Motormouthpress originated as my press name while earning my MFA in Book Arts/Printmaking at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. My first love is making books. I enjoy the entire process from making the paper to printing the pages with text and/or imagery to binding the book. I have always wanted to share my good design sensibilities with the others, but books can be expensive to manufacture. So I thought I could translate my designs easily to greeting cards, and poof Motormouthpress was transformed into Motormouthpress, LLC a few years shortly after graduation. Motormouthpress, LLC specializes in food-themed greeting cards and stationery that doubles as mementos.
Do you still have a day job? Yes, I am an Adjunct Graphic Design Professor at the California Art Institute in Sunnyvale, CA.
What’s the best advice you have been given about your business or craft practices? When I started my business, signing the paperwork was easy, but to get it off the ground and make it a realization seemed overwhelming at first. Someone told me that the best way to get started is to do one thing for your business everyday, no matter how small, and eventually it will become a habit, and you will know what you will have to do.
We offer personalized greeting cards through our partner Cardstore.com. The vibe is slightly different, not everything is food-themed. Some of our designs you can only find on Cardstore, while others are line extensions of some of our most popular designs. We also will be offering an exclusive summer sale on our newly redesigned website, just in time for Maker Faire!
Shop: www.cardstore.com
Website To come: http://www.motormouthpress.com/
years ago and started crafting almost exclusively with items that aren’t normally found in jewelry: guitar picks, buttons, bottle caps, vintage spools of thread… I’ve also started designing embroidery patterns and have added a few craft kits to my line. I’d like to start doing more illustrations and prints soon. Whatever I create, I strive to create items that are cute, kitschy, and fun.
I worked full time as a web developer but was laid off this year due to the economy. So, I don’t have a day job at the moment but I’m looking ;)
What’s the best thing about what you do? I love networking and meeting other crafters. There are so many amazing, creative minds out there and so many nice people. It also feels great when a customer tells you how much they like something you made. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. The worst? Taxes! I hate paperwork and accounting but it’s just something that has to be done.
ired you to go into the craft business, do you still have a day job? Turning Heads Sewing & Fashion Design Program mentored students to start our sewing cooperative. The craft business is fun and it’s interesting to create something out of nothing. Attending school is our day job.
What’s the best advice you have been given about your business or craft practices? The best advice was to make a business plan and the importance of market research. Before we developed our final yoga mat bag we went to Yoga Tree in SF and interviewed the retail buyer. This was very helpful! The best advice has been always measure – it is most important!
My name is Jen and I make t-shirts. I made my first screen on my kitchen table with a sad face and x’s for eyes with the words no fun. I made t-shirts for all my friends then I decided to try and make them for other people friends. Then for strangers friends. Tattoos and Scars makes t-shirts for people who like to wear t-shirts.
do you still have a day job? I was inspired by animals and heartbreak at first. I figured other people felt the same way. So I put them on t-shirts. My day job is teaching 4th grade in East Oakland. My students especially like my BUDDY t’s because I call most of them buddy, too.
What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst? The best thing is teaching people and kids how to screen print and showing them how easy it can be. The worst part is how time consuming the whole process is when you’re working by yourself. I get lonely in the garage and it’s cold in there. 
What inspired you to go into the craft business, do you still have a day job? I just recently quit a day job to focus full-time on the bug business through the holidays. It’s scary not to have a steady pay check but absolutely exhilarating to be doing what you love. My background in entomology, business, and love of craft inspired me into the craft business.
What do you like best, coming up with ideas or executing them? I love executing ideas because the final product is so fulfilling when you actually see your idea physically in front of you – a Rhino beetle sitting on a miniature toilet is so much more fun in person than in my head. I have hundreds of ideas (some very strange) waiting to be executed, but so little time. I am still waiting to make a diorama of the Beatles, made with Rhino Beetles. Just need to find a mop top hair weave that will fit a beetle.
Can you please tell us about the upcoming Petaluma Downtown Craft Mart and who might be interested in attending. Kristine McFarland: The Petaluma Downtown Craft Mart is the brainchild of five Petaluma crafty ladies who have done our share on the craft fair circuit in San Francisco, Sacramento and various places in the U.S. We all realized that there isn’t one definitive fair in Sonoma County, and really wanted to create a unique event to highlight the wealth of talent we have up here, to create a buzz to showcase such talent and create a crafty culture that has been missing. Nicole Vasbinder: We also want to create an event that is inclusive of the whole town. Something that will attract all ages and people from all different walks of life. That’s why we have vendors that represent the indie side of the craft community as well as vendors that are a little more traditional. We are also super excited that it’s right next door to TAPS brewpub as there will be a place for the dudes to hang out who otherwise might not come to a craft fair. Ha! Carrie Caudle: This is a great event for families to attend. There will be a number of adorable gifts for little ones, and kids can find reasonably-priced things to get for their parents, too. I love having an alternative to the mall for family shopping! And any place where hipsters and grandmas can mingle is all right by me.
I am sure you are excited about arranging and promoting a fair of your own. How has this process developed? Nicole: It came together pretty organically. After I opened StitchCraft in January 2008 I started meeting all sorts of crafty people in Petaluma. I’m a natural networker and starting talking to people about putting on a craft show in downtown that would get foot traffic and would be centrally located. 
Elaine, Melissa, Carrie and Kristine all said that they would want to help plan and that’s how we got together.
Seems as if Petaluma is becoming a hub of independent thinking. do you think it is the new home of the D.I.Y movement ? Nicole: I know! It’s a pretty special place. We have so many talented people in Petaluma as well as special events like Whiskerino and Butter & Egg Days. And Sonoma County is home to companies like O’Reilly Media (Craft Zine, Make Zine and Maker Fair) and events like Handcar Regatta. Maybe it is the new Craft Mecca! Elaine: I’m a little biased in my answer, having moved to Petaluma when I was 5 and basically living here since. The green valleys, the swirling winds and the early fog, just make an artist’s heart leap with joy. Petaluma is positioned in a way that nurtures creativity and I find it very exciting that so many liked minded hearts are finding their way here… Melissa: We definitely have something going on here and it’s in our blood as a community. We are known for originality in so many areas