SoNo Fest Report

photo credit | arlene ibarra

All I can say is that McKinley parents know how to throw an awesome party. 

Over 6000 people came out to our SoNo Park Holiday Fest to eat chili, drink beer, shop, listen to music and play. It was an incredible day! 

Thanks to everyone who came out to help us raise money for our McKinley Elementary kids. We appreciate the help :) Until next year!

Mouse & Moe

You're going to love the unique recycled plastic jewelry by Emily of Mouse & Moe. They are all truly one-of-a-kind pieces. Emily's one of those people who can make a masterpiece out of anything you throw her way. She also spends time each year in Uganda teaching women how to make jewelry. She's awesome! Stop by her booth for a chat...

1. What prompted you to start your business?

I've always been the artsy crafty sort, and had made jewelry and purses for friends and myself for years. A few years back, I was unemployed for about six months, and between job searches, I started taking my jewelry making hobby a little bit more seriously!

2. Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I love working with alternative and recycled materials. I try to stay away from craft supply stores and find my materials elsewhere, so I guess you could say that the materials are what inspire me. I've been working a lot with recycled plastic, and have enjoyed the challenge of making it look beautiful. I also love working with broken costume jewelry and other scrap materials where each piece is unique, and I just allow those materials to turn into something one-of-a-kind.

3. What is one essential for your work space?

Having a work space! I worked at a little desk in my bedroom for years, but always found myself folding laundry or taking a nap instead of getting something done. I finally decided to carve out a little work space for myself in the living room, behind a room divider wall, and it's been so good to have a place that is strictly for creating.

4. What is the best part about owning your own business?

My dream is to work as a designer alongside companies that are using ethical business practices to help women around the world combat poverty and achieve their own dreams. I've been incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to design jewelry for the women of Ember Arts (whose work will be represented at the SoNo Fest). They are a group of Acholi women in Uganda who make recycled paper jewelry. Projects like this require a bit of traveling, though, and having my own business allows me to work just part time with a very flexible and generous employer (Sophia at the Make Good!) so that I'm able to leave the country for months at a time and work in Uganda.

Colleen Townend Jewelry

One of my favorite creative people will be joining us again at this year's SoNo Fest, Colleen Townend. Colleen's work is extremely personal and artistic. When I compliment women in the neighborhood on their jewelry they often tell me it's one of Colleen's pieces. Stop by her booth this year and I promise you won't leave without buying something!

1. What prompted you to start your business?
I have been making jewelry from the loads of treasures I would find at rummage sales and junk shops since I can remember. I would make pieces and wear them or gift friends and family but never thought of selling my work. About 10 years ago, I was encouraged by friends to have a show in my home and see what happens. I was petrified but did it and it was such a success I had an "aha" moment. Since then, I have become immersed in the local artist community in San Diego and have done more shows than I can count.

2. Where do you find inspiration for your work?
My work space is filled with things I love, jars of antique baubles, wall hooks dripping with strands of vintage rhinestones and beads, photos of loved ones and kids artwork, it's like a shrine for inspiration.Sometimes I'm inspired by the wardrobe in a movie or the architecture of a building, music, family, friends and
definitely nature. More than anything,scouring through dusty forgotten about treasures in antique stores and junk shops, estate sales and flea markets.I tend to develop an attachment to the vintage pieces and as I'm working with them I start to narrate a story in my head about who the piece may have belonged to and the history of the piece comes alive for me.
  
3. What is one essential for your work space?
It's hard to narrow it down to one thing, how about 3? Good lighting and tools are a must and my guilty pleasure is the tiny t.v. in the corner of my desk that keeps me company when I'm cranking out pieces getting ready for a show.




4. What is the best part about owning your own business?
Working from home allows me to stay involved with family while having the creative outlet I need to keep me sane. I get to do what I'm passionate about and connect with other like minded creatives regularly, I'm so thankful for that.

Lizzy B Vintage

I'm so excited to have Gina of Lizzy B Vintage back at the SoNo Park Fest this year! You'll adore her one-of-a-kind jewelry. I have a typewriter necklace and love wearing it. She was recently featured on Martha Stewart's Dreamers into Doers. Here's a sample of her interview. 

When did you start your business and what inspired you to do this? How did you turn your dream into a business plan?

I started my first business of handmade greeting cards and wedding invitations in 2003. I turned to making jewelry from vintage finds in 2005. We were avid flea-market hunters; I saw a vintage typewriter and said, "What would Martha make from this?" I bought my first antique typewriter and made a bracelet, and everything changed from that day forward.

What do you love most about being your own boss? What are the drawbacks?

My husband will laugh: I like to be in control! I get a vision and I love seeing it through from idea to design to a piece that someone will wear on her neck or wrist. I design for that little black dress or a casual white T-shirt. I love being able to take my kids to school, go to my son's afternoon tennis matches, have lunch with my daughter -- it's perfect. The drawback is being in control of everything -- scouring flea markets, answering emails, setting up shows, packaging orders, and then finding time to create, cook, and clean!

How did you learn and acquire the skills you use to make your business successful? How do you continue to grow and learn?

I have taken a few jewelry classes and while I may not make the intended piece, I always walk away with one new bit of knowledge, whether it is a specific technique or new source of materials. I also ask my mother and brother about cleaning or manipulating vintage materials. While scouring flea markets, older vendors are always willing to share their stories and history about different pieces. The stories are one of the keys to my success. When I can tell my customer where a specific piece came from, it usually helps them to love their choice even more.

What is your favorite product/service that you offer?

My favorite pieces are those I make from other people's vintage heirlooms. I am currently working with a friend's grandfather's WWI dog tags, a sterling bracelet given to her mother in 1915, and two bracelets that her father gave her mother. I'm honored to be trusted with these items and learn their history. When I present the finished necklace or bracelet to my clients, we often both end up in tears.


For the rest of Gina's interview click here.

Post Box Press

With our SoNo Park Holiday Fest coming up in two weeks, I'm excited to share interviews with some of the talented artists we have this year. 

First up is Post Box Press. Katie and her brother Joel create designs that are clean, simple and lovely. My favorites are the Chevron & Holiday cards and I'm pretty stingy about who I send them to. Enjoy reading their fun interview...

What prompted you to start your business? 

When my brother Joel got married he asked me to help design his wedding invitation, and when I got married a few years later I asked him to help me design mine. We were both frustrated by the lack of options (in a seemingly flooded wedding market) that met our criteria: clean, simple, custom, AND affordable. After working together we realized we shared a common vision: a partnership committed to good design, simplicity, quality, and making custom design available to the common man :) 

Where do you find inspiration for your work? 

We're constantly inspired by our clients. The individuality that each person brings to the table is incredible, and that individuality inspires our design.  

We typically start out with a concept, and it evolves throughout the design process. I think that's one of the advantages of working as a team: although sometimes it's hard to take criticism, or give up an idea, the process yields a better product than either of us would have come up with on our own. So I guess we're inspired by each other, too. 

This year we embarked on a new adventure: readymade cards and templates. Most of our cards are inspired by projects we've done for ourselves over the last three years, so they reflect a lot of our personalities. We're both a little (ok, a lot) obsessed with simplicity, and a lot of our work centers around geometric shapes and typography. I think a lot of our best design comes from our simplest ideas. 

What is one essential for your work space? 

Joel: Magic Mouse.

Katie: A Le Pen, because I'm a compulsive list maker. 

What is the best part about owning your own business? 

Where to begin? I love working with my brother. He's an extremely talented designer and just a really good man, and I feel very lucky to have him as a partner. We set our own schedules and take projects we love, and though we sometimes overcommit, we're careful to protect the things that are important to us and not burn ourselves out. I'm able to be at home with my son, Leo, which is an amazing gift. 

But maybe the single best part is seeing our designs realized on paper. Getting an invitation or announcement in the mail (we send ourselves a copy of the finished product) and thinking "We made that." And it made people happy. 

Crystal B

Our 2nd Annual SoNo Park Holiday Fest is coming up soon (Dec. 4th) and I get to be vendor recruiter this year. The best part of that job is meeting new people who are incredibly talented and creative!

Crystal B. will be joining us this year from Temecula. Check out her adorable blog and etsy shop. Welcome Crystal!

Holiday Fest 2010

Had the best time yesterday at our SoNo Park Holiday Fest! It was a huge success and fun was had by all. It's a definite annual event so mark your calendars for next year. What a treat to be part of something that brings the community together, supports local business and raises money for our kid's school. Love it! 

Have a few items left you might be interested in. Contact me at jenbyard@mac.com if you would like the...

Antique white distressed twin bed (rails included too) : 120.

Antique window with red brochade backing : 40. 

Burlap-wrapped boxwood Christmas tree : 45. 

Succulent Terrariums : 15. large size | 12. small size

Harrison & Paige : NFS 

SoNo Park Holiday Fest

I've been working with a great group of parents to put together the first Annual SoNo Park Holiday Fest. It's going to be a great time! We've got great shopping, Chili Cook-off with the best North & South Park Restaurants participating & "Celebrity" Judges, Micro-brew Beer Garden, Kid's crafts, Hourly Raffles and more.  

If you're in the area, come on over. I guarantee a good time!