How did you first get involved with crafting? My windup bird t-shirts started as a hobby back in 2004. I had a lot of images from my travel photos that I wanted to translate into digital designs. Screening them on t-shirts were an unexpected option that happened organically, after experimenting on different fabrics. Things just took off from there!

What are your favorite materials to work with? Do you have a favorite color palette? Having good quality t-shirts is important, so we only screen on 100% cotton. I’ve worked with pleather, vinyl and paper in the past. In designing, I am especially into those colors that clash with one another to catch the eye.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

The details of everyday life!

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working?

It depends on if I’m designing of producing, but most of the time its just NPR playing in the background.

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them?

I love Hillary Williams screenprints of San Francisco and Oakland!

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?

Collaborate more with other artists is always an ongoing goal.

You can find out more about my wind up bird products

by visiting mywindupbird.com

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

My name is Joanna and I am the owner and operator of Ach Ach Liebling, a one-woman jewelry design and production studio in San Francisco. I use traditional metalsmithing techniques plus vintage parts plus recycled metal plus sundry other ingredients to make original jewelry that is accessible, aesthetic and amusing.

I get a lot of questions about the name, Ach Ach Liebling. It’s German and it means “oh oh darling.” It’s also the title of my favorite song by the band Stereo Total. Granted, the only other word of German I know is “Gezundheit” but I spent a little time in Berlin and was enamored of the city’s style, history, creativity and ecclecticism. I also was head-over-heels in love, which probably has something to do with my romantic impression. In hindsight, though, it wouldn’t have been a bad idea to pick something easier to spell.

How did you first get involved with crafting?

I’ve always enjoyed creative projects and activities– painting, drawing writing. I first got involved with the alt-craft scene about a year after graduating college and from there, it was a gradual evolution toward embracing craft as a career and lifestyle.

I feel lucky to have started my jewelry business in San Francisco in 2006. The Bay Area has a really rich and supportive community of individuals who value local entrepreneurship, small business, independent design, artistic expression and other aspects of the craft tradition. Early encouragement from shop owners, fair-goers and friends nurtured Ach Ach Liebling through its infancy.

Prior to starting my business, I spent a lot of time writing about what I saw in the world that was broken and dangerous. As a crafter and small business owner, I get to actually build something better for the future. I love being a part of something positive and feel proud to contribute actively toward crafting an economy that is sustainable and humane.

What are your favorite materials to work with?

I’m trained in metalworking and I love the magic of transforming something so hard into something plastic that I shape to express my desire or will.

I’m not terribly faithful, though, and I enjoy experimenting with other materials and techniques like printing, found objects, and resin.

Do you have a favorite color palette?

You know, I can’t say that I do.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

I’m constantly being inspired by other crafters and small-business owners. Seeing their creativity and hard work makes me feel proud and pushes me to work hard and take risks in my own business. I geek out a lot on history and anthropology and long, old novels, and a lot of my designs start out as an idea or question that I take away from my reading.

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working?

Since I’ve already shared my nerdy affinity for anthropology texts, you might as well know that most of the time I work with the radio tuned to the local NPR station all day. When I do make the effort to find and play a CD, I often end up listening to Antony and the Johnsons, the Decemberists, the X-Ray Specs, Animal Collective and The Magnetic Fields.

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them?

My home is full of handmade items: from the art on the walls to the clothes in my closet to the table in my kitchen to the food in my fridge. It’s hard to single out favorites, but lately I’ve really been connecting with the artwork of Nora Aoyagi and Lany Devening. Both women draw on a deceptively simple and psychologically compelling lexicon of familiar motifs and iconography, yet express something idiosyncratic and intimate through their work. That paradox really interests me.

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?

Yes! I just completed an 11-week business development program for women, so I’m bubbling with ideas and plans. One of the projects I’m most excited about is implementing a system of more ecologically-sound studio practices. I’ve also begun doing more custom work, making special rings for weddings, engagements and anniversaries. It’s such a privilege to create handmade objects of enduring and personal significance; I love the process of working closely with people to craft beautiful and unique expressions of their styles, personalities and love. You can follow my blog (http://achachliebling.com/blog) to stay in the loop about new projects, works and events.

You can find out more about Joanna and her products the following websites:

http://achachliebling.com

http://achachliebling.etsy.com

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

I run an online shop over at eleen.etsy.com where I sell a smart, fresh and playful collection of carefully constructed, limited run bags, pouches, pillows and more. I made the leap to pursue this business full-time about a year ago and it’s been an amazingly fun and challenging experience. I have an undergrad business degree from Cal and have spent most of my professional career as a web project manager. I loved the dotcom/technology scene but realized how much I’d love being in the world of handmade for a living when I took 3 months off to plan our handmade wedding in Berkeley last year.

How did you first get involved with crafting?

My mom taught me how to sew when I was really young, and my dad was always doing some kind of DIY project around the house that I’d occasionally help him out with. They taught me to love making and figuring things out on my own, and I spent countless hours poring through just about every single how-to book in our local libraries and crafting up a storm, either with friends or on my own.

What are your favorite materials to work with? Do you have a favorite color palette?

I mostly work with printed cotton fabrics, colorful felts and vinyl and have an obsession with “stocking up” on them (which is really just an excuse to buy cool fabric). Earth tones attract me the most: shades of browns, blues and greens with splashes of bright happy colors like raspberry red or bright orange.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

I love to surround myself with things that make me feel like I’m flitting through the woods, hence the growing selection of faux bois and leaf-appliqued items in my collection. Like a lot of other crafters, it’s the lush greenery and cool little details of the outdoors that inspire me the most. Most of the fabrics I pick have a feeling of that sort — lots have cool animals, trees, leaves or flowers in them — and they inspire me to turn them into fun yet useful creations like organizer pouches, zipper wallets and pillows that are cool to look at but also serve a purpose. In life, I’m inspired by that and more — the amazing spirit and stories of friends, family and other people around me in addition to the beauty, majesty and mystery of nature.

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working?

It depends, and my mix of songs is pretty random. But lately I’ve been gravitating to a lot of old school Michael Jackson, some Scissor Sisters, some Postal Service and of course one of my all-time faves, Rogue Wave.

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them?

I love the metal-smithed jewelry by Figs & Ginger and am a proud owner of their adorable Fawn in the Forest necklace. I’m also on a team called Full Time Etsy Crafters whose members, as the name suggests, all make and sell handmade items full-time (or are well on their way towards that) and I have my eye on a lot of their products, like mudpuppy’s mini ceramic mushrooms and Mu-Yin Jewelry’s breathtaking Gardenia Blossom ring.

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?

I’ve got lots of goals for the year, but two that I’m most excited about right now are coming out with sewing patterns of my designs for sale, and connecting more with the crafting community by posting a lot more cool handmade/DIY projects on my blog. Other than that, I’m just looking forward to growth, growth and more growth! Baz Biz at Maker Faire is something I’ve dreamed of doing for awhile now, and I’m so excited to actually being a part of it this year!

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You can find out more about eleen and her products the following websites:

:: shop :: http://eleen.etsy.com

:: blog :: http://www.eleen.com

:: tweet :: http://www.twitter.com/diy_eleen

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

My name is Amanda, and I love to draw! I etch glassware with the help of my husband, Sean, as Bread and Badger. We’re now in our 4th year of business, bringing iconic artwork into people’s homes. The glass etching started out with me drawing directly onto glass with a dental drill, but we’ve had to upgrade our process to sandblasting so we can create larger quantities with consistent quality. Now I get to spend time perfecting my artwork digitally, which I also love to do.

How did you first get involved with crafting?

My mom (and her mother before her) was really big into craft projects, so I’ve been crafting my whole life. She was into cross-stitch, and she made dresses for my sister and me. She was a Girl Scout leader for a few years, and she also taught after-school crafts. She even taught me to knit! I have lots of great memories of the fun projects we always had going on. I knew from a very young age that I had to be making something in order to be happy.

What are your favorite materials to work with?

Aside from my business stuff, I have a lot of fun drawing on scratchboard, or with nib pens on bristol paper. I’m really addicted to knitting, so anything yarn-related is at the top of my list. I like paper crafts too, but I don’t have much time for anything beyond stamping my thank you cards every now and then.

Do you have a favorite color palette?

I don’t have a lot of color choices when it comes to glassware and reclaimed ceramics, so I usually take what I can get. When I do have a choice, I tend to lean towards a really bright spectrum. I’m madly in love with the red-orange and turquoise combos I’ve been seeing in interior design and on websites, but greens are often the first color I gravitate to for clothing and objects.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

I like art that makes a statement. I like my designs to proclaim something to their observers, shouting about an interest or a skill. “I’m a knitter!” “I love robots!” Those kinds of things. Be bold, tell the world something about yourself, start a conversation–I live by those words.

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working?

I listen to audio books most of the time I’m working. Geeky fantasy novels that are really long, or humorous short stories. Bands like Girl Talk and Daft Punk can get me really motivated when I don’t want to hear someone talking.

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them?

Woo, this is a tough one because I know so many folks in the craft industry right now. Okay, I’ve loved Susie Ghahremani of boygirlparty for a long time because of her cute painting style, and the miniature works she creates. She’s always had an innovative, professional website, and her work is really approachable and affordable. I love her color schemes, the bold shapes she creates, and the way she interprets animals and objects.

I’m a big fan of indie comics, so a lot of my favorite artists are in the comics industry (Chynna Clugston, Christine Norrie, Brian Lee O’Malley, Ted Naifeh, plus many more webcomics artists). I love Colleen AF Venable (Fluff in Brooklyn) because of her over-the-top, unselfconscious humor.

I pretty much love anyone who’s creating something for themselves and sharing it with the world, no matter what it is. I love to see a little piece of someone’s soul in their projects, whether it’s a stuffed toy, a piece of clothing, or digital artwork. If it reflects your personality and your sense of humor, then I feel like I can relate to you.

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?

I’m trying to turn my products into limited editions, so I can rotate artwork more frequently. I’d also really really love to work with other artists, to license new designs to keep things fresh.

You can find out more about Bread and Badger and their products at any of these websites: www.breadandbadger.com – website

www.breadandbadger.etsy.com – etsy

www.badgersandwich.com – blog

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

My name is Bradley Boggie and my business is Tiny Sparks Design.  I am making screen-printed goods, primarily prints on solid wood fashioned into wall art, coat racks, key holders and more.  I also am producing other accessories, t-shirts, bags and whatnot.

How did you first get involved with crafting?

I spent a lot of time in my Grandfathers workshop as a kid banging things together. When I was in high school I found a job in a small shop making very nice jewelry boxes and the process just clicked. A few years later I still had the bug and started an apprenticeship with a furniture maker.  I have been building custom furniture for the 18 years since.

What are your favorite materials to work with? Do you have a favorite color palette?

Well, I really know wood most of all and I still find it very rewarding to work with.  I love finding beautiful examples of domestic and local woods that people may not be as familiar with.

Adding a printed element to my work is new and I am learning a lot about mixing color and developing a sense of which colors work with certain woods.  I am loving this process.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

I am inspired by my eight year old son and my lovely wife, and I am inspired a lot by nature.  I also find inspiration in meeting other artists that are energetic and sharing and prolific.

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working?

I am rabid about finding new songs and making mixes to listen to in the shop.  I love jumping between artists and songs that are very different but flow together in surprising and exciting ways.  As far as an album goes, right now I love Phoenix’s new one!

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them?

I have spent a little time with a group of folks that create old fashioned Balsa wood and tissue rubber band powered aircraft.  I love that they skilfully create these beautiful and delicate little airplanes with lots of detail and character, then they wind them up and let them go, often with disastrous results. It feels truly brave and free.

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?

This is early days for Tiny Sparks Design.  It’s nothing but future plans and developments.  I hope that I find my niche in the market meet some great people and that I can continue to grow as a designer.

You can find out more about Tiny Sparks and their products at http://www.tinysparksdesign.com/

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

How did you first get involved with crafting?

This is probably the most common answer: I’ve been crafting as long as I can remember. My mom was always good about bringing craft projects and new media into the house when I was young. My first experience with polyester resin is just a hazy memory from early childhood. My dad was a true old-school do-it-yourselfer and I think you can see that influence in my work too.

What are your favorite materials to work with? Do you have a favorite color palette? I like to work with copper and wood, I love the colors that are possible with copper by heating it or using a chemical patina. Wood (especially ebony and manzanita) is also exciting for the more subtle color possibilities.

What are your inspirations in your art and in life?

Music has always been part of my life, I spent the 90’s writing and performing electronic music. I’m moslty inspired by things in nature, particularly small things: seed pods, reeeeely tiny flowers, etc. And by industrial stuff; weathered farm equipment, large machines of any sort, old engines etc.

What is your favorite song or album to listen to while working?

I like early Orbital, Future Sound of London, Squarepusher and glitchy stuff llike that.. Also early jazz: Getz, Gilberto, Miles, Billie Holiday, Coltrane, Reinhardt and Grappelli..

Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them?

Jeni Yang is my personal favorite artist. She has a wonderful and bizarre sense of humor. Melanie Beinker is one of my personal favorite crafters. Her resin jewelry features tiny illustrations using her own hair

Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?

Right now I’m working on goggles. I’m going to do some other larger accessories too maybe work my way up to scooters. It’s nice to give my eyes a break from the tiny stuff once in a while.

You can find out more about Stuart and his products at http://www.smashingdarling.com/store/go-robot