Fresh n' Fruity

Dogs don't know it's not Beef!

Ink & Sweet

There were so many photo ops and inspirations abounding and I took full advantage. Most of the photos are sized to make for a great (if I do say so myself) desktop pic!

While putzing around Portland I was beyond thrilled that we stumbled upon Pam's new venture, Ink & Peat. I've been anticipating the chance to see her shop in person as she always displayed the most amazing photos of her floral artistry and design inspirations on her blog Housemartin. Ink & Peat did not disappoint...and nor did Pam!

As you can see the light was incredible...as was the shop!

Kids, this shop is so lovely filled with lots of bits, baubles, buds. Home decor, gifts, art, and other loveliness all interspersed with a subtle multitude of floral bouquets. (I scored the sweetest set of cups one can possibly imagine!) And the warmth of Ink & Peat (complimented by all the streaming sunlight!) was only enhanced by Pam herself as she couldn't have been sweeter! (Pam...you know we're all gonna have to dinner it up next time, right?)

So if you happen to be in Portland this is a must-see stop! And, if you're lucky, you might just get to ask Pam for an autograph. She'll be sweet and humble and think me ridiculous for saying so but, Kids, I know a star when I see one...and Miss Pam is a shiny one indeed!

Designers...make it work!

I posted about this a short little while ago and now it's happening! All you Seattle-area designer/crafter/artist/entrepreneurs are invited tomorrow night (Wednesday April 16th) to the Seattle creative meet up from 6pm- 8pm at Velocity's South Lake Union showroom on Yale Avenue, featuring special guest artist Matte Stephens.

"The events will go by the name of The Lab - we are hoping that they will become a place to experiment with new ideas, foster creative thinking and provide us all with plenty of opportunities for networking and inspiration. Please feel free to invite anyone you think would like to come and remember that The Lab is open to both men and women."

And many, many thanks to Paola for helping to organize all of this. As well as thanks to John Tusher and the fine folks at Velocity for hosting and sponsoring and, of course, Matte Stephens, guest speaker extraordinaire! Thanks, Kids!

Also... it's supposed to be raining tomorrow so there are no more excuses for not attending! As if rain would ever be allowed as an excuse in Seattle! See you there! Designers, make it work!

Seattle Design Meet-up

Many of you may already be well aware of Grace's ingenious Biz-Lady Meet-ups that take place all over the country. Well, after her recent visits to Portland & Seattle, Paola from MirrorMirror took hold of the reins to put together a local Seattle group. And Grace kindly filled me in that this would allow boys in too (hooray!). The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16th at Velocity Art & Design's new South Lake Union location with the fantastic Matte Stephens presiding as first guest speaker!

If you are a Puget Sound artist, designer, creative, /entrepreneur this should be the perfect means to take hold of your own reins and help guide your career. Let Paola know if you'd like to be added to the address list! (You can click the "email" link below or visit Mirror Mirror.) Hope to see you there!

(This is from Paola's first announcement....)

"After the Biz Lady meet up in Seattle, I left my email addy on Design*Sponge to see if anyone wanted to continue meeting up.

And lo and behold, one of the people who responded was John Tusher of Velocity, who wanted to keep the inspiration going and was offering the new Velocity store as a location!

So on Monday I had tea with John to have a chat about the format such meetings could take.

We thought that it would be good to aim for monthly meetings and we would get a guest speaker or panel of speakers for each one (John's obviously got some great contacts he can tap). We also wanted to set aside a bit more time for socializing and networking afterwards.

We thought it would have more of a general design focus rather than just a business focus, though we might touch on small business-related topics at some point. Oh and given John's involvement, and the general design focus, we thought it would be odd if it were exclusively for women, though it would probably have a preponderance of women attending given what it has sprung from.

So I really just wanted to open this up to get people's thoughts and ideas on the above. I've sort of ended up doing this by default and am keen to create something that everyone feels a part of and will enjoy.

All ideas, comments and suggestions are hugely welcome - either via email or in the comments below. We'd particularly love to hear from you if you've got good ideas for a great name; know someone who would be a good guest speaker; can point us in the direction of wine/cheese/bakery sponsors; or want to get involved in any way. If you're a Seattle-based blogger and think your readers might be interested it would be immensely helpful if you could point them in this direction.

Most importantly, email me if you would like to attend the first meet-up, which we're aiming to have organised for mid-April."

Saddle up for a Pony ride!

So today, the 29th of February, and to cap off "Eco Week," I'm hitching up with Carrie Siegel and Laurie Mee of Two Trick Pony for my very first interview! Now, I am no "Beefy Walters" (but I'm as chatty as a liquored up June Bug 'round a campfire as you will see) so a little understanding is in order. (And a HUGE "thanks" to Carrie & Laurie for obliging me in all my journalistic naivete and nosiness!) Nevertheless, I hope you'll saddle up and come along for the ride, Kids! Giddy'up!

Now, on to greener pastures...

UB: So tell us, what do you do/make?
CS/LM: Two Trick Pony makes hand screen printed, eco-friendly cards and invitations.

UB: How long have you been doing what you do?
CS/LM: We founded Two Trick Pony about 2 years ago.

UB: Did you get any formal training in learning your art/craft or was it self-taught?
CS: I double majored in Graphic Design and Fine Art at Flagler College in St. Augustine, but earned most of my screen printing chops while working at Urban Outfitters over a decade ago. We had to screen print the logos onto the windows each season...after printing in those conditions, printing on horizontal paper feels like a real treat.
LM: I earned a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. My major was photography, although I incorporated everything from fabric to stained glass to vanilla wafers into my artwork! I've been developing other skills since then such as graphic design, screen-printing and bookbinding.

UB: How did you start your own business or what made you decide to take the plunge? You have a partner, what created the meeting of the minds to team up?
CS: These two questions kind of go together, since I never would have done this without Laurie at my side. I had been thinking about starting a business, but was too scared to get it off the ground on my own. Laurie and I worked together at the time, and one night over Chinese food, she told me she had been thinking about leaving the company. I was crushed, but immediately blurted out, "Oh...well, then you and I should start a line of paper goods." Much to my surprise, she had been thinking about the same thing and took my proposal seriously!
LM: The process of decision making is kind of organic for me, so I can't really pinpoint what made me take the plunge. However, finding a kindred spirit in Carrie definitely helped a lot! You kind of just know when you are on the same wavelength with someone, which is invaluable when owning a business together.

UB: What's a typical day for you?
CS: My days are pretty varied because I do a lot of free-lance work as my "day job." On Two Trick Pony days, I'll drive to Laurie's, play with her dog, Wally, and go to our basement studio to prep some screens or do some printing. Sometimes we'll have a sleep-over, and stay up talking about plans for the business, new color trends, and boys (of course)
LM: I have a day job as a graphic designer 4 days a week. On those days, I'll typically come home from work, walk my pooch and then work on Two Trick Pony tasks. The rest of my week will usually include a meeting of the pony minds to brainstorm new designs, discuss marketing opportunities and just dish about cool stuff we've seen that inspires us.

UB: So you have an eco-minded business.... Did you know that's what you wanted to do from the beginning of Two Trick Pony or is that something that has evolved over time?
CS/LM: Two Trick Pony has been green from the first "Giddyup!" We both felt that part of the benefit of owning your own company is that you can make big decisions, like insisting on eco-friendly production, so it was a natural (ha!) choice for us. We also recently enrolled in the "GreenUp" program offered by National Grid; now our studio is powered with renewable energy sources!

UB: Has it been hard to incorporate from an artistic or production perspective?

CS: For me, the hardest part was falling in love with some of the more luscious paper colors and then realizing they didn't meet our standards for PCW content (100%, 100% of the time). It was hard to give up those colors! It particularly affects the production, though. Screen printing is a good fit for our aesthetic and is inherently a relatively green process: limited use of chemicals, wide variety of water-based inks, easy clean up, and minimal energy consumption (except a lot of elbow grease).
LM: From an artistic perspective, I find it actually helps me to have some set perimeters to work within. Of course there were a few papers we had to tear ourselves away from, but we are very happy with the eco-friendly ones we chose. From a production standpoint, being eco-friendly is healthy for the environment and healthy for us, so that's no problem at all. I think having begun the business this way helped a lot, rather than trying to convert from conventional practices to green ones.

UB: Financially (is it more expensive for you to do things this way)?

CS/LM: With a company our size, the financial impact seems to be pretty minimal...and in many cases, reusing materials and being cautious of our consumption has turned out to be more cost effective!

UB: Assuming that eco-friendly is also a part of your personal lives, which influenced which first? (i.e., did business influence personal or vice versa, or both at the same time?)

CS: I only became more environmentally focused in the last couple of years, and I've found that business and personal practices definitely feed off of each other. A light-bulb went on at some point, and I realized that many of the things I LIKE to do anyway (shop vintage/thrift, rework old clothes and furniture, shop local, etc) are also "green." This encouraged me to simply start being more aware of my actions both at home and in the studio, and make an effort to consciously choose the greener option. I am capital-L-Lazy, so if I can convert to a greener lifestyle, anyone can!
LM: At first, it was my personal views that influenced the eco-friendly path I wanted to take with the business. However, it is also a smart business move as there is a growing market for green goods. Consumers are much more aware now that they can make a difference by choosing eco-friendly goods and it is surprising how few paper goods are made from 100% PCW paper.

UB: Any advice for adding a more eco-friendly perspective to a business?

CS: Remember that even small changes can have a big impact. I think a lot of companies are reluctant to make sweeping changes, but one change at a time is much more manageable.
LM: Do some research about the effect we as humans are having on the environment. The more you learn, the more compelled you will be to become part of the solution rather than the problem.

UB: One easy thing to make an eco-impact?

CS: I switched the waste basket by my desk to a recycling bin instead of having both. This way, the influence of my Lazy-itis makes me pause and consider whether or not my piece of trash could be recycled instead.
LM: Don't buy bottled water unless you absolutely have to. Buy a water bottle that can be refilled from the tap, which is often just as safe as bottled water. Just make sure the one you choose doesn't leach any nasty chemicals into your water!

UB: Any advice for budding artists/entrepreneurs in general? To do or not to do? Books? Websites?
CS: Stop watching television; you'll get so much more done. Heh. Seriously, it's not as scary or hard as it seems. We've both been working day jobs while getting this off the ground, but if you're doing something you really love, it's not as hard to stay up late and work through the weekend. The rewards are WAY more satisfying than getting enough sleep!
LM: My advice to other aspiring business owners is to embrace the fact that you will always be learning. When you work for yourself, you are undoubtedly wearing many hats, some of which don't fit quite right! There are so many resources out there to help you learn the ropes, make sure you take advantage of them. I'm a huge fan of the "For Dummies" series of books, which have book keeping and accounting versions. You can also find seminars, sometimes for free, at local business organizations. In Boston, there is the Center for Women and Enterprise which offers some great programs.

UB: Looking back is there anything you wished you'd done differently?
CS: I wish we had reached out a little more to the press; neither one of us are big on tooting our own horn, but we're getting better about that. :)
LM: Probably yes, but nothing comes to mind which is a good thing.

UB: Who inspires you "entrepreneurially"?
CS: I'm inspired by anyone who manages to be successful in a creative industry without losing touch with their own creative side in the process. Lotta Jansdotter comes to mind as a shining example.
LM: My Dad, he started his own company in 1982, working 2 jobs for a couple years before it really got going. He's the type of person who doesn't let anything stop him. If he doesn't know how to do something, he will do the research and figure it out.

UB: Who inspires you artistically/creatively?
CS: Oh, gosh...so many people. I find a lot of inspiration in vintage illustrators, like Olle Eksell, Charley Harper, etc. as well as 60s/70s graphic design, particularly Saul Bass. I also have a real soft spot for vintage textiles and wallpaper - so good!
LM: I can't say any specific people inspire me. There are so many things I am influenced by, from nature and books to fine art and music. Yup, that's a cop out.

UB: What are you most proud of with your business? With yourself?
CS: I'm so proud that we had the guts to go to the National Stationery Show within our first year in business. As we're prepping for #2, I feel more and more proud that we were able to pull it off!
LM: I would say the proudest moment for me was when we realized how many stores had placed orders with us at the Stationery Show. It's one thing to love your own products, but as a business owner it is so rewarding (and vital) to have other professionals appreciate and purchase your work!

UB: Where are you based out of?
CS/LM: Boston Area

UB: Are you from the area originally? If not, how did you arrive where you are?
CS: I moved here from Florida two weeks after finishing college. I had visited a friend here and loved the city.
LM: I grew up in Massachusetts, went to college in Providence, jumped around the Boston area for 10 years and then moved back to my hometown 2 years ago.

UB: What's your favorite thing about living where you do?
CS: Boston still feels like a small town in a lot of ways, but it has all the glories of a larger city; decent food, great music scene, fabulous museums.
LM: I moved to the 'burbs from the city 2 years ago and much to my surprise there are lots of things I like about it. Long quiet walks with my dog, plentiful parking and starry skies to name a few.
CS: Oh, I'm TOTALLY jealous of your starry skies!

UB: When you're not pluggin' away at business...where's your favorite local spot to hang out and why?
CS: My husband and I like to meet up with friends at shows, so you'll find us at various music venues. If it's a quiet night, we love this little restaurant down the street called St. Alphonzo's Kitchen. Tiny and cozy with the best calamari I've ever had.
LM: Hmm, honestly I'd have to say home, that's local right?! A perfect evening for me is cooking a delicious dinner and watching a movie with my man and my dog.

UB: What personal qualities do you admire in others or yourself? What qualities do you not like?
CS: Honesty, forthrightness and a good sense of humor. I can't stand condescension and snobbery.
LM: I admire compassion, patience and definitely a sense of humor. Ignorance and stubbornness are big turn-offs.

UB: Coffee or Tea?
CS: Coffee!
LM: vanilla honey camomile tea... lately.

UB: Bake or cook?
CS: Neither!
LM: Both!

UB: Favorite comfort food as a kid?
CS: Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. From the box, with the orange powdered cheese.
LM: strawberry ice cream, with mac and cheese coming in a close second.

UB: Cat person or dog person?
CS: I get the best of both worlds - I have a cat, Delia, at home, and a dog at the studio.
LM: Dog, but I've known some really great cats too.

UB: If you could be anywhere else in the world and/or time...where and when?
CS: Scandinavia in the 1960s. All that gorgeous pattern...drool...
LM: I'd take anywhere warm... it's winter in New England right now.

UB: You've just been asked to conduct an impromptu lip-syncing performance in your living room...what song do you choose to perform? Why?
CS: "Lips Like Sugar" by Echo and the Bunnymen, because I've loved them for years and have hair like Ian McCulloch. And I already know all the words.
LM: "South Tacoma Way" by Neko Case, so I could pretend I have her beautiful voice.

UB: If you could have picked your own name, what would it have been?
CS: Caroline. Or maybe Emma.
LM: Frances.
CS: I love the name Frances!

UB: Who is your favorite super hero?
CS: Does Abba count? They're Super Troupers...
LM: Jake

Who are Uncle Beefy's heros? Well, Carrie & Laurie for answering ALL of these questions...and you, gentle reader, for reading ALL of them! Thanks SO much for being a part of this!

Have a great weekend, Everyone!

First of all, I'd like to thank the academy....

Arriving home late last night I came to find the delightful announcement from Emily at Orange Beautiful's blog the SCOOP that she had chosen The Bedlam of Beefy as one of her new favorite blogs. To say the least, I am both humbled and honored, Emily. The SCOOP is always a daily peruse for me as Emily and Laura always have some little interesting tidbit to add a bit of joy to the day. So for those of you new to the Bedlam...welcome! Can I get you a cup of tea?

(Hey, wait a minute...why's my dressing room so small? No star on the door?! Call my agent! Where' my bottled water? This label isn't in my requested color scheme! And, it's certainly colder than the requested 42.7 degrees! Get Emily on the phone....NOW!) Oooh...smile for the camera!

Seriously...thanks muchly for the mention, Emily! :)

As good as it gets.

Last week I finally got to spend some time with friends, Kristine & Bob. It was long overdue (as it is with many friends) and nice to feel a bit less isolated on this little island of mine. Kristine and I tootled around Ikea for some studio accoutrement and then went back to their house to relax before catching the ferry back home. They showed me the phenomenal results of finishing their basement where they created an amazing in-house workspace. I envy Bob's carpentry skills.

Anywho...then we retired to the living room, chatted over some wine, cheese, and fruit and I received presents! Kristine had gotten me It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be. by Paul Arden. Um, yeah...get it. Now. Written technically regarding the advertising industry, its information and wisdom has multiple translations into both business and life. But its not like its going to find a permanent place on my bookcase anytime soon...you know, since I will be carrying it around with me everywhere. (Thanks, Kristine!)

It's gonna take a Lotta love...

This serves as great inspiration on a number of levels. It's amazing what Lotta Jansdotter has done in developing a business and brand and she is one of many who has inspired and fueled my artistic and entrepreneurial drive. Getting to see her studio just adds a touch more focus to my own studio-constructing efforts which cannot hurt.

(UPDATE: Well didn't she up and go move to a new studio! But while no longer an accurate representation of her studio I'll take what I can get.)

Indie Shopping Weekend

Just a reminder that this weekend is a great weekend for indie shopping in the Seattle area! There's Urban Craft Uprising at the Seattle Center (read my previous post here).

Also, on Bainbridge Island, is Christmas in the Country. A vast number of independent merchants that collect themselves in various locations around the island (including some beautiful private homes) and show off some amazing handiwork.

(The Fortner House - my favorite stop during Christmas in the Country!)

I know, it's not as delightful as the mall. And, granted, I doubt either location will have been thoughtful enough to have set up a Hot Dog On A Stick franchise...but these are the sacrifices we sometimes have to make people!

(Sidenote: It's supposed to snow here later today!!! I mean, what could make it any more atmospheric?!)

Inka, binka, bottle o'ink...

These are some ink sketches that I did. Gee, wonder what I had on the brain? Must be Thanksgiving on my mind. I love the unpredictable line quality that using a brush over a pen gives. That and the richness of the black ink on coffee-stained paper makes me swoon.

This could save the world.

This is from, perhaps, my favorite photographer & cinematographer Mr. Josh Goleman. It's a video of the day his friends Chap & Maura were married. I know I post a fair number of YouTube finds up here however...do not pass up the moment to watch this.

Quite simply, this is love made manifest.

Home is where the art is.

I am thrilled that the newest installment of Art 21 is soon to be broadcast! This is the fourth installment of the program produced by PBS which features numerous artists talking about their work. As an artist myself, I was happy that there was an opportunity to hear artists speak directly about their work and process as opposed to having all of that information filtered through a journalist or art historian. It seems that often times they (journalists/art historians) tend to only add to the curtain of elitist mystique that keeps a great deal of people from exploring art. It both saddens and frustrates me when people feel no interest in art or are intimidated by it because they've been led to believe that they don't know enough. Art is not the exclusive domain of anyone but belongs to everyone.

As a professor once said to a group of artists and students, "Remember people, art historians only ride the bus...we DRIVE it!" Well put, sir, well put.

Brown paper packages...

Just some sketches I've been working on to get the juices flowing. I like the coolness of the black and white contrasted with the warm coffee-brown background. Coffee-brown coming from the fact that, as you can see, I'm using recycled coffee filters. Reduce, reuse...

Red Letter Day

Some years ago, while still in school, I started this handmade book for a project. It was ambitious at the time given a last-minute deadline and no actual need for it as an assignment. But as you can see I came pretty darn close. Then it got boxed up with the myriad of other projects that would lie in wait for completion or use. But I discovered it the other day and felt for the poor little red thing. It's filled with mixed paper and mylar pages just waiting to be fiddled with and filled.

I think most creatives would agree that the hardest part is just starting. Facing a blank page does infuse one with a certain amount of pressure. "You know that first mark you make better be genius." And the freezing ensues. So...where to begin? How about the beginning? Any start is ultimately important. Any day a red letter day.