Meet our stallholders- Flowers that rock

Meet Sarah- she is the creative genius behind Flowers That Rock

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in a very small town in Iowa where being creative was almost necessary to enjoy living there.  I've always loved making stuff from very humble materials usually paper however now I use lots of other materials too.  

What is the creative process like for you?

It's weird but I attribute a lot of my creative process to day dreaming, I just let my mind wander and see where it ends up.  The other thing I enjoy is trying to solve problems and see what creative solutions I can use to 'fix' a problem.

Where can we currently buy your creations?

My items are sold online at:  

http://www.flowersthatrock.com/ 

and 3 etsy stores: 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FlowersThatRock

http://www.etsy.com/shop/artNcraft

http://www.etsy.com/shop/INFUSEDgoods

What is the story behind your business name?

Flowers That Rock are flowers made from guitar picks and guitar strings and we came up with the name because the are ready to rock.  

where do you get inspiration from?

I'm inspired by everything around me but a lot of times it's the stuff most people are throwing away without even a second thought.  The guitar strings used in our flowers are actually reclaimed.  They have already been used on guitars and have been replaced.  Some guitarists change their strings once a week and I didn't like to see them thrown away so quickly.  

What is your favorite blog?

I really like the dollar store crafts blog, it has a new frugal craft ideas everyday.  

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/

Meet our stallholders- TIki D Clocks

Hi Everyone! Meet Darren from Tiki D clocks


Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I'm a singer/songwriter/musician who has lived in Nashville since 1997, with my wife Vickie.We moved  from the San Francisco Bay Area to be part of the music scene here. I'm currently finishing my first solo CD project, but have written many songs here in Nashville for the Country market (with some success...not much!) and also enjoy writing Jazz and Pop.

Have you always loved to create?

I've been singing since I was a small kid...also played the trumpet and then guitar. I've been writing songs for 30 years now. I've always loved learning about music...it's a life-long education. I love being in a recording studio..but I also really enjoy making my clocks here at home, too. It's all part of the creative world to me.

What is the creative process like for you?

 I've wanted to make my Vintage Album Clocks for some time...but only this year finally sat down and started to create them. I was inspired by a clock I had bought back in San Francisco in the early 90's at a local record shop. I've always wanted to make them and find the right market to sell them in. I really enjoy the history of music, so using albums from the 1950's and 1960's allows me to spread my love of the music to people who remember a favorite album from growing up....or exposing the beauty of the artwork to younger generations. I basically choose album covers that interest me, whether Rock, Jazz, Vinyl Vixens, Country, Exotica, and Christmas...I create them for fun then hope people will find a style they like. 

Where can we currently buy your creations?

I'm selling some on Ebay and ETSY. I have a site called tikidmusic.com that we're building ..for now it takes you to the Ebay store. I also have them in retail spots in Nashville at Simon Ripley's Music & Art, Katy K's Ranch Dressing, and Sam N Zoe's coffee house.

What is the story behind your business name?

Well, my wife started calling me Tiki D this year...due to my love of Tiki/Exotica music and culture. We discovered a great Tiki restaurant in Smyrna called the Omni Hut last year. They are celebrating 50 years in business, and I hope to sell some clocks there. It's the only Tiki spot in Tenn.. I'm planning to advertise my Tiki/Exotica clocks in Tiki Magazine. I have Tiki D Music and Tiki D Clocks. 

where do you get inspiration from?

From all the great music I grew up on...and the cool factor of the album covers....record companies put a lot of thought into design in those days...they are quite an art form just as covers. I use albums from my personal collection, as well as those I find at thrift stores and from friends. I have several hundred at the moment...many will become clocks.

What is your favorite blog?

don't really blog much, to be honest.

and just for fun, what is your favorite picture book?

maybe a book I have on Alfred Hitchcock's films in California, like The Birds, Vertigo. 

Meet our stallholders- Owl Really

Hi Everyone, we would like you to meet Jamie from Owl Really, one of our vintage sellers that you can see in person on Sunday.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am from Louisville, KY but have called Nashville home for 6.5 years. I live in the up&coming Woodbine neighborhood and love it but I secretly dream of moving to East Nashville. I have an amazing full time job in which I get to interview musicians, spread the word about meaningful music, and share in so many fun experiences like music video shoots and tour rehearsals. I'm always looking for new adventures and that's how Owl Really found me!

Compared to others, I am pretty new to the handmade/vintage world. I have been devouring handmade/vintage blogs for about 2 years and have been so inspired to venture into this world myself. I am addicted to thrifting and finding good deals but I knew I'd become a hoarder if I didn't start selling my great finds! I opened my Etsy store, Owl Really, in September and have had 4 (woohoo!) sales so far. I'm really excited to take Owl Really "to the streets" and interact in person with others who are passionate about vintage items! 

Have you always loved to create?

My mom is really creative and I've always been somewhat creative but never very focused. I'm a phase-girl; I jump from one obsession to another.  I've done a little bit of painting (for my house and for gifts), I've done a little bit of crafting, I've done a little bit of sewing. I dabble in creating and love to try anything at least once. I think I've really found my calling in thrifting, though, and I love the opportunity to upcycle the items I find. 

Where can we currently buy your creations?

My dream is to sell my items in person but until I get immersed in the art fair circuit, my items are available at OwlReally.com.

What is the story behind your business name?

It's a little inside joke and it might be one of those "you had to be there" things, but my fiancé, Andy, was helping his friend, Chris, go through some old boxes from when he was in middle school. Andy discovered notes that had been written to Chris from a girl who wrote "ow" instead of "oh"." She consistently wrote "ow really" and "ow my gosh." It was funny to us to replace "oh" with "ow" and it seemed like a natural transition to metamorphose it into "owl really." Later, I discovered the internet meme of an ASCII owl with "O RLY?" typed underneath it. It all comes full circle! 

where do you get inspiration from?

Honestly, when I'm thrifting, I tend to think "Would Elsie (of Red Velvet Art) carry something like this?" I have to admit that I find it hard to not covet the new vintage store she just opened in Springfield, MO. I would love to take a pilgrimage to see it in person! 

I also find mega-inspiration in Design*Sponge sneak peeks. I could look at house interiors ALL DAY. I love seeing how people express their creativity in their homes and I hope that I can provide items via Owl Really that help people express themselves in new ways.

What is your favorite blog?

Design*Sponge and A Beautiful Mess (Elsie of Red Velvet's blog)

and just for fun, what is your favorite picture book?

I can't think of a particular picture book, but the children's book that still delights me is "There's A Monster At The End Of This Book." I love how dramatic Grover is as he tries to stop the reader from flipping the pages because he's scared of the monster at the end of the book! The interaction and how Grover speaks to the reader is so innovative and fun. 

Nashville Handmade Press Information

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 15, 2010 (Nashville, Tenn.) We are excited to announce the first ever Nashville Handmade Craft Fair, taking place on Sunday, November 21, from 2:00 - 6:00pm. The event, which will include some of Nashville’s finest crafters and vintage sellers, will take place at Harris-Hillman Special Education School, and will be the first annual Nashville Handmade event.

Attendees will be able to peruse the wares of over 30 vendors selling everything from jewelry to unique clothing items to vintage, and much much more. 

In addition to an opportunity to show off up and coming talent, the event is also a fundraiser for Harris-Hillman, which provides a safe and appropriate learning environment for students with multiple disabilities, including students who are medically fragile and who have dual diagnoses. There will be a donation box at the door, for those who wish to give to the school. People who make donations at the door will be entered to win a door prize from one of our many vendors. 

The Nashville Handmade Craft Fair was inspired by crafty events happening in other cities such as the Renegade Craft Fairs in Chicago, Brooklyn, Austin, Los Angeles and San Francisco. 

When: Sunday, November 21, 2010, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Harris-Hillman Special Education School, 1706-26th Avenue, South | Nashville, TN 37212 

For further information please contact:
Rachel Arnold
615.693.9225nashvillehandmadecraftfair@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/NashvilleHandmade

Meet our stallholders -Simon and Ruby

We are excited to present to you the first of our stallholders for next Sunday (yes that's right! the 21st it's coming up quickly now!)

Please welcome Lindsay -The creative genius behind Simon and Ruby Jewelery.

1) Can you tell us a little about yourself?
 I grew up a couple of hundred miles south of Nashville, but at this point in my life I feel more at home than I ever have. I’ve always thought of myself as a creative thinker, but I’ve finally found my true passion. Between my Jewelry design and my photography, I found myself. My little corner of the world includes my very patient, musician husband, my two children (cats) Matisse and Oz, and a dozen or so incredibly supportive friends. I tend to collect hobbies, watch too many movies, and read too many books. I would rather travel than do most other things (as long as I have my camera.) I have a Jewelry Line: Simon and Ruby, a photography business, Lindsay Farrer Photography (www.lindsayfarrer.com), and a collection of paintings inspired by stained glass windows.

2) Have you always loved to create?
 I have been painting and stringing beads and buttons since I was very young. Both my grandmother and my great grandmother were seamstresses, so some of my earliest memories are of sitting with jars of buttons and beads spread around me, playing and combining colors that I liked. My uncle is an artist and he convinced my parents to let me start painting lessons when I was 7. I adored mixing color and pattern, leaning towards a more abstract look at life. The days of painting, playing with beads, and helping my family work with stained glass definitely formed my current creative life. I’ll have to thank my family for that.

3) What is the creative process like for you?
I generally have an idea of design or an inspiration piece to get me started. In fact, my Winter Collection was completely inspired by photos, postcards, and the fashions of the 1920’s. After I get the initial burst of inspiration, it can be a little bit chaotic, but a lot of fun. My friends are horrified at my method, but its what works. My beads are all divided out in little clear bags and I tend to spread them around me and start picking out beads. At this point, I’m buried in beads and it is impossible to see the table (or sofa.)

4) Where can we currently buy your creations?
 At this exact moment, you can find my jewelry on www.simonandruby.com, www.simonandruby.etsy.com
Or locally in Nashville at: Bloom Flowers and Gifts on Dallas Avenue
and Laurel Leaf Gallery in Leiper’s Fork, TN.
I have a few more things in the works so, soon it will be available in a few more spots!

5) We love the name of your business, why did you choose it?
My great grandmother was Ruby, and Simon was her first love. When you think of Simon and Ruby jewelry, I want you to get swept away by the feeling of first love, the magic and the spark behind it. I love the idea that a piece of art can romance you with its story, through color, texture, and style. Simon and Ruby is about the marriage of interesting design, textural elements and unexpected color. Each design is named after a woman, whether it is a beloved character, a dear friend, or a beautiful stranger, and I hope to communicate their tales.

6) Where do you get inspiration from?
 I definitely draw upon my past for the broad picture, but my individual designs are influenced heavily by characters I read about, the cultures of places I have traveled, characters in the movies I watch, and color schemes in photographs that I love. I’m endlessly inspired by the world around me. The next several collections I’ve planned are all influenced by my recent travels. Spring will bring us both the mountainous regions of the area surrounding Lake Atitlan in Guatemala and the dusty, warm city of Antigua. I really can’t wait to get started creating!

7) What is your favorite blog?
Design Sponge or Scoutie Girl would be tied for first. Scoutie Girl nurtures the creative business side of me and Design Sponge inspires me visually. I get SG sent to my mailbox daily, so I always reserve my morning break to read and be motivated to act. Tara (Scoutie Girl) challenges my views and makes me jump outside of my comfort zone to live a more fulfilled creative life. Her words and beliefs have been a great influence and created the spark to get me moving.

8) and just for fun, what is your favorite picture book?
This might sound ridiculous, but I have 2, one from my childhood and one more current. Mo Willems writes children’s books starring a pigeon and I cannot get enough of it. I love the simplicity of his design and the fun stories he weaves. Dr. Seuss….well, you really can’t go wrong. “Marvin K Mooney, Will you Please go now” has always been my go –to children’s book. For some reason, it reminds me of my more stubborn moments.

Thanks Lindsay, we look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Our next Giveaway

It's about time for another Nashville Handmade giveaway!

So how does this sound... when we have 250 likers on our Facebook page we will giveaway a $25 voucher for Kirsty Emery designs! (to be used on the day of the fair)

What does KED have?? screenprinted t-shirts for little ones (and a few for bumps too!), purses, some itty bitty dresses and maybe a few other special bits and pieces.

We have a winner!

First of all, we want to say a HUGE thanks to all of our new followers/fans on Facebook and Twitter! We appreciate you guys and are excited that you are interested in our craft fair!!

Booth space is still available for $25 a booth! Email nashvillehandmadecraftfair@gmail.com for an application form!

And now... for the winner of our very first giveaway!!!! We picked a random winner from our Facebook fans, and Melissa Coleman, you are it! Please email nashvillehandmadecraftfair@gmail.com and we will get your details! You have won a headband from Flights Of Fancy Crafts!