Heather M Design

What do you create?
I create elegant pieces of jewelry with a contemporary edge. All of my pieces are either one-of-a-kind or limited edition. I strive, not for quantity in my designs, but unique quality.

How did you come up with your company name?
I wanted my name to represent me. What better way to achieve this than name your company after yourself. My dilemma with this strategy, however was that no one can pronounce my last name…Maietta. As not to confuse people, I decided on Heather M design. It’s catchy, simple, and fits.

When and why did you decide to start your business?
Like most things in my life, I just fell into it. I am obsessed with fashion, always have been. Growing up, I would see jewelry in stores that I liked and was interested in how pieces were designed with the perfect color combination and just the right style. Once I was able, I decided to experiment with different materials and found out that I was good at designing and creating pieces of my own…that people liked. Besides, it is really rewarding when I see a woman wearing a piece of jewelry that I have made. Accessories make an outfit and I feel good that I can provide something that makes women beautiful.

I started focusing more on building my business just recently. My website launched March 1st and has been very successful in the short time it has been up. I am very fortunate in that I love the marketing and PR side of business and I am pretty outgoing, so it is fun to promote my new site and jewelry. I also love the social aspect of participating in craft fairs and art shows, which I have been doing for a while now. Seeing all that talent in one place is such an inspiration!

Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
I am constantly looking at what people are wearing and creating new pieces in my head. The same goes for materials. I see something that is totally unrelated to jewelry and try to figure out how I might create a unique piece from different materials. I think that everyone wants to wear something different. So, I create based on this philosophy…jewelry unique as the woman wearing it. I am not into all things trendy, however. I take what’s in style and create pieces with an elegant, classy twist. And I don’t make jewelry made from junk. My materials all of great quality so you can be assured you will be getting a piece worth the price.



What is your main goal for this year?
My main goal for this year is to spend as much time as possible getting the word out about Heather M Design. I told myself that I would focus my efforts the first year in business making a name for myself. Aside from my jewelry business, I am also working on my PhD in Education, so another goal of mine is to complete my last couple of classes. In addition, I recently got married, so spending time with my husband is also big on my list. He is really supportive of all the things I do in my life. Actually, he is the bookkeeper for Heather M Design, which is good because that’s the least favorite part of the job. I have a very fulfilling life that keeps me busy and feel very fortunate about this.

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
The first thing I would say in beginning a new business would be to plan to spend as much time building your clientele through marketing and PR and keeping your books as you do on the craft itself. These three parts are equally important and all require the same amount of your time and commitment. If you are not good at one of the three, hire someone who is. I think of this balance in terms of a three-legged stool…if one leg breaks, you’re in trouble. You cannot be successful at selling your product if you are not financially responsible or if noone knows that your business exists.

There are so many resources available for those who want to start their own business. It is just a matter of doing your homework. I spent a good six months reading and researching, and I think it has helped me tremendously,

And just out of curiosity, what’s your favorite tool of your trade?
Leather. I love making pendant necklaces strung on Greek leather or suede cord. It is a classic look that will never go out. The possibilities are endless.

Site:
Heather M Design

Fierce Kitten Studio

What do you create?
I focus my crafts primarily on the creation of handbags and purse accessories. I keep coming up with new ideas, but I have to stop myself if they aren't bag-related, otherwise I'll never get anything done!

How did you come up with your company name?
It's a funny story really. First off, my blog started out as FierceKitten.com, simply because my friends called me a "vicious attack kitten." The reason for this is simple... I'm extremely sweet and helpful until I'm pushed into a corner and then I lash out and explode on people when angered. When I came up with my company name, I wanted something trendy, unique, and something that reflected me but didn't seem too childish. I was coming up with all kinds of names, until my husband suggested I just use Fierce Kitten and then I wouldn't have to bother with setting up a new domain for the company. I tacked on "studio" to the end to give it a more sophisticated sound.

When and why did you decide to start your business?
I have sewn for several years now, but I didn't start thinking of selling my sewn items until several family members said to me, "Hey, you should sell this stuff!" Plus, having your sewing room filled with bags that you know you'll never use is very silly. I was really pushed over the edge when a friend pointed me to Etsy. I didn't have to sell my soul to pay outrageous fees, and I didn't have to shop and buy 20 useless things on the site to get 20 feedbacks to sell like that "other" site. The honest truth is that I learned everything about running a business from a video game called Star Wars Galaxies. I ran a food and drink shop in the game, and even went so far as to create a public website for it where players could place custom orders and view my goods. It was extraordinary fun to run a virtual business... so why not make it real? I'm having lots of fun so far!



Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
I really love asian and floral themes. I have been greatly inspired by Japanese culture when choosing my fabrics. I also owe a lot to my female family members who have helped me create bag designs that are sophisticated, but not so complicated that you have to buy an outfit to match.

What is your main goal for this year?
My main goal this year is to get my feet wet with running an online business, build a client base, and learn new things. I hope to stock up a bunch this year and perhaps try out a craft fair or two later in the year. I am constantly learning new things and techniques to make my products better and more beautiful. I want to learn more!

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
My best advice for someone new would be to not underestimate yourself. Your products are unique and special and there are many people out there that appreciate quality crafted products. There are so many people who enter the crafting realm feeling as if their work isn't good enough. I'm a perfectionist, and it was very hard for me to overcome this. The fact of the matter is, someone who doesn't craft will look at your items and fall in love with them.

And just out of curiosity, what is your favorite tool of your trade?
I *love* my Husqvarna Viking Rose sewing machine. It has an embroidery attachment, which I use quite often to decorate plainer fabrics, and so many stitches and attachments! While I would love to have the super-duper-mega-machine (a.k.a. Designer SE), the Rose fits all of my needs perfectly so far. Aside from the actual sewing machine, I'd have to say that if I could, I would divorce my husband and run off to Vegas with the seam ripper.

Site:
Fierce Kitten Studio

D Celestine Limited

What do you create?
I create handmade, artisan jewelry designs inspired by fashion. My design philosophy is: Although my designs are influenced by the latest trends, I try to incorporate a certain sense of classic beauty to give my jewelry a timeless style. I really like to make jewelry that is current, but when the trends are over, I like to think my jewelry doesn't go out of style with it.

How did you come up with your company name?
When I first toyed with the idea of starting a jewelry business a couple years ago, I wanted to give it a unique name. I've always liked the French language and stars, so I called it "Étoile Jewelry" (étoile is French for star), but it was a bit difficult to pronounce and spell for my clients. Later, when I was ready to incorporate, I still wanted a unique name, but it was important to me that it had meaning behind it. I sat there thinking, "Why can't I have a cool name like Coco Chanel so I can use it as my business name!?? Then, it hit me! My
middle name is Celestine, and I thought that sounded pretty cool. Celestine, by itself, was a bit too generic - I wanted to make it more unique, so I added the D which is the first initial of my name, to give the business name an edge. I had to add the "Limited" as part of the corporate name. That's how I got "D Celestine Limited".

When and why did you decide to start your business?
Since childhood, I've always loved arts & crafts, especially drawing, painting, photography, and jewelry making. I actually started my first jewelry company, "Beedz" when I was in middle school. I made necklaces, bracelets, and anklets using seed beads, and I actually sold them to friends (and their parents) and family! It was so cute; I had a little order book and everything for my "custom work". My passion for craft stayed with me through school, and after I graduated college, I decided I needed a creative outlet, so I returned to beading. My friends and family really liked my jewelry, and I had always wanted to start my own business, but I was unsure if I should take my hobby to the next level. About this time, I found one of my favorite quotes, which asks, "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" The quote really got me thinking and helped me realize that if I knew my jewelry business wouldn't fail, I'd definitely start it up. I decided that, fifty years from now, I didn't want to look back at
this time and wonder "What if?" So, I officially started D Celestine Limited (or DCL as I sometimes call it) in August of last year by incorporating and creating a web site to showcase my work.





Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
I get most of my inspiration from the fashion world. I like to take the latest trends and merge them with my personal style. For example, I like to take a basic, popular style, like "opera-length necklaces," and make it mine by using different materials, or mixing up the location of components, or adding my favorite stones to the design. I also try to stay in tune with the season's hottest colors by using those colors in my designs throughout the year. Additionally, I really love the combination of gemstones with Swarovski crystals, so, no matter the inspiration, I like to try to work those materials into my designs.

What is your main goal for this year?
Get my name out there! I just incorporated in August of last year, and I feel like I've spent as much time getting DCL "ready for business" as designing/making the jewelry! lol! I'd like to get my work in front of some fresh faces, and I also think it'd be really, really cool to get
some jewelry on a celebrity! I guess I'd just like other people to like my jewelry as much as I do!

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
Follow your dreams, stay true to yourself, and keep your inspiration. The craft business is a hard one, but you just have to stick with it and remain optimistic! I'm definitely a quote person, so whenever I'm feeling down, I try to find a good quote to lift my spirits.

And just out of curiosity, what's your favorite tool of your trade?
Round-nose pliers are my favorite tool. Not only is it my most used tool, but it's probably the most versatile. I can make an entire pair of chandelier earrings out of a piece of sterling wire with those babies!

Site:
D Celestine Limited

CatBird Baby

What do you create?
I make baby carriers known as mei tais. They are based on traditional Chinese soft baby carriers that can be used as front packs, back packs, and hip carriers. I've also started making hand screenprinted t-shirts for babies and kids, and might delve into other baby-related crafts as well.

How did you come up with your company name?
At first, I tried to think of clever ways to incorporate my daughter's name and all my attempts were lame. Then I started thinking of cats, because I am a cat lover, and I remembered the expression "sitting in the catbird seat" which means to be in a good position. And I thought that was fitting for a baby being carried in a sling or carrier. I also became enamored of my idea to incorporate a cat and a bird into the actual word "catbird" for my logo, which is what I ended up using (a professional version of my idea rather than my crudely mouse-drawn one).

When and why did you decide to start your business?
In spring of 2004 I made a mei tai carrier for myself using some instructions on the internet. Then I started modifying them and making more and more. I would wear my daughter in the carrier around town and get lots of comments on them. I loved the mei tai and it wasn't widely known, but got a lot of looks, so it seemed like a great business idea. The sewing satisfied my creative urges and fed my fabric addiction. And, thinking ahead, I thought that it would be great to work for myself and have the flexibility to still pick my kids up from school, when life gets to that stage. My first serious thoughts of starting a business were in September of 2004 and it was May of 2005 by the time I launched my website.

Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
My original inspiration was my daughter, Annika. She's now two-and-a-half, so I don't carry her too much, but I am already thinking about how great it will be to have so many wonderful baby carriers (both my own and other styles) for baby number two. I didn't know as much about the carriers available when Annika was first born and didn't discover the mei tai until she was about 7 months old. I'm also inspired by the fabrics that I see and love; often I just find fabric that I adore and decide I must find a creative way to use it. And with the t-shirts that I'm starting to get into now, I am mostly inspired by the prints of vintage textiles.

What is your main goal for this year?
To start wholesaling to brick-and-mortar stores; though there is a wide world of alternatives to the Bjorn, it is mostly online where it won't reach as broad an audience. And there is a bit of challenge in getting stores to take on a product that they've never heard of before; they don't know if their customers will want this type of baby carrier. But I really feel that there is a trend towards carrying babies more and using more comfortable and stylish options than a lot of mass-market carriers. Beyond that, I'd like to get at least a couple press mentions.

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
Try not to neglect the "boring" stuff: bookkeeping, taxes, filing forms. It's not fun or exciting, but it must be done, and being organized about it will make your life easier. (I'm talking to myself as much as anyone here!)

And just out of curiosity, what's your favorite tool of your trade?
Well, my sewing machine is pretty essential to what I do. I also love my snap press. I only use snaps on my fleece mei tai covers right now, but I keep trying to think of other things I could put snaps on. Oh, and rotary cutters have saved me a lot of time (but might cost me a finger).

Site:
CatBird Baby

Studio 3B

What do you create?
I create unique and artistic pillar candles.

How did you come up with your company name?
First, I wanted a name that would signify that it is work from an artistic studio. There are 3 of us in my family, my husband, me, and my son, and our last name is Bustamento. So that's how we became Studio 3B!

When and why did you decide to start your business?
I had a home based business that was just a lot of paperwork and I've always wanted to do something artistic, so I was already wanting a change. I was trying to think of something that my husband and I could work on together - he is a professional Woodturner and makes beautiful handturned columns, posts, etc. I had been wanting some very tall candleholders and was working with him on the design I wanted and I thought - I can make candles to go with them! I started studying various candlemaking books, learned how to make candles, then really started experimenting with wax and realized that this is what I wanted to do. Now I absolutely love it!

Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
My inspiration comes from everywhere! It can be a pattern I see on material, an object I see, or sometimes the design idea just "pops" into my head! Many of my designs come from customer requests also.

What is your main goal for this year?
Well, I started my online business last April and have been working very hard to get my website up to par, so I guess my main goal is to get out there and really sell it! I'm also trying to let interior designers I'm here. I've worked with a designer on a project in Tahoe and I really loved it - so I'm trying to go in that direction also.

What advice would you give someone starting a creative business?
The first thing is to make sure you're passionate about what you're doing. Your love for your craft will help you make it through the tough times. Don't give up - my mother gave me a picture with a poem on it titled: "Don't Quit" I have it hanging above my desk and I have to read it MANY times to give me inspiration. My new motto is Keep Bouncin' - you've got to be able to bounce back from setbacks and disappointments!

What's your favorite tool of your trade?
I would have to say my candle molds. My husband made them for me. They're not metal and so I'm able to work with the wax directly in the mold by hand.

Site:
Studio 3B