Tuesday: Dot necklace

OMG, I am in love with this necklace. It is so stunning with gorgeous, rich Fall colors. Yum! Find it at TQB Designs.

Sunday Brunch Special: Zurina Ketola

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
I’ve been designing jewelry for about five years now, but my passion for the craft came about unexpectedly. At the time, I was living in Santa Monica and took a trip back to my hometown of Portland, Oregon. On a momentary whim, my dad took me into a shop called Ed’s House of Gems. I became infatuated with the intrinsic beauty of the stones, so I bought about ten strands to fool around with. At first, I was just making gifts for friends and family. After a while though, I realized that this was something I wanted to try and grow. I’ve since sold my work at art galleries and shows, in boutiques, and early this year I was able to expand to my own on-line boutique.

2. Where are you located?
My business is based out of Phoenix, AZ.

3. How did you come up with your business name?
I wanted to keep things simple. I figured I had a really unique name, and I wanted to use it.

4. Where do you sell your products?
There are two brick and mortar stores locally that carry my work. Swell Clothing, which is located in the funky Mill Avenue District of Tempe, and the other is located in a shop in the posh Gainey Ranch neighborhood of Scottsdale called SC Moda. Otherwise, my work is available at my online boutique, www.zurinaketola.com.

5.Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
I belong to a few discussion boards. One of the most helpful for me business-wise is The Switchboards. To talk about the ins and outs of jewelry design, there's the Jewelry Artists Index. For fashion and beauty, there's SheFinds, and the Fashion-Forums.

6. What inspires you?
So many things! Architecture, film, books, nature, friends, family, beads, gems… It’s amazing how you can take an idea or concept and use it to create a tangible object.

7. Read any good books lately?
A couple. The Best American Essays of 2006, edited by Lauren Slater and A Natural History of Human Emotions, by Stuart Wilson.

8. When you’re not making things, what do you do?
I’m a student, so most of the time you’ll find me in school, or doing chemistry or math homework. Because of my web site, I’ve developed an interest in web design, and photography as well. I started drum lessons recently, which is so incredibly fun! I also love to go out dancing, write, and just chill with my husband at home.

9. Do you ever get stumped for ideas? How do you work through it?
Sometimes. I just try to take a break to regroup and clear my head. Something as simple as a walk, reading a book, or doing yoga, all can get my creative juices flowing again.

10. What would be your dream job?
I planned my wedding back in 2005 single-handedly, and had the best time doing it! I think being an event or wedding planner would be so much fun.

11. What’s your favorite color?
Any shade of blue.

Ok, now these two are mandatory and I have to ask (this being a diner, after all)

1. What is your favorite meal?
Hmm... Ok, I know it’s not “diner food”, but I’d have to say that my favorite meal called misir wat from an Ethiopian restaurant called Café Colucci on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland. It’s an incredibly delicious spiced lentil dish that is sooooooo addictive. Seriously, if you’re a vegetarian and you find yourself anywhere near the Bay Area, you have to go there for that dish.

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
I’d have to say tea.

Saturday: Rag Doll crib shoes

I had a really hard time choosing which pair of these adorable crib shoes to feature. The elephants almost won out but I am so fond of Raggedy Ann & Andy. Are they not the cutest?? Made of wool felt and hand-stitched. Find them at The Baby Gardner.

Friday Fish Fry: Paper Night Light

Look how the light glows through this handmade paper night light. Natural fibers & Japanese paper are used to create magnificent texture. Gorgeous! Find it at mixtgoods.com by artists Yoshi & Susan Baran Aoki of Blue Tree Gallery.

Thursday: Moroccan Bracelet

I love the deep, deep red of the garnets in this bracelet...and the carnelian stone sets everything off perfectly! Find it at Kirsten Gunst Natural Jewelry.

Wednesday: Polka Dot tote

I'm a big fan of polka dots! This adorable little tote for kids not only has polka dots but also their initial. Cute :) Find it (and a whole lotta other polka dotted goodies) at Polka Dot Market.

Tuesday: Night Sky earrings

Gorgeous! Deep midnight blue vintage glass beads paired with brass & oxidized silver findings make these earrings magical. Find them at Leaves of Glass.

Monday: Urban cute

Love the graphic on this very cool blanket. Lightweight 100% cotton with cotton fill. Find it at Super Natural Baby.

Sunday Brunch Special: TADA BABY

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
I’m a native New Yorker but currently live outside of Boston with my husband, my 3.5 year-old daughter Adelaide, my 8 month-old daughter Georgina and our dog Chewy. I have always enjoyed painting, photography, color…pretty much anything where I can be creative.

TADA BABY gives me the opportunity to do all of this! I create personalized canvas wall art that features babies and big kids. Digital artwork is first created on the computer incorporating the photograph of the child. It is then giclée printed with archival pigment inks on premium artist canvas. I stretch the canvas over a wooden frame and then areas are hand-painted with acrylic paint. The canvas is then sprayed with a finishing gloss to protect it. The result is an original piece of art that children will love as much as their parents do!

2. Where are you located?
Sherborn, MA. It is a small suburb of Boston, MA.

3. How did you come up with your business name?
My 3.5 year-old loves to say Ta-Da! when she does pretty much anything…writes her name, draws a picture, dresses herself, it’s always “Ta-Da! I did it.” When I completed my first canvas I was so excited. It was a realization that I had completed something unique and special…it was a true Ta-Da! moment for me.

When I decided to start selling my canvases and turn this into a business I thought, what could be a more fitting name than TADA BABY? 

I like it because it captures the fun and excitement of kids, which is really what the company is all about.

4. Where do you sell your products?
I sell my work through my website www.tadababy.com. Orders can be emailed to me at orders@tadababy.com. I also have an etsy shop: www.tadababy.etsy.com.

5. Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
I belong to a number of online forums. theswitchboards.com has been a great place to get a wealth of information from seasoned women entrepreneurs. I’m also fond of poshmama.com and belong to the EtsyKids street team.

6. What inspires you?
I have always been inspired by color. Everywhere I look I see blocks and patterns of color. Fabric is also a great inspiration for me as well as wallpaper. They both can have great color combinations and graphic designs.

7. Do you have any quirks or obsessions you care to share?
It’s embarrassing but I have an obsession with all things Star Wars. I don’t know where it comes from, but there you have it. Did I mention that my dog’s name is Chewbacca?

8. What’s your favorite childhood memory?
Climbing trees and swimming at the lake in New York where I used to go to camp every summer. I had the best carefree childhood!

9. What’s your favorite color?
Hot Pink. I can’t help myself!

10. What’s the most difficult aspect of running your biz?
By far the most difficult challenge for me has been balancing family time with the time it takes to run a successful business. I sometimes feel as though I’m spreading myself too thin, but I’m determined to be on more of a schedule and let family time be family time and work time be work time. I learned very quickly that you can’t do both simultaneously!

Ok, now these two are mandatory and I have to ask (this being a diner, after all)

1. What is your favorite meal?
Lobster with more lobster! Thank goodness I live in New England!

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Coffee in any form…iced coffee, black coffee, coffee with steamed milk…I could go on!

Friday Fish Fry: Guppy Love

Cute pendant made using Japanese chiyogami(old-paper). Find it at gamiworks.

Thursday: Market tote

I've been eyeing this market tote lately as I really need a tote this size. I love the colors in this one and the fact that it's reversible! Find it at htNEVELE.

Wednesday: Darling Smock

What little sweetie wouldn't look adorable in this smock? Apples & pears on a chocolate background. Based on a classic 70's pattern. I just love it :) Find it at PINKDIXIE.

Tuesday: Monster journal

Having some bad dreams? Use this Nightmare Snatcher (tm) to write away all your worries, scares or frights. There's even a spell at the beginning of the journal to help rid you of those unwanted nightmares. Find it at The Spiderbite Boutique.

Monday: Darling little skirt

I love simple little skirts like this. And I love the colors & pattern in this one. Match it to a t-shirt and you have a sweet outfit for your little girl. Find it at gock's frocks.

Sunday Brunch Special: Whimsy by Jess

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
My name is Jessica and I am a stay at home mom to my almost 3 year old son, with another sweet baby on the way (due in 4 weeks!!) I am constantly crafting and have been for as long as I can remember. As a young child my great-grand mother taught me to crochet and it kind of just stuck. I dabble in many different crafts, trying new things all the time and sticking with what I like.

I started my business as a way to do what I love, which is create imaginative, useful items with my hands, pass on these items to people who will enjoy and cherish them as much as I do, and, maybe even add a little extra income to what my husband contributes that makes it possible to stay home with my children.

2. Where are you located?
I am located in the California Bay Area. This is a wonderful place for artists and crafters, with so many resources near by! I have a number of yarn stores that I frequent, depending on the particular yarn I need and what each store carries. There are also many local groups and clubs for crafty types.

3. How did you come up with your business name?
I have really just always liked the word ‘whimsy’, and I really think that everything I create has a bit of whimsy to it.

4. Where do you sell your products?
I currently sell my products on Etsy at www.whimsybyjess.etsy.com

5. Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
I do belong to the local ‘craft mafia’ This group has been a great resource for meeting other crafty business people as well as finding local craft fairs and other marketing information. I highly recommend joining your local craft mafia!

6. What inspires you?
I get inspiration from so many places. My first and favorite place to look is nature. I love moss and leaves and anything green, really. I also look at things like fabric and scrapbook paper, I find some really interesting color combinations and designs from both.
I also love mythical movies like Lord of the Rings, and finding unique illustrations of fairies. From these I find inspiration for things to add to my creations, or ideas for different techniques to try.

7. When you’re not making things, what do you do?
When I’m not crafting I am usually playing with my son or cleaning my house ( an endless job!)

8. What’s your favorite color?
This has got to be the easiest question of all! Green! By far green is my Favorite color. I generally include green in every piece I create.

Ok, now these two are mandatory and I have to ask (this being a diner, after all)

1. What is your favorite meal?
This is a hard one, as I am pregnant and currently going in and out of cravings! My current meal craving is anything with guacamole, I’m a big fan of avocados!

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Tea! I’m very into herbal tea at the moment. I’ve been drinking also of raspberry leaf tea, which is said to be a ‘uterine toner’, being due in 4 weeks this is a good thing for me!