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Candles require a little TLC to get the best burn. Your candle is made with soy wax, a raw wick, and fragrance oils that flux due to room temperature, sunlight, and burn time. It can be a bit tricky at first but with these few pointers, your candles will be burning smooth in no time.
Edge-to-Edge
The first burn is the most important burn! Soy wax has a memory. Always burn long enough to create a wax pool from edge-to-edge on the top of your candle. This will reduce memory rings, and increase the burn life of your candle. A good rule of thumb would be to give your candle 1 hour of burn time for every 1/2 inch in diameter. For example, if your vessel is 2 inches in diameter, let your candle burn for 4 hours. That being said, never leave a candle unattended.
Optimal room temperature for your candle is between 70-75°F. Burning your candle in a cold room, in an area with large drafts of wind, on a cold surface, or in direct sunlight can all negatively impact your burn results.
Raw Materials
Working with raw materials can require a bit more attentiveness at times. Your candle may require multiple lightings before the wick gets going.
Trimming
If your candle has a raw cotton wick, always be sure to keep the wick trimmed to 1/4" (keep the wick longer for the first burn).
Repurpose
Once your candle has reached the end of its life, repurpose the vessel. Microwave in 10 second increments until you are able to carefully remove the wick tab. Hand wash with hot water. Plant your favorite drought tolerant plant - voila!
]]>Healthy tips on how to Detox after Wildfire Smoke Inhalation
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the California Department of Public Health recommend “N95” respirators or “P100” masks, both of which are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for health care workers and firefighters.
Those simple-but-sophisticated masks are intended to block at least 95 percent of the hazardous and tiny particulate matter — known as PM2.5 — that spews from wildfire smoke. At 2.5 microns or less in diameter, the particles of PM2.5 can’t even be seen by the naked eye, said Dr. John Balmes, a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of California-Berkeley. (For comparison, a human hair can measure as little as 16 microns in diameter.)
]]>The invention of the Polaroid instant camera changed the world and made photography accessible to the amateur photographer of any age or skill level. One of the unexpected uses has been people capturing images that could be of the spectral plane variety with their cameras- from floating orbs to the famous ghost writing incident that took place in CA in the 1980’s. Listen to the Snap Judgement episode featuring interviews with the home owner.
Buy the pin here
We've gathered some links on how to use photography in your next ghost hunt. If you find any orbs or mists please let us know...we are dying to see some. (wink wink)
]]>Plaid Weekend is many things. This year in Oakland it is two days of local love- Plaid Friday- the shop local alternative to the big box “Black Friday” and Small Business Saturday- a perfect way to kick off the holidays by shopping local and supporting small business.
Did we mention that IT’S OUR 6 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!! Holy Moly, we can’t believe it. We are celebrating by thanking our customers with some fantastic offerings:
-Chance to win a Faribault throw blanket
-The first 50 people to spend $50 get a free goody bag with a limited edition exclusive M + R scent candle by Illuminate Waxworks, a mini chocolate bar by Endorfin foods and surprise discounts from 10% to 50% off.
SMALL BIZ SATURDAY
Maker Pop-up with VARTAN 12-4pm
Vartan textile studio is located in downtown San Francisco, where we find inspiration in both the romantic and practical purposes of a simple piece of cloth. We use modest and often ancient construction methods, such as Japanese Shibori dyeing techniques and delicate hand-rolled hems, to create thoughtfully-crafted pieces made from the highest quality fabrics and dyes.
Some History of Plaid Friday
Founded in 2008, Plaid Friday is a national movement to support independent businesses during the busiest shopping day of the year. The plaid symbolizes the weaving together of individual small businesses to create a strong community fabric that celebrates diversity, creativity, and unique offerings. This year the City of Oakland, Oakland Grown and Townsquared have partnered up to make Plaid Friday a weekend long celebration of small business in Oakland. Oakland's Plaid Friday Weekend is the perfect way to shop, eat, and indulge with your loved ones while exploring the many vibrant businesses in Oakland. Can you believe there is even free parking all weekend long!
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Paper Pony Co. is a line of illustrated goods by Talia E. Gavish located in Oakland, California. Like the temperament of an actual pony, she describes her style as adorably moody: cute to look at but packed with attitude! Sustainability, transparency, and mindful customer service are important values that drive the brand.
The bottle openers are made from recycled metal made in the U.S.A. by a company in Minnesota. buy now.
]]>Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.
I tend to be a very active person, always on the go. I own a small coffee shop/ retail space in the Mission District (Faye’s Coffee & Video) and help raise an 11 year old with my complicated Bay Area "family”. As if those things don't take up enough of my time, I try to have a steady studio practice where I've been exploring the ideas of domesticity.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by the complexity and simplicity of relationships, whether it is examining my own personal human relationships of the past and present, or the way that if you put an orange next to an apple the reflective color effects both of their coloring. I see myself as very observant and I am constantly taking in things around me and being effected by them. Often this overwhelms me a bit and so you'll find me zoning out or scrolling madly through my instagram feed that is also another source of inspiration. I love being able to see what my artist friends are up to on the east coast or building relationships through imagery with people I've never met.
Do you have any rituals when you are in the studio?
When I am in my studio I am often listening to music and drinking coffee. I frequently have more then one project going at a time and I bounce around between them. I have 3 other studio mates and we often have lunch together and check in with each other on the progress of our work. I also am very messy, but I know exactly where everything is in my mess.
Do you listen to podcasts or music when working? What are your fav songs/playlists or podcasts right now?
I do not listen to podcasts or books on tapes in my studio, or ever really. I honestly have a hard time comprehending when someone reads aloud to me. But I do listen to a lot of music, even though I consider myself musically challenged. What I mean by that is that I never know really what I am listening too. I'll let Pandora or Spotify randomly choose things or I'll listen to mixes that my brother has made me. I am drawn to music that have good lyrics… i like the words. A few of my favorites that I'll use as a jumping off point are Monsters of Men, Frightened Rabbit, Mates of State and The Avett Brothers.
Do you have any advice for other artists?
My advice to other artists is just keep making work in your own voice. The art world is so crazy and I don't think there are any rules so don't try to make sense of it. Things happen when they happen. I was with a pretty substantial Bay Area Gallery for years, and after they closed I've joust been sort of drifting around. It would be great to at some point have the stability of a gallery (in LA hopefully) but until then I'll just keep making work.
What are your 3 favorite instagram accounts right now?
Three instagram accounts that I love… that's hard because there are so many… but I really love Dailydoodlegram, knitboy1, and lindsayvictorialee. I also follow some crazy taxidermists that I love seeing as well.
Michael McConnell can be found on Instagram @poopingrabbit
and online at poopingrabbit.com
Faribault recycled cotton throw blanket and oversized tote bag, perfect for a picnic or summer travels. Blanket $95 Tote $140
Beautiful hand screened cotton tea towel, so pretty it could be used for a hand towel, in a bread basket or even as a placemat on a tabletop. $16
These ceramic iPad holders pull double duty- hold your iPad while cooking for easy, no mess viewing of your favorite recipe, while holding all of your best cooking utensils in the back. $72
We made it easy to give Mom something unique with our custom curated gift sets that come wrapped and ready to go. We went with a pampering theme for Moms starting at $16
Walnut Cake stand, with Corian top. Made to be used and enjoyed while maintaining it's beauty. $72
]]>Tell us a little about Standard Wax & what you do.
Standard Wax is on a mission to bring art into the everyday. We focus on designing products that combine form and function. We believe that everything you put in your home should be beautiful and inspired.
When did you get started? When did you make the transition to doing Standard Wax full time?
Standard Wax started in 2011 (nearly as an accident). We rode the ups an downs of running a business on the side for a while, which was good for us as we refined our brand and how we wanted it to grow. Sam quit her day job in 2014 and Andrew followed suit shortly after. It’s amazing how much growth we’ve seen since then. Having the time to dedicate to your business without being distracted by a day job is really an incredible thing.
Tell us what a normal day is like.
I’m actually happy to say that a “normal day” is becoming something we are able to experience! Waking up and heading to the studio early (we are both morning people) to make sure everything is in order for the day’s production, and then letting our team take over - getting their hands dirty pouring, packaging and shipping candles. It’s nice to have perfected our process to a point where it’s possible to have some help with the production! It leaves a lot of time for us to dream up new products and projects and gather inspiration.
What inspires you?
Ha, I didn’t even see this questions before I wrapped up the previous one. How’s that for a transition? We’re both super inspired by nature, in a number of different ways. It reminds us that the world is so much bigger than the little candle kingdom we live in. We love what we do, and running a business is great - but the inspiration for everything we do comes from travel and adventures. We’re constantly planing our next trip or spontaneous adventure (whether it’s an exotic country across the world or the new mexican restaurant down the street). Being outside never ceases to create a ridiculous sense of wonder about so many things.
What is your favorite part about being a small business owner? What part gives you shivers to think about?
The best thing, and the thing we are always striving for, is the ability to create our own path. If something isn’t working, or we don’t like it, we just change it. We fix it, we make it better and we move on. I love how quickly things can move and grow, and how fast ideas can be brought to live. There is something so satisfying about being about to create your own happiness. Things that give us shivers: accounting (are we going to get audited? We definitely didn’t do that right.), cubicles, florescent lights, and any other indication that we have become a company that’s forgotten it’s story and inspiration.
Any words of wisdom for budding entrepreneurs?
If you’re serious about what you’re doing and you truly want to make it happen, just make it happen! It sounds cliche, but if you put in the time, things will grow. Also don’t sacrifice your happiness or your values for anything. It’s never worth it in the end.
Who is that adorable dog?
That’s Lu! Andrew’s perfect precious angel. She’s a pug chihuahua mix and is one of many dogs that frequents our studio!
You have such a beautiful Instagram feed, (that I geek out on all the time) @standardwax, Who are your five favorite Instagram accounts right now?
@huckberry, @slowjam98, @heartswellco, @laurenkelp, @polerstuff
Big Thanks to Samantha for letting my niece make her own candle. As a tween candle fanatic, she was in heaven!
Want a candle? SHOP NOW
Instagram images courtesy of Standard Wax
]]>Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.
I am an artist/shop owner - my shop is called YONDER - it's in Pacifica and is also home to my workspace studio. I primarily make ceramics which I sell internationally and spend a lot of time curating my small shop.
What inspires you?
Countless things. It's true, the curiosity is high and I have a huge list of interests, inspirations, influences. Currently, the weather, ocean horizon, and my local natural color palette, also the relationship with clay and wood, how to work those two materials together, and oddly John Singer Sargent -- I've been studying his paintings. Tall Ships and ship ephemera, scrimshaw, Caravaggio, those beautiful dark moody styled shots on IG along with 10,000 other things.
Do you have any rituals when you are in the studio?
My studio is part of my shop -- so it's open to the public. Since I moved to that space two years ago, I'm still learning how to utilize my space in concert with the shop. My most consistent ritual is to get coffee every morning next door in the caboose -- a double something fixes me.
Do you listen to podcasts or music when working? What are your fav songs/playlists or podcasts right now?
Music -- Currents from Tame Impala/Little Dragon/Classical -- and pretty much all English 80s music.
I do listen to podcasts too, but often when I am working at home.
Tell us about the shop you recently opened, Yonder Shop. What was your inspiration for opening a shop?
The shop has been open two years. It all happened so fast; a great space came up, I was ready to expand and it just made so much sense to create a curated retail space. I have my work, but I also carry quite a few other ceramic artists, apothecary, jewelry, textiles, books, art, paper goods, woodwork, and a few odds and ends. I am interested in keeping things curious and interesting and though on trend, I try to find and introduce lesser known makers as well.
Do you have any advice for artists looking to make art full time?
Yes, you have to LOVE hard work and be good at the hustle. The making hustle, marketing hustle, and growing your line/work. I worked 9-5 for almost 20 years -- though much of it is a labor of love, it's harder work than any other job I've ever had. Doing it full-time puts it on a whole other level than doing it as a hobby.
What is the name and breed of your dog? (Who is very photogenic I might add.)
Ha! The breed is called Cirneco del'Etna -- they are what's called a primitive breed - egyptian in origin. Obie (Oberon, Obie-wan-kenobe, Obers) my new dog is my third.
Who are your 3 favorite Instagram accounts right now?
this is a tough one -- there are countless feeds I like --
I'll give you three...
I am of late a bit obsessed with Salvatore Lanteri
@Moondobang -- and @moondobang_ceramics (he has two) -- I like his style, not to mention his incredible work.
@Jimmarsdenphotography -- I am an avid follower of jim and look forward to every post. I have one of his analogue film photographs and honestly the image of it floats through my mind often. His work is pure in many ways.
Anything else you would like us to know?
Yes, come see the shop, I'll be at West Coast Craft in November and Remodelista Market at Heath in Dec. Because I am a small batch maker, each show is new work. Keeps it fun.
Linda can be found online at Yondershop.com and @hey_yonder_shop on Instagram
all images courtesy of Linda Fahey
]]>Tell us a bit about your background?
My name is David Price and I am the designer and Co Owner of Candy Relics. I've been active in ceramics for over 15 years and it is always a challenge to get me away from my studio. Morgan Roberts, my wonderful partner in life and business, gave me those reasons to take a break. While traveling abroad in a new start with fresh inspiration for our business, Candy Relics was born.
After experiencing Asia together for over a year, I couldn't wait to dive back into the studio. Morgan and I both love unscripted adventure from beach to mountain and look at life as a challenge to do it all and never stop living it to the fullest.
When did you start working with clay?
I started working in clay during my first year of high school in Kansas, and fell in love with the potters wheel instantly and naturally . The ceramics department felt more like home than any other space in my life and I was given the opportunity to work and play almost everyday. Greg Brantman, my amazing high school ceramics teacher, sat me down and told me that there was a world to discover in clay and that I had just experienced a taste of the potential. With his encouragement and assistance on my college application, I applied to Kansas City Art Institute, and thanks to Mr. Brantman I was excepted. KCAI was a challenging and vigorous program that developed my fire and dive in ceramics that I still carry today.
With a BFA in my pocket I wanted to see what it took to be an artist living and working by the studio. So following KCAI I applied to train as an apprentice under the artist Tim Rowan in the Catskills of upstate New York. With his expectance I was off to New York and a one year apprenticeship. Still working on the potters wheel and challenging myself to the high standards college can instill, I found that ceramics will always be a part of my life. The problem was, I just didn’t know how my work would fit in with the rest of the clay world. My apprenticeship showed me that hard work in the studio and in the office is only just the start to getting yourself out there. And to get myself out there I needed to focus on finding my voice in clay so that I can have a story to tell when i'm standing on my soapbox.
With the application process back in action I applied and was excepted into a residency program with Richard Carter in Napa Valley, Ca. While working in a residency setting with other artist in Napa I was given the space and opportunity to focus on what ceramics means to me. With the advise of Richard Carter I was told to let the potters wheel take a break and focus on telling my story. It was in this break that I had my big "Aha Moment". I am not Japanese and I shouldn't be making Japanese pots. I'm from Kansas and we drink from Mason Jars, and that was the start to the thought process seen in Candy Relics today.
Tell us about the name Candy Relics.
Morgan: While we were traveling, we knew we would be starting a company on our return, so we were always looking at the cultures around us for inspiration. In South East Asia and India there are so many temples, objects and beliefs that are important to that particular culture, in an infinite number of forms from the beautiful Ankor Wat in Cambodia to the loud and firework filled Diwali festival in India to the making and drinking of rice wine in Vietnam. Experiencing all the different cultures and traveling for so long also flips the mirror onto yourself to see and appreciate what makes your culture so special.
A relic is an object, custom, or belief that has survived from an earlier time but is now outmoded. For us this speaks so much to the foundation of our thought process in a beginning stage of designing a new idea. We really wanted to take the original idea of a relic and flip it to reflect our own life and upbringing, but with a little more whimsy and candy coated color; thus Candy Relics was born.
How do you find inspiration for new designs?
Design ideas seem to come and go as a result of being inspired by the things and people around us. This might be why we both start to feel restless after being in one place for too long. The world is too big to stay in one place for too long, and as Morgan and I shift around, some objects seem to demand to be made, most of these ideas seem to be discarded objects laying about.
The mason jar is an object that has so much history with my family and I think a lot of people can say the same. Making this mold 10 years ago was that moment in time when I thought ,"This could be me, this could be my work." And now it seems as though the Paper Cup has worked its way into my life with the multiple trips to the coffee shoppe. So it was only natural to have found that form invoking enough to transform it into a permanent cast of porcelain.
More recently I have become inspired by my surroundings in the Pacific North West, since having moved here to Portland, OR. Discarded old pieces of wood sitting around outside the studio, have now become porcelain cheeseboards while others are planters and jewelry holders. I love to take objects that we can connect with and then turn them into an function that we were not expecting; much like our Vintage Matchbox butter dish or the Caster Flower Vase.
How long have you been in business? What advice would give young designers who want to/or have just started their own business?
Morgan: Candy Relics was founded in June '14, however David had a previous product design company that he ran from '09-'11, so even though Candy Relics is still in its startup phase, we came into the race with a small product line and client base, which really helped us get our start. The past year we have built up the studio, expand and defined the voice of our product line and really started a strong foundation for growth. Knowing this, there is still so much to learn, to not only get seen in this world of beautiful makers and craftsmen, but to also know you are doing those critical first steps to build a business. I find myself constantly learning and making mistakes along the way, which are definitely some of the most valuable lessons, mainly so David doesn't keep reminding me of that time I sent the wrong order to the wrong store, sorry about that. :) I most recently signed up for a small business class to get some guidance, peer support, and finally learn how to use Quick Books properly, which I never learned and can be so confusing! We are both still learning the ropes and gaining perspective into running a small business, and I know it sounds super cheesy, but I would tell young designers to never give up on your dream. To get to watch David in the studio experimenting and creating new ideas and also fulfilling everyone's orders into the wee-hours of the nights is so inspiring to me, he is an example of never giving up on his dream, and is the backbone of Candy Relics, the rest we are learning and hopefully perfecting everyday.
Who are some of your favorite makers out there today?
For me, I've always loved work by Harry Allen. I think he plays with function and form in a way that I aspire to. A company that I have always loved from the beginning is Grove Made. I found them a long time ago selling felt ipad carriers and loved how they would spot light their employees/ makers. It just seemed like an awesome group of people. Today they have grown into making so many awesome products and my walnut phone bumper is one of them. When Morgan and I started Candy Relics I made her look at there website and mission statement as to articulate what I wanted out of our business. I love their "locally made the hard way" badge. They've got it! Turns out they are based out of Portland, OR too.. We totally need to take a tour of that place!
Really there is so much good work out there. The more we reach out to new shoppes and boutiques the more we see so much amazing new awesome design. In this world of constant change you have to stay on your toes because there is so much good competition out there.
Do you have any funny stories to tell us?
Morgan: When we moved to Portland, Oregon last June our moving truck was half our personal items and the other half studio supplies, with the heaviest and most numerous being all of David's plaster molds. For those of you who don't know about mold making, the mold is a heavy white plaster negative of an object that is filled with a liquid porcelain, called slip. The plaster mold then absorbs all the liquid from the clay and voila you open the mold to find the porcelain version of the original. Needless to say a plaster mold is heavy, dense and covers your clothes in white powder.
We had all of our stuff stored in a friend's basement in a commercial space while we were traveling, which meant it was free but also not the most convenient. Everything had to be hand carried down a long corridor, up some winding steps and down an even longer hallway into the back of our truck. Even with a handful of friends helping us, it still took us all day to load the truck and get on the road. Our drive spanned two 8 hour days and not knowing how to drive a manual transmission meant I was behind the wheel of our 14 foot moving truck with no AC, while David got to comfortably drive his cruise control AC-rific ride. By the time we reached Portland I was burned out to say the least. David had yet to see the apartment I signed a lease for and we were still sans a studio space, which meant all the studio equipment was to be unloaded from the truck into the basement and then moved again once we had a studio.
So there we were, with the door flung open on our moving truck, staring at a hundred plaster molds that needed to be moved before we even began to get to our personal items. One by one the two of us shuttled the heavy plaster molds to the basement, worn out and hot. After several trips and only a few over sized molds left, I was relieved to find a small one tucked to the side, which I then proceeded to not so smoothly drop onto my pinkie toe. Screaming at the top of my lungs, I grabbed the mold and decided that what I needed at that moment was to shatter it and my frustrations into a thousand tiny pieces across the sidewalk. Mold lifted over my head, pinkie toe throbbing, I threatened David with my actions, but he stopped me when he realized it was the found doll mold he never cast. He talked me down from my anger, promising to cast the mold first thing once he had the studio. And a few weeks later he did just that, and you know what, the Doll Vase is now one of my most favorite pieces in the collection, part of which I attribute to my almost shattering her into a thousand pieces that very first day in Portland.
Anything else you would like us to know?
I think it is really important to just talk about how awesome Morgan is! There is just no way we could of gotten Candy Relics to where it is now without her help and that is why I've asked her to be a partner in this adventure. I get to play in the studio all day. She's in the office making it happen. It's got to be every other day that I come to her with an idea, image of a new product, a price change or something isn't working on the website. These might sound like easy changes to some, but it really isn't. Every change Morgan makes she has to follow through to the wholesale pages, the product lists, price sheets, inventory and more! She is the backbone to the company being able to move as fast as it is.
When it comes to designing a functional object in the studio I can be that excited little boy at the candy shop wanting so bad to get his way, and Morgan puts on those breaks for focus. "What do you really want?" It's hard sometimes when I have a new idea and can think of a hundred uses for it. Morgan is for sure Candy Relics' flitter as well as our product tester who can develop the function of an intended use clear for me to rethink or turn upside down and try harder.
]]>It's been a long time in the works, but we are finally officially launching our Maker Spotlight. What does this mean? Well, in addition to a Q & A on the blog, we will feature the maker of the month on our homepage and with special signage and display in the shop.
We have been working on this idea for over a year, and we are excited to roll it our with the first spotlight on Eko Kreations, a wonderful one woman company out of Truckee, CA specializing in eco friendly linens and home decor.
Enjoy our Q & A feature with Kristina of Eko Kreations.
Tell us a little about yourself.When did you start Eko Kreations?
I started in Jan 2013 with a small eco-friendly kids clothing line but turned into eco-friendly linens in May 2013 and has been that since.
Where do you find inspiration?
Nature. In many ways; I love to walk, hike and camp in the serenity of the peaceful outdoors, it brings me perspective, peace within and inspiration. Nature is also my choice of embroidery designs. The fabric I am using is eco-friendly, -one of my ways to care for the environment. My sewing machines are set up in front of a window so I'm constantly looking out over the pastures and hills in Sierra Valley, watching Longhorns, a deer family and lots of different birds. The colors and clouds throughout the day are beautiful and it brings that peace of nature inside, when spending 10 hour days in the studio.
What advice would you give someone wanting to start their own business? What have been the best and worst things for you in your business?
Go for it! Life gets so rich when one step out of the routine and the norm and opinions of others, and it is indescribable incredible to pursue your own dreams, goals and expression. I think the most important thing is to believe in yourself and what you do, and remember to have fun in the doing of it. Everyones business journey is different but believing in yourself and what you do will take you through both challenges and times of flow and ease. There is also a very nice community of small business owners out there and I think it is good to exchange thoughts and experiences, and I really enjoy listening to podcasts by business owners with small creative businesses, there is so much to learn and to recognize in your own journey.
Best things: I love what I do! -sewing, planning, being social at markets etc. I also love working at home and on my own time. Even though I have periods when I don't do anything else but work 12 hours/day 7 days a week, it is still so empowering to feel that I have the choice and flexibility of my time and life. It is also Very rewarding to know and feel that my customers appreciate and enjoy what I do!
Worst things: I wouldn't really call it "worst", but the challenges I have liked the least is finding employees that have the skill I require and shares my values. Also the logistics that takes more and more time the more I make/sell. I usually like calculating supplies, scheduling production, market applications, marketing etc but there are times where it takes more time than I'd like, that I'd rather spend on production or alike.
Who are some of your favorite makers/ small business owners?
Heather River of Bespoke, Krista Tranquilla of Krista Tranquilla Studio, Nicole and Delilah of Dear Handmade Life, Obi of Juniper Ridge, Rachel of MadeFreshly
There are so many wonderful people in the small creative business community, -I love that there is a community!
What 5 instagram accounts are you loving right now?
@eyeswoon @designsponge @centeredbymud @sweetpaulmagazine @forageworkshop
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To Start: Prep the surface you will be working on by sanding and staining or painting ahead of time.
Find the font: figure out which font styles you like,and then scale the text to fit the size of the wood. I work in Illustrator, but any program where you can work with text is fine. Once you get the text to the proper proportions print it out.
Tip: You can also use your own hand-drawn fonts/images. For ease of scaling take a picture and upload the jpg to your desktop, then it can be easily scaled to the size you want in any photo editing app.
Center the text and make sure it is straight on the wood and then fold the paper over the edges and tape the top section to the wood. Then place the tracing paper under the print out and fold the bottom half of the paper under the wood and tape to secure in place. Make sure the transfer side is facing the wood-( I have made that mistake before!)
Trace the the letters on onto the wood. You can use anything with a point, but I prefer pen, pencil is great, but sometimes the tips break. When tracing I tend to air on the side of over-tracing, really making sure that the little circle or weird tip of a letter is definitely going to be visible once I remove the paper. You can go back and re-trace once you have lifted the paper, but you take the chance of things moving and being out of line.
Tip: Once you lift the paper, if there are gaps or missing trace lines, go in and pencil in the missing lines.
Once you get the lines traced, lift the paper away and begin to fill in the letters with paint. I use another piece of wood as a brace to keep my hand parallel with the sign. This makes it easier to do long straight lines.
Tip: rotate the sign around to make it easier to paint, i am constantly rotating as I paint so I don't have to try and paint at odd angles.
I use ONE SHOT enamel oil based paint because, well, I love it. Also, it's made for sign painting, goes on smooth, and covers nicely.
Tip: use a thin line brush and wipe it off often, to avoid build up on the tip. I also will dip the brush in mineral spirits then wipe it with a rag before putting more paint on the brush. To clean your brushes clean them with mineral spirits, then lather up with dish or hand soap- I was taught to put the soap in my palm and rub the brush vigorously around, making sure to coat it well with soap. Only then should you wash it under water. I will repeat that step until the brush is clean.
Let the paint dry at least several hours to over night and then go over any spots that need touch-up or added layering of paint. Again give the paint ample time to dry, then put a couple layers of clear coat over the wood.
Here's what the finished signs look like out in the world:
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Karen is a joy to be around and I absolutely love it when she stops in for a visit. For the Q & A she talks about the origins of the name Prickly Pig, the ups and downs of owning a business, and what it takes to do a crowd funding campaign.
What made you want to start a BBQ sauce company?
Prickly Pig began with a pork sandwich at a party in the Haight, San Francisco but now resides in Oakland, CA. It became a ritual: for years a group of us celebrated each and every occasion with a slow roasted pork sandwich party. Friends kept showing up to eat and we got creative with the sauce by adding it to everything. After years of people loving the sauce and telling me I should make a business of it, in 2012, I finally decided they were right! I just knew if the sauce made us this happy, others would enjoy it as well!
How did you come up with the name Prickly Pig?
Prickly Pig is based on a nickname of mine. The Prickly part that is! Since the original use of the barbecue sauce was on slow roasted pork sandwiches, Pig naturally fit!
Is there a person in your life that has been a big influence?
My parents have influenced me greatly. Even in the face of their own difficult life situations they really encouraged me to do what I was passionate about. Along with my friends, my parents have let me just be me!
What has been the hardest thing about running your own business? What has been the most rewarding?
The hardest thing about running my own business is deciding where to apply my focus. Everything like recipes, labels, production/logistics, and distribution all have to coincide to create a high quality, finished product. Meanwhile, I have to manage cash flow to make sure the product can actually be made! The most rewarding part is to see my vision, my recipes come to life on the shelf. I love to see people get excited about Prickly Pig Barbecue Sauce and formulate their own creative use of the sauce. I hope the sauce will do for people what it did for me, create wonderful shared memories with friends and family!
You're in the middle of a kickstarter campaign, do you have any advice/wisdom to share with other small businesses looking to do crowdfunding?
Kickstarter is my second round of crowdfunding. Last summer I successfully funded a Kiva Zip loan to purchase a machine that automatically fills the barbecue sauce bottles. The Kiva Zip loan gave me confidence in my product while also building a strong local network. So far, Kickstarter has been fun yet stressful. My advice is to do the very best you can in outlining your story and then just launch it! It's not easy. It's stressful. It remains to be seen if it will fully fund but I would try a 100 times over to succeed. I believe in my Prickly Pig Barbecue Sauce and that shows in my kickstarter project! If you're serious about your product then leave no stone unturned.
Anything you want to add?
My motto: It's not what you know, it's what you want to know. That's how I get stuff done.
To contribute to The Prickly Pig Kickstarter and to see the super cute video click HERE
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First, fill us in on what do. How did you get started?
--I am a ceramic artist, and I got started about 20 years ago when I took my first wheel-throwing class at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz. I was almost immediately hooked, and it didn't take me long to get my first job as a ceramic assistant to a professional ceramic artist, Sandi Dihl. It took me about 7 years before I was able to go full-time working for myself while I finished school at UCSC and got some more on-the-job training working for another ceramic artist, Bob Pool. Now I've been working for myself since 2000 and I haven't looked back since!
Where do you find inspiration?
--I wish I were good at going out and finding inspiration, but I have found that it usually comes to me in an unexpected moment. I think of my brain as constantly processing all of the interesting things I come across, mashing it all together, and then popping out something I can run with every once in a while. I have to keep and open and centered mind for inspiration to find me: good sleep, healthy food, lots of exercise. If you find me clicking through Pinterest boards looking for inspiration, you know I'm desperate. I have to be patient and wait for my head to do its deep sea diving and deliver the pearls.
Do you find it a hard balance between wearing the hat as the artist and then switching to running a business for your art? What do you find the most challenging and rewarding?
--I believe that the business side and the creative side of what I do are deeply intertwined, and I don't think of it as switching hats around and pulling me in different directions. Everything that I do for my art-- designing a new product, working on my website, writing a newsletter for my customers, or crunching some numbers to analyze profits-- is all directed toward one thing: getting my work into people's hands. It's all the same project. There are days where one thing feels more appealing than the other, and I can feel very sorry for myself when I get overwhelmed. It is challenging to not go spiraling down the rabbit hole of what I wish could be different or better. But in the end, I get to do the thing that I'm called to do every day, and change people's lives with beautiful objects. The freedom to do that is the reward.
When you are not in the studio, how do you spend your time?
I love to garden, and laying around my garden, so you can often find me there with my cat, Beatrice, watching things grow and doing battle with the mint, blackberry brambles, and morning glory that is trying to take over my yard. I love to take walks around my neighborhood and through some of my favorite spots in Oakland: the Oakland cemetery, the Morcom Rose Garden, the Lake Merritt Botanical Garden, and Redwood Regional Park. I read a lot, so my nose is often buried in a book, and I also write, so I'm often found at the kitchen table, staring off into space with a blank computer screen in front of me. I spend my days usually completely alone, so I love connecting with my friends and husband, often around food and a glass of wine.
Do you have any favorite Instagram streams that you follow?
I tend to follow people who are flower and nature freaks, like me. My current favorites are @tiffanieturner, her paper flowers are simply to die for. A new one is @gio_eucalyptus, she is a biologist who draws incredible nature-based patterns, they are simple and beautiful. I get a big kick out of @flora.forager, she puts together the most clever images with flower parts. @floretflower basically takes flower porn pictures, they make me swoon. And the art of @jillbliss is wonderful, and the images she takes of nature in the Pacific Northwest inspire me as much as her.
Bottom two images courtesy of Whitney Smith Pottery
]]>(BTW: M-Day is May 10th )
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We are sharing four fabulous soaps we love:
Juniper Ridge Trail Crew Soap BUY IT NOW
Fable Soap Company BUY IT NOW
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Sea Salt Soap BUY IT NOW
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1. CA State Parks Explorer Print 11x 17" BUY IT NOW
2. Juniper Ridge Siskiyou Cabin Spray BUY IT NOW
3. CA Shaped baking and serving dish BUY IT NOW
4. Sending Sunshine your Way letterpress card
5. Greetings from CA 8x10" print BUY IT NOW
6. CA state letterpress print BUY IT NOW
7. CA shaped wood shelf available for special order email info@ marionandrose.com
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All of the syrups can be used to make sodas, add 2 tbs of syrup to a tall glass of ice squeeze the juice of quarter of a lemon (lime for the habanero, and orange for the hibiscus) garnish with a corresponding item like mint for strawberry mint, rosemary for ginger rosemary, rose petals for lavender rose, celery stick for celery…) and top off with soda water, stir and serve! delicious refreshing summer drink.
Chill a large martini glass containing a sprig of mint
Add to ice-filled shaker
3 jiggers vodka
1 jigger strawberry-mint syrup
Shake and strain into martini glass
Add 2 shakes Fee Brothers Aztec chocolate bitters*
Kick back and enjoy...
Perfect for when you buy a whole watermelon and couldn't even dream of eating it all! Super refreshing and light with a wee kick!
Ingredients:
1/4 of a large watermelon
a decent fistful of fresh Cilantro
2oz of Vodka
a splash of Cointreau
1/4 of a lime
1 tsp of Habanero Lime Syrup
Firstly remove the rind from the watermelon and cut it up into small chunks.
Pop it in the blender with the decent fistful of cilantro you can add more or less depending on your taste. Blend it up til every thing is nice and smooth. Then Strain through a fine sieve or cheesecloth.
In a shaker put the Vodka, a splash of Cointreau, squeeze the juice out of the lime, the Habanero Lime Syrup and 1 1/2 oz of the watermelon juice.
Give it a good old shake and serve up in a chilled martini glass garnish with a floating leaf of fresh cilantro.
Blanco Tequila (Profidio)
Cucumber
Mint
Habanero/Lime syrup
Ice
(Mixed to taste)
Place 1 1/2 tsp of Lavender Rose Syrup in the bottom of a champagne Flute
Top off with chilled Prosecco
Garnish with an organic Rose petal, a sprig of lavender or whatever you can dream up.
1 tbs strawberry mint syrup
add the freshly squeezed juice of a lemon
Shake vigorously with crushed ice and serve with a mint sprig
A Brainstorm love story..
In honor of Valentine's Day we are bringing back the series Making Love: Love Stories from the Makers. We ask some of our Makers to tell us their love stories. Today's story - A Brainstorm love story!
Let me first tell you that the (soon-to-be) husband and wife team behind Brainstorm are two extremely talented people who are SO down to earth. Their aesthetic is charming and their eye for details is impeccable, even their mailing boxes arrive all cutified!
Jason and I met at Rowan University through a mutual friend and roommate. We were both in the art program. I was going for graphic design, Jason for art education. We officially began dating in March 2007 and immediately started sharing an ink cabinet in the printmaking room. I was a junior and he was a senior. We started collaborating on screen printing and graphic design projects. One of the first was a publication called Brainstorm Magazine (how original). That summer after Jason graduated we incorporated that business name Brainstorm, not thinking much of it, and went to our first craft show together to sell our student print work and miscellaneous handmade stuff. I still had one more year of school left but we continued to collaborate and make prints (and never thought to take a business class, DOH!). After I finally graduated, we moved in together and my "official" job search had begun. Jason had been working a job at a promotional ad agency (think cheap pens and embroidered hats) and I worked hard at getting freelance design jobs to hold me over while the real job was somewhere out in the distance (floating around in a 2008 economy). We kept going down the path as we thought it was supposed to be, searching for someone else to tell us we could be creative for a living. Jason eventually took a job working for Rowan building online courses, and I continued the odd jobs while working freelance under the Brainstorm name.
During all of this, we continued to make work together. We moved 6 times in 6 years, always renovating a studio space everywhere we went, making prints and doing the craft show hustle. We took on logo design jobs. Wedding invitations. Christmas cards. We printed other peoples work. We said yes to practically everything. Sometimes very interesting and challenging stuff came through the inbox. Sometimes it was complete crap but we did it anyway because we started to realize there was such a thrill that came with working together. We wanted to make a living by doing something ourselves, without a boss. It was challenging and scary, but so full of hope. Our victories were to be doubly celebrated. We started to gain some momentum with retail craft shows and the online shop when our eyes were opened to the world of wholesale. So in April of 2011, I stopped looking for a boss and Jason quit his very stable, full time job and we forged the full-time artist path with reckless abandon.
Fast forward to 2015, we have been together for eight years and have technically been working together since day one. We have prints and products in almost 50 retail stores worldwide. We try our best to keep our lives very simple and so we can continue to make the bright prints and products we believe in and that make us happy. We've seen up and we've seen down. We fight hard and we laugh and are wickedly honest about everything, because we have to be in order keep this lifestyle afloat. We've had many, many failures and we're still figuring out how to run a business and always learning new ways make it work romantically and creatively. We're so grateful that we get to work together every day because of the decisions and paths that we've taken. Every decision, every creative and professional win, is magnified when you get to share it with the person you love. We are getting married this year. Jason proposed in March of 2014, on our 7 year anniversary, in our current studio.
We came to the studio just like any other day. I was growing some plant seedlings inside, getting ready for a spring garden. I started to work on normal studio upkeep stuff, taking out the garbage, cleaning up from the day before, when he came up to me and gave me a hug. His heart was pounding and I thought something was wrong. I asked him if he was ok and he was silent. My eyes began to scan the room and I turned around and he had put a ring in one of the seedling pods with a soil covered note that said "will you marry me". The ring was made of wood and moss and of course I said yes. :)
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with olive oils, salt, pepper, a spicy rub that comes in a handmade re-usable bindle bag
$25
1 pencil ,1 set of 3 field notes notebooks w/ real wood veneer cover ,1 rubber band to hold your notebook and pencil together, 1 set of 10 letterpress coasters, 1 "I want to watch Wes Anderson movies with you" card- blank on the inside, and 1 iron patch
$35
]]>Feb. 2015
Holidays 2014
Fall 2014- Whitney Smith Installation
]]>Participating Artists: Jason Byers, Jon Carling, John Casey, Bruk Dunbar, Narangkar Glover, Golden West Signs, Marcos Lafarga, Michael McConnell, Lisa Solomon, Team Print Shop, Gina Tuzzi.
The artist produced vans are now online and ready for bidding! We were excited to work with some very, very, talented Bay Area artists who each painted a one of a kind ceramic van that also happens to be a functioning piggy bank. A special shout out to Bruk Dunbar who created the mold for the project, created the ceramic blanks, worked with artists painting in glazes AND fired all of the vans in her studio (Trainhole Studios in Berkeley). We can't thank her enough for lending her expertise and patience.
Click here to go to the auction.
The profits from the auction will go to Meals on Wheels an important organization that helps many of our neighbors everyday by delivering food and providing human contact to many people who live alone and cannot get out of their homes.
I would also personally like to thank all the fabulous artists for participating in this project and helping out their community. This has been a project that has been in my head for over 3 years now and to see it come to life with the involvement and enthusiasm of such amazing people is heartwarming.
Wishing you all a peaceful and joyous holiday season.
Happy Bidding,
Kerri
PS- two of the production color vans are also available for sale on our website. 10% if the profits from these vans will go to Meals on Wheels.
Click images to go directly to the auction page:
Speaking of fun we have a weekend of fun events planned.
PLAID FRIDAY
Our hours will be 11am-7pm
11-3pm Trunk show with Sharon Z Jewelry-Enjoy some great deals on the beautiful handcrafted metal jewelry by SF based designer Sharon Z.
++Woop Woop Cookies will be popping-up in the Breezeway selling her yummy Gluten Free cookies and treats.
++Enjoy the Complimentary Gift Wrapping Station located inside Maple Street Denim
All of the shops and most of the restaurants in the neighborhood will be open and offering up their tasty wares. Join us for a fun day of local shopping and eating.
SATURDAY
12-3pm- Food tasting with Oakland's own Prickly Pig BBQ sauce and rubs. SOOOOOOO tasty, don't miss this!!
12-5pm Saturday, 12-5pm Sunday- Featherweight clothing will be popping into the shop for the entire weekend showcasing her well designed t-shirts and custom jackets. Come see what she has to offer.
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