Hi there, I’m Lisa Anderson Shaffer, designer and owner of Zelma Rose, creating meticulously handcrafted classic jewelry and accessories for modern living. I’m crafty to the core, a perfectionist of sorts, and believe that a great accessory honors the past and winks at the future.

About a year and a half ago, while pregnant with my daughter I experienced a major creative awakening. I had not worked as a fine artist for about 5 years, since pursuing my psychotherapy license. It was the first time in my life I had ever worked as something other than an artist. I loved it, but I could always feel my passion and drive to be creative burning within. The prospect of becoming a mom encouraged me to be true to myself and fully engage with my creativity once again. I am now a full time stay at home mom, which is definitely the most creative job I’ve ever had, and in between all of the excitement of daily life with my daughter I design for Zelma Rose.

When I sit down in my studio to design for Zelma Rose, I reference a kaleidoscope of ideas and images. As an artist, I am a hunter and a gatherer. A visual editor, a collector, a cultivator, and a farmer of ideas and design.  Sometimes a design will come to fruition in a single afternoon, other times it is the careful cultivation of successes and failures over the span of a year. My signature chalkboard lockets were a year in the making, when one day everything just clicked. Moments like that feel magical and remind me how much I love the mystery of the artistic process.

Collaborating with other artists and my customers is the best! I am constantly inspired by the passion and creativity of my fellow Bay Area crafters. I love collaborating with other artists on projects. There is always something new to learn in this business, whether it is a new creative skill, or playing around with a fun new photography application, and who better to learn it from than a crafty friend. I am also really inspired by my customers. It is fascinating to see how customers make Zelma Rose their own. I really enjoy opportunities like craft shows where I can speak with my customers face to face, get their feedback on new designs and hear how they are enjoying their favorite Zelma Rose pieces.

Making peace with the fact that just like I will never have the time to read all the books ever written, I will also never have to time to create every single idea that I sketch or dream about. The simple fact that there has to be an editing process of what gets cultivated to a final design and what doesn’t, can feel like the worst part. Putting the breaks on inspiration is difficult, but with a business to nurture, it is a necessary part of the process.

I really enjoy creating personalized pieces for my customers. I encourage the curious to contact me to discuss ideas for custom pieces for weddings, birthdays, and that special handcrafted gift. There is nothing like sending handmade love from San Francisco!

http://www.zelmarose.com Zelma Rose Vintage Inspired Curiosities
http://www.etsy.com/shop/zelmarose] Etsy
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zelma-Rose-Vintage-Inspired-Curiosities/154597811217919 Facebook
HTTP://ZELMAROSE.BLOGSPOT.COM/ BLOG

A Simple Body’s philosophy is to make products with only the ingredients that your body can use, ingredients that make sense like cocoa butter, olive oil and vitamin e. We’ve left out all the artificial ingredients, fillers and harmful chemicals, leaving only what what’s good for you and your skin. These moisturizers are made with the simplest, high quality ingredients, and the simplest formulas so you can enjoy the long lasting softness that comes straight from nature.

I, Laura Dahl, am a fine artists with a degree in Photography. My photography focuses on making my own papers by mixing various light sensitive chemicals, and I took intense ceramics courses that involved mixing my own clay bodies and glazes. This understanding of chemistry and formulation lead me to developing my skin care products. I first made lotion bars and lip balm with my homeschool friends as a craft and we instantly fell in love with what we made. The lip balm was far better than anything I had bought in the stores, and the lotion bar soothed my itchy skin. I have spent the last year perfecting and testing my recipes, researching skin care and skin products, and loving the products that I’ve been making. I know that my product is ready for market when it has become my favorite. My challenge is to make products that use only the ingredients that your skin uses (plus fragrance because we love it), avoiding fillers and weird complicated ingredients that do nothing for your skin.

What inspired you to go into the craft business, do you still have a day job? My friend said, “we should go into business selling these things.” I said, “Yes!” She eventually decided that this wasn’t what she wanted to do, but I loved what I was making and became more and more committed to my philosophy of making products with ingredients that make sense. I have found new partners that are as enthusiastic about our products as I am; we love how well they work and how healthy they are. Combining our inspirations, we have worked through formulas, new products, packaging, promotion.

I still home school my children, one who’s in college, one in 4th grade, and one learning to crawl. I am committed to giving my kids the best education they can have and teaching them the things that make sense for them and their particular talents. My oldest son is a musician, my middle son is an amazing gymnast, and the baby is a terrible flirt and charms everyone who meets her. And I do have a wonderful husband who is very supportive of my new business venture.

Describe your creative process when designing/making your product line. Starting with two basic products that made my skin feel so much better then anything else I had, I wanted to continue the search for other products that worked as well to replace the things I buy at the store. I am disturbed by the ingredient lists on skin and hair care products from the store. I don’t know, nor do I want to know what half of these things are. I want to make products that work, with ingredients are understandable. Where do I start? With my own needs first. I need a better face wash, so we research the best way to care for skin and try different ways to wash. Many times we find that the best way to take care of your skin are ancient ways. Washing with oil is something the Roman’s did; they would soak in their warm baths, then cover themselves with oil to release the dirt. A Simple Body Face and Body Wash simplifies this process–no slaves or bath fees needed.

What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst? I love the fact that I use very simple ingredients, and that by doing this the products work so well and have only what your skin needs. This is challenging to make formulas, and the way the product is used is often different than the lotions and washes that most people are used to using. So education is a huge part of what I do.

I am committed to clear language in how I promote my business. I want my ingredient list to be readable and understandable. I also avoid using meaningless buzz words like “all natural”, “non-comedogenic”, “bimolecular”, “nourishing”. Take a word like “microlift”: what does it mean? Does it mean that the lift that it gives your skin is microscopic? Nothing out there can truly promise that it’s take care of all your acne, make you look younger, or help you catch that man. But it is important to gently take care of your skin, to clean it twice daily and protect it from the elements and too much sun. It’s just that simple.

www.asimplebody.com

My Name is Torsten and I make fun and ethically sound clothes for men and women. I love to draw up my own mash-ups from pop culture and create designs that carry an emotional content and have some spirit to them. Images that make people smile is really what its about.

I find street art the most inspiring but I didn’t start out as a designer/printer. I started sewing men’s wear years ago but was non plussed at how long it takes to make one quality garment so I decided to move into a more graphical and efficient medium, screen printing. I still love to sew but these days I don’t sew more than the occasional hem on pair of my yoga pants, I’m printing full time.

I still teach science on a very part time basis but I am fully supporting myself with my business, I just teach for fun. I love the autonomy of self-employment, for an independent person like myself it can’t be beat. I love every part of my business except when I have to coordinate something like a photo shoot with several other people. I really just like being able to get it all done myself and photography isn’t possible that way because it takes at least two so I feel a bit tied to others at that point. Otherwise I love all aspects of being a small business owner, success doesn’t hurt either.

Have a look here and see what I’m taking about missionthread.com , if you see anything you like please know I can customize not only shirt colors for you but the ink color as well. No one else out there will give you a completely custom print like that, ink and all. I also offer free shipping if you enter “freeshipping” as a discount code at checkout.

I moved to US 20+ years ago from Japan. I was born and grew up in  Tokyo. I began to design jewelry and accessories in New York City, but now I live in the Bay Area.

I’ve always made pretty things as a graphic designer. Several years ago I lost my many of my major clients. I was very upset, to lose my job, but was happy to have more time for myself. I started to make more. I still have a graphic design business to make real money though.

I find inspiration during my yoga class a lot. The best thing is assembling to the final piece. The worst is rubbing  wool in warm soapy water for 3 hours. I use locally produced wool only and natural or plant dye as much as possible. All glass beads are hand made by me. The only purchased parts within my work are semi precious beads, pearls and findings.

www.naokonojiri.com

My name is Wen (Yueh-Wen Chang) This is my second year full-time running my jewelry brand Sora Designs. I design and make all things floral and whimsical that you see in the collection.

What inspired you to go into the craft business, do you still have a day job? I quit my day job last December after working as a social science researcher in the academic field and government research agency for 8 years. I never dreamed that I could one day make a living on my handmade jewelry business when I first started my online shop part time. It’s a dramatic change from what I was brought up to do. I grew up in Taiwan in the mid -70s and 80s. The mentality during that time in terms of education is for a child to just focus on the academic and nothing else. Get a good grade, pass the entrance exams, an then get into the best public high schools and colleges. I did not question much when I was growing up. I studied hard and got into the good schools all the way. I did it right in every aspect. It’s funny that my dad is an artist. He is a composer and plays piano and violin. But getting a good grade in the academics is still a safer way to go, he told me. I joined Fine Art Club when I was in college but was told to keep it as a hobby.

I came to the United States in 1995 to pursue my graduate degrees in Educational Psychology. I was amazed about all the local craft fairs and amused about all different majors that I haven’t heard about when I was in Taiwan. I finished my degrees and enjoyed the time in the graduate schools. Though I would be constantly taking some knitting classes or making jewelry for friends as my creative outlet. I finally got my Ph.D. in early intervention and policy research and was happy to get out of the school for all those years. Six years fast forward, I found that I could just be as proud and happy in creating stuff to make other people happy too. Now I am fully supporting myself with my growing business

Describe your creative process when designing/making your product line. I draw inspiration from almost everywhere, but there are some central themes that are pretty constant. The first theme is floral and fauna. There is nothing like wandering through wispy branches, sculpted shrubs, and layers of blooming color and texture. I could lose myself in a garden or field for hours. They are the perfect juxtaposition of art and nature. You can see those components in my 3-D nursery collections and all the critters and creatures in my designs. I also draw my inspiration from the hustle and bustle of the city life. The walks in the park, cooking with family, shopping, stuffing my face with food from a new cafe in town, and always enjoying people watching. These have all inspired and shaped me to become the person that I am today.

What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst? There was no boss, no getting up at 6 a.m. to catch the BART, and no office politics. Our son just started kindergarten this Fall and I feel so fortunate that I can be more involved in his daily activities. He does not need to go to the after school programs and we can make and enjoy lunch together. This extra bonus is something that I did not think of when I first quit my office job.

Trying to be everything in my own business can sometimes gets stressful. I’m the creative director, tea girl, the artist, the marketing department, the accounts department and the PR department and the model in all the photo shoots. Luckily, I do not have to be the photographer. My husband took this title early one and does it very well.

I am so happy to be featured at the San Francisco Bazaar blog. I want to thank all the readers with a 10% discount coupon. Just enter “BB2011HOLIDAY” as the coupon code when you check out at my Etsy shop. The coupon code will expire 12/20/2011. But you are welcome to join my Facebook to get future updates and giveaways news.

www.facebook.com/soradesigns
http://www.etsy.com/shop/soradesigns

Fox and Moon Tea has been providing traveling tea services and focused tea tastings featuring harvest and regional comparisons since 2005. We source single-origin teas crafted by esteemed masters from around the world. We create our own line of tea blends and accompanying tea snacks. My artistic and crafty side emerges in my overall aesthetic and approach to packaging, as well as through the inventiveness that I bring to tea blending and baking. My goal is to spark interest and start a conversation, to delight and engage each person who experiences the tea. With my blends and baked goods, I focus on balancing flavor notes and adding in elements of intrigue to the taste. I share stories of my tea travels and learning as well as support and showcase local artists during my events in an effort to reflect the tradition of drinking tea in an enriching cultural and communal atmosphere.

What inspired you to go into the craft business, do you still have a day job? I love to create and am driven to capture the feeling and essence of what I feel is integral to tea and share it with others. I freelance in the interactive/internet industry to support this calling, and my long-term goal is having Fox & Moon Tearoom be my sole focus.

Describe your creative process when designing/making your product line. It depends on what I’m making. With my tea blends I am inspired by flavor combinations that are complimentary and help evolve the experience of tea drinking. I don’t use flavored oil enhancers or scents in my blends. I approach blending for balance, quality and experience. Once I get an idea, I sit with it and test it out over time. I also hold blind taste tests with panels of tasters.

Creating a blend is similar to composing a song or painting – it’s a layered, evolving and engaging process. There is always a little alchemy in there, and room for the person enjoying the tea to experience it from their
own perspective.

What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst? What I enjoy most about having a tea business is sharing what I love with others, exchanging stories, and making personal connections. I value the experience and culture of tea and endeavor to provide an avenue for my guests and customers to extend that experience to others. The worst or most frustrating thing, is not yet being able to dedicate myself full-time to my business.

I host public tea events throughout the year as well as provide private traveling tea parties and focused tastings. I offer merchant accounts for retailers and restaurateurs.

Fox & Moon’s events and tea products are available at: www.foxandmoontea.com

I’m a pen and ink illustrator who loves to make people smile. My work combines the traditional style of fairy tale illustrations with modern fantasies. From antlered girls to magical fish, my shop is full of drawings that will brighten your home and bring you back to your childhood. Studio MME sells prints, cards, and bookmarks featuring my quirky illustrations.

What inspired you to go into the craft business? Do you still have a day job? My parents fully supported me earning degrees in art and creative writing with the stipulation that I had to open a business before I graduated. That’s why I started Studio MME in 2009 but it’s become an incredible passion for me. It’s my part-time job currently. My other part-time job is as a freelancer. So, I have the pleasure of working from my apartment just 2 years after my graduation!

Describe your creative process when designing/making your product line. It all starts with a story. The stories come to me while I’m taking my daily walk or while I’m sleeping. They’re generally so silly that I start laughing instantly. From there I sketch out the quirky illustration. I almost exclusively use Rapidograph pens (which are becoming harder to find because architects and drafters no longer use the pens).

What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst? I love being able to create whatever I want! Every quirky idea that comes into my head makes it to the paper. I never imagined so many people would fall in love with my work. It’s easily the best part of this whole thing. The worst part has to be filing taxes. Thankfully the ladies at my local Board of Equalization put up with my hour-long calls each July and walk me through each step.

www.studiomme.com

My side business is all about hair accessories and crafting them from silk flowers and feathers. I love trying out different materials of both natural and manufactured to create fun accessories that a modern woman would be happy to wear at a fun party, wedding, special event, or just to give as a fun whimsical gift. I am always experimenting and draw upon my experience as a floral designer, photographer and love of fine art to make a piece that is unique and very often a one-of-a-kind design. I have been into sewing, stained glass, gardening, and cooking thanks to my mother and her three sisters. Being exposed at a young age to different mediums of art and crafting on a regular basis has definitely shaped who I am today and has allowed me to see it not as a hobby or a even a job, but as play.

Inspiration for me comes from many places. Sometimes a particular flower or feather has a lovely shape or line that I want to highlight or showcase. Often I am inspired by color combinations and keep in mind what is on trend for the season or what might be appropriate for a particular event. I love all the wonderful fine art museums in the bay area and to be able to see amazing artists on a regular basis helps keep my mind open and thinking about how to push myself further.

I learn through experimentation, trial and error, and by looking at examples of vintage hats. I also enjoy finding new materials to work with and just playing with them to see what works; the design process is very important to me. An important part of my business is researching where I get my supplies because I prefer to shop local whenever possible, and also to find organic and/or cruelty-free farms for my feathers.

I enjoy selling at craft fairs and seeing how people respond to my work very much. It is a lot of work, but I find that when a person can touch, see and try on a piece it is easier for them to see and feel themselves enjoying it, rather than browsing through hundreds of photos online.

My normal 9-5 job is with a non-profit organization, and my day is filled with energy efficiency, the environment, and is 100% done with a computer. Not much room for creativity or imagination so I find that having this outlet of craft, photography, and art is how I stay sane. Alternatively, I know that pursuing a hobby as a full-time job can sometimes take the joy and interest out of it. Finding that balance in my life is so important and trying new ventures is the only way to get there.

I love art and inspiring design. Nothing makes me feel happier than finding a unique photographer, crafter, artist, fellow blogger or designer and then writing about them. Please visit my website at http://www.rachelradcliffe.com

My name is Tara Evans. My line, Velvet Otterhound, is my version of collage but using vintage jewelry and found items. I make mostly one of a kind wearable pieces as well as bottle decorations, altered art boxes and other altered art pieces.

What inspired you to go into the craft business, do you still have a day job? I have been a collage artist since high school and have made jewelry for just as long. I lived in a very small town- pre internet. There were no craft or jewelry stores in town except the small counter at the local Thrifty drug store. We were left to create items from things we found at garage sales. I created these pieces for myself for many years but a year and half ago I started showing them along with my friends’ artwork and realized other people enjoyed them as well. I now go on hunts for supplies on the weekends so I can come home from my full-time job on the weekdays and spend a couple hours delving into the creative process.

Describe your creative process when designing/making your product line. I wish I could say I have pieces in mind when I collect my items but that is not the case. I salvage and shop by texture, design, and shape. If something catches my eye- I get it. I then put it all out on a table at home and play with it until a design starts to take shape. I then try and push the boundaries a bit by mixing metals and color.

What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst? The best thing is when someone finds an item that speaks to them. It makes me happy. I could never imagine some of the reasons people buy my work: one person bought a vintage Big Bird token bracelet for her sister who was tall and she called Big Bird, another bought a PB&J necklace (yes, as in peanut butter and jelly) because her initials were PB and her husband always joking called her PB&J, another just bought a necklace with a camel rider on it for her mother who just took a trip to Morocco and tells people her camel ride was the most exotic thing she has ever done. To me, my supplies seem random at best but now and then they make complete sense to someone else. The worst… having to organize all my items after they have been splayed out on a table during a creative night.

I create custom pieces from family heirlooms or other items you love. See my website for more details http://www.velvetotterhound.com/indexcustom.html
www.VelvetOtterhound.com
 www.VelvetOtterhound.etsy.com – online store
 www.facebook.com/velvetotterhound – blog

Hi, my name is Michael Paul (two first names I know =) and I co-own Fuzzy Ink with my twin brother John. Some random factoids about myself…I’m a morning person but have never had a cup of coffee, I take no shame in admitting I could listen to Phil Collins / Genesis all day and I usually eat ice cream AFTER I brush my teeth (don’t judge me =). In terms of the business, it may or may not be obvious that we have a bit of a mustache fetish…although maybe fetish is improper diction. Anywho, when we first starting thinking about the business roughly 4 years ago, we knew we wanted to have a common theme that hadn’t really been explored. I can’t really tell you when or why we finally decided on the ‘stache, but it seemed to have legs so we ran with it. Crafty by nature, we decided to try our hand at screen printing and sewing and we really haven’t looked back since.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GO INTO THE CRAFT BUSINESS, DO YOU STILL HAVE A DAY JOB: Inspiration huh…I think it comes down to the fact that I’ve always enjoyed creating things. When I was younger (and still today) I would get so excited when furniture and things of that nature arrived unassembled because it would give me the opportunity to build away. I wouldn’t say I was completely blessed with the artistic talents of some of the fellow participants, but I’m pretty confident I can whip up random plush weirdness with the best of them. As of now, Fuzzy Ink is my day (and night) job. I seem to eat (literally sometimes), sleep and dream mustaches and I guess in the end it could be a lot worse ;)

DESCRIBE YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS WHEN DESIGNING/MAKING YOUR PRODUCT LINE: There’s definitely a method to our madness, but sometimes it’s hard to describe actually how it works. Typically we’ll brainstorm all sorts of random ideas, crumple them up into a ball and then hurl them at the closest wall. Whichever idea(s) decide to stick, we then focus on the design aspects (colors, sizing, textures, etc.) and then move on to the screen printing process. Currently, we’re mostly focused on apparel, but we also have a plush range that will be expanding in the very near future ;)

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WHAT YOU DO? AND THE WORST: Honestly, they’re probably one in the same; I get to make mustaches for a living. The people that understand and appreciate this have some of the most amazing reactions and I’ve had so many unique and unforgettable conversations, dinners, hang-outs, etc. because of it. On the other hand, the people that wonder what I’m doing with my life and don’t really understand the handmade movement can be big downers. In the end though, I’m a super positive person and I’m not a big fan of using extra facial muscles to frown. I know what I do isn’t exactly normal, but if following the typical path isn’t going to make you happy why not start a new path.

RANDOMNESS (UPCOMING STUFF, COUPONS, ETC.): For the upcoming holiday season, we have a few new things in store for people…some of which may only be available at BBSF (and shows in general). If you’re looking to get an early start on x-mas (or whatever you celebrate), use the coupon code TRAVELER at online checkout and receive a nice little discount. Happy mustaching to all!

www.fuzzy-ink.com