Debbie Huey is the artist and writer of the all-ages comic book series, Bumperboy, which includes the Xeric Award winning book, “Bumperboy Loses His Marbles,” and “Bumperboy and the Loud, Loud Mountain,” which was named to Booklist’s Top Ten Graphic Novels for Youth in 2007. Her graphic novels and minicomics have captured the hearts of both kids and adults with their whimsical characters and clever plot lines. But her creativity doesn’t stop there. When she’s not writing, Debbie is creating new Bumperboy merchandise inspired by the stories, as well as handcrafting unique goods, such as needlefelted characters and collapsible purse hooks.

What do you like best, coming up with idea, creating product, or sales? Wow, I really like all of those steps, honestly! Coming up with the idea is the most difficult part because the process can be very frustrating. But once you find that “Ah HA!” moment, it’s a lot of fun. Creating my products is probably the easiest part because in a way it’s when my brain can relax. I usually feel like I know what I’m doing and tend to just crank the item out, whether it’s with drawing comic pages, or needle-felting my latest figure. I love having the finished product in front of me. Sales is can be a little stressful just because I’m generally a shy person, but I love interacting with people who enjoy my work. That feedback is what really keeps me going.

Have you been involved in the D.I.Y movement for a while? I’ve been a DIYer ever since I was a kid! I remember making my own hand-stapled “books” that had my illustrations and jokes when I was very young. As I had grown up, I continued to make my own birthday cards, sculpted figurines, learned how to knit, and drew, drew, drew. This eventually lead to my drawing my own comics and reproducing them at the copy machine, hand-screening the covers, and stapling them all together. It wasn’t until recently that I feel I’ve been involved in the crafty side of the DIY movement with my needle-felted figures and purse hooks. Who knows what I’ll be making next?

Do you ever need to recharge yourself to inspire you, and how do you go about it? I constantly need recharging! Back in the day, playing a video game or watching cartoons was what inspired me. These days, I just love seeing what’s new in the comics and craft world. Sometimes I recharge by reading books from the library, or just by hanging out with my creative friends. Going to great conventions and shows like San Francisco Bazaar is always inspiring and pushes me to think of new ideas!

You can find out more about Bumperboy at:
http://www.bumperboy.net
http://bumperfriend.etsy.com

What inspired you to go into the craft business & do you still have a day job? I used to work in the film industry (I was a movie-trailer editor) and I started making comic strips on the side because it was a fun way to do something creative that wasn’t subject to the whims of a client. Many years of toiling in obscurity later, someone wanted to buy a book of my comics and since then I’ve developed a line of books, greeting cards, apparel, art prints, and strange novelties that manages to precariously support me and my family. So technically I do have a day job — it’s just one that’s way harder and more complex than anything I ever did for an employer. But, much more rewarding as well.

What’s the best advice you have been given about your craft? Make something that jerks would like, and you will attract an audience of jerks who will make your life miserable and negative and unsustainable. But make something that nice people will like, and nice people will find you and support you and your life will be filled with smiles. Meanwhile, the jerks will be bored by you and leave you alone.

What is your workshop/workspace like? My workspace is a constant flurry of activity as I rush from one mad project to the next, one trip to the next, one half-completed prototype of something to the next. My list of things to do grows faster than my list of things done, which someday will be a problem and I will be crushed by teetering, top-heavy stack of projects full of pointy ideas and deadly ambitions.

Have you ever developed a great idea, which has wound up on the editing room floor? I’ve developed a ton of horrible ideas, and some of them wound up being made, so I’m sure some of the stuff that never got done must have been brilliant. Occasionally my most brilliant-but-pending ideas get thought up and made by other people eventually, though, so while I curse my tardiness I’m also glad that the ideas manage to get out there into the culture. The music-video-made-of-infomercial-footage-showing-people-doing-things-wrong was MY IDEA DANGIT. But I never got around to it and someone else did so HAVE AT IT WORLD.

site: http://wondermark.com

What inspired you to go into the craft business? Do you still have a day job? It has much to do with my dad & his print shop – I began to grow familiar with paper ephemera & the entrepreneurial spirit at a young age. I knew that I loved to design & make, & I ended up moving to Los Angeles to study architecture. I didn’t go forward with graphic design until a couple of circumstances: my friends Kristen & Jonathan getting married (I had the pleasure of designing their invitations) & a slowdown in architecture (I had some newfound time on my hands). And with that I set out to establish a presence in this new direction & put a name – Paper & Type – to the pursuit.

I do still currently have a day job in architecture, part-time. I work with a very smart woman at her boutique design firm on residential & mixed-use projects, planning spaces, designing interiors. She’s also entrusted me with the design of any collateral or portfolio that leaves the office. It’s great. This experience continues to be an enriching one, learning to balance both crafts!

What is your workspace like? Do you work better during the day, or night? I typically start work in the early morning at the desk in my bedroom. I really love the light at this time – it’s soft & diffused, perfect for planning out the day, photographing my work, drawing, and lettering. My walls are posted with artwork, postcards & flowers that inspire, & my desk holds all the supplies I might need (paper, pens, printer). From there, my work is pretty portable! When I need a change of scene, I just pack up my laptop & bring my design work downstairs or to a favorite cafe or to friend’s dining room table. Lately my fellow creative friends & I have been meeting up for dinner/work parties – it’s helpful having folks around now & then to share ideas or solve problems with, to be in productive company, & to partake in a collaborative meal. I don’t often work late into the night (since I prefer to wake early) but I certainly shall if I’m on to something!

What do you like best: coming up with idea, creating product, or sales? I enjoy aspects of all 3, really. I love the process of devising a collection around an idea or drawing, & churning out ideas for a one-of-a-kind design for a client. The actual production – seeing the stacks of my designs printed, putting together & packaging the final product – is incredibly satisfying (& comes relatively quickly with print design) & it’s fun to have dear friends in on the assembly. And lastly, when it comes to sales, I find it interesting getting to know what different kinds of people will connect with this or that piece of my collection. At the Renegade Craft Fair this past summer I was pleasantly surprised to witness the number of boys/men who picked up the fabric hearts cards! It was endearing & sweet.

For more, see here…
Website: www.paperandtype.com
Blog: paperandtype.tumblr.com
& Shop: paperandtype.etsy.com

How did you get started with the DIY scene? My regular job was in a bookbindery, and I was always making journals from the left over scraps. It got to the point where I was making more journals then I could give away. I wanted to sell them, but could never find the right method or venue. Really, what changed everything was Darcy Russell’s Feria Urbana. She would arranged to have vendors show and sell their items in a cafe. Once I discovered how much fun that was, I was hooked.

What segment of your craft business do you like best? I like every bit of it. First, getting the book covers. It is like a treasure hunt. Most libraries have hundreds of books they need to get rid of. Picking the right cover to use on a journal is great fun. I use to use left over paper, and I never knew what I was going to find. Now I am having to buy paper, which has really become a lot of fun. I mostly look for stuff that is no longer needed or wanted. Of course gettting it cheap is important, but I also weight my concern for the enviroment into my decision making. Selling is probably he most fun. I love talking and chatting, meeting people. No better place to enjoy the company of people then at a craft fair. I guess production is the place where I get into that work mode. Counting how many journals I created gives me that level of satifaction.

Are you doing anything new? Yep. One day I was looking at the interesting art on a book’s dust jacket, and I was wondering how I might be able to use it. Then I thought of gluing the dust jackets onto book boards, and use this as a journal cover. It took me a few attempted to figure out how to ahere the paper book jacket down, but once I did I was so pleased with the results. I just started selling my new product at fairs and they have been well received.

website: http://www.recoveryourthoughts.com/
email: doug@recoveryourthoughts.com