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

Make Pie Not War is a handmade jewelry company by Alana Little! We like to make “Jewels for the radical lady”, but we have pieces for men too! Alana started MPNW in 2007 after leaving the corporate world! MPNW loves to bring a whimsical and fabulous style to all who wear it! We love vintage pieces, gemstones, and precious metals to make our pieces! Our website is www.makepie.net and our etsy shop is www.makepienotwar.etsy.com.

What inspired you to go into the craft business, do you still have a day job? Alana graduated with an Accounting and Fashion degree, went to work in the corporate world, and then decided she had enough! She started MPNW and has been happy ever since! She does this full time while fitting in her time with her new babe!

Describe your creative process when designing/making your product line. Alana states, “I normally start with a piece that really inspires me, that I just have to use! From there, I figure out how I’m going to make this thing work!” MPNW is always on the look for fresh and new things to use. We always have our eyes open!

What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst? Best: Working for ourselves and having happy customers! We love hearing from people who we have made feel beautiful! Worst: Long hours!

We do promos all the time! Join our facebook page, www.facebook.com/makepie and keep up with us! But for our San Francisco Bazaar fans, use “BBFREESHIP” during check out for FREE shipping at www.makepienotwar.etsy.com! We look forward to seeing you all!

Bug Under Glass is a San Francisco based GREEN CERTIFIED business that specializes in hand-crafted eco-friendly insect displays, framed butterflies, butterfly wing jewelry and a unique style of natural history art.

What inspired you to go into the craft business, do you still have a day job? This sounds cliché, but nature. It is full of amazing colors, patterns and shapes that has influenced millions of artists including myself.  I do this full-time.

I usually have too many ideas and too little time to make everything I think of – so I have a list of all my ideas and my wife is my “go to” on whether my next idea will fly.  It goes something like this, “Honey, do you think a beetle walking a baby carriage will sell?”

What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst? That I get to combine my love of insects, conservation, biology and craft into one.  The worst thing is managing hundreds of tiny working parts.

You can visit my store online at www.bugunderglass.com or http://www.etsy.com/shop/BugUnderGlass

Bird mafia is a unity of my love of cut paper art and crafting. Each of my hand-printed designs begins as a piece of hand-cut paper. Every bird mafia item is both hand-printed and handmade using nontoxic water-based inks and eco-friendly materials.

I have been a maker since I could get a hold of scraps from my dad’s workshop, glue (!), my mother’s sewing box. My father went to work in a suit, but when he was home he was always building something. I suppose it’s in my blood.

What inspired you to go into the craft business, do you still have a day job? I started with fine art and as much as I loved it, there was something missing for me. Now, I put my art on useful and fun items, as well as walls.

I do not have a typical day job. My life is a constant balance of crafting, art, and raising my two daughters. Oh, and working on the new vegan candy company I am starting with my best friend, Sweet Cups!

Describe your creative process when designing/making your product line. I am most inspired by traveling and hiking for the most part. I take a lot of photos. My husband always teases me because half of our vacation photos are of plants, trees, bark, bridges. From there, I start to draw. When I draw something I love, I cut it out of a single sheet of black paper. Then I use that paper to burn the image into a screen. After that, I hand-print fabric and sew it into stuffies, pillow covers, kitchen linens, etc.

What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst? Best – Letting my imagination run wild is a good thing in my line of work. Worst – The business stuff. It’s not easy to switch gears from artist to bookkeeper.

This year at maker faire I will be showcasing more artwork, including my cut paper shadow boxes.

Use coupon code RESPECTTHEBIRDS at birdmafia.etsy.com to receive 10% off!
website: birdmafia.com
Etsy Store: birdmafia.etsy.com