Jen C. – The Goods

Instagram Challenge: ADVENTURE

May 27, 2015

Summer might not officially start until June 21, but let’s be real – once Memorial Day weekend passes, the beaches open, and we finally give ourselves permission to use the AC, it’s safe to say that summer is upon us. In our minds, summertime means it’s adventure time! (No, not like the show, but there’s always time for that too!) Whether it’s biking through new territory, or kayaking through your favorite lake, we want to see the adventures you’re embarking on this season. While sharing your adventurous shots, be sure to use the hashtag #UGInstaFun to be in the running for a $50 gift card. Visit here to see the entries we’ve received so far.

Congratulations to @kelvetica for winning the Places Instagram Challenge with this beautiful shot floating through the Dutch province of Utrecht on her birthday!

Maker Stories

This Just In-spiration: Meet Sarah Grange

May 18, 2015

Our makers never fail to motivate us, encourage our creativity, and fill us with inspiration. So, when a new design enters our assortment, we’re always excited to learn more about the person behind the product.

What gets an artist going and keeps them creating is certainly worth sharing, and every great connection starts with a simple introduction. Meet Sarah Grange, the artist behind our new embroidery hoop art collection.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
Growing up my parents always encouraged me to be creative and gave me the freedom (and the craft supplies) to do so. Around 8 years old, I decided that when I grew up my best friend and I would open an art studio/veterinary office. While my life goals have become a little more realistic over the years (i.e. I’m probably not going to veterinary school anytime soon/ever), I’m basically that same girl. I’m still dreaming/working towards that goal of having the perfect studio where I spend every day supporting myself by doing what I love.

What was the most exciting thing about becoming a professional artist?
Graduating college and starting my small business, Kitsch & Stitch, has been one of my greatest and most exciting accomplishments. To look back on the past two years and see the growth that has come out of the long days and nights spent designing and embroidering is incredibly motivating. But most of all, seeing that people appreciate my creativity and work enough that they want it in their homes is one of the most exciting and motivating aspects of what I do! Hearing that someone loves their new embroidery hoop or that it made the perfect gift for their loved one makes my day.

What does your typical day in the studio look like?
Caffeine, good music, lots of thread and fabric, and two adorable kitties (even when they’re biting at my ankles while I work).

Is there a trinket, talisman, or other inspirational object you keep near? If so, what is it and what does it mean to you?
The walls and shelves in my studio are filled with art and objects that are inspiring and important to me. I’m a bit of a collector and I love to have all sorts of art, heirlooms, and vintage knick-knacks in my space. My antique embroidery book that belonged to my great-grandmother is one of my most treasured items. It’s inspiring and motivating to think that women in my family have been embroidering/sewing for centuries, and here I am continuing the craft tradition (but in a very different way).

Imagine you just showed your work to a kindergartner for the first time. What do you think he/she would say?
“Ooo what does it do?” or “Why?”
It’s been a while since I talked to a kindergartner, but I feel like these are pretty popular questions among 3-5-year-olds.

What quote or mantra keeps you motivated?
It’s a toss up between “Fake it till you make it” and “If it’s not alright, then it’s not the end,” but both essentially serve the same purpose for me. I’ve found that at times when I’m feeling intimidated or having trouble believing in myself, the best plan of action is to push those thoughts aside and keep moving forward, even if I’m not totally sure of where I’m headed. At times when I’m doubting myself or my work, these mantras get me going again.

The Uncommon Life

Contest: #UGKidQuotes

May 14, 2015

When you’re hanging out with the kids in your lives, don’t you wish you could write down everything they say? In between developing their own personalities and imaginations, kids always have the funniest, most charming perspectives on the world. Knowing her memory couldn’t store all the delectable details of her kids’ lives, Artist Betsy Grimm searched for ways to preserve her favorite moments through art. Enter her hilarious Kid Quotes Custom Wall Art!

We are so excited about this colorful collection that we’ve decided to launch a contest to give away one free custom print! Share with us your favorite kid quote, including the child’s name and age, by leaving a comment below OR by tagging @uncommongoods via Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook with the hashtag #UGKidQuotes. The best entry will be preserved into a custom print and mailed to the winner!

Official Rules:

1.) As long as your quote makes us smile, it can include anything from charming remarks, jokes, witticisms, observations, declarations, or profound statements.
2.) Make sure to submit the child’s name and age at the time of the said quote.
3.) Your entry must be PG and kid-friendly to qualify for this contest.
4.) Enter via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or in the comments section below by May 31, 2015. Don’t forget to include the hashtag #UGKidQuotes with your entry.

Tips for choosing your quote:

1.) Keep your quotes short. The fewer the words, the bigger and bolder they’ll be.
2.) Take advantage of the “context line” to communicate part of the story. See an example in the image below.
3.) We won’t tell if you want to take a little creative license to make the quote shorter!

Good luck!

The Uncommon Life

Instagram Challenge: PLACES

May 13, 2015

The next Instagram Challenge theme is PLACES! As you may have read in our latest guest blog post by Daniela De Marco, we’re very excited Carolyn Gavin‘s exclusive City Prints. Not only do these colorful illustrations trigger our summer wanderlust, but they also support ecojot, a fellow B Corp that was founded by Carolyn and her brother in 2007. To celebrate this partnership, we decided to host a very special Instagram Challenge! We want to see photos of your favorite places. In addition to our usual $50 gift card prize, we’re also awarding a free City Print and a $20 gift card to ecojot’s online store (courtesy of ecojot) to the Instagrammer with the best photo. Be sure to use the hashtag #UGInstafun to enter! Visit here to see the entries we’ve received so far.

Carolyn Gavin’s City Prints

Congratulations to @pearlmsqueaks for winning our Spring Dreaming Instagram Challenge with this beautiful blossom shot!

Maker Stories

This Just In-spiration: Meet Mia Weiner

May 11, 2015

What gets an artist going and keeps them creating is certainly worth sharing, and every great connection starts with a simple introduction. Meet Mia Weiner, the artist behind our new Zodiac Embroidery Hoop Art.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
I’ve always been an artist and have always felt a need to make and work creatively! I believe in everything embroidered and became drawn to working with textiles because of their ubiquity in our everyday lives, and because of the loaded history of the medium.

What was the most exciting thing about becoming a professional artist?
The most exciting thing about being a professional artist is being able to share my work with the world. I want to add beauty to everyday life with unique and handmade works, which is why I created HOW COULD YOU? clothing. You can see some of my work from my fine art practice here: www.miaweiner.com.

What does your typical day in the studio look like?
I love to work in natural light, so after coffee and a little breakfast, I put on some music or Radiolab and start stitching as early in the day as possible. Embroidery and lace making are incredibly slow, so I like to nest with a pot of tea, my embroidery, and maybe some Netflix or an audio book if I can’t listen to any more music that day. On days that I am working on the sewing machine, I like to work in bursts. Every day in the studio is a little different depending on what projects I am working on!

Is there a trinket, talisman, or other inspirational object you keep near? If so, what is it and what does it mean to you?
I am extremely nostalgic and have a large collection of small objects, letters, drawings, notes, and gifts that travel with me. Above my bed, no matter where I am, I hang one of my favorite embroideries, a drawing from my best friend from when I was 16, and a picture my mother gave me. When it comes to inspiration, I find that it is the people I meet and the relationships I have that impact and influence my work the most. Human interaction is incredibly important to me and is a major theme in my work. Unlike some artists who need to work in solitude, it is when I am surrounded by people I feel the greatest urge to make. In turn, the objects I collect are so important to me because of the people and memories that are connected to them.

Imagine you just showed your work to a kindergartner for the first time. What do you think he/she would say?
I actually have a few kindergarten-aged cousins, and when they see my constellation embroideries they tell me all about the solar system (which they have just started learning about) and, of course, their birthdays. The large nudes that are part of my fine art practice usually elicit giggling and questions about why the bodies are connected (and why they don’t have any clothes on…?).

What quote or mantra keeps you motivated?
While it is not a work mantra, I have always love Anais Nin’s quote:
“I must be a mermaid. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.”

and

“Has the pen or pencil dipped so deep in the blood of the human race as the needle?” – Olive Schreiner

The Uncommon Life

Instagram Challenge: SPRING DREAMING

April 30, 2015

The next Instagram Challenge theme is SPRING DREAMING! We can all agree that winter really overstayed its welcome this year. We’ve been fantasizing about the days of sun-kissed skin, fresh produce, and plant growth ever since the dirty slush of winter first appeared and the leaves disappeared. As you pull out those open-toed shoes and stuff those oversized coats far away into your closet, we want to see how you’re enjoying this new season! While sharing your spring-loving photos, be sure to use the hashtag #UGInstafun for a chance to win a $50 gift card. Visit here to see the entries we’ve received so far.

From all of us at UncommonGoods, we wish you a happy spring!

Congratulations to @malkomes1 for winning our Earth Day Instagram Challenge with this clever use for her old hiking shoes!

The Uncommon Life

Better to Give: AmeriCares Nepal Relief Fund

April 29, 2015

In the wake of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Nepal on April 25 and the powerful aftershocks that have followed, we are partnering with AmeriCares, an emergency response and global health organization, to help raise donations through our Better to Give program. For every $1 donated to the Nepal Relief Fund, AmeriCares will work with a trusted network to deliver emergency medical supplies and humanitarian aid. Help us support AmeriCares’ relief efforts by selecting them when you checkout after your next purchase, and we’ll donate $1 on your behalf.

If you would like to donate directly to the AmeriCares Nepal Relief Fund, please visit this link. Your gift will help ensure that AmeriCares has the adequate resources to respond quickly and effectively to the tragedy in Nepal.

For the most up-to-date information, you can follow AmeriCares on Twitter at @AmeriCares.

Maker Stories

This Just In-spiration: Meet Matthew Hoffman

April 27, 2015

What gets an artist going and keeps them creating is certainly worth sharing, and every great connection starts with a simple introduction. Meet Matthew Hoffman, the artist behind the You Are Beautiful project.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
I was always a tinkerer – taking things a part, modifying things, or building my own things from scratch. So, I guess making has always been in my blood. It was always low-fi woodworking and junk making. It wasn’t until a class in high school that really turned up the heat on making art and design.

What was the most exciting thing about becoming a professional artist?
I think it’d be sharing with others. Knowing that you’re making things that people want to have in their lives is really rewarding. It fun to make the work, and to realize it’s being interacted with at home or work. I really like the idea of sneaking positive messages into the world.

What does your typical day in the studio look like?
Never a dull day! And, for better or worse, there’s never a typical day. It keeps things interesting. It might be designing a new piece and making files, or it might be off site on a huge build. One thing we keep in check is really trying to enjoy what we’re doing each day. Because if we’re not having fun (and adding value to the world), what’s the point?

Is there a trinket, talisman, or other inspirational object you keep near? If so, what is it and what does it mean to you?
I can’t really say that there is one. Though I wish it would be a tape measure. I own at least 20 of them, but can never find one when I need it!

Imagine you just showed your work to a kindergartner for the first time. What do you think he/she would say?
Well, I have a first grader, so I have a pretty good idea. I try to make public work, that is accessible to everyone – no matter who you are. So the fact that kids can “get it” is pretty awesome. Much of my work is cursive, which isn’t taught in schools anymore, so I’m happy to help keep the youngsters sharp.

What quote or mantra keeps you motivated?
“Anything is possible.”

“Go for it.”

Video by Ben Derico

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