Vendor Spotlight Series: Part 2

Eclectic Co. wouldn’t exist without our incredible vendors! We will be spotlighting several vendors in our new biweekly blog series. Get to know the creators creative process, their story, their “why” and how they are adapting to better serve you during our current times. Thank you for being a part of our community and for joining us in celebrating our amazing creators!

 

Interviews are curated by Courtney, artist + creative of Flow and Root.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

We’re pleased to introduce you to the super creative Kelsey Choo of KelsChoo!

What inspired you to start making comics & zines / launching your business?

I’ve always loved reading and drawing comics since I was a kid, but as I grew older I really enjoyed writing.  Comics are a great combination of art and writing, and after learning about zines and self-publishing in college, started to make my own.  I’d been making my own zines since college, but started seriously vending at events full-time when I moved to Colorado and was having a hard time finding a full-time job. 

How have you stayed creatively inspired during quarantine?

To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure that I have been that creatively inspired throughout quarantine.  I think it’s important for people to remember that you don’t have to be creative 100% of the time and that it’s good to rest to avoid burn out too.  I’ve mostly been working on fun DIY projects for my upcoming wedding, but other than that have been trying not to put too much pressure on myself.  If you are looking for ideas though, it’s easy to do still-lifes of objects or views from your home, and free journaling helps me work out feelings when I’m frustrated.

What do you love most about what you do?

Being self-employed and a self-publisher, I get to work on projects I love and feel connected to.  I especially appreciate the times when I get to meet or hear from my audience that they connected with a piece too, and the interesting conversations that come from it.

What has been the biggest challenge for your business during quarantine?

Adjusting to the lack of events, which is where I make most of my income.  Virtual events have definitely helped some, but having opportunities to interact with other artists and readers in person really helps keep me motivated.  

What is one fun and/or interesting fact about you?

I love insects (always have), and used to be a volunteer in the insect department of the Chicago Field Museum for almost 4 years.  I got to go on field collection trips to other parts of the midwest with my boss and participated in some great outreach events like Bio Blitz and the Field Museum’s sleepovers.

What do you enjoy most about your creative process?

Comics are a very repetitive medium, so I enjoy the brainstorming and thumbnail/sketching portion of my process the most.  That’s when my ideas are new and images are more loose, vs in the later steps like inking, where I’m drawing the same image for at least the 3rd time.    My full process usually consists of: having an idea, thumbnailing/writing it, sketching a draft, a second cleaner sketch draft, inking, occasionally coloring, scanning, cleaning up each page digitally, formatting it into book form, printing (I do this in-house which can take much longer than you’d think), cutting pages, folding, and binding.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

We’re excited to share Susan Steven’s story + how Amici Scarves came to be!

“When I went into business for myself, I decided to call my business, Amici (which means friend in Italian) Scarves. I put a signature star of roving on all my scarves to remind me of the importance of friendship.” – Susan, Amici Scarves

What inspired you to start making art/launching your business?

My inspiration for my art was a Nuno-felting workshop at Fountain Valley School. My sister and her partner had learned the technique on the Oregon coast, and came to Colorado to do the workshop with  eleven of my friends. We helped each other throughout the workshop with ideas, inspiration, and creativity. When I went into business for myself, I decided to call my business, Amici (which means friend in Italian) Scarves. I put a signature star of roving on all my scarves to remind me of the importance of friendship.

What do you love most about what you do?

What I love most about my art is that I have joined my love of using recycled materials and shopping at thrift stores and combined it with roving (unspun wool) from my friends’ merino sheep farm with a process of visually combining color, silk, roving, agitation, physical exercise, and patience to create “one of a kind” wearable art.

What has been the biggest challenge for your business during quarantine?

My biggest challenge during the quarantine has been to motivate myself to continue creating even though every one of my shows throughout the United States was cancelled. I usually don’t have a problem making scarves throughout the year, but this was highly irregular and I found it difficult to get into my studio.

Describe your favorite things about your customers.

One of my favorite things about dealing with my customers is the interest they have about the process. Many people that are fiber artists, quilters, knitters, and seamstresses, come walking into my booth with their hands stretched out to touch the scarves and shawls. Children are also attracted to the colors and the textures of my work and it is extremely satisfying.

Are there any new products you are really excited about releasing? If you can share! 🙂

Some of my new products include vintage Saris from India, and dying my own silk.  My husband has been one of my biggest fans and supporters of my art and he finds silk from all over the world , and shops for  silk and rayon dresses, blouses, and skirts at  thrift stores. I really couldn’t be this successful without him!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Get to know the incredible Aimee Simon of Lavandula Co. and her empowering mission!

“My work has come to help me embrace myself as a womxn and all of the amazing things that come with being one as well as with a greater connection to Mother Earth.” – Aimee, Lavandula Co.

What inspired you to start making art/launching your business?

I have been making art for as long as I can remember. As I got older and as life got busier, I wasn’t creating as much as I used to. A few years ago something inside me was telling me to create again, and through that spark of creativity LavandulaCo was born.

Tell us how your brand came to be.

Creating my business name was always a challenging feat. I have seriously had an obsession with Lavender all of my life to help calm and ease my nerves of the hustle and bustle of the world. Lavandula is the genus name of the flower, and my name/brand came to be.

Describe your mission and what led to you discovering your mission.

I have always felt a deep rooted connection through nature and all of it’s wonders, and that is why I chose to incorporate dried flowers and foliage throughout many of my pieces. I also struggled with my femininity and body image throughout high school and my college years. I wanted to break through these insecurities and draw what I knew as well as parts of me that I used to be uncomfortable with. My work has come to help me embrace myself as a womxn and all of the amazing things that come with being one as well as with a greater connection to Mother Earth. 

What do you love most about what you do?

I love how creating with my hands connects my mind, body and spirit and allows me to care for myself in ways that I did not think could be possible. It took a big leap of courage to then release my work out into the public eye, but I hope that my journey and art can help others in the world as it has helped me.

Describe one of the most memorable moments you’ve had with a customer.

The moments that I can’t forget are when customers come in who buy pieces for their work offices because they are in the femxle reproductive and healthcare field. From OBGYN’s to labor and delivery nurses to sex therapists, among other professions, it just really comes full circle with the power and beauty of our bodies and all of the badass things that they can do.