the designs may be simple, they are infused with natural shapes and organic textures reminiscent of long hikes, epic sunsets and salty coastlines.  I love being able to represent the balance of strength and tenderness that is in nature all around us.  

4.  You create pieces that can be layered.  Are you in support of mixing metals?

Yes, I love mixing metals!  I like to design with mixed metals whenever I can; and people are usually pleasantly surprised to find jewelry that combines silver and gold!  One of my best selling items is a mixed metal twisted ring — I twist silver and gold wire together using a drill and a vice, then I shape, solder, and polish each ring.  

5.  You source and mine for some of the stones yourself.  Can you give us a little insight into your favorite stone sourcing experience?

I was just introduced to the world of rockhounding and mining by my friends Allie and Paige, a jeweler team based in Boston.  Last summer we traveled to Herkimer, NY, with some friends to go camping and mining for Herkimer diamonds, which was an amazing experience!  Herkimer diamonds are a version of clear quartz that develop with double-termination, which is a fancy way of saying that these crystals have two pointed ends.  Herkimers are wonderful for jewelry making, and I have already created some timeless pieces with the Herks I mined last summer.  I highly recommend that gemstone-curious folks research Herkimer mines and plan a trip, it is a really wonderful adventure!

6.  What piece do you wear most?

I tend to wear rings most often; so I always have a ton of stacking rings on hand [pun intended ;) ].

7.  Do you find that most shoppers know their ring size?  Do you have any advice for people who want to order rings online but aren't confident they know their size?

It can  be tricky to stay on top of your ring sizes, especially when our finger sizes can change with the weather! 

I do have a few good tips:
-If you have a ring that fits your finger you can use the JW Ring Sizer app — just place your real ring on your phone screen and line up the digital ring with the inside of your real ring, then it gives your size!  
-You can stop by a Michaels store and use one of their multi-sizers to find your ring size
-Order a ring sizer offline (many big-box wedding ring sites will mail you a free sizer, or you can find one on Amazon)

I usually tell folks that a “good fit” ring is about how it feels on your finger; you want the ring to sit in place at the base of your finger without sliding over the knuckle, but there should be a little room for movement.

8.  Speaking of rings, tell us a little bit about your stacking sets, especially the moon cycle set!

Stacking ring sets are special because you can get a whole handful of rings at once!  I have a few different sets online right now; the Moon Cycles, Abalone Shell sets, and a few minimalist metal styles.  
Moon Cycle ring sets are a way to track the cycle of the moon - you simply change your ring based on the phase of the moon.  I know so many people are affected by moon phases and I wanted to create a stylish way to be aware of the cycles.

9. Your Instagram, body of work and your presence at markets exudes a grounding, balanced and mindful aura.  What would you recommend to fellow small business owners who feel caught up in the hustle and bustle of self-employment?

Wow, thank you so much!  I really appreciate hearing that my work and my presence comes across as grounded and balanced.  As I’ve been growing my business I have shifted myself towards the idea that I define my own success; nobody else can do that for me.  I aim to embody my core values of honesty, kindness, and growth in my business; and this keeps me from feeling too “caught up” in other people’s expectations for what my work-life should look like.

10.  Dream collaboration?  Can be a specific person, general person, company, etc.  What would you create together?!

I would love to be a traveling merch jeweler for a musical artist.  Whenever I get a chance to vend at a music festival it’s always special, so traveling with an artist would be next level!   I’d like to get on tour with Trevor Hall, Khruangbin, Maggie Rogers or Anderson Paak. 

See more of Rose's work through her Instagram!

Shop Just Rosy through the online shop!

INTERVIEW: In the Field with Amanda, MandaCards

Field Interview:

Amanda Blazka, MandaCards

Today's interview is with Amanda of MandaCards. With an affinity for celebrating the moment, Amanda offers original card designs with three dimensional, textural, and customizable (made-to-order only) elements for birthdays, holidays, and every occasion in-between.

1.  When did you start MandaCards?  What prompted you to start a card business?

Cardmaking has been a hobby of mine for over 15 years. It all started when I received a Klutz cardmaking kit for my birthday. From then on, my interest in cardmaking began and developed into creating my own original designs.  I craved building the perfect card for a loved one, and the rush of happiness I would feel in seeing their reactions to their special card. It also didn't help that I had a minor addiction to scouring the scrapbook paper and sticker aisles of craft stores! Once my loved ones informed me (in particular, my best guy friends that are not the type to save things!) that they had preserved my handmade cards in a memory box for years on end, I realized that this was a meaningful hobby that I wanted to share with the world.

MandaCards' roots as a business go back to the Golf Pro Shop at Saucon Valley Country Club in Pennsylvania where I worked seasonally when home from college. The Golf Director at the time discovered my hobby and asked me to make small batches of cards to sell in the shop. With the support from the club community, family, and friends, my first batch of cards would grow into more batches, more designs, and eventually into what it is today.

2.  MandaCards consists of handmade greeting cards, many of which are 3D and pop-up.  Do you have core pieces or collections that you are always creating and have readily available? 

When selling my cards at in-person shopping events, I have a display that is filled with standard designs that are available on my Etsy shop. Something that I take pride in, is creating designs that are very versatile for a variety of different occasions; for example, I have a collection of several floral designs that are perfect for weddings, birthdays, mother's day, bridal showers, or any other general greeting. I also have card designs that are more representative of certain occasions and themes (e.g., Christmas collections) for those who want a card that more specifically represents a special occasion. I try to ensure that my card displays encompass a variety of designs represented in my shop! 

My Etsy shop is exclusively custom, made to order cards. Every card design listed in my online shop allows the customer to customize some element of their final product - whether it be the color(s) of the 3D flower, or the geographic location of a pop-up map. It is a special experience being able to create a card that matches a client's vision.

3.  How many steps and hours go into your intricate 3D cards?

Each card varies in the steps and hours that go into making it. I tend to have 4 price points in my shop that are aligned with the time that it takes for me to produce the card design. Cards listed at $12 or $15 take me anywhere from 45 minutes to 1.25 hours to make. Custom cards are $18 as they require more pre-work in designing something that is new and original for the client. Finally, explosion boxes are priced at $28 as they take 2.5-3 hours to make.

4.  Can you explain a bit about your "Explosion Boxes"?!  What's the perfect occasion for an "Explosion Box"?

An explosion box is a 3-dimensional box that is fitted with a lid. Upon lifting the lid, the base of the box opens up and flattens into a 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock with a variety of beautiful 2D and 3D designs on the perimeter of the interior. The box represents both a gift and a card all in one and is the perfect surprise for anyone who loves to gift something that is completely unique and handmade. Explosion boxes also make fantastic decorations!

My Etsy shop features standardized designs for a Wedding, Birthday, and Graduation themed explosion box. Despite the decorations on the inside being standard, clients are still given the freedom to customize their box's color theme, interior centerpiece, and any notes they would like me to write. There are times when a client will want a box that is completely unique and original. Perhaps they are celebrating an event that my existing box designs don't cover (e.g., Father's Day, Birth Announcement, Bridal Shower, Retirement), or perhaps they want to create a totally different themed box (e.g., Drink-themed 21st birthday, Themed Birthday). In these instances, clients may purchase the "Custom Explosion Box" item listing, and we will collaborate to create an explosion box to match your vision.

5. Do you create your cards to be frameable?  Each is a work of art, so I'm sure people on the receiving end want to frame them or preserve them.

Some of my 3D cards are too bulky to fit in an envelope, so I have invested in clear card boxes to accompany the card. These boxes may be gift wrapped like a present, or may be used to display the card like a frame (or both!). Some clients who have purchased cards from my table at Field of Artisans events have indicated interest in buying a design for themselves and framing it. I think that this is a very special and unique option to preserving something special for years to come for either the buyer or the recipient. Perhaps I will need to invest in shadow boxes! 

6.  Are custom cards an offering?  Singles, Sets and/or Invitations?

Yes, I offer a "Custom Card - Made to Order" listing on my Etsy. All of my cards are sold individually; however, clients may order multiple of a card and receive a free shipping incentive for doing so. Custom cards tend to take two forms - sometimes a client likes a design but would like to alter it a bit beyond the typical customization scope (e.g., they like the interior of the design but want a totally new exterior). Other times, a client wants to collaborate on something totally original (e.g., a hot air balloon themed birth announcement explosion box). Either way, I collaborate with all clients on a design that meets their vision.

7.  Do your cards have messages inside or are they blank?

All of my cards are automatically blank because I do not have a way with words. That said, clients have the ability to send the written sentiment that they would like me to include inside the card and I will write it in script.

8.  How does a physical card compete with a digital one? 

I often think of the quote,  "Live moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it," from Ferris Bueller. In a time when materialism and the consumption of digital media is at an all-time high, a physical card offers recipients a unique pause to savor the purity of a tangible, handmade product that has sentimentality and longevity. There is something to be said about receiving a special note, saving it, and accessing it in times when you need to read the note the most. Digital cards tend to have less of a sentimental element to them and may pass unnoticed.

9. You share great insight and business analytics on Instagram.  What would your advice be to an artisan who has been in business for about a year and wants to take the next step towards growth?

I would encourage an artisan to map out all of the types of data that they would like to collect on their business, and then ensure that their record keeping and analysis process aligns with these goals. For MandaCards, it was important for me to understand how many repeat clients I had, the card designs that received the most and least traction, and the ways that new clients discovered my business. Some of this information I gathered in my personal spreadsheet, and other information I gathered through Etsy's analytics and data reports

10.  Dream collaboration?  Can be a specific person, general person, company, etc.  What would you create together?!

I would love to have more involvement in the wedding industry. I am itching to make a proposal themed explosion box, or cards for wedding showers, groomsmen/bridal parties and more. I do not have the capacity to create entire wedding invitation suites; however, I am interested in thinking about other ways that my designs could play a role in celebrating these special moments!

See more of Amanda's work through her Instagram!

Shop MandaCards through the Etsy Shop!

INTERVIEW: In the Field with Melanie, MAtherton Metals

Field Interview:

Melanie Atherton, MAtherton Metals

Today's interview is with Melanie Atherton of MAtherton Metals. A daughter of two metalsmiths, some may consider Melanie’s jewelry journey to be her destiny! One thing is for certain, her work comes from the very depths of her heart, resulting in heirloom quality pieces for generations to come. Timeless jewelry by a second generation jeweler.

1.  What does your name, MAtherton Metals mean and how did you come up with it for your business?

I’ve had many people ask me about my business name. “MAtherton! You must be a teacher, or a Mathematician!” This always makes me chuckle since math was my absolute worst subject in school, and I did almost go into art education before abruptly changing my major to metals. The most straight forward (and boring) answer though is that MAtherton Metals is my name: Melanie Atherton. Although, there is a bit of an inside joke behind it as well. 

In my past life I worked as a Visual Merchandiser for Old Navy. I once got a strange email from another Old Navy employee, in China, questioning me about purchasing/ replacing mannequins. I can only assume they confused me with someone else since this had absolutely nothing to do with my role at the time. The email was addressed “Dear Matherton.” My coworkers and I got such a kick out of the strange email that several of them actually started addressing me as ‘Matherton’ and... I liked the way it sounded! I added Metals at the end since I work with several different types of metal, and I thought the two M’s had a nice mouth feel.

2.  MAtherton Metals consists of edgy handcrafted metal jewelry with deep romanticism and sentimentality.  Do you have core pieces or collections that you are always creating and have readily available? 

Oooooo! I’ve never really thought of my pieces as ‘romantic' and I love that!! ...With that being said though, I definitely think there is a romanticism that goes along with all jewelry. We gift jewelry to people we love, and it's deeply personal in the sense that it’s worn on our bodies (close to our hearts) etc. Anyway...

I have several staple pieces and collections, but I am constantly reimagining and reworking them to keep them exciting. The most popular without a doubt is my coffee bean line. Which, I just redesigned towards the end of last year, and am in the process of formally relaunching right now. I would also consider my Alien and Dagger pieces to be a staple, but I have been doing more one-of-a-kind versions of those. In 2023 I have plans to offer more limited edition and one-of-a-kind pieces. My coffee beans aren’t going anywhere though, I can say that much!

3.  In the midst of creating, you contemplate the reasons people adorn themselves with jewelry. What Can adornment tell us about a person?  

Oh, absolutely!! One of my absolute favorite things to do (at a show) when a person firsts approaches my table, is to check out whatever jewelry pieces that they are wearing.  It definitely tells me a lot about the person as it is one of the many ways for someone to express their style. The others being their clothes, their hair, or even their makeup. Little things like: This person likes to make bold jewelry choices and they aren’t afraid to stand out, or this person prefers lighter pieces that they can put on and forget about… This person prefers costume jewelry or this person loves sterling silver rings and has one on each finger! (I always get excited when those types come to my table.) It’s a great entry point into a conversation as well. I’ve heard quite a few fascinating stories just by saying something to the effect of “I looooove your necklace!" 

4.  In your opinion, what qualities should an heirloom embody?

Another great question!! Quality and Craftsmanship, without a doubt. It might sound silly, but if it is going to be passed down through the generations, it should probably be able to stand the test of time. However, It’s funny because I keep coming back to the idea of ‘sentimentality’ when answering these questions, and I can only assume that was your intention. I think Sentimentality has a huge part in what will be considered an “heirloom.” In my opinion, something as simple as a coin could be an heirloom; but it is because of its sentimental value to the person who owned it, and that they thought it was special enough to pass on to the next generation, which then creates another layer of sentimentality. Then the person who it is passed on to understands how precious it was to its original owner and also finds it precious enough to pass it on to the next generation. so on, and so forth. 

5. Out of all the pieces you've created, do you imagine any of them being passed down from family to family?  If so, which one(s)?

I certainly hope so! I have also joked that I look forward to the day when I enter a savers or any sort of second hand store and find one of my pieces staring back at me, for 5 dollars.   I think I am ways away from that one but it’s bound to happen at some point! 

I could see some of my custom pieces being passed down, but that goes back to what I was saying before about someone finding something precious enough to gift it to another generation. 

6.  You are a second generation metalsmith.  Who else in your family worked with this medium?

Both my mother and my father were metalsmiths.  Unfortunately, they are no longer together or, making jewelry for that matter. They met while in school together at the Jewelry Institute in Providence, RI (a now defunct college.) Where they had a bit of a whirlwind romance, went into business together, moved down to New Mexico, and as my mother jokes, ‘conceived’ me before moving back here to the east coast.  Unfortunately, this story does not have a happy ending, but I think it’s a cute story to tell regardless.  I also think it's a nice sentiment (here we go with that word again) to think about how I am a product of their shared creativity. Especially since I never really envisioned myself following the same path, but here I am!!

A business card for Melanie’s mother and father’s jewelry business

7.  Your colors, subjects, finishes, materials and even packaging have an "of the earth", organic feel.  There are photos on your Instagram of your pieces laying in nature on moss, bark, fur (!) etc.  These photos reflect beautiful harmony.  Do you often work with the outdoors for your photos?

I love, love, love working with nature in my photography. I recently moved to a property with more land, and woods behind it. I’ve gotten ‘lost' back there for several hours with just my jewelry and my phone (camera). Sure, it is the easiest and probably least distracting to take a photo on a plain black or white backdrop, but there is such an abundance of gorgeous naturally occurring colors and textures all around us. Why not use it? 

The thing about jewelry is that (at least in my case) these are materials that come directly from the earth.  The different metal ores I work with are mined from the earth as well as the majority of the stones that I use. I use fire to construct my work... I guess, in my own way, it’s its just me honoring the origins of all of these elements.

8.  Do you offer custom jewelry?  For example, wedding bands or working with a stone someone wants set?

I certainly do! I’m actually in the process of making a set of wedding bands and I am so honored that someone thought of me for something that incredibly special! I would love to do more in the future. 

My typical and absolute favorite types of customs are when a customer comes to me saying something to the effect of “I love this type of stone could you make me a piece (in your style) with something similar? I just finished a custom for fellow artist Emma Joyce (@emmajoyceart) She told me that she wanted me to make a pendant out of a wisdom tooth she had, but in the style of a collection of rings I had made (my Summer Rays collection). It was so much fun and I seriously hope I get to do more like it in the future. I’ll be debuting that piece on Instagram very soon... Give me your teeth people!!

9. You often take a conversational approach to Instagram.  What is your advice to new entrepreneurs who want to connect with followers in a relatable way?

Social Media is so incredibly difficult and I in no way feel that I should be giving too much advice in that department. With that being said, I think it is incredibly important to remember that you are a person, not a huge corporate brand! I could be completely off base with my theories on this, but I’d like to think that people want to know more about you and your process, versus having sales and corporate mumbo-jumbo thrown at them. I’ve had people (customers) tell me that they love hearing the process behind how my work and seeing how excited I get about it. Obviously, do what makes you comfortable, but be yourself, unapologetically so! If someone doesn’t like it, they probably aren’t your ’target’ customer anyway.

10.  Dream collaboration?  Can be a specific person, general person, company, etc.  What would you create together?!

This is a tough one!! There are sooo many talented artists and artisans out there… I’m not sure if this would be considered a collaboration, but I love the idea of designing/ creating jewelry for a fantasy/ sci-fi show like Game of Thrones or the movie Dune. I think that would be so much fun and I know I would meet so many other fabulous creators in the process! Maybe one day? 

 

See more of Melanie's work through her Instagram!

Shop MAtherton Metals through the website

INTERVIEW: In the Field with Deb

Field Interview:

Deb Hickey

Today's interview is with Deb Hickey. Through collage, Deb creates worlds that merge past and present, reality and fantasy, inviting your imagination to travel here, there and everywhere! Learn more (and commission a pet portrait) below!

1.  How long were you creating your photo collage work before it became a business?

I started making architectural landscape collages in 2005.  While I was traveling, I would collect photographs of buildings, signage, street art, landscapes and other objects and then come home and fill my computer with all my new images. In Photoshop or with other apps I began to create new landscapes with the objects I collected on my journey.  In creating new landscapes, I would then create new realities for these photographs to live in.  

In February of 2020, before the madness of COVID-19 began, I photographed a friend's pugs in Manhattan. Then traveling shut down (as well as my full-time employment) and I had nothing but time on my hands. I began shuffling through my photos looking for images to collage together and came across the photos of the pugs, Hank and Louie.  At this time, I was following someone on Instagram who always posted vintage “found photos” of people and families from the early 1900’s. An idea was born. I chose an image of two men who looked like they were in Central Park and I erased their heads and replaced them with Hank’s and Louie’s heads–and it made me laugh. I continued to create new portraits with animals in my photo archives. I contacted friends and family to send me other pet photos and I was obsessed with my new creations. Putting cats in dresses and dogs in hats was just so enjoyable. My pet portrait business was born.

2.  Your body of work consists of digital photo-collages combining photos from the beginning of the 20th century with people's pet photos.  Do you have core pieces or collections that you are always creating and have readily available? 

I am constantly accumulating found photos.  Currently I have over 1500 photos from the early 1900’s in my collection. Once the portraits are final images I can then recreate them with ease.  Some of the portraits are printed as 4x6 cards which I sell at art fairs and festivals. My future wish is to begin a series of portraits for myself and then create narratives to accompany those images. I love creating stories. 

3.  What surface do you find to be the best fit for your collages?

I create my pet portraits digitally for the most part.  After I finish a piece in Photoshop and it is approved by the client, I then print the image onto film (image is reversed) and then transfer to paper.  Sometimes the paper has been attached to a wooden block and other times it is transferred to paper to be inserted into a mat. The images can also be printed easily on fabric as well.

4.  How many elements do you typically incorporate into one collage?

It is always different and depends on the description that the pet owner has given me about the pet.  Images can contain between 2-20 different elements. Abby Loves Balls has 21 different elements in the portrait.  Her sister Daisy has 3 and her brother Tucker (the F**ker) has 5 elements.

5. Your pet portrait series captures our imaginations!  Would you consider pairing portraits with a character narrative?  Or do you prefer to leave them up for interpretation?

When I first started making portraits I was given pet photos to experiment with and then I would search for interesting clothing that the head of the pet could fit into. And it was fun, but I wanted to capture something more than just that of a cat in a dress. So I began asking the owners to send a brief description of their pet’s personality or list some hobbies that the family enjoyed. That’s when the portraits took on a life of their own.  Then it was the search for the best found photo to match the personality that was most enjoyable. Sometimes I find the perfect fit at once and other times I will give the clients 3 sketches to choose from.

Down the road a bit, I’d like to create a book that contains the portraits as well as the stories that were told to me of these beloved pets.  As well as, stories and images that I have constructed from new portraits.

6.  What is your favorite time period to pair with pet faces?

I usually choose photos where the sitter and the photographer are unknown and they are at least 100 years old and in the public domain. What I enjoy about the early 20th century photos is the back drops that were used as well as the addition of hats! Lots and lots of hats. If a dog or cat has really prominent ears I tend to forgo the hat because it will disguise its personality instead of enhancing it. Most of the photos I use are also in black and white or sepia which gives a quiet dignity to the portrait. 

7.  How do you approach custom orders?  Does the person provide the photos of their pet?

Every portrait is a custom order. The portraits I create are a collaboration between the photo the owner takes and the found photograph I have searched for. Sometimes I have to provide tips to the owner about taking a better photo. I usually just use the head and neck of the animal.  The entire head should be in the image.  The eyes should be in focus and it does help if the mouth is open or there is an expression on the dog’s or cat’s face. I encourage people to shoot at the same level as the pet to get the best photo.  At times there is a little back and forth with the client which I like because the best portraits start with the clearest photographs of their pet.

8.  Do you have pets?!  Are they pictured around your house?

I have 2 cats. Lady Jane Fancy Pants and Pedro Martinez. I don’t really have a lot of photos of them around the house. I do have some photos of pets that have since passed away.

9.  You've found a way to successfully sell artwork that may typically be 2D on a variety of 3D surfaces (pillows, totes, etc), widening your category offering and in turn expanding your customer base.  What would your advice be to a fellow artisan who wants to enter a new category without compromising their signature style and work?

I think it depends on what the artist wants for their work.  It is easy to translate a photograph or image to 3D surfaces but not everything is going to translate to a pillow or tote bag, nor should it. That is up to the discretion of the creator. If you feel it will compromise the integrity of your work and lessen its value then expanding in that direction would not be for you.  I usually find the more graphic images work better on pillows or tote bags (like Americat).

When I started making my Providence collages on boards, I started thinking how awesome they would look as pillows.  I liked the idea of taking them off the wall and putting them on the couch. When I was making my pet portraits and decided to expand to pillows, I noticed how much kids liked them.  They loved picking them up and squeezing them. (micro suede fabric)

10.  Dream collaboration?  Can be a specific person, general person, company, etc.  What would you create together?!

I’d love to design pillows with an interior designer, highlighting my providence collages as well as the pet portraits. Also I’d like to create a line of children’s clothing using my pet portraits.  In the future I’d like to take some of my portraits on a journey (story) by working on a stop motion video project that I would need to collaborate with someone on.

 

See more of Deb's work through her Instagram!

Shop Deb’s work through the website

Winter Sale!

All portraits are 20% until March 19th!

INTERVIEW: In the Field with Kayla, Ivy & Kay

Field Interview:

Kayla Colson, Ivy & Kay Creations

Today's interview is with Kayla of Ivy & Kay Creations. With the passionate way Kayla talks about entrepreneurship, it’s no wonder she recently made the jump to focus on Ivy & Kay full time. Her work reflects the enthusiasm it takes to own a small business. Her offerings are colorful, cheerful and relatable!

1.  What does your name, Ivy and Kay mean and how did you come up with it for your business?

I started Ivy and Kay in 2016 with my friend who's name is Ivy. She's moved on since, but I've always kept the name the same!

2.  Ivy and Kay consists of graphic apparel and accessories with fun sayings and playful images. Do you have core pieces or collections that you are always creating and have readily available? 

Yes! My general Ivy and Kay Collection is available year round in my shop and is customizable! That means you can select the design you like and select the color and apparel type it goes on!

3.  The messages and words on your pieces really connect with people.  Do you come up with them?  If so, how do you find inspiration for unique sayings that are still relatable?

I come up with all of them! I have a few people who I bounce my ideas off of, but ultimately it has to be something I would wear!

4.  What do you look for in material and fit when selecting apparel to pair with your graphics?

My rule is that it has to be soft and make people feel good. I love Comfort Colors for my tees, they are SO soft, durable, and have that oversized look that everyone loves. As a bonus, Comfort Colors tees come in so many great colors! Being in RI, people need winter options as well, I have recently grown into selling a lot more hoodies and crewnecks. I always shoot for sweatshirts that are warm but not super bulky!

5. Do you have any apparel offerings that are a fan favorite for all ages?

Yes! Any of my sponge fleece hoodies are a crowd favorite for kids and adults alike! Both of my grandmothers wear theirs all the time!!

6.  What's your most popular non apparel product?

Online, my most popular non apparel item is my Lead Her Ship Mug. They make great gifts for people! At in person shows, my notepads have become sought after! People will come back out to events to buy them again and again!

7.  On Instagram you've given some insight into your rebrand.  What made you decide to rebrand?  What makes this new look reflect Ivy and Kay better?

I have been sitting on the Ivy and Kay rebrand for a long time. A few years ago, I made a shift in my products. I began creating only items that I would wear or use which really brought my business to a new level. In 2023 I have made the jump to a full time entrepreneur and I knew that made the time right for a rebrand! The new look matches the colorful tees I use, the fun nature of my products and is a lot more me! 

8.  I see that you do a lot of custom work for sororities.  What other types of custom work do you offer?

Sorority Tees have been a big part of my business' success on Etsy, which most people who meet me at in person events don't know! I offer custom apparel for sororities, businesses, schools, sports teams, and of course anyone who just needs a custom tee! I have made some wonderful connections in my community and outside through this! Please reach out to me if you are interested in custom work and we can get started!

9. Your website says you've shipped to all 50 states!  That's impressive!  What is your advice to small business owners who want to expand their reach outside of their base location?

My advice is to just start. With platforms like Etsy, shoppers from all over can find your shop, but you have to have something they're looking for! Get as many different items as possible up on your shop and keep up with the trends. Things like rose gold and cow print have been in high demand as trends and brought my shop along with them! As part of becoming a full time entrepreneur I will be offering small business growth consulting, send me a message if you'd like me to dive a little deeper on helping you grow!

10.  Dream collaboration?  Can be a specific person, general person, company, etc.  What would you create together?!

My dream collaboration would be to work with Disney! I am a huge Disney Parks girl and would love to create apparel for the parks! 

See more of Kayla's work through her Instagram!

Shop Ivy & Kay through the website

In the Field with Jamie

Field Interview: Jamie Beaudry,

Salty Water Studios

Today's interview is with  Jamie of Salty Water Studios. After interviewing Jamie, it is clear that she embraces all feelings, scents, sounds and sights of the sea. Her work reflects the magic of treasure hunting on the beach in an organic and artistic way. See Jamie’s work in person THIS SUNDAY, March 8th with Field of Artisans x Whalers Brewing Company, 11:30-4:30.

1.  Your work reflects the treasures you used to find on the beach as a child.  What are some of your favorite finds? What made them magical and inspirational?

I have always been inspired to make art out of my beach finds. I walk the beach on Prudence Island in front of my grandfather's house and find sea glass, crabs, dead horseshoe crabs, fish bones, animal bones, starfish, shells, buoys….You never know what you might find. I would collect them and bring them back to the house and make things with them. I’d glue them to driftwood, and paint the shells and starfish. I loved finding the horseshoe crabs, and fish bones because they were more rare to find and it seemed magical that those weird things were once alive and moving around in the water.

2.  Your wind chimes are made up of multiple pieces that are connected by rope to form a shape.  Do you plan the shape (mermaid, fish etc) ahead of time and then cut into pieces or do you make small pieces and then see how they will fit together?

I plan the shapes ahead of time. I roll out a thick slab of clay to start, then I draw the whole entire mermaid, fish, lobster, etc. and from there I cut parts of them into pieces, poke holes down the center and carve the details.

3.  I love how your colors shimmer in the sun, just like the sea.  Do you have to use a special type of glazing technique to achieve this effect?  What is your go to color palette and shimmer color?

Some of the glazes I use are actually called shimmer glazes. They have shimmery/glittery specks in the glaze itself. So once the piece is fired, it will shimmer in the sunlight. I tend to choose colors that reflect the ocean, or have a beachy feel. Sometimes I also choose colors that you might find on a sunken pirate ship. Depends on the vibe of the piece I'm creating. My favorite shimmer glaze is the sapphire blue!

4.  The horseshoe crabs you create are so realistic (of course with a little magic).  Do you have real skeletons that you use to model your pieces in ceramics?

2 horseshoe crab sculptures I made from photo references and memory.  I recently made a basic mold of my own sculptures to get the general shell form. Once the shell is hard enough to pop out of the mold,  I carve and add the details, and create the tail separately. This way I can keep the size and proportions consistent since it is a complex form to create.

 5.  What made you decide to turn your inspirations into a business?

I have always loved to create art and give it to family and friends as gifts for special occasions. There were always little art fairs on the Island so I figured I should sell some of my art there since everyone loves receiving it as gifts. And it has grown ever since. I started making fish bones first for my grandfather's porch on Prudence Island and everyone started wanting them. Then I started making mermaids by request and they became very popular too.

6.  Are you professionally trained in this technique?  Or is this skill something you've developed on your own?

 I Graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in Art Education with a concentration in ceramics. Since I graduated in 2010, ceramics has still been a passion of mine. I also teach high school ceramics, so clay is my life!

7.  Do you have a personal favorite piece that you have in your home that you could never sell?

 I actually don’t, my mom thinks it's funny because I never hang up my own art in my home. I like to collect work by other artists. I do love to decorate the house and porch on Prudence Island. Since my grandfather passed away I bring stuff that I think he would love! I enjoy giving my art to those I love. It gives me a chance to see and enjoy my work at other people's homes.

8.  What are some examples of custom work that you offer?

I get asked to make a lot of different things. One of my most popular personalized items are fish bones for wedding gifts. I carve the wedding date on one side of the fish head and the last name on the other. I have also done couples initials in the fish heads to hang in new homes, baby names inside a shell a mermaid is holding, and baby names carved into mini fish heads to give as Christmas presents or baby shower gifts. I have also done a sea turtle family with all family members' initials carved into each shell. People will contact me with different ideas for custom work and we work together to create their vision.

9.  Any secret beach hunting places you want to share (don't reveal your top secret one ;)?

Not really any secret ones, I mostly walk the beaches on Prudence Island because I’m there a lot and it's my favorite place!

10.  Dream collaboration?  Can be a specific person, general person, company, etc.  What would you create together?

That’s a really tough question… It would be cool to work with my friend Cara Boudreau on a piece together. Maybe a big wall design or installation. She is an amazing painter and artist. We could create a cool ocean inspired installation together to go in a home or business, like a ocean front hotel, around a fireplace, or anywhere!

 

See more of Jamie's work through her Instagram!

In the Field with Stacey

Field Interview: Stacey Messier

Today's interview is with geometric abstract artist Stacey Messier.  After interviewing Stacey it's clear that her daily life and creative work are tightly intertwined.  Her abstract imagery is full of depth and representation.  She sees emotions, interactions, and sounds in shapes, translating to vibrant and eye catching work. 

1.  You describe your work as geometric illustrations of a feeling or statement.  Do you find that you often respond to visuals over audio or kinesthesia (doing) when learning/creating/working?

I find that kinesthesia follows me when I'm NOT trying to learn new things, but rather in moments when I'm purely allowed to absorb the content. When I read a book for pleasure, you'll see me seated with pen in-hand, underlining, scribbling ideas in the margins, and dog-earing pages. When I learn, I prefer to read first, look at pictures second, and watch or listen last. But, in a former part of my life, I was a singer and co-writer within various music projects. Studying voice and discovering what it means to write meaningful lyrics has always led me to be pulled in by words and phrases that evoke a distinct emotion or visual. Beauty, severity, ambiguity – these concepts ring true in how they feel on the tongue as well as the images they may conjure. 

2. What feelings or statements translate to your favorite images?  Do you find that more passionate feelings translate to intricate or simpler illustrations? 

It's not the most passionate, the strongest or most colored feelings that translate to new work. Rather, it's quite often smart mash-ups of clever words that yield some of the best imagery for my paintings. For example, currently, I'm reading a book on the science of persuasion. In one chapter, the author speaks to how much, we, the public, hate laugh tracks, and yet they work every damn time. He refers to this as "technically augmented mirth." It's so complex! And engaging! What an incredibly deft piece of vocabularian art. In my mind, I can see small grouped shapes resembling crowds, I see larger rectangles referencing the laugh track and then us, the audience, on the other side of the TV... Let's see how it shakes out in sketches.

3.  Your color palette is so eye catching and cohesive across all your work.  Do you use the same palette all the time or does it vary while staying complimentary?

My color palette has followed me around for many, many years. There's something so satisfying about working with "gem tones," hues that sing in deep, warm notes in the proverbial cool air. This palette has also been heavily influenced by a love of midcentury shades combined with those we find around us today. Peacock feathers, chartreuse stirred into a cocktail, your grandmother's shag carpet in the basement. 

The other key behind the consistency of my color palette? The climate we live in today is filled with such social smog; I need colors that make me happy when I make work. I have no interest in making statements in color that match the fear around us. I create to stay balanced so that when I escape the news, I truly feel like I've left for a vibrant place I'm pleased to come back to, again and again. 

4.  Your process is multifaceted and with many steps!  How long does the average piece take you? What mediums do you use in one piece?

Small pieces (4" - 6") can take anywhere from 12 to 20 hours. Larger pieces can take a couple of months. The bigger the canvas, the longer it takes. That said, I would MUCH rather paint large than small! But I waiver between loving the portability of the "compact" and being able to use my whole body when I paint large. In terms of mediums, I paint with acrylics. I have a few glazes and thinning techniques I use, but they are quite sparse. If I can find a mason jar, water, and some paint, I'm ready to get started. 

5.  I love how you pair your illustrations with found and vintage objects like cork or bingo cards.  Is there a relation between the statement and the canvas?  Or is paired based on solely aesthetics?

You are correct; often the found materials drive the direction of the paintings. In formal art training, one often begins with traditional materials like canvas, linen, and wood. But much of my inspiration stems from street artists to Marcel Duchamp – how might a found object lead to a new body of work? Currently I'm working on a large body of work based on the poetry of Luke Bradford. The poems inside his latest release (Abacus) are so intensely cinematic! I had picked up a handful of vintage film canisters waiting for the right project, and now, there are three pieces under way thanks to this glorious combination. 

6.  Are you professionally trained in this technique?  Or is this skill something you've developed on your own?

My degree is in painting, and yet I spent most of my career as a graphic designer. So, the answer to your question is "both," because the skills I was able to hone in college led to feeling like a true craftsman. The design career, however, was built on creating logos, illustrations, and other marketing materials which really pushed my creative problem solving. I was constantly constrained by having to embrace the abstract requests of, say, a healthcare company, who wants their website redesign to make their patients feel more secure  – but in a sophisticated place of care. How does one create a virtual environment that makes new and current customers feel a specific way? Now, these thought experiments drive my thought process whenever I discover a new set of words that inspire a new idea for a painting. 

7.  Is there a favorite piece that you personally use in your home?  What do you use it for?

The painting that is highly coveted and rarely allowed to leave the house is the very first piece I ever created in what is now my geometric abstract style. We were living in Boston and had just moved into a new apartment in Jamaica Plain. "JP", it's filled to the brim with color and funky houses. I was really inspired by my surroundings when simultaneously, we had a need for some sort of art to be placed above my husband's midcentury radio console. Usually I would never make the time to actually make something, but this was different. I created three studies in different styles and the geometric version won us both over. "Morse Frequencies" is now the first painting visitors see when they walk into our living room in our home in Exeter, RI. 

8.  Do you create stickers or apparel of your illustrations?  If not, do you plan to?

I have a Society6.com shop where many of my originals have been translated into a digital format that allows me to offer apparel as well other home goods, including stickers! The incredible thing about Society6 is that it's always amazing to see who has purchased a comforter of one of your paintings. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! Stay warm and cozy my friends. 

9.  With your multi-stepped process, you've mentioned that you're always looking for ways to work more efficiently so you can have more creative freedom.  What would your advice be to a fellow artist who wants to work more efficiently but is wary of adding shortcuts or lessening the one of a kind quality behind their work?

Oh my, what a wonderful question. First, I'd say, take a step back. Ask yourself, "How might I remove any barriers or things that keep me from truly creating the most meaningful work?" For me, I recognized that I was constantly hand-mixing the same tones over and over again. Clearly my color palette wasn't going to change for a while, therefore I moved to pre-mixing my palette into larger air-tight containers. Second, I started to work on 4-5 small pieces at a time. I loved being able to rotate them in and out, but hated how much I was sitting (sitting is the new smoking, right?). In response to this, I built a cork-board lazy-susan so that I could stand, pin smaller works to said board and rotate them around while painting.  

10.  Dream collaboration?  Can be a specific person, general person, company, etc.  What would you create together?

Oof. My dream collaboration would be to create the album art for Bonobo and hopefully feed that into some of the digital animations he uses when playing live. It would be MIND BLOWING to sketch while they're still finishing up the next album, pull in lyrics and sounds for inspiration, and do a live show / gallery pop-up combo in the same night. Lordy. I might need a paper bag to breathe in just thinking about this.

 

See more of Stacey's work through her Instagram!