Contest – The Goods

Maker Stories

Natha’s Eight Pointed Star Necklace Shines Bright

January 15, 2014

Natha’s Eight Pointed Star Necklace design is obviously beautiful, but I would have to say the message behind it shines a little brighter, just giving me more incentive to add the charming pendant into my very own jewelry box. The message that stands behind the design is all about finding clarity, direction, and seeking one’s path. When wearing it, it should remind you to trust your internal guidance, reassure yourself that you know your own answers and that you, indeed, know exactly where you want to go. As someone who has been bitten pretty hard by the travel bug and tends to live life a bit off the beaten path, I’m in love with the fact that the eight pointed star symbol was the first known compass in the history of humanity. Natha’s necklace is the first winning jewelry design I’ve come across with a resonating message that touches on both my personal hopes and fears. I hope to stay on the (very loopy and sometimes off-the-cliff) path that I’m currently still paving out for myself. I fear losing sight of that direction and hopping onto someone else’s already-made yellow brick road. The Eight Pointed Star Necklace is a pretty reminder to keep going and to never doubt oneself. Meet Natha Perkins, someone who definitely knew how to pave her way into becoming our latest Jewelry Design Challenge Winner.

What’s an Uncommon fact about you and your jewelry?
I don’t journal much, or keep a diary, but I have 30 rings that I’ve made through the years for myself. Each ring has a specific story behind it and each design is totally relevant to something that was happening in my life when I made the ring. (I’ve been metalsmithing for 13 years, so for those of you counting that’s approx. 2.3 rings a year)

I love that your necklace has a lot of meaning behind it, do you mind explaining it?
I love the symbolism behind this piece! I wrote a blog post about it here, but in a nutshell, the Eight Pointed Star is an ancient and universal symbol, as well as the first compass in the history of humanity. It guides your way to a new life, giving you clarity of vision to see the future through a lens of hope, healing and beauty. It also bestows nurturing energies. A symbol of optimism, an eight pointed star assures you that unexpected help is coming and serves to help bring about a renewal of good fortune in the material world. Like with any of our pieces, wearing this piece will help bring you clarity simply by providing you with a reminder that you are indeed supported.

How did you celebrate when you learned you were our Design Challenge winner for the Jewelry Design Challenge?
We did a lot of jumping up and down and screaming!

Where do you find inspiration within your work space?
The studio itself is full of tools and stones and lots of different working areas but we have the most beautiful garden just outside with grape vines and a gurgling rock fountain and roses. We’re also basically at the foot of a great big gorgeous mountain (Boulder is surrounded to the West entirely by mountains) so when we walk out of the studio, we’re surrounded by all of this natural beauty. We can walk 2 blocks and hit a hiking trail that weaves its way up to an amazing vista of the cities of Boulder and Denver. It really is heavenly and I feel very lucky. Where do you go/ what do you do to find inspiration when you find yourself in a creative rut?
This might sound strange, but when I’m not feeling creative, I go to see my acupuncturist. In Chinese medicine, blocked creativity means some sort of imbalance in the qi and yin department. If I’m feeling blah or feeling uninspired, I figure I need a body tune up. (Did I mention I live in Boulder? We’re kind of alternative here.)

If you have a great idea for a design and want to pursue it, what’s your first step?
When I was in art school, our professor required us to have 40 sketches of a single design before we could finalize our idea and start on a piece. Thank God I’m not designing my pieces in art school any more! I honestly just dive in. I have an idea, I gather the metal, the tracing paper, some saw blades and I get going. This has led to many an end result that was really different from the original idea but like any medium, the materials co-create with the artist and it’s fun to see what comes through. Other than being an artist, what else do you do?
I’m a mama, I’m a life and entrepreneurial business coach, I teach art and jewelry classes. I went and got certified to coach because I wanted to teach people how to make intentional art. Art is such a beautiful way to get in touch with who you are on a deep level. Talk therapy is great but its heady. We all have our old stories that we tell over and over and it’s hard to see past them to the truth. Art and intentional making incorporates head, heart and hand and opens you up to new types of insights and understanding about yourself and your process. I feel really called to help guide people to this place.

When (and how) did you realize you wanted to be a jewelry designer?
When I was 20, I searched high and low for a juicy red, heart shaped ring and I couldn’t find what I was looking for anywhere. I don’t know why, but I felt such a longing for this red heart shaped ring. I dreamed about it. Fast forward 2 years and I took a small class in a strange warehouse next to a strip club (which isn’t relevant to the story at all but it’s an interesting fact nonetheless). The teacher was this eccentric man who taught me the basics of metalsmithing. I was hooked in the first class because I realized that I could actually make my heart ring. It took me 5 years to get good enough to make my ring but I still treasure it because it was the inspiration that started my jewelry career before I even understood it to be that. Do you have any special projects or events that are in the works or that are floating around in your brain right now?
I’m actually knee deep in a handful of projects right now that I’m really excited about. Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve been coaching and working on some art classes that involve intentional making. Myself and two other women; a life coach and a photographer, are formulating a curriculum that we’re planning to take into local high schools. The idea involves working with young women and teaching them empowerment tools through a combination of intentional making, student led photo documentation and teaching of emotional skills. I’m also working to develop some cool art classes to offer to the participants of The Boulder Tattoo Project, a large scale community art project involving a”love poem” to the city of Boulder and 200+ residents (including me) who got bits and pieces of the poem tattooed on their bodies. My friend Chelsea (who spearheaded BTP) and I are collaborating on the classes and they will include making art that centers around the actual words that each person chose to get inked with. Everyone involved chose words that were particularly meaningful to them in some way and we want to offer a venue for them to explore that on a deeper level. What are your most essential tools that you must have by your side while you design?
I do most of my designing in my head, usually when I’m walking in nature, alone. I come up with a word or a line from a poem or song and the piece takes shape around that. I also love to design using stones and stone colors. I will go through my 15 or so boxes of stones just pulling out shapes and colors, just to see how the colors play against each other. I’m fascinated with color play and color theory and it shows up often in my pieces.

Where does down time fit into a day of being productive?
Funny you should use that word productive. It’s been on my mind a lot lately because I realized that I have this uncomfortable tendency to feel unproductive if I’m just relaxing. So to answer your question: I practice yoga 4 times a week, I walk the dogs, I read lots of articles and books, I cook food for my kids. All of which sound suspiciously productive, don’t they? What was the toughest lesson you learned as a freelance jewelry artist?
I hired a press company that cost an absolute fortune. They promised me more than they were actually able to deliver and they kept about $5,000 in samples too (that were supposed to be be returned). But I had my part in it as well; I wasn’t prepared for the experience. I didn’t have the fundamentals in place, like line sheets and tight production collections. Knowing what I know now about editorial coverage, media, wholesale, retail and business in general, I see clearly that my approach was doomed to failure. I was trying to build a mansion on a slippery foundation. It was a disaster but I learned so much, I would never make those same mistakes again! Today in fact, I’m a much stronger and more savvy business woman which is a very different skill set than ‘artist’ but a necessity when you’re trying to sell art. What advice would you offer the you of 5 years ago?
You create your own reality. If you can’t learn to relax, the world will meet you with un-relaxing situations. If you don’t appreciate the things you do and create, the people around you won’t be able to either. If you’re constantly trying to control the world, you will will exhaust yourself trying to make the impossible possible. Everything is perfect. You are loved. You are amazing and strong and more powerful than you will ever know. (Okay, I’m getting teary now, but it’s all true. Again, the old stories that we tell ourselves about not being good enough, smart enough, not being enough…such lies. But I’m getting it now, I’m seeing the truth.)

Which artists do you look up to?
I’ll say this: I look up to anyone who has the courage to make their art, to express themselves in that way and to put themselves out there. Our art, our creations; no matter the medium, comes from the depths of our individual souls and anyone who has the courage to show up like that, to lay themselves open to the appraisal and opinions of others has my respect.

What does it mean to you being a design challenge winner?
I’m thrilled to be the winner of this challenge! My studio assistant Whitney and I had so much fun working on our newest collection Divine ~ Align. We put so much thought into the symbolism and meaning of each piece. So to be recognized in such a prestigious way for one of the pieces in the collection is a huge honor.

What quote keeps you motivated? What does that quote mean to you?
“You set the standard for how you are treated. People will treat you the same way that you treat yourself.” It’s lovely and it’s true. I’m not sure where I found this quote but I came across it during my certification program with The Secret to Life Coaching Company (with whom I got certified) and I’ve learned to see the world through a new lens. We really are responsible for everything in our lives, we create everything, which is actually a really empowering notion. What are some new skills you are trying to acquire to perfect your craft?
Management tools! I adore metalsmithing and my business Luscious Metals. I love to create art but I’m transitioning my business into something that’s bigger than just me and my personal skills. My amazing studio assistant, Whitney, is ready and willing to take on more responsibility and wants to help me grow the business and this is just the beginning. I know that in order for this to work out, I need to transition from artist and designer to manager and leader. I’m ready and excited to see where we go next! What advice can you offer anyone who is submitting their work into our Jewelry Design Challenge?
Some of the best business advice I’ve ever gotten was from a book called The Science of Getting Rich, by Wallace D. Wattles (great book!). “Act now. There is never any time but now and there will never be any time but now. If you are ever to begin to make ready for the reception of what you want, you must begin now.” In other words, make sure your ducks are in a row (good product, great pictures etc.) and then GO FOR IT! You can’t win if you don’t enter right?

Find Natha and her business Luscious Metals on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram.

The Uncommon Life

Mapping Manhattan Contest Details

January 1, 2014

Mapping Manhattan Contest Details Becky Cooper’s Mapping Manhattan Project is not yet complete. She wants you to illustrate your special New York story in a map so her project can grow, and doing so could earn you a copy of her book and a framed print of your choice. Here’s how to participate:

1. Print out the blank map.
2. Illustrate your unique New York story.
3. Say that ten times fast.
4. Mail your completed map to Becky by May 31, 2014.

Becky Cooper
PO Box 302
New York, NY 10163

Becky will choose her favorite illustration and the UncommonGoods Social Media team will contact the winner in early June.

Design

It’s A Wrap Pinterest Contest

December 5, 2013

Nothing says the holidays like a creative git-wrap design… and a giveaway!

Share your favorite gift wrap designs from Pinterest in our It’s A Wrap Pinterest Contest for a chance to be one of three lucky winners to receive a $100 gift card just in time for Christmas shopping. Enter before December 11 on our Facebook page.

UncommonGoods It's A Wrap Pinterest Contest

Maker Stories

Allison’s “Babe” Takes the Win!

September 17, 2013

If you follow us closely, most of you know that this summer we proudly launched our Ongoing Art Contest. This means instead of just awarding a winner once a year, we are crowning an independent artist winner and awarding $500 smack-a-roos and a chance to sign a vendor contract to join our UncommonGoods family every single month. The first winner from our Ongoing Art Contest was appointed to Caribbean resident, Allison Gray. We received amazing entries from through out the nation, yet it was Allison’s lovely “Babe” that caught our art judges’ attention. Allison’s eye for detail, use of mixed media, and sweet, creative design of her very own pup landed her into the winning spot. In her interview, Allison mentions that “it wasn’t until I began expanding my media usage that I started veering away from strict realism and started redefining my limitations.” We’re more than ecstatic that Allison experimented out of her comfort zone, because as a result “Babe” was created and now will be officially a part of our artist gallery!

Meet Allison Gray, a fellow animal lover and our latest Art Contest winner.

Tell us an uncommon fact about yourself.

I have very vivid dreams. They actually inspire a lot of my work. I may not necessarily dream about a scene and then wake up and paint it, but the images and emotions that are remnants of my dreams can serve as the stepping stones or foundation of my craft.

I don’t know if the vividness of my dreams is a factor in my sleep pattern, but about 75% of the time, I start sleeping by violently waking up. It’s called a myoclonic jerk and of course everyone’s familiar with it—that sudden waking burst of panic preceded by a falling sensation. What’s uncommon in this case is that it’s become routine. I drift off, spasm awake and think, “Oh good, that’s done. Now I can really get started on sleeping.” And, without fail, I have these brilliant dreams, saturated with emotion and light.

(I hope I haven’t confused uncommon with odd.)

What different techniques do you use when creating your art?

I hate to pigeonhole myself when it comes to craft media. For a long time, I only worked with oil paints and I only recreated realistic images. With the difficulty of transporting necessary oils and thinners to continue my oil painting in Grenada, I opted to instead try a different medium. So I began working with watercolors and from there, branched out further. I began using charcoal, India ink, pen and pencil, and masking techniques. I use bleach, salt and even coffee grounds for different textures and effects.

It wasn’t until I began expanding my media usage that I started veering away from strict realism and started redefining my limitations. One of the first paintings I did in Grenada was of a local boy. The painting was from a photograph I’d taken of him. I already had the picture, so I knew I wanted something more than the photo could offer me. So I filled my palette and painted him with every color that was missing from the photo. When I finished, I knew I’d moved somewhere in my capacity as an artist. And I’ve been moving in that same direction since.

In summary, I have and will continue to use whatever techniques I can to perpetually evolve my artwork and myself as an artist.

Describe your daily life in Grenada.

Without an actual career, that varies from day to day. I always try to allot myself a few hours a day to devote to a craft (painting, writing, knitting, photography, etc.). The rest of the time is spread out over responsibilities and recreation.

Of course I’ve got domestic responsibilities. With a medical student for a husband, all household chores sort of fall on me. I’m not totally won over by the cleaning part of the duties, but I love to cook almost as much as I love to eat. It’s hard to complain about having absolute control over the menu.

I run in the mornings. Sometimes I go to the beach during the day and play Frisbee in the sea. I might walk a couple miles to our favorite fruit stand and get our produce for the week from “Fireman,” our fruit vendor. On Saturdays, we go on hashes. (A hash is an all-terrain [mostly off-road] hike, followed by food and drinks and music, that draws hundreds of participants per week and takes place anywhere on the 132-square-mile island.) Occasionally I’ll take a local bus into town and pick up fresh fish from the fish market. I am an executive board member for St. George’s University Photography Club and perform duties as liaison for the organization. On special occasions, we tour the island, go snorkeling, visit the forts or the cocoa plantation. I spend a lot of time experimenting with my photography and looking for ways to intertwine it with my painting and other crafts.

Of course, sometimes, I just lounge around with my husband and watch movies with a little popcorn and wine.

It’s probably every artist’s dream to travel and live abroad, but does living in the Caribbean have its downfalls?

Absolutely it does, but most people don’t want to hear about it. I live in the Caribbean; what business do I have complaining? Even so, this life comes with its own set of difficulties and to reinforce that argument, I actually posted an essay on my blog about the pros and cons of being a married couple in the Caribbean, living on student loans, and following the twisted path to our goals.

In short, yes, life in the Caribbean has its downfalls, but the benefits—measured in memories and experiences—far outweigh the comparatively insignificant drawbacks. (I’m writing this from the sandy shore of one of the most beautiful beaches in the world: La Sagesse.)

Where exactly do you go to catch inspiration?

I love running. I run almost every day. I’m not remarkably good at it. The only records I have or ever will break are my own. But that’s not particularly discouraging to me because it’s the act itself that I enjoy and the reward that I get. Specifically, I like going for longer runs (one hour plus). And while I’m running, I have no obligations to pay attention to anything other than my own wandering mind (except perhaps not tripping). That’s a golden time for me to come up with all sorts of ideas for my art. And the only distractions I have are my mind’s own erratic imaginings.

I could probably have a similar experience if I just sat quietly in my apartment, but then I’m usually surrounded by reminders of all my obligations and responsibilities. When I’m running, I’m both metaphorically and literally getting away from “it all” and with that sense of freedom comes a euphoric rush of creativity.

What’s your all-time favorite quote that keeps you going?

Not including about everything Dr. Seuss ever said (how many genius simple truths did he make catchy with a little rhyme?), I’m quite fond of William Faulkner’s “You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.” Besides its apropos metaphor, Faulkner’s wisdom rings true in light of our ever-changing future. Without the courage to leave everything behind, we never would have found ourselves living a surreal life in the Caribbean.

When exactly did you discover your talent?

I can’t help but feel at least marginally narcissistic going on and on about my talent and my history leading up to the showcasing of my creations! For a very long time, people have been commending me for my talent and while I can and have admitted (does that imply guilt?) that I have an artistic ability that not everyone has, it’s still humbling to come right out and say, “Well, hello, my name is Allison and I am a talented artist.” No matter if I say that out loud or in my head, I always wind up finishing it in a snooty accent.

A popular quote by Pablo Picasso is “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Children have this perishable fearlessness to create anything and then share it with everyone. But at some point the fear of judgment and criticism makes an unwelcome and permanent guest of itself and we hide our creativity.

Maybe it was my peculiar creative courage that gave me the boldness to keep on drawing and painting and creating despite the crushing potential of failure. Or maybe it was because I just didn’t like math class. The truth is, I find solace in artistic expression and am bemusedly stunned every time someone comments on my apparent talent. And when someone does, I think the most appropriate response is to give credit where credit is due. (I never would have submitted my art to this contest if it weren’t for my friend, Cat. I never would have thought to create a paper collage of my beloved dog if it weren’t for my friend, Patty. I wouldn’t have had the heart to create this piece if Babe hadn’t had a foster home while we’re abroad, Lisa.

My direct response to this question—when exactly did you discover your talent: every time someone reminds me.

Do you have any major projects you are working on now?

I’m afraid I’m going to seem a little boring here, but no, I really don’t. We live as minimalists for the most part and are living in a studio apartment. Working within my means involves smaller projects that are inexpensive and can be tucked away at a moment’s notice. I dream of someday when I can really plan larger-than-life projects.

Are there any particular artists you look up to? What is it about their work that you like?

At the risk of sounding trite, I’m going to go ahead and say Bob Ross. I know my work doesn’t exactly radiate the spirit of the amazingly gifted painter, but he did inspire me to pursue painting and to do so with an almost absurd amount of cheerfulness. He’s part of the reason I began painting with oils and stuck with it for so long. It would be a blatant lie to suggest Bob Ross is the only artist who has inspired me and influenced my work. Modern art, with its shifting genres and techniques, influences the decisions I make when searching for a new approach to a usual subject. I don’t have a secret list of artists whose techniques I use as a paradigm when creating my own pieces, but draw from methods I’ve seen and admire.

What’s one thing you use/see every day that you couldn’t live without?

Well, if I’m being materialistic, it’d probably be a draw between the air conditioning or my morning coffee. Probably the coffee, though. If I’m being crass, it would be sarcasm. If I’m being poetic, it would be love. If I’m being optimistic, it would be humor. But if I’m being honest, it would be Supporter Extraordinaire and Husband, Ivan. (Cue collective aw.) There’s plenty I can go without, but I haven’t been without him for seventeen years and I don’t intend to start anytime soon.

What’s one piece of advice you could give to aspiring design challenge contestants, particularly our Art Contest?

Have the confidence in yourself that all of your supporting friends have. Chances are, they’re right.

The Uncommon Life

Cover for Us! Contest

September 13, 2013

We admit we can be a little indecisive sometimes, and when we are we love hearing from you guys!

Help us choose which design will be on the cover of our holiday catalog and you could win a $50 gift card to UncommonGoods. Head on over to our Facebook page before midnight on September 16, cast a vote, and you’re entered for the prize.

Not only will you be really helping us out and possibly getting a jump start on your own holiday shopping!

For entry and full rules, please visit http://bit.ly/15XI3Zt.

Design

Pinterest Art Contest: Exhibit It to Win $100

September 10, 2013

Not to toot our own horn, but we know we carry a pretty great collection of art by a pool of talented artists. And we want to keep building our art collections and promote independent artists as much as possible. From watercolors to pencil sketches to oil paintings, we are always in the hunt for new, vibrant, and creative designs.

Help us discover our next artist to join the UncommonGoods family by simply pinning your favorite artwork into our Pinterest Art Contest. You could win $100 to UncommonGoods and be the very reason why our next artist discovery signs a vendor contract with us!

Here are some of our favorite pins so far.

Christina Rowe | Pinned by Happy Go Licky

Dalton M. Ghetti | Pinned by Nicole Hague

Julene Ewert | Pinned by Julene Ewert

Su Blackwell | Pinned by Nicole Hague

Chalermphol Haranchakkham of Huebuket| Pinned by Pinned by Happy Go Licky

Rebecca Green | Pinned by Jess McDonough

Rebekka Seale | Pinned by Jess McDonough

Click here to start pinning your favorite art and a chance to win a $100 gift card!

The Uncommon Life

Enter the Picture Your Pet Photo Contest on Facebook

August 14, 2013

Does the family poodle have dreams of sailing the open seas, chasing seagulls and splashing around? Is your cat the queen of the castle? Share your pet’s personality for a chance to win a custom art piece celebrating their unique spirit.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Upload a photo on our Facebook contest page or submit via Twitter or Instagram with #PictureYourPet. (If you submit with the hashtag, you will need to come back here and claim your photo.)

Share with your friends and family to get them to vote for your photo.

THE PRIZE
The top 3 photos with the most votes will win a custom Picture Your Pet portrait.

Contest deadline: Friday, August 23, 2013 11:59pm EST

Maker Stories

Love Letters from Your Pet by Karen Jones

July 9, 2013

Usually when it comes to design challenges, we adhere to the rules. (Mostly because I’m a relentless stickler!) But every once and a while a submission comes along that makes you think twice. Our Art Contest is usually call for a digital rendering of a piece of art that we will reproduce and sell framed. However, Karen Jones entered a piece that wouldn’t fit that model. She entered her Love Letter Custom Pet Portraits that are oil paintings on a piece of steel of your beloved canine or feline, with a little note expressing their love to you. Since each piece is made to order, we wouldn’t be able to print and frame the paintings but the call was for art and that is exactly what Karen sent us. She also must have known we have a soft spot for our pets.

What is one uncommon fact about you?
I have a twin brother who is an artist also. On the surface we are not the same, he is a tall red headed cowboy and I am a short, high heeled, glitter loving city dweller. We were born artists and luckily enough had great art teachers when we were growing up in Arizona. We were in a lot of the same art classes in school which was fun because I always had a painting buddy. I still like to paint with other people around me, but that doesn’t happen anymore. I had to learn to love to be alone with my art. Now I look forward to being alone with just me and my art. Well, sort of alone. I paint with my dog, Ruby next to me.

When did you first realize you’re an artist?
Last week. Funny, but I think we as artist have an internal idea of what being an artist is. I was an artist to the outside world since kindergarten. Art was always fairly easy for me. Awards, lots of art classes, going to art school… none of those made me feel like I was an artist. Three years ago, I became a full time, money making artist. That didn’t even make me feel like an artist.

When I started painting from my heart and giving more of myself and accomplishing paintings that I felt were ‘hard to do’ or challenging and I did it… that’s when I realized I was an artist.

Where do you get inspiration for your art?
Everywhere. I try not to walk through life with too much singular focus. I am always looking around, letting things grab my attention. I look at other people art, that can often trigger an idea in myself. I love to travel, ideas often come to me while driving down the road. I look for things to spark my interest and then process them through the mill of my mind, letting the idea develop a little before making it real. I’ve started writing down ideas I have in the middle of the night but that doesn’t work. I wake up wondering what, ‘I’m human in pink chalk’ means.

Describe your artistic process.
On Sunday nights, I get my canvases for the week ready. I paint on steel, so I get my steel ready. I get the image drawn on, make sure I have a photo printed to work from and enough paint.

Then on Monday morning, after coffee, a little time on the internet and a load of laundry, I head to the studio in my house. I put a ’70s tv program like, ‘Hawaii Five-O’ on and start painting. Once I get started, I sort of go in a zone and before I know it, it’s 4pm and time to get on the treadmill and make dinner. To me setting up my environment so I am not distracted and able to go into the zone is key. My focus stays clear and singularly focused. Sometimes when I need more emotion in my painting, I put on loud love music or on Fridays, Disco.

Describe your work space.
Today my studio is my 1968 vintage Airstream. We love going places, so sometimes I’m lucky enough to be able to paint while on the road.

Normally, I paint in my studio at home. My house is very modern and open. My studio is on the second floor with a big oval window with a nice view and good light. My studio isn’t big and is oddly for an artist, very clean. The only things in my studio are my painting easel, my paint table, a table for the computer so I can watch ’70s tv and a big chair and ottoman for me to sit back and ponder over what I need to do the painting. Only the things I need, nothing more. It keeps my mind uncluttered.

And of course, my dog, Ruby. She stairs at me while I paint.

What advice would you give to another artist interested in entering one of our design challenges?
Enter. You never know unless you try. Use your already developed support group of friends, family and customers and ask them every day to vote for you. Use social media and don’t worry about bugging people. They want to support you, let them.

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