I design and create hand-carved rubber stamps. I also dabble in painting, printmaking and other paper crafts, but stamps are my obsession.

How did you get started? Have you worked in other creative areas before the kind of work you’re doing now?

I had a friend with a serious rubber stamp addiction. I loved all the cool things she made with her stamps, but, being an artsy-type person, experienced a weird feeling of guilt using art made by others. One day I was flipping through one of her stamping magazines and found an article on “eraser carving”. Make your OWN stamps?? From ERASERS?? I have erasers!! I can do this! An addiction was born.

Is there a story behind the name of your shop?

I really love Mexican folk art, especially Day of the Dead images like sugar skulls. I also have a strange love of the number 7 (OCD, anyone?), hence the name Sugarskull7.

Do you work alone? With a team? Do you engage your family or friends in the work? What is your process? How do you ensure you get your work done yet still have a life?

I work alone for the most part. Wait, that’s not true – there are almost always four dogs in various positions of slumber in close proximity.

My process is sort of haphazard. I usually spend most of the morning and early afternoon filling orders (my stamps are all made-to-order), but sometimes an idea for a new stamp will hit and I’ll drop everything and draw it up. If I’m happy with the drawing, I’m likely to carve it right then and there. Then I’ll go back to carving and filling orders. Right now this pretty much IS my life, but I do try to force myself to walk away from the drafting table and participate in the world now and then.

Where do you sell your work? Which venues are your favorites? Do you prefer selling online or in person? Do you attend shows or fairs? Is your work in a gallery or brick-and-mortar store?

I sell on Etsy, I absolutely LOVE Etsy. My shop address is www.sugarskull7.com . So far I haven’t attempted to sell my work at fairs or in brick and mortar stores because it’s difficult to create enough inventory at one time. I might try my hand at a local indoor craft fair soon, though.

Do you have any favorite handmade shops or sellers you’d like to recommend?

I have too many favorites to list, but a few are BeanUpTheNoseArt, TerraMaya and PinBackAttack.

What inspires and motivates you?

I’m inspired by things I see around me, things people say, song lyrics, random thoughts – stamp ideas are everywhere. I’m motivated by the memory of working in a cubicle for a large corporation for 17 years and the desire to never, ever do that again. I’m making far less money and far more hours doing what I do now, yet I never really feel like I’m doing a “job”. It’s what I love.

What do you wish I had asked you?

“Do you have any strange hobbies?”

Why yes, I’m teaching myself to hoop dance. Great fun, great exercise, no gym required!

Thanks Kim. And if you would like to be interviewed next, check out DIY Interview.

Erika Jurney is the founder of Try Handmade. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or learn more about her love of the handmade.

As I approached Mojo Spa, its facade a pink and white confection on an avenue of stone, steel and cement, I couldn’t help but think of Good and Plenty, those licorice-flavored, candy-coated pellets that are always hanging out at the movie theaters with their floozy cousin, Good and Fruity. Little did I know how effectively I was being subliminally prepared to enter the shop, because once inside I was convinced that I had died and gone to a sweet and yummy pamper-me-now heaven.

From the front door to the back wall, the spa is filled with luscious handmade beauty products, all of which are created and served fresh daily. I met with owner Amanda Kezios and had a chance to learn how she was able to create this space “where beauty meets comfort”, as her slogan goes.

“I started out as a personal chef for my roommates. They didn’t have time to cook and my job allowed me the time and flexibility. So they paid me for groceries and for my time and I cooked all their meals. Well, what started happening was they’d take the leftovers for lunch the next day and people would ask them where they’d gone out to eat the night before, thinking it was restaurant food. I started getting requests. At that point I was still planning to go to law school and was also getting into yoga and meditation. I decided to make something I could use to stay focused and energized, and so I created the Make The Grade lip balm. The principles for it came from yoga and meditation. I used ingredients and techniques like energized water, healing crystals, aromatherapy oil blends, and sound therapy to infuse the balm with energy to help me stay focused. The subconscious mind works only in the present tense, so I made up an positive affirmation to say whenever I applied the lip balm. Now all my lip balms come with a positive affirmation printed on them. You can use it to attract the energy you want, plus you get a superior beauty product. So either way, you win.

“I was having such good results that a friend asked if I’d make one for her to help her find a good boyfriend, so then I created the Light My Fire lip balm. To make a long story short, my friend met a guy and three months later they were engaged,” here Amanda shrugs. “It’s hard to understand if you don’t get how energy and affirmations work, but she got the results she wanted. Most beauty companies only look at the exterior, but our products work on several levels.”

“I kept creating new formulas. I’m still creating new formulas all the time. But back then I couldn’t afford to open a store. So I got the idea to start throwing monthly spa parties in my loft. People came, I cooked and baked for them and just pampered them with my products. Then Fox news got wind of my spa parties, and Danielle Serino who did The Bottom Line came by. I was so nervous because I wasn’t sure if she would give it a positive spin. When she first walked in, she said, ‘How long is this going to take?’ I blurted out, ‘TWENTY MINUTES!’ She ended up staying for three hours. When the segment aired, Danielle started out by saying, ‘Estee Lauder is dead, but a new star is born: Mojo Spa in Wicker Park’. I was just floored! Imagine being compared to Estee Lauder! After the Fox News story, I started getting flooded with calls and orders. So I decided it was time to take the plunge and open the shop since we already had the client base.”

That was ten years ago, and Mojo still has its mojo. Which, as it turns out, was no easy task for a business built in the very conservative midwest where customers required a great deal of education to be convinced to even try the products. “It was so far outside the box, we really had to educate people about what we were doing and the principles we use, and why our products were better for you than the department store products. Beauty products are so expensive. It was important to keep our products affordable, we have prices comparable to some drug store brands, but the quality is every bit as good, even better than the department store products. I have loyal customers who now tell me that they couldn’t believe they were spending hundreds of dollars on products that were producing bad side effects. You get instant gratification with those other brands, but that’s all it is. It’s just a band-aid. It’s not helping your skin at all. I make my products affordable so people don’t have to make it stretch. They can just use it. With my products you don’t become dependent on it. Over time, your skin gets healed and balanced, and better able to take care of itself.”

Luckily for us, Amanda has not forgotten her roots. In addition to the retail shop, her space also houses a full service nail spa where several specialty manicure and pedicure services and packages are available, such as the popular Beauty and Brunch. “It’s like having breakfast in bed. We serve you brunch on a tray and you have your fresh baked pastries and your mimosa while you’re having a pedi. I make my own yeast and the flavor is amazing. It’s a comfort spa with comfort food. We also have Pajama Nights, where we offer discounted nails, facials, and make-up and serve homemade desserts. People come out with their friends, we have a D.J. It’s a great night of fun. We figured our products are so different that we had to make our events reflect that.”

“It was about creating the right balance. In the beginning I had to do everything out of necessity. But then I had some wonderful partners, people who were there for me and who helped build this. I developed some health problems, and then it became about helping myself through my products. My products healed me. The most amazing thing out of all of this is that we’re still in business when almost every small business in Wicker Park was closing. My customers came to my aid. They had bonded with the products, so they helped me sell them. They brought in friends, even friends from out of town, to try the products. Our online business has been instrumental in this because out of town people could continue to order from home. And it just feels so nice to have customers who really care about your success.”

“My vision is about 70 percent in place. My next step is to write a book on how I conquered the world on protein shakes. It’ll be about balancing a business with being a woman entrepreneur and dealing with health problems. I also want to expand the spa and open more locations especially in California. Believe it or not, about half of our online business is shipped to California. They seem to be more in tuned to the use of natural products and the healing properties of the ingredients and techniques we use. This business is my passion. I didn’t do it to be my own boss and make money. Businesses that are built for solely those reasons mostly fail. You have to have a passion for it. I strategized, I thought outside the box. I had a necessity. I needed to heal. You just have to believe in yourself, and not be afraid to keep trying new things. It’s all about persistence.”

Mojo Spa, 1468 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Phone: +1-773-235-MOJO

On the web: http://www.mojospa.com

Angela Walters writes about her adventures (and misadventures) in crafting with fibers on her blog Pocketfulla Posy. You can also visit her shop, Posy Moe. Follow her on Twitter, and on Facebook.

In The Dairy State of Wisconsin legislators are being urged to allow the sale of “raw” (unpasteurized) milk to consumers and their decision is expected to set national precedence. The battle, ultimately, centers on public health. Proponents tout the health benefits of the product. Meanwhile the opposition fears the potential compromise of public health should the measure pass and outbreaks of milk-borne illness become more common. But beyond the politics and debate lies a bigger, more immediate question; how does one buy raw milk now?

The answer may be simpler than you think.

Decide What Kind of Milk You’d Like
While cow’s milk is traditional, the black and white spotted dairy producers of our childhood (and countless big dairy commercials) are not the only producers of delicious milk and milk products. Raw goat’s milk is just as good — and in the opinion of some, even better.

Locate a Supplier (or three)
Raw milk is available for purchase for human consumption in 28 of the United State’s 50 states. (It’s available in a handful more when intended for animal consumption.) Unfortunately, finding it — even within those states — can sometimes prove difficult. A great place to start the search however, is with The Campaign for Real Milk’s database dedicated to help consumers find raw milk in their area. And even if you’re not in a state where raw milk itself is available, dairy shares — where you purchase a share of a cow or goat and receive a portion of its milk in return for your investment — are.

Do Your Homework
Whether we like it or not modern, conventional farming calls for mass production to meet demand. Streamlining technologies and processes that make that production possible unfortunately also make it more and more possible every day for a cow (or goat) to be a number rather than an animal. All the while requiring the help of numerous farm hands who have little interest in the end product. Both of these make the potential for contamination of milk greater. Get to know the suppliers whose products are available in your area. Ask about their herd, their help and their processes. A familiarity with the animals, a close oversight of production by the owner and processes and materials that are easy to keep clean and sanitary (look for glass and stainless steel) all reduce the potential for milk-borne illness.

Do you drink Raw Milk? Where do you buy it?

Diana Prichard is a homegrown and artisan food junkie, freelance writer and wanna-be homesteader living in rural Michigan. You can find more on her work and life at dianaprichard.com, follow her on Twitter or friend her on Facebook.

Taline Farra Shoes: All shoes are made from natural leathers. I purchase small quantities of leather, giving each shoe a unique look and texture. The availability of such leathers ensures smaller quantities of each style is made, therefore creating a unique one-of-a-kind custom shoe experience. Growing up in California, I have always been environmentally conscious. I am proud to be able to incorporate my awareness into these shoes.

Erika Jurney is the founder of Try Handmade. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or learn more about her love of the handmade.

Did you remember to wear green today?

Organic, fair trade, roasted-to-order, Irish Creme flavored coffee by Downtown Roasters.

Erika Jurney is the founder of Try Handmade. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or learn more about her love of the handmade.

Beautifully hand made accessories focusing on highly original knitted lace items in luxury yarns. I’m primarily exploring knitting as a way to make a textile conform to a predetermined shape with the exclusion of seams.

I am expanding the range of accessories to include felted and knitted bags and purses, as an alternative to heavy leather statement designer bags.

How did you get started? Have you worked in other creative areas before the kind of work you’re doing now?

After studying fine art and fashion in England I worked in couture for several years in London. Following a move to San Francisco I was employed by local sportswear companies and did a stint at O’Neil, in their wetsuit product development department. For the last decade I have had the good fortune to operate to a small custom couture bridal business, with clients coming to me solely by word of mouth. Recently I picked up knitting again after a 20 year gap since my last foray into this fascinating craft. I am now completely obsessed! A bridal client seeing my scarves suggested Etsy and I saw saw enormous potential for creative expression.

Is there a story behind the name of your shop?

I am a huge fan and advocate of the fabulous city of San Francisco which I now call home. There is a wealth of talent and creativity here which I’m very proud to be a part of.

Do you work alone? With a team? Do you engage your family or friends in the work? What is your process? How do you ensure you get your work done yet still have a life?

I think of myself as a highly social loner! This contradiction in terms illustrates my need for solitude, particularly during the creative process, but also the joy I have interacting with clients and creative friends I’ve made through Etsy and the internet. I do work alone and genuinely enjoy the multitasking involved with all the aspects of my profession. As to getting all the work done-there simply aren’t enough hours in the day and I am turning into a knitting vampire.

Where do you sell your work? Which venues are your favorites? Do you prefer selling online or in person? Do you attend shows or fairs? Is your work in a gallery or brick-and-mortar store?

Currently I only sell on Etsy. http://KarinSF.Etsy.com and to by appointment clients, but I am exploring other online vendors.

Selling online can seem impersonal but I make sure I communicate with all buyers, and follow up after the purchase if necessary, to create a rapport and make myself more accessible. Working one on one, with a bridal client for example, is completely different and engages the other person more in the creative process.

I haven’t attended a show to sell my accessories yet but I feel this will be an important adjunct to my online shop.

Do you have any favorite handmade shops or sellers you’d like to recommend?

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MDKnits
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Lorinczi
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BirdNerd

What inspires and motivates you?

As a designer with a background in pattern making and fine art, I find I see everything as form and color first. So I’m primarily motivated by colorful shapes in nature or the urban landscape. Other artists’ and craft people’s work is also a huge influence, and I like to purchase from local designers as often as my wallet allows. I never underestimate the inspiration I find looking at outfits put together by fellow travelers wherever I go.

What do you wish I had asked you?

“If you could take a break from your current passion, what other line of work would you like to pursue?”

shoe designer.

Thanks Karin! And if you would like to be interviewed next, just head over to DIY Interview.

Erika Jurney is the founder of Try Handmade. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or learn more about her love of the handmade.

It’s no secret that the best things usually come on the side – you don’t have to go any further than sweet potato fries for proof of that. When singer-songwriter Suzie Bradford went looking for something “on the side”, what she found was a new sound and a new love.

Formed in Spokane, WA in 2003, The Side Project was born from Suzie’s need to find a more feminine outlet for her music than the rockin’ guy-group that she was fronting at the time. Joining musical forces with bass-player (and now-husband) Ben Bradford and a mutual friend, the aptly-named project was just what she needed to let her disarmingly-pretty and lyrical vocal style shine through. Not surprisingly, the project soon took center-stage with an ever-increasing number of live performances and a full-length CD, which followed 2 years later.

In the time since their inception, The Side Project has been mesmerizing audiences throughout Washington State with their live shows, which often incorporate other creative disciplines, including painting, photography, film and sculpture. The collaborative multi-media aspect of their live performances was inspired by a close friend and mentor who Suzie had the privilege of working with at age 19. “He taught me how to incorporate art and I saw the beauty in being able to watch the performance and watch the art being created.”

In addition to their rigorous playing schedule, Suzie and Ben have just released their third studio album, “Wake Up Call”. Compared to their previous efforts, which were recorded over a much-shorter period of time, this effort was 5 years in the making; something that Suzie hopes will show-through in the songs themselves. And, although the songs on “Wake Up Call” run the gamut from tender ballad to straight-up pop, and are quite different from one to the next, the band manages to maintain a good flow throughout the album. The common thread that ties them all together is Suzie’s sensitive, yet powerful delivery. Even when she sings sweetly, you know she means it.

I wanted to know more about Suzie’s songwriting, and in particular, how much of her personal life (and marriage to bandmate Ben) sneaks into it. She responded candidly, “I would say that my first two albums were definitely written more about Ben. In this one, I did write “Mr. Wonderful” for Ben because I do have a really amazing, amazing man. And, I believe every women deserves an amazing man so I wrote that song to encourage women that he’s out there; you just gotta keep pounding down the doors.” But, this isn’t strictly an album of love songs. As Suzie explained, “In this album, more than the other two, I talk more about my struggles with, you know, the angel and the devil on my shoulders. I wrote “wake up call” about that struggle within myself.”

Part of that struggle comes from trying to find a balance between living the life of a musician at night and taking care of the demanding business side of the band by day. With a playing-schedule that often has the band on stage 4 nights a week, plus Suzie’s efforts to book and promote the band without the help of management, it is easy to understand how it can be difficult to maintain that equilibrium. I asked Suzie about the demands that come with being an indie band who are doing it all themselves. “I always view it like “it is as much as I want it to be”, you know? As much as I put into it is what I am going to get back. We’ve had management in the past and although I look back now and think, “Gosh, that was something I should have been super grateful for” because I understand how much work goes into it, I also like to be in control of things. So, I struggle with that balance….letting other people do it for me, because I feel like I could maybe control it or, not necessarily do it better…”

I asked Suzie if there are enough tools and resources out there for indie bands; specifically, is it possible to do it all without management, or do are there obstacles in the road that having representation would avoid? “Yeah, both, I think. With the management that we had before, some of her contacts wouldn’t re-hire me because they were, well, her contacts. We learned that the hard way. I’m looking into “the Indie Bible” (a directory of music industry websites) and looking at all of the radio stations we can send the cd to. I think if it’s supposed to go, if it’s supposed to do something, if it’s supposed to work…if you put in the work, then it’s going to work for you.”

And, work they shall. Having just released the CD at the beginning of this month, Suzie and Ben are wasting no time in getting it off to a good start by getting it into as many hands (and ears) as possible. I, for one, believe this album will spell success for the duo who are hitting the ground running with a good local following; as well as a little taste of international recognition, thanks to one of their songs showing up on season 4 of “So You Think You Can Dance”. Will the world see the potential that lies in “Wake Up Call”? As Suzie puts it, “I’m really optimistic that they’ll look at this album and really latch onto it.”

“Wake Up Call” by The Side Project is available now , on CD or via digital download, at CD Baby. Look for The Side Project at various venues in and around Seattle. Check out their MySpace page for show dates and further info.

If it stands still long enough, Rebecca will most likely glue something to it and then blog about it. Visit Rebecca's Etsy shop, find her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

You may be familiar with the annual South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) that happens every year around this time in Austin, Texas. Originally meant to be a showcase for music, SXSW has now become a first stop for the newest technologies on the block–Twitter was introduced there in 2007. As a nod to the festival I thought I’d showcase some lo-fi indie talent from the world of handmade. Technology is cool and all, but mostly because it gives me more access to unique handmade stuff that I can’t get anywhere else.

Necklace: Amy Holton combines turquoise, tiger’s eye, and mother of pearl in this lovely necklace. Amy left the corporate world to start her business creating wearable pieces of art.

Dresses: Ivana Krejci designs her peasant-inspired garments using repurposed, reclaimed, and new notions. I could see myself spinning around in the Alps signing the hills are alive wearing one of these dresses, what about you?

Hand Stamped Fabric: Malka Dubrawskyis the author of the book Color your Cloth: A Quilter’s Guide to Dyeing and Patterning Fabric. She also sells her hand stamped fabric in her online store, which is excellent in case you’re like me and not as talented as Ms. Dubrawsky. But if you want to give it a try, she also sells autographed copies of her book.

Flowers in Your Hair: When I read about Tiffany in her shop profile, I immediately thought about the movie Giant, and the role Elizabeth Taylor played–Leslie. Like the movie, Tiffany says that she always felt a little out of place living in Texas and loving the fancy frills that define the roaring twenties. But I think these blossoms are bold enough to make a big splash, even in the great big place like Texas.

Emily is the author of three books, mother of two small children, wife to one husband, and designer living in New York City. Emily also writes about the creative life, and her pursuit of all things that are good with style on her blog http://www.emilyanderson.com.

Heather Heffken: MY name is Heather,but my friends and family call me Hedda(or heddow…like ‘Heather’with a homestarruner voice.)I live with my fantabulous husband in Alabama. I love art. All Kinds.I recycle for my craft when I can,and I run my business in as ‘green’ a way as possible.Eventually I will begin selling only eco-friendly items.

I’ve been crafting and creating my entire life.I started sewing by hand when I was about…oh,I dunno,five years old?My mom would know for sure.I started seriously sewing and learning to use machines around age 10, so I have 10 years of serious sewing under my belt. You will be pleased with the quality of my work, I promise:)

Erika Jurney is the founder of Try Handmade. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or learn more about her love of the handmade.

So does it really matter where you buy your handmade goods? Isn’t purchasing a stunning original handbag on one online venue pretty much the same as buying it on another?

That may depend in part on your motivation for buying handmade work in the first place. If you’re just purchasing the work because you like it (a great reason!) then you’d be fine choosing to purchase from the venue that you happen to prefer. Maybe you’re already a member of Etsy and like to keep all of your purchases organized in one place, or you want to pay with Amazon Payments in which case you’d favor a venue that accepts it. Or you just want to get through the process as quickly as possible, so you’re a fan of venues with “Guest Checkout”. All of those are great reasons to stick with the status quo.

But if part of your motivation is to promote handmade goods as a whole, and encourage others to do the same, then you might want to dig a little deeper into your chosen venue’s commitment to the handmade movement. Is your venue a serious proponent of handmade, or do they seem more interested in the bottom line? It’s a question you’ll want to consider if you’re concerned with the bigger picture of supporting independent artists.

Many artists have outposts at several different venues, so you do have a choice when deciding where to purchase a particular product. Few artists would reject a call to list a specific item at another of their shops if a customer requested it. So why would you want to do that?

Venues vary in their commitment to their mission statement of selling goods that are handmade and not manufactured (with the exception of vintage and supplies, which are allowed on most sites but are categorized separately). On any given day, dozens of new “resellers” sign on to venues like Etsy and list hundreds, maybe thousands, of products as handmade goods. As you might imagine, policing this is a huge challenge that requires a significant investment in manpower to accomplish. The different venues deal with this in various ways.

Etsy deletes reseller accounts when they find them, but seems to have a hard time keeping up despite continuous “flagging” of items by members to bring them to the attention of the venue. ArtFire has a flagging system in place that removes an item automatically if it receives a proscribed number of flags from different members and puts it up for the venue’s review. This seems to do a good job of keeping manufactured goods from staying on the site for long and discourages resellers who might otherwise continue to create new accounts to list manufactured items. Zibbet also utilizes a member flagging system, and reviews items as flags occur. 1000Markets has a shop approval process in place that virtually eliminates any manufactured goods, but they do allow artisan pieces to be sold by someone other than the artist who made them.

So how do you think the handmade venues are doing at combating the problem of resellers setting up shop within their domains? As a buyer, do expect them to police and remove resellers or are you just as happy to work around them yourself? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Beverly Rustica is General Publisher of ByHand Gallery, an everchanging gallery of handmade work available online. Find her at BeachyRustica Practical Art for Beach & Cabin