This interview has been updated with new questions and answers, but is based off an original interview with Jen done in 2010 when she was a part of the Jewelry making duo Affixments.

When did Presents of Mind start carrying your prints?

I wanna say the store started taking my prints about a year ago, maybe around this time. Seasons (owner of Presents of Mind) and I had made a pact to get together and do an original piece once a week. That lead to coming up with quite a few pieces by the end of summer. Basically, I printed up the pieces and then presented them to the store for sale.

Is that where the whale in the nest came from?

Yes and no. A friend of mine Amelia who used to work at POM is a musician, and she had mentioned once that she wanted to do an album cover that featured the art of a whale in a bird’s nest. Even though the album never came to be I never stopped thinking about the image. The piece is called “Protection”. I guess it  speaks to the desire to try to fix our environment, and what an enormous task that is. And just the thought of being able to nestle something as large as a whale in a bird’s nest reflects the hope for that or the wish for that fix.

Protection

We just started carrying some new bezeled necklaces with your imagery. Can you tell us a little about that evolution of print to jewelry?

Richard Fox, who also works at POM and has some of his jewelry in the store, approached me with the idea of taking my original fine art pieces and then putting them into pendant form. It was fun to see these pieces tiny and in full detail. It was also fun to not be the person making the jewelry.

Why’s that?

Because I was a resin caster before, and me and my business partner put lots of imagery into casting and it took years off my life. I’m not kidding.

Can You talk a little about working with resin? About the difficulties and what is fun?

Resin is very temperature sensitive. We learned that the hard way. The cool part is that you can cast in any shape, can use any kind of imagery, from fine art to photography, to found images to natural organic objects. Skies the limit. It takes about two to three days to cast a piece from beginning to end. We’ve had to learn about organics. It’s been like a science project to learn about organics. It’s sticky, it’s messy, it’s hardcore.

You recently started doing murals- what got you started onto that type of work?

I was doing a mural for Seasons’ and Richie’s (her husband) new bar the Gemini Lounge. My buddy Mark L’Allier who is a mutual friend of ours recommended me to a bike repair cart owner, Lee Hanson who has opened a cart up on 82nd avenue in Cartlandia. I’ve always painted big but now I am able to paint really big and I’m having a blast.

So is this where your whale and the bike image came from? 

That was more fantastical whimsical. I don’t even know the word. Lee Hanson wanted me to do a faux bike repair store front and I was immediately uninspired because I enjoy doing naturalistic and even surrealistic subject matter. The faux front was too architectural and exact. I wanted to create something more imaginative and capture the spirit of Portland.

How is a whale Portland?

I don’t think it is so much “Portland”. I think that this image asks you why? And it is so big and adorable and unusual but there is still that connecting feel of Portland with Mt. Hood, and the cityscape, and the bike, and it is so surprising, and I think that is very much Portland. We’re hoping it causes a bit of a ruckus- and it already has.

What do you think about the buying local and the crafty movement?

I think it is fascinating that when you purchase locally that you are putting eighty percent directly back into your community. It really keeps the art growing. I love the fact that Portland is the design directive of the country. Many city standards across the country come out of here. It is fascinating to be a part of a place that may be setting trends across the nation, maybe the world. I know that is a bold statement, but when we go to trade shows a large percentage of the booths are from Portland.

What’s the percentage?

I would be afraid to quote that, but it is huge. Sometimes we go to check out a vendor booth and we are surprised to find they are from Portland. Portland is such a supportive community. Everything is a reaction to every one’s reactions to other’s work.

You went to Magic as a buyer, how was that experience?

Magic, yes. It was my fourth time to Magic. When I go, it makes me come home feeling innovative, and gutsy as a designer. It is an insiders look into what people are into.

Do you have a hard time balancing between your art work and working at the store?

Sometimes. I think Presents of Mind feeds my social side, and I love it, and it has been fun to watch my work go out the door, but ultimately I would one day like to be a full time artist. The balance is there, Presents of Mind accommodates me, and is very supportive, and I also have my finger on the pulse of what people are in the mood for. I work three days a week at Presents of Mind, and four days are studio time, which is very providential.

Who is your favorite artist, your inspiration?

Debra Beers, who is a local art instructor, I believe she is at Lewis and Clark, she does fantastic, authentic and amazing charcoals. And, Dustin Yellin a resin artist out of New York. Right now they are my inspiration.

You have two grown children, well adults now, and they have both become pretty adventurous.

Oh yes, my daughter is a fantastic artist and bartender in Oakland, CA, and my son works as a ranch hand in Victor, Idaho and as ski patrol in Big Sky, Montana, so he skies for work and he skies for fun, he is also a very talented woodworker. When I had my kids I packed them around with me everywhere. I raised them outside. I wasn’t standing still and ultimately they are very travel savvy and independent. No sterilizing bottles in this house.

Tell us a about little Jen.

I was a scrubby little outdoor kid that picked up everything, sticks, stones and oddities. I was drawing before I could walk. It took everything to get me indoors. I haven’t changed much since I was a child, I still talk a lot and I don’t pay much attention and I am shy (she laughs) it’s a great place to hide art.

What is in store for the future for Ms. Jen Smith?

(She giggles) Ultimately, I want to paint and draw full time. Paint, do my murals and basically build a house in the woods where a moving truck comes in every day to pick up all the painting to take to the gallery in the city and they give me a paycheck and I drink a glass of wine. Yeah! I’m not kidding.

What is your philosophy on life?

Live and play extremely hard and basically always, always have something you are passionate about everyday. Pay attention, being grateful and have gratitude.

Jen Smith grew up in Wyoming. Raised in the badlands, and mountain meadows of the Rockies, she was inspired by the drama of the landscape and its inhabitants.

She received her Associates of Arts from Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming and her Bachelor of Fine Art in Drawing and Painting from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.

She now lives in Portland, Oregon.

We only offer Protection on our website, but if you see something you like don’t hesitate to call and we can send it to you.

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Last year for mother’s day we interviewed Shannon Conrad creator and designer behind rubygirl. We decided to post this awesome question and answer for June 30th’s Thrifty Thursday special. Enjoy getting to know Shannon and be sure to check out Present of Mind this Thursday for a great deal on rubygirl jewelry.

We have been carrying Shannon’s jewelry since 2007. Her style and design is by far one of the most eclectic jewelry lines that we carry. Unless you know her work you can not always tell that you are holding a rubygirl piece in your hand because no two styles are the same. She is a mother of two, and has been working in her home studio since 2006. Hard working, and devoted to her family, and her craft, she has brought us many beautiful and charming designs. She is an active presence in the independent handmade scene, and we expect that we will see her designs in far off places.

Shannon had just completed this ring hours before meeting with us.

Shannon came by the store and we took her to coffee to chat. In her ears she wore her latest designs of lego® inspired earing posts. On her finger she wore her latest creation, a ring that she made as part of her ring a day project. “I finished this design at 10:00 p.m. last night.” She laughed. The ring a day is just one of many projects that Shannon has been involved with that are community oriented. The idea behind a process like ring a day is to be creative and to keep exploring your craft. Like Shannon says, skill is gained through repetition. But we’ll let her speak for herself:

1. How long has Rubygirl been around?

I started selling my work online in 2006.

rusted flower earrings with white coral

2. I’ve been reading your interviews and in a couple you had mentioned that your company had been downsized and that you were laid off. So many people put off their dreams because of fear. They wait, “oh I’ll wait till the kids are grown, or oh I’ll wait till I retire.” In fact for some people loosing their job can be thought of as the worst thing that could happen to them. Many find themselves unhappy, but think, at least I am safe.” So in a way you were forced to do something else, and it could have been another job outside of the home, but instead you found this. Can you look back a bit to that time before you saw this as something you would be doing with your life, to that moment when you lost your job and were looking for something new? In retrospect can you tell us what that was like?

Unfortunately, if we wait for the perfect time to do something, it will never come. Something always gets in the way, right?

Losing my job was one of the best things that ever happened to me, though it didn’t feel like it at the time! I was forced to take a hard look at my life and what I wanted to do with it. I really wanted to find a way to spend more time with my children. I was tired of working long hours and having daycare providers raise them for me. Then when I would come home, I was tired and stressed and did not have the energy (or patience) to give them the attention they deserved.

I had started taking a basic metalsmithing class in the fall of 2005. When I lost my job in January of 2006, I decided to focus my energy on building a business with these new skills. To supplement my income while I was just starting out, I took on the care of my niece and a neighbor boy. My daughter was almost 2 at the time, and I gave myself until she started kindergarten to get my business really up and running. We hit that milestone last fall.

3. You said you knew the minute you had the torch in your hand that this was what you were going to do with you life. Can you tell a little bit about what that looked like in your mind, what that felt like to you?

It was like love at first sight. I don’t know how else to describe it! I love everything about the fabrication process. I love to take a sheet of metal –  something flat and cold and shapeless – and turn it into something beautiful. There is no feeling like that of creating.

4. Are you still doing daycare or taking care of children, or are you doing jewelry full time?

Well, some weeks the jewelry is more than a full-time job! I actually have not cared for children (other than my own) for just over two years. I reached the point that I could not do both – it was just too much. The childcare was just a means to an end. My plan was always to quit as soon as my jewelry business was self-sustaining.

5. You have many groups that you work with and seem to always be surrounded by other artists, like your Make a Ring a Day group. Can you tell us how that helps with inspiration? And what groups and organizations are you a part of?

I am part of a couple Teams on Etsy. PDX Etsy is a team of Portland Etsy sellers – over 700 strong! I am also on the steering committee of I Heart Art: Portland. This is a collaboration between Etsy, PDX Etsy, PNCA and The Museum of Contemporary Craft. This group is focused on advocacy, support and education for the Portland arts community. Lastly, I am a member of Etsy Metal – a team connecting metalsmiths from all over the world.

There are many benefits to networking with other artists. You can share information about events, ask questions, learn from each other. Besides all of that, I find that for me it has been important to connect to other makers. I worked out in the world for so long. Now that I work on my own, I find that I crave the socialization that you get when you have co-workers. I have found that socialization – and formed some wonderful friendships – through these communities.

Twig Necklace with Amber bud

6. Your words of description on your Etsy page are that you are eclectic and you like to make the industrial meet organic. I am struck with the familiarity in tone of that statement to the same words of those who were a part of the art nouveau movement. Do you ever think of what you are doing as part of a movement?

I do think that there is a movement and not just in the arts and crafts community.  It is not just a bi-product of the poor economy – though that has certainly added to the momentum –  it started before that. There is a quiet revolution going on in this country. People are tired of the big corporations and the mass-produced. They are fed up with the corruption and the greed. They are ready for more than just a disposable life.  People are doing their own gardening, raising chickens in their backyards, buying local and buying (and making!) handmade. All of these things are interconnected.  People want less “stuff” and more meaning. Being able to talk to the maker and know their story gives things that meaning. Being able to speak to the person who made the product with their own two hands… how cool is that? You can’t buy that at a big chain store!

Posey Earrings

7. In a past interview you had mentioned that it is difficult to find a life balance between working and raising a family and play? Do you still find that challenging or have you found a rhythm?

There is definitely a rhythm now. I am fortunate to have the complete and utter support of my family. I could not do it without them. My kids are great about letting me work when I need to. They are very independent. And there is my husband… I cannot say enough about him! I would not be where I am today without him. He is truly my partner in all things.  He steps in and picks up the slack when it’s needed. Even if that means cooking dinner after his own long day of work. He is my best friend and my biggest fan.

8. You can say that being a mom is very much a part of rubygirl, in fact, your jewelry line was named after your daughter, and by your son. In what other ways, besides naming your business, do you find your children help you?

First and foremost, they are my motivation. My family is the most important thing in my life and I work as hard as I do to help support them.

My daughter (the “Ruby” in rubygirl), loves to help. She will do anything she can. Sweep the studio, bag wholesale orders, card earrings – she loves it all. Setting up for shows is probably her favorite. She gets caught up in the excitement. My son is 11 and less enamored with the actual jewelry business. However, he does a great job entertaining his sister when I need to work.

9. Did you always know you wanted kids? When you were little did you say, I want to be a mother or did the thought come to you later in life? What do find to be the best part of being a mom or better yet what is your favorite part? What is the most challenging part? (Granted I imagine these answers can change from day to day and year to year)

I wasn’t one of those kids that dreamed of the day that I would be a mother. I didn’t even know if I wanted kids. Sometimes, it’s a case of meeting the right person at the right time. When I met my husband I couldn’t imagine NOT having children.

The unconditional love is great, but you know what is really special? I love that not only am I proud of my kids, but they are proud of me. There is nothing like knowing that your kids are proud of who you are and what you’ve accomplished. It’s a great feeling.

My biggest challenge right now is their bickering. Seriously. Drives me insane! I am also on the verge of having a teenager. That’s a little scary!  The ongoing challenge for me is \ knowing what the right thing to do is – regardless of the situation. I worry all the time that I will do something wrong that will scar them for life. I don’t want my kids in therapy at age 30 because of something I did or said.

10. What were you like as a girl growing up?

Studious, quiet, a little shy. I’m a huge reader. My dad was always telling me to get my nose out of a book and go outside and play.

11. What do you think you took from your mother, what in yourself of her do you see? A quality that you are grateful to have, and in the same token, what would you like to pass down to your own children?

Determination. I would have to say determination. Determination and perseverance. When I set my mind on something, I make it happen. Sometimes the road isn’t an easy one, but that makes the result all the more rewarding! I try hard not to let the curve balls life throws at me to get me down. My mother has always told me that change comes out of chaos and it is my choice whether that change is for the better or the worse. I think rubygirl is proof of that!

I want my kids to have that same determination and to know that they can be whatever they want when they grow up. If you set your mind to it and work hard, you can have the things you want in life. So many people are unhappy in their jobs and I don’t want that for them. I want them to believe in themselves  and to know that they can live their dreams.

12. Lastly, rubygirl, plans for the future do you have plans to expand?

I do have goals. I would like to keep steadily growing my business. My dream would be to be able to have enough work that I could take on my sister as a full-time employee – she recently lost her job. Right now she helps me at Christmas and at shows, but I would love to be able to offer her something more steady.  I never want to not be the one designing and making my pieces, but help would be nice! If I could get to the point where rubygirl could support my family and help support another… well, I think that would be incredible.

We think that would be incredible too. Thank you so much Shannon! Stop by our store our look on our website to find some of the designs posted here, and so many more.

And to all the mom’s crafty or not, we love you, and Happy Mother’s Day

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Locket2you

Photo by Jesse Jacob Young

Locket2you was created in 2009 and has quickly become a success. We have been carrying these sweet lockets now for almost two years, and we can barely keep them in the store. They come in vintage and artful styles, and are not only a lovely piece of jewelry, but a memento. The idea of the locket is old and romantic hearkening back to a time when lovers would keep a photo or even a lock of hair around their neck to remind them of the one they love. Young girls exchange photos as best friends and wear them, and parents and grandparents may hold the photos of their children and grandchildren. You can carry secret messages or wishes around your neck, and with Locket2you designs you can wear your secret love or not so secret love on you wrist, like wearing your heart on your sleeve, but fashionable.

Scott McCarty is one half of the husband and wife team Locket2you. *[In honor of father's day we asked him if he wouldn't mind coming down to visit us so we could ask him a few questions about his line, and also a few questions about his life as a father of two.] Luckily for us he was more than happy to become a part of our blog family.

Photo by Jesse Jacob Young

1. You and your wife Miranda started Locket2you in 2009, can you tell us, briefly what you were doing before, and what inspired you both to do what you are doing now?

Yes, we started in January 2009. We were waiting for the birth of our second child, our son was about to start kindergarten,we were living in Chicago, and I was the project manager on a 43 story building, on a window project. The project was ending and we knew we needed to take the jump now.  Either I took another job in Chicago or take a risk and move back to Portland.

Are you both from here?

No, but we met here, in fact, we found out later that we both moved to Portland within two weeks of each other.

And were you going to start making jewelry when you moved back here, was that the idea?

No. I was going to get another job in construction, but that was right during the whole economic implosion, and it was impossible to find work. In construction I was either way over qualified or under qualified.

Photo provided by Locket2you

2. Why lockets? Did either of you have any previous Jewelry making experience?

Miranda went to art school. I studied economics and Russian, but I had always thought of myself as an artist.

My wife Miranda was doing lockets with her earlier project Button Envy, and the lockets took up most of the sales. She had bought vintage lockets and was putting Washi paper on them, and I had said, “hey, let’s pour some resin on them”. It turned out really nice. We didn’t know it would work, and it worked really well, but it started out with us saying “let’s try this”. We realized we could do just about anything we wanted with the lockets. We started on Etsy but eventually outgrew Esty, and I said, “let’s put the money into developing our own website,” and that move helped us to get wholesale accounts.

I’ve always loved lockets. Ever since I was a kid, I’m not sure the first time I saw one, but I always liked the concept. They have maybe a more emotional connection.

Locket2you studio. Photo Provided by Locket2you

3. A husband and wife team in the craft and jewelry world is pretty unique, and we know that there are others who would love to do what you two are doing. Was it challenging to transition from what you were doing before into creating your own business? Did you have to give anything up, sacrifice as some would say, in order to make it work?

Yes. We have no cell phones, no cable, we gave up our car, our haircuts, we have holes in our shoes. If I have $1000.00 it goes to my kids and the business. We still have debts to pay off. Right before we moved here our son had to have emergency eye surgery. We were broke when we got here. We used up my bonus and all of our savings. When we arrived in Portland we had a hundred dollars to our name and no jobs, well Miranda transferred to Home Depot™, but she was in her third tri-mester and there wasn’t a lot of hours available.

I was always one of those people who took the safe route instead of what I really wanted to do, and because of that I probably got fired from more jobs than anyone. I would work hard move up and then loose interest. I’m a big dreamer, my wife used to make fun of me about it because I’d make these big manifestations, but things are now coming true. I always knew I could be successful, and that money would never be a problem, but then somehow money always became a problem, and I didn’t think it would be. I realized I needed to change my perception and my attitude, and once I did things just started clicking. I really believe we touched something and did something unique, and now we are being copied (he laughs). I knew we could do this, we just needed to get people to see the lockets, and to work hard. Ever since I met Miranda our dream was to sell our own stuff and travel and go to trade shows and take the kids with us that’s our dream, and that’s what we are doing this summer. We are just getting to the point where we can buy a few more things, and we can have some part time helpers, and we have reps. We are just at that point where we feel we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Locket2you had a natural organic growth. It’s a lot of fun but we literally have shed blood sweat and tears for this business. You have to stay positive and you have to work your ass off.

Photo provided by Locket2you

4. You mentioned on your website that twitter and social networking really helped you- can you elaborate on that?

We were in the hospital room, our daughter was a day old, and on the t.v. ABC news did a story on Twitter and Mc Hammer. Mc Hammer said, “what it is [twitter] is a tool for artists to get their message out directly to their fans”. I got on twitter and I checked out Portland people big into twitter, and people who would like our lockets, and people in the tech community. Because I knew there were all these rules and ways to go about it, and I needed to learn them fast. We really exploded with Twitter. I was successful at marketing. I would do these thirty minutes sales. I got creative I would do these diaper changing sales, “this locket will be on sale till I change this diaper.” I built up to be one of the top 100 twitter users in Portland and have 3,000 followers.

Although, I laid off for a bit, because we were so busy on the wholesale side. I was putting too many hours on tweeting and I got burnt out, but I’m getting back to it, but a little different.

5. How do you juggle the work? Are one you more for the production and design while the other is more on the marketing and selling side or do you switch off or share?

photo provided by Locket2you

We are literally switching roles this week. Miranda is more of the resin tech but I’m going to begin doing more of what she is/does and she will do more of what I do. We both do production and painting. She is the photoshop whiz. One of my favorite things to do is painting the lockets. I also could watch a movie and bead up two hundred lockets and package them. It’s fun and a lot of work. Every locket is is touched by us every detail, every locket is touched at least two or three times by both of us before they go out.

The biggest challenge in all of this is finding the right balance, between life and work. You can work as hard as you can, but you need to remember that you are in a marathon and not just a sprint. I think a lot of people are sprinting. We are wanting to make some changes, we want to separate Locket2you from our home life, we want to get a separate studio space. Like I said, we are now working on finding that work life balance. I think it should be imbalanced at first when you are starting out. At first other areas in your life will suffer and you have to have faith and persevere through it. We had family members and friends convinced we couldn’t do it or didn’t understand it.

6. How do you juggle the kids? You have two children, a seventeen month old and a seven year old. Does one take care of the kids while the other works, like a tag team, or do you strap the baby to your body and go to work?

Our son (our oldest) is in school, so he is out while we are working, and I hate to admit it but sometimes our daughter watches a lot of Blue’s Clues when we have crazy deadlines, but basically we switch off. I take care of our daughter more because it is easier to e-mail with her than for Miranda to pour resin with a baby. I’m pretty much a Mr. Mom, I’ve probably changed just as many if not more diapers. We are very productive during nap time, or we get a treat where someone wants to take her out to the park or hang out with her and we say okay and we get to work. We are doing this all on our own and every single dollar is from our work and that feels good, but our number one job is being parents.We are going to send her to daycare once or twice a week, but only so she can have some interaction with other toddlers.

Photo by Jesse Jacob Young

7. As a father was it frightening to make the jump from the “job” that society would deem as safer and more reliable for raising a family to what you really wanted to do? Did you feel any social pressures or were you: hey, this is my life, my families life, and this is what we are doing?

Yes and no. Like the week to week money yes, but I didn’t want to be on my deathbed with any regrets. I don’t want to be that guy that works at a job he hates, that resents… I think there is a lot of hidden pressure on men to take care of the family. You always have to try to do better, and sometimes one mistake and… I think it is easier for mom’s to say, “I am going to start selling jewelry,” and she’ll get support. The husband  has the job that supports them, and family encourages them, but when men do it, you better make a showing of it fast, you better take care of things.

I had pretty much everyone on all sides of the family pretty mad at me for not just going out and getting a job, but I had jobs. I would get contracting jobs, and be away from my family for five or six weeks at a time. I’ve done everything, I was a janitor once for a year. I was the world’s worst janitor, but then I switched to project manager, just like that one day you are a janitor the next a project manager, but after that and doing part-time work or working two part -time jobs that pay minimum wage, and I know doing that is acceptable here (working part time jobs) but I said no- I said, something has to change. I have to do something where we could change and I knew we could do this.

My wife was doing a show two days after our son’s accident and she was next to a jewelry maker. She said [the jewelry maker]” I don’t have to do this I’m in over 100 stores. I’m just here for the fun”. It was like the law of attraction. I was so happy to hear all of this, no jealousy, I said, thank you for telling me how successful you are, and I didn’t even talk to her. She talked to my wife and my wife told me. With my economics background I did all the math and I could see we could make it work.

photo by Jesse Jacob Young

8. You would be considered an at home dad or a work from home dad. Can you tell us a bit about the challenges and advantages,plus do you think the role of the father is changing from dad goes to the office to bring home the bacon or do you find yourself to be unique in the roll of “father?” Since the roll can be narrow in our societal views.

I think there are a lot of unsaid pressures with fathers and a lot of automatic dismissals. A balance of the traditional man of fixing things, the protector, the provider, and also now you are also expected to be a spiritual nurturer. I think men have to go back and forth where mothers can be more grounded in the nurturer.  Dads in a lot of families, they are the ones that when it comes to discipline, they are the ones to have to put the foot down, and that might lead to resentments from kids. You know, all of the ills and struggles of the family are placed on the absent father, but non of the successes in the family, like if the kids are happy and everyone grows up well, are placed on the dad who is present. I think the roll of the dad is to tell our kids the truth and to acknowledge when we are wrong and apologize.  Some mom’s are looking at me funny for the way I am talking to my children.  I think a lot of people when they see me pick up my son from school still think I am just a dad out of work. I think what I am doing is amazing. I get to see my kids all the time it is unique and fun.

I do miss my alone time. I think any parent misses that, but it may be magnified for me [working in a woman's industry] I’m missing the good ol’ boy network of going out and getting a beer. In this industry most are women, the buyers are women, the store owners, the crafters, the jewelers, this is a woman run industry. I’m surrounded by women now, and sometimes I have the hankering to go to a sports bar and get a beer. I think it’s good though and I think there is an advantage because there are not a lot of men, you are just a little bit more unique and people talk to you different.

Portland is also different. Men here would not be considered very “manly” in most places in the country, and that’s a good thing. Portland is on the cutting edge in parenting and fatherhood. It is great being a dad in Portland where I can push a stroller and never feel emasculated, but in different places of the country where the dads are more traditional put your foot down kind of dads, they are not as involved in their kids lives, and are not able to be because that is not the roll.

photo by Jesse Jacob Young

9. Did you always want to have kids or see yourself as a father? What is your favorite part about being a parent? What surprised you the most about yourself as a father?

Yes I wanted to be a father. I always loved kids. I always knew I was going to be a dad, and I was going to be a good dad. My goal is for my kids to be able to one day say I was a good dad, that is what it is all about. I love my kids so much. Sometimes I wonder if other dad’s know their kids as well as I know my kids. I’m lucky.

As for surprise, making some of the same mistakes as my dad made with me. Not the major ones the minor ones. I’ll think, that is what my dad did, and I stop myself and I apologize. I literally feel younger they give me energy. Another thing is how other kids’ associate me as a dad as my son’s dad. Being a good father to your own kids can have an effect on other kids. I think good dads effect others in a positive way, I know it did for me. My dad didn’t always make the best choices and he was detached sometimes, but seeing the way other kids dads were sometimes  showed me a different perspective on how dads could be. I don’t mean undermining someone’s parenting just reinforcing it. I think the best thing a dad can do is admit to mistakes and apologize, I think it teaches so much.

10. What are your visions for the future of Locket2you?

We have in the works new styles, different shapes, we also have our new frosted locket (which will soon be at Presents of Mind). This is our year for breaking out nationally, and getting more exposure.  We are working on bracelets, coin purses, earrings, and probably silver lockets. We are looking for a new work space, and developing the brand more, we might actually get a logo we can stick with (he laughs).

Any last words?

photo by Jesse Jacob Young

If there is one thing I can stress more than anything out of this interview is that success gives you more success. We need to shift our perception of what our future is. Success is measured in your children’s successes, and in your own development as a human. I want to convey that I love my kids. I love being married. I love my wife. I love success. I love our success, and I love other people’s success. I want other’s to do well.

Thank you so much Scott for your awesome interview. Speaking of Awesome if you want to know more or hear more from Scott he will be speaking at the Summit of Awesome. (2009)

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This mother’s day we decided to repost an interview from one of our favorite moms: Cinnamon Chaser the woman behind the creation of Presents of Mind.

Cinnamon Chaser, mother, artist, and healer, she is also the woman and dreamer behind the creation of Presents of Mind. Four years ago she began handing the control of the store over to her daughter Seasons Koll, and now mother and daughter have formed a partnership. After 20 years of hard work Cinnamon has begun to branch out into new mediums, like Reconnective healing®, and creating flower remedies. After taking a  course with Linda Womack, Cinnamon found a new love with encaustic wax mixed media art.

Cinnamon was gracious enough to show us around her studio in the basement of her home, and shared with us some of the pieces she has been working on for Crafty Wonderland. Later, we headed upstairs, sat down on the couch, and chatted.

1. You opened Presents of Mind twenty years ago. Can you tell us what inspired you to open a small retail store? Also, can you tell us a bit about the atmosphere on Hawthorne during that time?

What inspired me was I was a frustrated card shopper. I’d had run a store before and I had a booth at the Portland Saturday Market, where I used to make herb pillows, bath mixtures, stuff like that, and it was successful, but I was more like a little factory. I liked the idea of having my own business. I guess it was always my dream to have my own store. I remember I was in NW and that was where all the shops were at the time, and I had to go to three or four different stores in order to find any decent cards, and I thought, I could do this better. I really started it as a card shop, the bulk of the store was cards, then people started asking for more.

As for Hawthorne, there wasn’t a lot of stores back then. People were really happy that I opened. From day one, we have had loyal customers that still come in, their kids come in. At the time the only store that had a good amount of cards was Essential oils, other than that you had Fred Myers or Safeway. We have people come in once a month from Lake Oswego or Beaverton just to buy cards. I’ve even had people from L.A say that they don’t have anything like our store down there.

2. Why do you think that is? I mean you would think that people could have a good selection in cards.

Well one huge thing is that I always, always, hand pick the cards. A lot of companies want to send you their bulk cards and best sellers, but I said no, you don’t know my customer base. This all started because I am a card buyer. I bought cards for years and years. I collected them. I still have a box of cards. I love cards that’s what I did.

3. When you had thought of opening Presents of Mind did you envision that it would still be around after 20 years?

I guess I had always assumed that it would always be here, but I never envisioned that’s what it would be like. Once I opened it I never wanted anything else.

The way it started out, I went to this practice management building seminar with my husband, Bruce, and I sat in on this class about setting goals. This was in the summer of ’89, and I remember I wrote on a piece of paper, “I want to open a store on Hawthorne between 34th and 37th and I want to open it on October 1st, 1989″. That is the day that I opened.

4. Had you already started building up the store?

Oh no, I didn’t even know how to go about ordering. I just got my box of cards out and I started calling the companies. I had a friend that got me a pass to go to a trade show and I started meeting vendors and reps, and that was when things really started going. Like the reps would tell me, and this was during the summer, “okay now you need to start ordering cards for Christmas.” I’d say, Christmas, its only July.

5. It must have been challenging running a business which took up all of your time, plus raising a teenage daughter. How were you able to balance your time?

Seasons was a teenager and very independent. When I was opening the store she was off doing things on her own. I was always at the store, I had to be, and in the first two weeks before the store opened we got [custody] of Bruce’s daughter. She was seven, and we would all work at the store getting it ready. Bruce built the displays and his daughter would unwrap the cards. It was easier to balance [being a mother] because she [Seasons] was so independent, but in that first year there was a lot of family trauma, I had lost both my parents in that first year. I remember when Seasons was little, I did crafty sales, I always had to work while raising her, I mean I was a single mom until she was eleven.

6. The store has a genuine feel of family and also a real concern for community and the planet. The benefits for employees are a rare find in a small business and show that the owners truly care in the health and wellness of people. There are political stickers on the door like no tolerance for bigotry, and roughly 30% of the products are created and designed locally. When you opened Presents of Mind was it in your mission statement to include such things or do you recall having a mission statement? Also has the store always been a big supporter of independent and local designers?

The independent and local artist aspect is all thanks to Seasons. Whenever local artists came by I was always open to carrying their stuff, but she really searches them out.

I never wrote a mission statement I just want people to be happy. I want people to have a good place to work. I want people to feel good about where they are shopping. You know you can’t assume if someone is having a bad day that they are a bad person, I like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, that’s why I want my employees to be happy so that they are friendly to the customers. I remember when 9/11 happened, and we were open, and we were playing up music, people came in and said “we are so glad you are open”. I want people to feel happy. You know I want to offer people what I want when I go into a place, what I like. I like to be acknowledged, and greeted, and treated with kindness and respect.

7. Seasons has been working on and off in the store since she was a teenager, and now you two are business partners, which has allowed you to step back and let her take the reigns, so to speak.

She was fifteen when I opened the store and she started working there a bit when she was sixteen, but it was by the time that she was seventeen or eighteen that she really started working, and she was a manger. She helped me order, she probably could have run the store at that point, not everything of course, there’s a lot people don’t know that goes on in a store like the book work. Back then I did it all myself and there was no computer I had a ledger. It was like she was born to do it. It came really naturally to both of us.

8. Did you imagine this mother daughter team from the beginning or did it grow organically?

It just grew. Then she left and I didn’t know if she’d come back. I’d wished she’d come back, but I didn’t know.

9. Now that Seasons has mostly taken over it has freed you up to pursue some of your own art. Have you always felt you were an artist or did it come later in your life? Can you tell us a bit about your encaustic wax pieces and what you enjoy about the process as opposed to other mediums.

I never felt I was an artist. I still have a hard time believing I am an artist. I started making  it and then a friend of mine wanted to buy a piece and I was like, what? Then I got a chance to do a show and I had all these pieces, and it was Seasons’ idea to show them, and she helped me put it together and name the pieces. But it was when I got a call that someone had bought my work, a stranger bought one of my pieces, I couldn’t believe it, I was like,oh okay… I guess I am an artist, but I still have a hard time believing it. Its just my nature I guess. Even at the store, it would be Christmas time and the store would be packed and I just couldn’t believe that all these people were at my store, buying their gifts, in my store, I can’t believe it.

As for working with Encaustic wax, I have to say it is a love hate thing because I never know what it is going to end up like. It is like this unveiling. I can have an idea but it often changes. The wax does what it does. You have  layers of color and you add one to the other and you heat it and the wax starts moving and bleeding. I’ve tried to duplicate pieces but you can’t. I wish I did something I could make prints of to sell. You spend all this time making something and then you have to let it go and it’s emotional. Every piece is a lot of work. But you can’t keep them all. It’s really fun. My first class was so fun. I really had the most fun in that class. I went out and got everything I needed. Selling it kind of changes it a bit.

How so?

You kind of feel a little pressure to perform, or trying to duplicate or streamline, you know.

10. Seasons’ is taking her Seasons K. Designs to crafty [2010] and you will be joining her in the booth showing and selling your encaustic pieces. Are you excited about being in Crafty and yet again being side by side with your daughter?

I’ve only done this one other time, I did the SE art Walk, so this time I feel more ready. It is unnerving and very gratifying, mostly gratifying. And I get to hang out with artists. Last time I was right next to Brent Wear, he is one of my favorites. (She has many of his piece in her house and she points them out to me). I’m excited. I knew it was coming up, but I didn’t apply, I don’t know, I didn’t know if I would get in. I didn’t know if I had enough pieces. Then Seasons got a booth and offered to share it with me. I wouldn’t be in it if it wasn’t for her. I’m excited, but a little nervous. I think I would be more nervous if it was just me.

11. If you could do it again what would you do differently, what would you keep the same?

I don’t know if I would do anything differently. I think things happen for a reason. I am not a very organized person, I ran this business by the seat of my pants. I had no training just life experience and I was always good at math.

12. Now that you have a grown and independent woman as a daughter and you can look back on your life as a mom, what can you say the strangest thing about being a mother is and then what is your favorite thing?

The strangest is feeling separate. Having this person grow up to be so different (from me). I am proud of who she is, all her accomplishments, and her independence, her strong mind and will, but you spend so much of your life loving this being and feeling she is such a part of you.I remember when she left for Germany, I couldn’t even take her to the airport. I had never been out of the country at that time, she might as well have been going to Mars. I was happy for her, but it was hard to let her go.

My favorite… there are so many favorites. Whenever she was happy. It was such a struggle to be a single parent- one of my favorite things was the first Christmas that I could give her everything that she wanted- I mean we weren’t rich, but you know how it is to feel so wealthy on so little. I just loved to give her things, things I didn’t have as a kid. I remember her just dancing around. I just loved when she was happy.

13. What were you like as a young girl? Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to have a store. (She laughs) I made a lot of things when I was little. I was crafty because we were really poor and I made a lot of things. I remember I had this small doll and I would make hats for her out of bottle caps. They were cork back then and I would attache fabric, my mother was a seamstress, so I’d get the fabrics and make little hats. I was always making spaces for myself. But, I remember I used to love to play store.

14.Now that you have raised a child, started a business, and started a new business as an artist- what do you want to be when you grow up?

(She laughs) Oh, I still don’t know. (She laughs again) What I want to be is happy and more evolved as a human being. It is interesting, you look at “mistakes” in the past and present and inappropriate reactions and sometimes you get this clarity and say oh that’s happening so I can evolve this part and learn something about myself. It helps you learn something about other people to understand them and not be judgemental. It’s funny I just turned 60 and I think, huh, I’m still dealing with that? You never get it done. You have these contrasts in your life, you have to have things to make you want more and better or you wont grow. But you’ll never get it done, never not till you’re dead. You learn from contrast and conflict. That is the only way to evolve.

Cinnamon holding up her first piece.

Thank you so much Cinnamon.

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There are two days left to get your mom a gift and a card. Don’t forget.

Katie Raetz

Burdy Fly Away is a Portland, Oregon, based clothing line for babies and women. It is the brain child, and creative outlet, for at home mom and designer, Katie Raetz: born out of her, “need for a creative outlet while staying home and raising two amazing boys.”

This declaration of love for trees is hand cut from eco-spun felt and then "drawn" with the sewing machine, using contrasting colors of thread.

Silk screen writing

Katie uses as much organic material as she can get her hands on then hand dyes each piece in small batches. She uses eco-spun felt for her applique designs which are “drawn” on with her sewing machine, using contrasting embroidery for detail, and lastly (yes there is more) she does her screen printing designs by hand.

Adorable from front...

To back.

Hand, hand, hand… Katie is a busy lady, but she found a precious sliver of time to give to us over at Presents of Mind for some of our questions. We call it ten questions, but truth be told there are some extra questions thrown into the mix.

Ten Questions For Burdy Fly Away

1. Where did you come up with the name Burdy Fly Away? I had read on one of your blog posts that you thought part of being a mom is setting your own burdy free. Is that part of the inspiration of the name?

Yes it is. What happened actually is my husband came up with the name because I moved a lot. I would never spend more than nine months in a place. I went to school, I moved around for work, I was always moving, and we would always joke that I was a vagabond. Now I can’t move so much any more because I have kids. So I guess my husbands came up with the  name. I guess, it is kind of about me, I never thought about the name that much, I thought it was kind of cute, and fun and fit. It was a name we kind of had thrown around and it fit. When we first made clothing, at the Alberta street fair, I didn’t have a name, and we decided to use it.

2. You wrote that you created Burdy fly Away out of a creative need, so are you saying that being  a mom isn’t enough for a woman? Are you saying you need more? Joking aside, how did the idea come about, and what did you start with first baby or women’s clothing?

I have a very chaotic personality. I think it comes from growing up with seven kids in my family, and it was chaotic, so, I think I need more because I have a high sense of stress level, not that I think that is always healthy, but I needed a little bit more. I needed another outlet, and I am an artistic type, and I need to create because when I wasn’t creating I felt like I didn’t have a motivation. Not that parenting isn’t important to me, but if I am not motivated, I won’t get out of my pajamas. Not that being a mom isn’t fulfilling to me, it is fulfilling, but for me, I needed more. I spend most of my day parenting, and I spend a lot of late nights doing more, but for the most part I can cutout  flowers of felt right alongside my boys as they are cutting out paper and we are doing something together – some women need other outlets. I have like a friend who likes running, that is her personal time her outlet, I wish I did that, but I need this.

I started with the baby clothes- than I did the first craft thing, and people began asking me if I did them in adult sizes.When I was pregnant with my son, I started wearing the American Apparel tunic dresses, these shirts that kind of show off your baby bump, but that don’t make you look, you know; it shows you off in a nice way. And I started putting my designs on them and they looked good. And people liked them.

3. Did you go to school for any design or did your sewing, and design skills come out of growing up crafty?

I have always been very crafty , my mom had seven kids, and she was always sewing. My mom was always sewing and cooking, and we always had crayons out doing stuff. We grew up crafty and creative. I did go to art school. I went to the Art Institute of Seattle, and I graduated with a graphic design degree. I had a graphic design job for a while, but I hated sitting behind a computer eight hours a day. I had a love of painting and sculpture, and what you might call high art. It [the Art Institute] wasn’t exactly where I found my niche. I’m grateful for it, but I sometimes wish I had gone to more of a fine arts school. I’ve been out of school for twelve years now so it’s been a long time, but I do find the experience helps me now, but there are other things I would have liked to have learned, like I want to start doing patterning making, and making my own clothes. Not having to rely on other suppliers, and making clothes that fit many different body types.

4. What is your favorite part about creating your clothing: Conceptualizing a design, the construction or hitting the streets to sell your work?

Definitely conceptualizing. I am a project starter. I love coming up with new designs and color coordinations. Production is hard for me. Like right now, I’m working on next year’s winter line (because that is how retail works you always work seasons ahead) and it is really hard for me to work a season ahead because by the time I get to the production part I am tired of the designs. I start to think it, oh, it looks like poop, hah, so, the production part is really hard for me. And, with all the increase in work, it is difficult to do it on my own, because everything is hand cut, and it is hard for me to get help because I don’t have patterns, and so I end up staying up late to cut out felt. Sometimes, I feel like I have my own little sweatshop at home, you know, and then I always think I’m done, but there is always more… so definitely concept is my favorite part.

5. How long have you been doing Burdy Fly Away?

I have only been doing it for two in and a half years. [Jan 2010: Burdy Fly Away is a little over three and a half years old since this original interview] I started it when my son Max was six months. When I first started, I was really embarrassed. I was buying onesies and dying them on my stove top. And I thought, I will be so embarrassed if no one buys my stuff. My husband and I would talk about this, but then people started buying it. I started thinking wouldn’t it be cool if we were in a store, but I didn’t know or think if that would happen. Then suddenly people wanted to start carrying it in their stores, and to me it was crazy. I was nursing my baby, and chasing my two year old around, and I couldn’t believe it. I thought, could I possibly not have to go back to work. I had been working out of the home before, and I didn’t really want to go back to that. Day care for two kids is crazy expensive, and when I was working we made a little more money, but after all the money for day care I wasn’t bring much home. The idea that this was my work, and I wouldn’t have to go back out to work was amazing. I think a lot of moms have to work, and I am really lucky that my husband’s job makes enough to support us. We bring in enough of an income that I can stay home, but still my husband is the one that brings in the money. So, hah, were poor.

6. How long do you see yourself creating Burdy Fly Away? Do you create designs for men or is that in the future?

I don’t even know. I hope that it builds into a real business, but I don’t know. I would like to be to a point when my husband doesn’t have to work. My husband is also an illustrator, and we’re hoping that years down the line that it can be a family business. We hope to expand into men’s clothing. I love doing applique work, I love how it fits on women. But I would like to do some more silk screen work. We would like it to be more art conceptual into that direction.

7. I might be wrong, but I think I read that eco-spun felt is created from recycled consumer plastic bottles, is that right? Do you always use eco-spun felt for your appliqué? How did you find out about it and can you tell us a little about how it is to work with as a material?

It is actually pretty much the felt that they sell at all crafting stores. I stumbled upon it by luck. It was one of the products I was using, and than this was the bonus. Than I just started  using that brand. The great thing about using it for applique, is that you don’t have to use stabilizers because other materials will bunch, but the felt has a great constitute, it’s  flat and it works as a great canvas for the drawings, [drawing with the sewing machine] and it doesn’t shrink or fade, when dried.

8. Why do you think using organic is so important?

I think it is important to use organic, and I want to make it accessible to all consumers, and this can be difficult with cost. When you buy into things that are organic or recyclable hopefully the whole world will change,and buy into organics more, and eventually make it more cost accessible to everyone. It is hard to be a company, and be environmentally sound and safe, but also to offer the product cheaper. Still, I feel like I am trying to support more of a sustainable company. I want to be environmentally responsible, but at the same time the cost aspect can be difficult. I try to use organics and recycled whenever I can, and do my best to be responsible.

9. You wrote on your blog that Burdy Fly away is a family business, can you tell us a little about how everyone pitches in and helps out with the work and creativity?

My sons, are  my inspirations. I definitely think if I didn’t have kids I wouldn’t have my take on what I put my kids in. I guess, I kinda wanna dress them how my husband and I dress,and in things I think are cool. Sometimes, I see things in the stores that are made that I don’t necessarily want to put my kids in, like things that may not seem appropriate, or all in blue because they are boys. I think that’s were my kids come in with the ideas. They are a lot of inspiration for the designs. Like the bubble design I came up with because of my kids because they are obsessed with bubbles. Other than that they contribute with sleep deprivation and pulling out my hair.

My husband will come home and sacrifice his own sleep to stay up and dye shirts with me. I’m not detail orientated, and my husband is an illustrator who will sit at home, and be really detailed, which is the opposite of me, I’m really big. We bounce ideas off each other, and he is great at clipping threads, clipping tags, he is great at craft shows. He sets everything up, and the craft shows are really hard work. I do a lot of the creating and production part. I keep telling him I’m going to teach him how to sew. I rope my mom into sewing tags into the backs for me. I’ll rope anybody in my family that will help me; my sister, she’s great with clipping threads. My husband is my screen-painter guy too. And he works full time away from home, and still he does a lot. And he doesn’t complain too much. We have definitely worked on our working relationship!

10. What is the most difficult part of being an at home mom, and being a designer? I mean, really you are a working mom, but you work from home, and thankfully you work for yourself, but can you divulge any difficulties you encounter? Also what advice do you have, for other mom’s, that may want to start their own crafty or clothing design business?

The worst part is feeling like you are letting everyone down. Feeling like you are not enough. Like if I have a big order, and I have to sit the kids in front of a movie, and work then I feel like a bad mom. It is where I think I am failing; as a mom, because I don’t spend enough time with the kids, because I can’t get my order done; I can’t get the line done. I have to find a balance and understand that I am not a bad mom. I have to be more understanding that I am not a bad mom if I can’t give them 100% at all times. Even though most of the time I do give them 100%. I have to give my husband so many props because he picks up a lot of slack. I think the hardest part is juggling, and not freaking out. I think it’s really hard, and it is important to have a support system of other moms. It is weird being a mom. It is hard being a stay at home mom, and really busy because I’m working, so I don’t see my friends a lot.

[Advice to other moms wanting to start a business...]

Finding other craft moms that are like minded is good, but it can be difficult. Do the local craft fairs the street fairs, see what people are thinking and what they are saying. A spouse is a good thing, but even if you are a single mom, and I know some single mom’s have a hard time with this, but I think you should just do it. I think a lot of it is doing it, and just finding that niche, and doing what you want to do. A lot of people have great ideas, but don’t follow through, but you only have just one life.

Thank you so much to Katie Raetz.

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In anticipation and celebration, we have decided to highlight and interview a few of Portland’s working moms. They craft, they design, they sew, they raise children, and lucky us, we get to share in the fruits of their labors. The interviews may be home-life focused, they may be designed focused, but they are 100% working mom.

To start off our series, we’ve reached out to Rachel Robichaud, creator and designer of Plume, jewelry and hair-accessories. Rachel was kind enough to find the time between her work and raising her two boys to answer some of our questions.

Flaming Red Hearts Post Earring Studs

1. The first thing that jumps out when looking at your jewelry are the colors. They are so vibrant.  The earrings pop out like bold flowers and the rings and hairpieces are like frosted candy. Can you tell us a little about your process? Where do you find your material? How do you create such bright colors, do you find them that way or do you enhance them?

I spend a lot of time searching for the right suppliers and I’m drawn to those who provide materials that are bright and colorful. I love vintage and vintage inspired flower cabochons, buttons and clip on earrings. I have always been drawn to bright colors. I wear a lot of black and so I enjoy wearing accessories that add a pop of color. Sometimes, I buy things and I have no idea what I am going to do with it. A year later, I might have an idea and it can become one of my favorite pieces.

Bright Coral Rose Bobbie Pins

2. Plume has been around since 2007, can you tell us a little about what you were doing before? Looking back can you trace what lead you into designing/crafting jewelry? Did you grow up being crafty or was it something you had learned along the way?

Before making jewelry I worked as a caseworker for foster children. Once I began having a family of my own, I realized that I could never go back. I started making jewelry right after my second son was born. I began making rings out of vintage buttons and I would give them out as gifts to friends. A few of my friends suggested I start selling them. I set up shop on Etsy and stores began finding me. It grew rather quickly and sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with demand. I have always loved creating things. It is very therapeutic for me. After a long day with the kids, I know I can go up to my studio and create. It provides a release.

Blue Rose Post Earring Studs

3. Did Plume feel the hit of the economy? Do you think it has been challenging to remain an independent creative business during this economic “crisis”? It seems that Portland has a unique spirit for supporting craft moms, and artist, and other indi-designers, do you find that to be true?

Plume has felt few affects from the economy. I price my items so that they are affordable for almost everyone. I know that we are on a tight budget as are many other families. I think that my prices allow people to still buy a little something without feeling guilty. This town is unique in that it is so supportive of local designers.  I try to buy local whenever possible. I especially love going to craft shows where I can meet the artist that I am buying from. As I enjoy meeting those who buy my jewelry as well!  After participating in my first craft show I realized that this is where I belong. I enjoy the energy from the other artists. It is inspiring to be a part of this amazing group of people who love and support each other.

Blue Rose Necklace

4.  When you first started selling to us you were originally called Bijou Bazaar, but due to someone (unbeknownst to you) already having the same name you had to change it to Plume. What we have noticed, here at Presents of Mind, is that since you made the name change, your work is practically flying off the shelves. Lucky advantage to something that may have been disappointing at first. This leads into my questions: Are you finding that to be true, that the name change has effected your sales, and what is in or about a name? Do you mind telling us a little about that experience of having to change your business name, and what has come out of it. Also, (last part of the questioning) where did you come up with the name Plume?

Yes, initially I was devastated. Another jewelry maker on the East coast had trademarked the name Bijou Bazaar. I was immediately forced to change my name on Etsy to continue selling. I have found that since changing my name Plume sales have increased. I decided to change my logo at the same time and I think that might have something to do with it. I have learned these past three years how important branding/marketing can be. When I first picked my original name, I was not thinking this business would grow as big as it has. I registered my name with the state, but never got it trademarked. I had heard that trademarking is such a long and expensive process, but because of the internet anyone can find you and it is smart to protect yourself through trademark.  The second time around, I put a lot of thought into my image and how I wanted to be represented. I chose the name plume because I love peacocks and how colorful they are. I thought it would be a good fit because my jewelry is so colorful and I think it has a vintage feel to it.

Pretty Pink Bouquet Earrings

Red Bird Circle Earrings

Blue Rose Portrait Bobbie Pins

5. Do you work from home or do you have a studio space? Can you describe your working environment? What do you have to have in order to work? You know how some writers have to work with a certain pen, and write things out by hand first, or a painter needs her coffee or glass of wine? What do you have to have in your space?

My studio is located on the 3^rd floor of my home. It is my favorite place in the house. It is like an oasis away from the chaos. I have a tack board above my work station where I put up images that inspire me. I have pictures of my family, my animals, my friends and I have clippings from magazines and newspapers.  I am constantly looking for new ideas. Sometimes inspiration can come from the most unlikely places.

Coral Pink Rose Ring

6. You mentioned you have two young boys. Do you find it challenging to balance your life between being a mom and being a designer? How do you find the time? I imagine that you have deadlines, how do you create the crunch time in order to get your work completed? Can you describe a typical day for you?

At times it can be difficult to balance both. I run a business yet I am a stay-at-home mom. Most of my work is done after the kids go to bed and I am up until my orders are finished. I drink a lot of coffee during the day and I have a lot of late nights. All of this is worth being able to stay home with the boys.

Filigree & Flower Ring

Green Dahlia Ring

Vintage Yellow Rose Necklace

8. What do you envision for Plume’s future? Do you have an elaborate plan or are you rollin’ with it?

I would love to see it grow and possibly venture outside of Oregon. Right now I have enough to keep me busy, but when the time comes, I hope to market myself all over the United States.

Yellow Heart Earrings

Fuscia Chandelier Earrings

9.  In your utopian world, what would be the perfect day for you?

My perfect day would be to wake up to a big breakfast with my family, the paper and a good cup of coffee. Then I’d go on a nice hike with my husband and boys and finish with some thrift store shopping and happy hour with a friend.

Green Dahlia Earrings

Sounds Like a great day! Thank you so much to Rachel of Plume.

You can find her designs in our store and much of what you see on this post can be found on our website. Be sure to check back to our post for more interviews and see what wonderful gifts we have for your mothers this mother’s day.

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Luna is Karina Potestio. Born and raised in Guatemala, Karina currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and three daughters. We began carrying her line in the fall, beginning with baby booties, that were so popular, we could not keep them on the floor. We had been so excited by their popularity that we were jumping to carry more. We now carry her skirts, arm/leg warmers, head bands, baby onesies, toddler and kid shirts, and adult dresses. In the fall and winter we will ask her to bring back the popular booties that everyone loves.

You can tell her distinct styling by the applique bird with the button eye or the guitar with the finely stitched guitar strings. Karina taught herself to sew as a teenager by deconstructing her clothing to see how everything was cut and put together. Now as an adult she brings her creativity to us through her adorable and fetching designs inspired by her daughters. We are so grateful that Karina has managed to take a little time out of her extremely busy day to answer some of our nosey questions.

Meet Karina Potestio of Luna

1.     Can you tell us a little about what it was like for you growing up in Guatemala? Is it very different from growing up here in the States? For example can you compare things to how it was for your mother raising you in Guatemala to your experience raising your three girls here in the states?

My girls were exposed at a very early age to different cultures and different experiences. They also understood earlier, that their life is what they make of it. The opportunities that children have in the United States with regards to sports and different extra curricular activities not only shows the difference in strength of a country but also the freedom of movement.

2.     You mentioned in an earlier interview that your mother had sewn all of your clothes and that you began teaching yourself to sew when you were a teenager. Was it this combination of your mother’s influence and the cost of fashion today that got you interested in making your own line?

Without question it is true I was influenced by watching my mother make my clothes and I wanted my children to have hip, fun and colorful yet affordable clothing, hoping that they will eventually learn as I did.  My oldest daughter is now able to produce different sewing items (lavender pillows and birds) under the name of Little Luna, and is able to sell them and learn the value of hard work, my younger girls like to share in the money that my oldest makes, of course they love to sell at the booth and my hope is that some day they too will begin to design and produce their own products. It is fun to watch how the business has influenced my kids.

3.     Where did you come up with the name of Luna?

There is a children’s rhyme in Spanish my mom taught me when I was a little girl “Luna Luna dame pan que ya me voy a San Juan” I taught it to my daughters and it was the perfect name for my business.

4.     Aside from selling through us you can also be found almost every Saturday at the Saturday Market. Not all of our readers have visited the Market and it is a world unto itself, can you tell us a little bit about that community? Also between being a mom, and creating your clothing line and working at the markets how do you ever find any time?

You will be pleasantly surprised at the beauty of this Market! You have the opportunity to meet the artists and crafters from across the NW region that gathers each week for the Saturday/Sunday Market. It’s a challenge to balance family time and all of the time I spend sewing and at the Saturday Market. Sometimes that means staying up later than I would like, but this is a trade off for having a home business. It also helps that my husband and I take turns to be at the market.

5.     You had mentioned in an interview that the guitar and the bird are your signature pieces, can you tell us where their inspiration came from? Were they out of your first designs or do they have something extra special that makes them signature?

The little bird’s name is Luna, I love birds, and my oldest daughter inspired the guitar when she was about 4 years old and was in love with guitars. Now she is 11 and the guitar is stronger than ever!

6.     You also had mentioned that one of the best things about having your own business is that it allows you to stay home and be with your girls, but can you tell us the best thing for you about being a mom?

Watching them grow into wonderful people, and learning from my girls. But the best part is the snuggling and the random “I love you mami”.

7.     Can you tell us a little about your own mother? Do you have a favorite memory of her or an inspirational bit of advice passed down from her?

My mom is behind all of my women’s creations, even though she is in Guatemala, we talk everyday and I share my design ideas with her and she gives me the advice on how to make it happen especially making my patterns.

8.   If your daughters could learn just one thing from you what would you like that to be?

I want for them to do in life what they love!

9.     Last question, do you have any future plans for Luna?

Keep creating unique, handmade affordable clothing for families like my own.

Thank you so much Karina:  Luna.

We have more interviews coming up in the next following weeks. Join us as we count down to loving mother’s day.

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