meet maartje witteveen of tizzalicious

name: maartje witteveen

business name: tizzalicious

where are you located? the netherlands

what is it that you design and create?
jewelry, accessories, housewares and here and there a softie.

how did you come up with your business name?
my boyfriend came up with it actually, a long time before we were a couple. my nickname had been tizz for a while, and he sometimes called me tizzalicious (because he’s a sleeze I guess?). i liked the sound of it, and started using it as a username whenever i had to sign up somewhere. a few years later, when i started my business, and my boyfriend and i were a couple, i just knew tizzalicious was the only option for a name.

where/how did this all begin?
i have always been creative. when i was little my sister and i were always making jewelry from hobby rubber (which we called “clip making stuff”) and sewing barbie clothes. when i was a little older i started making clothes for myself and selling jewelry on livejournal. when my studies to become a translator failed, i decided to turn my hobby into a business, and start my own shop.

who or what inspires you?
i can find inspiration anywhere. i love all things retro & colorful, so reading blogs with beautiful pictures, old movies & colorful bead & charm shopping are high on my inspiration list.

what is your favorite part of the design process?
sitting down with all my supplies spread out in front of me, thinking of fun combinations.

{from the craft market amsterdam}

crafty folks know that accumulating new tools and supplies is something that comes along with the territory. what are your favorite tools and supplies?
i actually don’t need a lot of tools for most of the things I create for my shop. pliers obviously, and I wouldn’t know what to do without e-6000 glue! i love hoarding tools though, i keep buying all these weird little gadgets like yoyo makers that i never end up using. aside from that, i buy a lot of beads & charms, ribbon, fabric & deco tape.

what advice would you give other independent artists who are just starting out?
get your name out there. don’t just open an etsy shop, add a few items and expect people to find you. start a blog, advertise & network. not only is networking very useful, it’s also a lot of fun. twitter makes me feel like i have hundreds of colleagues!

what is your favorite indie purchase or trade?
an incredibly cute tea pot tote bag from rosie music.

what’s on your ipod/music player right now? what’s on your “crafting music playlist”?
i have been listening to hanson’s new album “shout it out” a lot. i have been a huge hanson fan for years, and i just love the cheerful sound of their new album.

what t.v. shows are you currently hooked on?
i’m a star trek geek. i never liked it, but somehow mr.licious (aka, the boyfriend) got me hooked. we watched all the different series together, and have now started over. i also love project runway.

what was the last movie you watched?
bride wars.

what’s your favorite food?
pizza! not very original, is it? i also love humus and falafel though.

what’s your favorite candy?
cookies!

coffee or tea?
tea, I have a whole drawer filled with all kinds of different tea. it’s always an adventure to pick one.

what store could you wander around in and be happy?
a dutch department store called hema. they sell colorful things with great design for nice prices. i love that store!

any pets?
i have a cat called simba.

favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
i love london & berlin. london is where I go when I want to go on a crazy shopping spree. unfortunately i haven’t been able to afford that for a while. and berlin is just a great city to be!

do you have a day job in addition to your crafty business? what do you secretly wish you could do/be?
i don’t have a day job, i get chronic migraines and i am on disability. my boyfriend lives in denmark, and the plan is for me to move there permanently too. doing that would stop my disability though, and as he’s still in college, we would not be able to afford living together without me having an income. so i’m working hard to make my shop a success, so i won’t need the disability anymore, and i will be free to move wherever i want.

{setting up her booth at the craft market amsterdam}

do you speak any other languages? if not, would you like to learn one?
my native language is dutch, and apart from that i speak english (obviously) and german. i am working hard on learning danish, but it’s very hard! the boyfriend is half american and grew up in the usa. he didn’t learn danish until he moved to denmark in 2004, and his accent isn’t all that it should be. i guess that him being my main practice person, means i will end up speaking danish with a dutch-american accent?

what are your plans and/or goals (business/personal) for 2010?
i just want to survive the holiday season! i started preparing early this year, so i should be fine, business wise. my personal goals are to relax a bit more, work a bit less, and spend more time doing things i love that are not business related.

thanks so much, maartje! please visit tizzalicious for more of her handmade goods…

glamour skull cameo ring: $13.00; thunder cloud necklace: $12.50

cherry heart brooch: $6.50; record lover studs: $9.00

dottie bunny magnets {set of 3}: $5.00; mushroom bobby pins: $6.50

ps – use code MIXEDPLATE to receive 10% off your purchase!

Meet Jacquelyn Roberts of 3 Piece

Name: Jacquelyn Roberts

Business Name: 3 Piece

Where are you located?
Atlanta, Georgia

What is it that you design and create?
Artisan soy and beeswax candles where I create the scents from essential oils, vintage fabric throw pillows and mixed media tumbled marble coasters for a start. I am working on 3 new products that will be added under the Mi Sala Furnishings line.

How did you come up with your business name?
I was coming out of another failed relationship and another failed business when I thought how I had done for everyone else but never thought about what I liked to do or what I wanted. So I thought I wanted to honor my truth but then thought how pretentious because just because it’s my truth it isn’t everyone’s so I decided that truth is your truth, my truth and what really happened: 3 Pieces to the truth puzzle.

Where/How did this all begin?
I think I partially answered this question but it started in Atlanta where I had a 5 year old whose skin was constantly dry and nothing would keep him moisturized so I started researching things for my sons skin and making batches to keep me busy after a messy breakup. Well I always made too much and started selling the oils at the Moreland Avenue Flea Market here in Atlanta where the customers would ask if the oils were burning oils which led me to research how could I create burning oils without the chemical additive and this led me to all natural candles. I started with 4 scents originally based on quotes I loved and would write around my home.

Who or what inspires you?
Well I am always inspired by how perfectly in sync the Universe is, how my children grow and blossom, quotes, poems, design blogs, personal narratives that teach a humbling lesson man I’m just always searching for joy.

What is your favorite part of the design process?
The research and development part. Trying out a new scent for the first time you know the feeling you want to evoke however sometimes it is completely different, or sometimes I will take a photograph to use on a coaster and can see what I want to convey but once I am in the process I just have to allow creation to take shape.

Crafty folks know that accumulating new tools and supplies is something that comes along with the territory. What are your favorite tools and supplies?
Valspar spray paint, all herbs and essential oils, my drill, my wet saw, and paint pens rule the world!

What advice would you give other independent artists who are just starting out?
Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Know and own your vision so that others who are drawn to your light won’t be allowed to dilute it with so called good advice.

What is your favorite indie purchase or trade?
Journals from Re-Paper and simple chunky jewelry from Marsha Marsha Marsha jewelry both local artisans here in Atlanta. Also I love the simple forms of jewelry that I own from Freshie and
Zero.

What’s on your iPod/music player right now? What’s on your “Crafting Music Playlist”?
Ummm I have 3 ipods so I will tell you my two favorites right now are Erykah Badu New Amerykah part two Return of the Ankh and B.O.B. The Adventures of Bobby Ray. I call it my “Around the World” playlist and it has songs from Maxwell, Adele, Estelle, Coldplay, The Fray, Kings of Leon, Buena Vista Social Club, Miriam Makeba, Les Nubians, Santana, Bob Marley, Sharon Jones & the
Dap Kings, Esperenza Spalding as well as the entire soundtracks for The Color Purple, frida and Miami Vice

What t.v. shows are you currently hooked on?
I don’t watch T.V.

What was the last movie you watched?
It’s Complicated (lurved it)

What’s your favorite food?
Pho Noodle Soup

What’s your favorite candy?
Cadberry’s Fruit and Nut bars

Coffee or Tea?
both

What store could you wander around in and be happy?
The combination hotel liquidation/thrift store I recently discovered here in Atlanta.

Any pets?
Do two children count?

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
I have had on my to do list to visit all of the pyramids starting in Mexico then Thailand and finally Egypt.

Do you have a day job in addition to your crafty business?
Do two children count?

What do you secretly wish you could do/be?
A choreographer/dancer in the Alvin Ailey Dance company.

Do you speak any other languages? If not, would you like to learn one?
No. I would love to learn Spanish and an African dialect.

What are your plans and/or goals (business/personal) for 2010?
To continue to grow organically and something I’ve learned within the past two years is to not rush to bigger than what I am capable of producing in regards to product. So I am learning to honor my dreams while at the same time keeping realistic goals.

Thank you so much, Jacquelyn! I have been meaning to watch that movie! Here are some things you can currently find at her shop…

Circles Recycled Wine Bottle Vase: $35.00; 2 oz Soy Wax Candle Votive: $5.00

Large Galvanized Tin Soy Candle: $30.00; Street Scene No. 1 Slate Coaster: $10.00

Upcycled Wine Bottle Hurricane w/5 Soy Tea Lights: $25.00; Silver Plated Mint Julep Cup Soy Candle: $45.00

Meet Jennifer Casady of Jewelry by Jennifer Casady.

Name: Jennifer Casady

Business Name: Jewelry by Jennifer Casady

Where are you located?
My studio is in Herndon, Virginia but I prefer to sell almost exclusively online at my website http://www.jennifercasady.com and my Etsy shop http://www.jennifercasady.etsy.com

What is it that you design and create?
Designer handmade jewelry utilizing solid 14 karat gold, sterling silver, 14k gold fill and semi-precious gemstones. I incorporate metalsmithing, the ancient art of chainmail and wire wrapping to create classic, elegant and understated jewelry that withstands the test of time. My pieces are dainty and delicate which accentuates – not detracts or competes with – a woman’s true beauty and allows the individualism of her inner self to shine forth.

How did you come up with your business name?
Totally unoriginal. *grin* Honestly, I wanted something streamlined and easy to remember, thus, my name.

Where/How did this all begin?
I think it truly began when I was born. I am a third-generation jewelry designer and I have been going to jewelry and gem shows since I was a little girl. My entire extended family is exceedingly crafty and talented, so I have been around crafts, woodworking, jewelry, etc., my whole life. I officially made my first grown up piece of jewelry in December of 2005 and upon seeing my first few pieces my husband immediately encouraged me to sell them. So this is all his fault! HA! Seriously, my husband has been my ardent supporter and encourager and I could not have come this far without him. Once he suggested that I should sell my work, everything has snowballed into this incredible experience and highly successful business. Within a month I was officially set up to do business and started selling online and in my studio immediately. Over the years I have had to streamline and cut back on certain aspects of my business because it became too successful. My first priority in life is to my husband and family, especially homeschooling our girls. Business is always second…ok, ok, I *try* to keep it second, but it tends to overtake everything on occasion.

Who or what inspires you?
I can find inspiration in almost anything, praise the Lord. My main inspiration would be in the beautiful earth that God created and in the gemstones themselves. But I can seriously find inspiration anywhere, from a pile of crayons carelessly abandoned on the floor, to a haunting sonata played with heartbreaking honesty, in the lilting praise of the morning birds as they watch the splash of color brightening the sky, in the glorious full-bellied giggling of my girls’ laughter as they play. Inspiration is always there, it is just a matter of how you look at it and what you do with it.

What is your favorite part of the design process?
The entire process. *grin* I love the flash of inspiration as an idea suddenly crosses one’s mind. I love the wholehearted concentration when one is fully immersed within a project relying on the talent that God bestows upon oneself to bring that flash of idea to fruition. I love the satisfaction in looking at the completed piece, shiny and elegant from the tumbler. I love the thrill of the hunt of finding the perfect gemstones to compliment a customer’s dream piece.

Crafty folks know that accumulating new tools and supplies is something that comes along with the territory. What are your favorite tools and supplies?
Oh boy. You can *never* have enough tools. *grin* I love tools and only buy the best I can afford (thanks to my Dad who taught me that important principal!). There are several tools that are integral to my business such as my pliers, Jump Ringer (for precise machine cutting of the jumprings necessary to weave chainmail), and most important of all, my camera! My favorite supplies above all are gemstones. I can NOT get enough of gemstones. I fully admit to having an addiction to gemstones (oh, and chocolate, but, that’s for another question *grin*).

What advice would you give other independent artists who are just starting out?
Honestly? First and foremost is to have FUN! No matter what, always have fun. Also, stay true to what your love and passion is. If you get too focused on making money and creating profit vs. creating your passion, than your art will become compromised. Truly, it will. Allow your passion to take flight and it will soar. Have patience. As time passes, expand and refine your skills. We can
always learn how to do what we do better and with a higher degree of precision.

What is your favorite indie purchase or trade?
Ok, this is an easy and hard question all rolled into one. *grin* I have purchased sooo many indie creations! One of my favorites has to be my Mohops! http://www.mohop.com Annie is an incredible designer and I love seeing her business flourish over the years. But, without a doubt, my favorite indie creation was a gift from my husband and was a collaboration between him and one of my best friends Rhonda of Prolifique Jewelry. http://www.prolifiquejewelry.etsy.com It is a gorgeous PMC necklace lovingly made by Rhonda that includes all three of my daughters middle names hand stamped into the beautiful design.

What’s on your iPod/music player right now? What’s on your “Crafting Music Playlist”?
Chris Tomlin, Todd Agnew, Fernando Ortega, George Winston, Josh Groban…the list goes on and on and is very diverse. But my favorite crafting music right now would have to be blessed silence. HA! Can you tell that I have three young children?!!

What t.v. shows are you currently hooked on?
I am not much of a TV buff, but my husband and I were completely hooked on Lost and watched the entire series. But, now that it is over I am not sure if anything else will really catch my eye. I enjoy not being hooked to the TV so I can spend more time playing with, uh, I mean creating my jewelry. *grin*

What’s your favorite food?
Chocolate. Any and all forms. HA!

What’s your favorite candy?
See above.

Coffee or Tea?
I prefer to start my day with coffee (and relish each and every drop because it is my only quiet time throughout the day!), but I will then drink tea throughout the remainder of the day.

What store could you wander around in and be happy?
Oh goodness…with three girly-girls ages 7 and under I’d be utterly content to wander through almost any store as long as I was alone! *grin* At this stage, I am not picky.

Any pets?
Two schtinker kitty cats who get into anything and everything! Anybody want them??!! *grin*

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
Israel. I would love to visit some of the places where Jesus walked.

Do you have a day job in addition to your crafty business? What do you secretly wish you could do/be?
I am blessed to be living the exact life I want to live…a wife to my awesome hubby, Mommy to three hilariously adorable girls, homeschooling the two eldest (*grin* my 5 month old is not quite ready for homeschooling yet) and running my own business. I love this life and am utterly grateful to the Lord for helping me to live my dreams.

What are your plans and/or goals (business/personal) for 2010?
Oh just normal ones…to live each day to the fullest and enjoy each moment with our girls as they grow. I’d love to find the time to pick up my torch again and expand my metalsmithing skills. But I’m patient (sort of, *grin*) and I know I’ll get to that goal when I am able and the girls are older.

Thanks so much, Jennifer! We should talk chocolate one day. ;) Check out some of the current pieces at Jennifer’s shop {many are one-of-a-kind}…

Gwen Necklace: $104.00; Tangelo Cluster Drop Earrings: $82.00

Flat Queen’s Link Bracelet: $74.00; Minimalist Necklace: $33.00

Solid Gold Collection – Midnight Earrings: $126.00; Victoria Necklace: $56.00

Enjoy 20% off site-wide with code Mixed20. Free USPS First Class Domestic Shipping.

Meet Cristina Montesinos of sideRACK.

Name: Cristina Montesinos

Business Name: sideRACK

Where are you located?
We are an online retailer.

What is it that you design and create?
SideRACK.net offers a collection of small/indie designer brands and vintage clothes.

We are very selective with who we showcase so when viewers visit our site they won’t feel overwhelmed or have to dig to find the gems. We want to expose our small labels to a broader audience and in turn help these brands to prosper. We also have introduced (with the consumer in mind) alternative ways of purchasing clothing by not only offering the traditional purchasing methods, but rental and custom order options as well.

How did you come up with your business name?
SideRACK came about due to the frustration of my tired closet options. As we all know, a new piece will help bring sparks to an old closet, so sideRACK’s intent is to do exactly this, be the SIDE closet (full of goodies) to your wardrobe.

Where/How did this all begin?
SideRACK was created when I personally experienced the economic hardships of the 2009 recession. Even though I had now joined the many unemployed I still wanted to enjoy the garments created by indie Designers. The major problem was that even though I wanted to support their craft, my finances were in no shape to venture into their quarters. Because of this struggle between logic and style, sideRACK was born.

SideRACK came to life to help bridge the gap between young Designer clothes and contemporary prices by introducing new ways of purchasing.

Who or what inspires you?
Young Designers who have the determination and courage to put their passion out there without fear of falling/failing. People who think for themselves and try to achieve the dreams they have conjured up.

What is your favorite part of your job?
Looking for new Designers, browsing their collections, and also each time we get an order; because we get to call the Designer we support and tell them the good news.

Crafty folks know that accumulating new tools and supplies is something that comes along with the territory. What are your favorite tools and supplies?
Well we aren’t creating anything, but I am definitely using “tools” I’ve never used. The one I like the best is twitter, I never used it prior to sideRACK.net, but I’ve found that it gets addictive.

What advice would you give independent artists who are just starting out?
I would say really look at the marketplace and find a niche that isn’t being served and see if that holds any passion for you. Independent artists are very passionate, but some lack the appreciation for the business side of Fashion and to live from their designs they have to find that balance between creativity, relevance, and necessity.

What is your favorite indie/vintage purchase?
Shoes, I love vintage shoes!!

What’s on your iPod/music player right now? What’s on your “Crafting Music Playlist”?
Right now I have in constant rotation the song “Lust for Life” by Girls. They are a band based out of San Francisco and we actually used their song on our street style video.

What t.v. shows are you currently hooked on?
Kell on Earth

What was the last movie you watched?
Where the Wild Things Are.

What’s your favorite food?
Anything from a vegetarian menu.

What’s your favorite candy?
Nerds on a Rope…I LOVE THEM!!

Coffee or Tea?
Depends on my mood, I love both!

What store could you wander around in and be happy?
Thrift stores, I love the hunt.

Any pets?
A kitty….Changis

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
Milan, Italy…I love people watching, that alone is so inspiring.

Do you have a day job in addition to your crafty business? What do you secretly wish you could do/be?
My team and I are dedicated to the site entirely, there are so many ways to get lost in everyday duties and there seems to not be enough hours to get everything done.

Do you speak any other languages? If not, would you like to learn one?
I speak Spanish, Italian and German, but I would love to learn French and Greek as well.

What are your plans and/or goals {business or personal} for 2010?
sideRACK is continually growing their womenswear designer list, but are looking to branch out to other areas such as menswear and plus in the near future.

While we currently have one amazing European Designer (Dariya Repina) on our site, we are also looking to the international market to expand and bring European Indie designers to our RACKS.

Thanks so much, Cristina! I love the idea of sideRACK and that in addition to purchasing items via your site, you also offer rentals and custom orders. Brilliant! Oh, and Kell on Earth…LOVE! When is the next season already {I know, it just ended}. Here’s some current items at the shop {see below for discount offer}…

Grey Babydoll Dress by Chulette: $345.00; The Olivia Top by Snoozer Loser: $50.00 {on sale}

Gunmetal by Babette Epaulette: $149.00; Sangria in Sevilla by Indigo Rhino Designs: $175.00

Cape Style Shirt by Tar and Feather: $280.00; Stevie T-Shirt Dress, Custom Order by Lara Miller: $286.00

For the month of April sideRACK will be featuring Eco-designer Lara Miller. They’re offering free shipping on any of her items this month.

Meet Scarfu.

Business Name: Scarfu.com

Where are you located?
Jersey City, we have a wonderful view of New York City from our apartment.

How did you come up with your business name?
Like any skill, we feel that style is something that takes discipline to hone. When it comes to indie clothing, it takes added discipline and time because the aesthetic is really something you have to fight for against mainstream mall “fast fashion”. With mass production, we felt that fast fashion not only dilutes individuality and cheapens style, it also hurts the environment by making clothes disposable.

We named our store Scarfu because we wanted something that combined our goals and ideals – it’s a combination of scarves, which are our favorite accessories, and a sense of fighting against an enemy through a martial art like kung-fu, hence, Scarfu!

Where/How did this all begin?
Scarfu.com began with our many trips to the Brooklyn Flea Market and endless hours of surfing the treasuries on Etsy. We fell in love with the alternative indie lifestyle and wanted to be able to share it with people outside New York. We began attending trade shows and went to endless showrooms to look for clothing items we wanted to share with everyone.

What is your favorite indie purchase or trade?
I’m torn between indie clothing and paper goods. I never stop marveling at the immense talent out there. There are too many things on my “to buy” list, but some of the stationery from Story by Mia (Etsy) and Oh Joy are way up there.

What’s on your iPod/music player right now? What’s on your “Crafting Music Playlist”?
Travis – Writing to Reach You
Andrew Bird – Fiery Crash
Delphic – Doubt
Pedro the Lion – Rapture
The Wrens – Boys You Won’t Remember

What’s your favorite food?
South Indian dosas and thalis – try Dosa Hut in Journal Square just outside of New York. Cheap, quick and extremely tasty. Also love dim sum brunches.

Coffee or tea?
Tea definitely! Barry’s Gold Blend to be specific, the number one tea in Ireland!

What store could you wander around in and be happy?
We can’t name just one! We love walking around checking things out at Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Pylones, Funusual, cookery stores like Sur La Table, Williams-Sonoma, bakeries like Buttercup, Magnolia, Beard Papa, furniture stores like CB2, Design Within Reach. Also love wandering around flea markets.

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
I’ve always wanted to go to Japan. The culture seems to produce some really cool and different people – dyed hair, schoolgirl kitsch and sleeping-pod businessmen in Tokyo, but also seems serene Buddhist and Shinto shrines in Nara.

Thanks so much! Japan is definitely a place on my “must travel to” list! Here’s some of what’s at the shop currently…

Pocahontas Blouse: $80.00; Ribbon Scarf in Cobalt Blue: $15.00

Pink-Pocket Army Jacket: $69.00; Kings Road Dress: $95.00

POM Skirt: $40.00; Bronzo Blouse: $35.00

Mixed Plate readers can enjoy a discount of 10% off for all new customers. Just type in coupon code “mixedplate42” at checkout. There’s also an opening sale going on right now through March 1, 2010!

want to advertise on Mixed Plate? Of course you do! Shoot me an email at liana@mixedplateblog.com to get started.