This Just In-spiration

Maker Stories

This Just In-spiration: Meet Bud Scheffel

August 10, 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 Bud Scheffel, the maker behind our new Hummingbird Garden Mobile.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
I knew I wanted to be an artist when I was about 5 years old. I had a sketchbook in my back pocket for my entire childhood.

What was the most exciting thing about becoming a professional artist?
The most exciting thing about becoming a professional artist was to be able to raise a family on my income earned doing what I love to do more then anything else in the world.

What does your typical day in the studio look like?
It’s chaotic but organized. I often have several sculptures that I’m working on simultaneously.

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 have a book of Alexander Calder from 1956, that I am constantly inspired by. He championed the mobile concept decades earlier, and I am proud to be one of the very few experts in my field.

Imagine you just showed your work to a kindergartner for the first time. What do you think they would say?
“Oh, that’s cool that it balances like that. How do you make something so beautiful? I love the colors.”

What quote or mantra keeps you motivated?
Keep reinventing yourself. You are able to become a much better artist if you constantly push yourself to go further. I have made over 20,000 designs over 25 years.

What are your most essential tools?
Hand-held lasers, water jets, welders, shears, pliers, and grinders.

How has international travel influenced your artwork over the years?
While traveling around the world, my art has been influenced and reflective of the cultural differences of the native peoples including their fashion, color choices, architecture, infrastructure, landscape, and natural surroundings. For example, while living in Japan, I chose to create a line of metal mobiles that reflected the pagoda style architecture.

What are your other interests, and how have they been incorporated into your artwork?
I was interested all my life in math and physics, and have created work from the 1980s to current – very technical, complex structures incorporating these disciplines into true marvels of engineering that nobody has ever seen before.

Maker Stories

This Just In-spiration: Meet Michale Dancer

August 5, 2015

UncommonGoods is excited to unveil what we’re proud to call the Uncommon Collection – an assortment of some of our very favorite offerings that fully embody our core values. Each week we introduce new artists in our This Just In-spiration series, but we’re happy to give a special introduction for one of the artists helping us grow this collection of truly uncommon designs.

In meeting our five key standards, all designs featured in the collection are original and demonstrate exceptional ingenuity, while makers adhere to responsible business practices and leave a minimal footprint on our environment. What makes an artist’s design special and motivates them to have a positive impact on the world is certainly worth sharing. Meet Michale Dancer, the maker behind the new Gilded Branches Jewelry Tree, exclusively at UncommonGoods.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
My Father was an apartment building landlord, and he brought floor plans home when I was a young child. I started walking through the spaces and learned to create my own apartment designs. I was young but it stayed with me, so I when I had a chance to study, my first love was design and architecture.

What was the most exciting thing about becoming a professional artist?
That professional buyers were interested in my creations, enough to pay for them.

What does your typical day in the studio look like?
I meet with my team and create a production list that needs to be accomplished that day. Our team divides and manufactures products depending on which department will be in production. Each department has their skill set (i.e. harvesting, plating, manufacturing Still Life ornaments, jewelry, nightlights, and various custom creations). I check my office for emails and calls from clients. At the end of day, we take 15 minutes for meditation to leave calm and relaxed. It really works!

Is there a trinket, talisman, or other inspirational object you keep near?
I have a collection of beautiful objects found on my hikes, such as skeletonized leaves, branches, pods, shells, pine cones, acorns, etc.

Did anything in particular inspire your design?
I was hiking one day when I saw a leaf decaying, and had noticed the delicate lacy structure of the leaf. Nature is incredibly beautiful, and at the same time, ephemeral, and wouldn’t last. I wanted to bring this beauty to people and found a technique that would allow me to do so.

Imagine you just showed your work to a kindergartener for the first time. What do you think they would say?
Wow, a real gold leaf!

What quote or mantra keeps you motivated?
Nature is the best designer I know and therefore, my motivator. I’m self- motivated in that I can’t stop designing. My mind is always thinking of how to bring nature indoors to show people it’s true beauty.

Why is sustainability important to you?
We all live on this wonderful planet, and obviously it has become polluted from all our dirty manufacturing processes. I appreciate the beauty of nature in it’s true form, so why not create items that are made directly from nature. If we can show people how to use sustainable products, perhaps we can help our planet heal.

In what ways does your design reflect social and environmental best interests?
Everyone that owns a Still Life product understands it comes directly from the earth. We want people to learn that we don’t have to make beautiful décor from plastics and other methods that continue to pollute our planet.

The Uncommon Life

This Just In-spiration: Meet Kimberly Hall

August 3, 2015

What gets an artist going and keeps them creating is certainly worth sharing, and every great connection starts with a simple introduction. Meet Kimberly Hall, the artist behind the There Are Always Flowers Print.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
It took me a long time to think of myself as an artist. I have had a very varied career with lots of different titles, and it wasn’t until recently that I realized that having a kind of crazy career was really because I had the point of view of an artist.

What was the most exciting thing about becoming a professional artist?
This year I think it will be showing my print and pattern work in Paris this fall! I love how I never quite know where this path will lead…I love the surprises, the wonderful ones and even the losses are still so exciting.

What does your typical day in the studio look like?

They always seem to be a little different. I have two daughters and I usually drop them off at school in the morning which is the only real consistent part of my day. After that it could be anything from research & collecting inspiration for a job, or working on the continually growing collection of patterns I show twice a year at Premiere Vision Designs in New York, or prepping to teach a class in either fashion or illustration. I love to meet other freelance and artist friends for a coffee during the day and hear what people are up to. Philly has a great sense of community that I love.

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 have a lot of trinkets and talismans! I love to draw them… right now I’m starting a series on my blog where I post many of the interesting postcards I have collected over the years. It’s something I always pick up wherever I go. Check them out here>>

Imagine you just showed your work to a kindergartner for the first time. What do you think they would say?
I have a kindergartner and she ALWAYS has an opinion when she sees my work!! Her favorite is one of my postcards that says “Join Our Club”, she likes to hand it out to friends and get people in the Nottene club!

What quote or mantra keeps you motivated?
I always think of the Voltaire quote “I have decided to be happy because it’s good for my health.” I illustrated it for Design Milk last year & you can see it on my site. It reminds me that being happy is a state of mind I can put myself in… and it’s good for me to do that!

What are your most essential tools?
Hands, mind, and heart. Everything else is cake!

Maker Stories

This Just In-spiration: Meet Shandi & Casey McConnell

July 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 Shandi and Casey McConnell, designers of the Envelope Wall Vase.

Somewhere between throwing pottery and hanging out with their two small children, Shandi found some time to tell us a bit about their business and designs.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
As far back as I can remember I’ve always had a love for drawing, painting and making. My mom loved art and encouraged my creativity from early on. As a little girl I remember entering coloring contests from the paper and winning a gallon of ice cream from the local Hinky Dinky grocery store. During middle school I took woodworking classes which opened my eyes to the world of making objects in 3D. Surprisingly it wasn’t until college that I even touched clay.

What was the most exciting thing about becoming a professional artist?
I can still remember the feeling of selling my work for the very first time at a local art show. I couldn’t believe that people were actually giving me money for my work, by the end of the show I had done pretty well and knew this was what I am meant to do. Being able to make a living doing what we love is extremely rewarding in so many ways. I love the freedom that comes with making what I want, working when I want, and being able to take time for life as it happens and not living with a schedule.

What does your typical day in the studio look like?
Oh boy, or should I say boys! With a 2 year old and 8 month old there is no typical day!

It’s a mad house scramble in the morning with one of us just trying to get into the studio. Once one of us makes it out there the days work is prepped by slab roller, extruding or making lists to glaze or throw. We then pack any orders that need shipped for the day then head back out to work on clay. Casey and I take turns between hanging out with the boys and working in the studio all day long. I probably change my clothes 10 times a day. We’ve become more focused with our work; there is a lot less design/play time right now but studio time is still a happy and peaceful place. I tell myself this craziness is temporary!

Is there a trinket, talisman, or other inspirational object you keep near?
I do have quite the collection of Buddha figures. They remind me of our travels and the genuine full of life people we’ve met around the world. Having them around brings me to a good place.

What quote or mantra keeps your motivated?
I have a lot of them but here are some of my favorites:
“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag
“Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“You’ve got to be true to yourself.” And a poster that hangs in my studio: “Every day you inspire people you have never met.”

What are your most essential tools?
For myself it’s the slab roller and my handmade stamps. Casey has a fettling knife that he HAS to use; the studio gets torn apart if it’s misplaced. It now has an easier to spot red painted handle after it was lost for a few days.

Maker Stories

This Just In-spiraton: Meet Tristan Martin

July 20, 2015

What gets an artist going and keeps them creating is certainly worth sharing, and every great connection starts with a simple introduction. Meet Tristan Martin, designer of the Wooden Wine Preserver.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time in the garage building my own wooden toys. My parents encouraged me to use resources available around our house and in the garage to create my own entertainment. My dad was a hobbyist woodworker and taught me some basic skills. Some of my favorite childhood projects were an electric wooden helicopter with a paper clip for a switch, a wooden sailboat, a kayak, a skateboard, a bike trailer, swing-drawer keepsake boxes, and Adirondack-style chairs. I found joy in being creative, experimenting in the garage, and designing my own unique toys, and I’ve been working with wood and various other arts ever since.

What was the most exciting thing about becoming a professional artist?
I love being able to create something that’s useful and beautiful that people can use in their own homes. As a basement winemaker myself, I like knowing that my wine preserver enables people to enjoy each bottle of wine longer. It makes me happy, and I hope it brings a simple joy to my customers too.

What does your typical day in the studio look like?
I do my best thinking when I’m walking, so I start each studio day with a long stroll. This is usually the time that I come up with my most creative ideas. Good, strong coffee is another must-have, so I always start my day with a cup or two. My favorite time in my shop is morning, when the low sun streams through the open windows. I get into my groove listening to ’60s Latin Jazz.

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 inherited my dad’s hand-built workbench and antique hand tools, a constant reminder of the childhood days I spent learning and working next to him in his own garage.

Tristan’s antique hand drill | photo by Stuart Mullenberg

Imagine you just showed your work to a kindergartner for the first time. What do you think they would say?
Even though my wine preserver is obviously designed for adults, I find that young kids are often surprisingly curious about the woodworking process, and they tend to ask some impressive questions about the details of my work. They’re especially curious about what the button and levers do.

What quote or mantra keeps you motivated?
I just love seeing my ideas through from start-to-finish. Watching the progression from raw wood to a polished piece gives me all the motivation I need.

What are your most essential tools?
My hand-crank coffee grinder rivals my woodworking tools for most indispensable.

Maker Stories

This Just In-spiration: Meet Nils Wessell

July 13, 2015

What gets an artist going and keeps them creating is certainly worth sharing, and every great connection starts with a simple introduction. Meet Nils Wessell, the maker behind our new Tablet Holding Cutting Board.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
Always. It’s just what I did, even before I could walk. To an extent, I think we’re all this way. Being creative is a core part of being a human.

What was the most exciting thing about becoming a professional artist?
Getting the opportunity to meet so many other creative people in my field and getting to collaborate with them.

What does your typical day in the studio look like?
I like to keep a schedule. I show up at 9 and stay until at least 5. What I do is always changing with the demands of the business. Sometimes, it is a full day of creating, other days I am communicating with clients in the morning and designing in the afternoon.

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 keep a lot of old artwork – from friends, little kids I knew, other artists. I like to use them as extensions of my memory. The other “object” I need to inspire me is empty space. I need a place where there’s only air. It helps calm my mind and gets my imagination going.

Imagine you just showed your work to a kindergartener for the first time. What do you think he/she would say?
“It’s so smooth!” or “Did you make it?” Followed by “How?”

What quote or mantra keeps you motivated?
Thinking about my next steps. I’m always excited about what is to come, and where to go from where I am. I’m very “future minded,” for lack of a better term. I have so many projects that I want to do and make. The list is staggering!

Maker Stories, The Uncommon Life

This Just In-spiration: Meet Bubba Jones

July 6, 2015

What gets an artist going and keeps them creating is certainly worth sharing, and every great connection starts with a simple introduction. Meet Bubba Jones, designer of our Tankard Stein.

Bubba Jones is a bit like the Lone Ranger on a mission to bring pots to the people.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
Ever since I was little I made things with my hands. Whatever was around I built with and made into things that fed my imagination. I have been to art school and been an artist; now I want to be a potter.

What was the most exciting thing about becoming a professional artist?
Cash flow is the most exciting thing about being a pro, a lot like a roller coaster ride, very exciting.

What does your typical day in the studio look like?
You do what the pots tell you to do. If the cups are dry enough for handles, do that, if not sit down at the wheel and make more. On a good day you can make pots in the morning and finish them in the evening.

Is there a trinket, talisman, or other inspirational object you keep near? If so, what is it and what does it mean to you?
There is my kiln god, I call Maui, who has watched over every one of my electric kiln firings since 1994. Firing is a complicated process with so many overlapping subtle variables that it really does appear to work by a combination of careful attention, practice and magic, no matter how long you have been doing it or how much you pay attention to the science behind what is happening. As a result, traditional potteries from many different cultures use talismans and kiln gods to watch over their firings.

Maui the kiln God

Imagine you just showed your work to a kindergartner for the first time. What do you think they would say?
Can I put chocolate milk in here?

What quote or mantra keeps you motivated?
Making pottery is a process of training the intuition.

What are your most essential tools?
My potters wheel, my kiln and my hands.

Maker Stories

This Just In-spiration: Meet Marci Lundy

June 29, 2015

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

What gets an artist going and keeps them creating is certainly worth sharing, and every great connection starts with a simple introduction. Meet Marci Lundy, maker of the Pikake Flower Mask and Poppy Soap Gift Set.

What first inspired you to make face and body products?

I moved to Colorado in the Spring of 2010. Although undeniably beautiful, the state left my skin undeniably dry. My usual skincare regimen that I practiced while living at sea level in Southern California no longer worked. I have always admired the look and feel of skincare products, and one day I decided to get online and research the process of making body butters, scrubs, and soaps. I was thrilled to learn about the process and started making my own soaps and scrubs. The products were not perfect in the beginning, but I felt so proud knowing that it was possible to create these items that I have always loved, sans all of the harsh ingredients. Personal use of 303 Face + Body products started with me, and then I began to make products for my family and friends. I used the feedback to fine tune products that I made, and the more I researched, the better the quality of the product became. I went from making soap and sugar scrubs to now making gel moisturizers and serum for nails.

What experiences have been most instrumental in shaping your life so far?

I’m not so sure that there is a particular experience that was instrumental, but for as long as I can remember I’ve literally felt that there is nothing that I cannot do. Having that mindset allows the sky to be my limit. I’ve had people ask, “How did you think to do that?” I find myself answering, “Why wouldn’t I think I could!?!” My husband is also an amazing motivator, both through encouraging me and by simply “being.” An avid swimmer, he was in a diving accident when he was fourteen, and has been in a wheelchair for thirty years. He is so amazing, so positive, heavy into community outreach, and working with the Mayor of Denver. I also have a very supportive family. They’ve been wonderful supporters since day one. With all of that positivity around me, its virtually impossible to not feel as though it’s possible to do whatever I want to in this life.

What advice would you give to the you of 5 years ago?

Find your center, and start using your gifts. I am a total kid at heart, and I’ve just recently learned how to “manage this,” if you will. For years, I lived life as it happened, very much into enjoying the moment. There is nothing wrong with that, but there has to be a vision, a plan, a passion for something that you’re striving toward. I had passion for many things, but never really made any of them work for me. In the last few years, I’ve learned how to not only have fun with what I consider my gifts, but figure out how to make a living doing that which I enjoy and love. Photography and creating my products are my “happy place.” I’ve incorporated my photography into my work by creating greeting cards with my photography. It’s all wonderfully rewarding.

What was the most exciting thing about starting your own company?

It was very liberating to have the freedom to create something that helps others feel their best. I remember working at my desk years ago, looking out the window and thinking, “I wish I was out there, able to do what I really enjoy.” It’s so exhilarating to wake up (or barely sleep, for that matter) because your mind is so excited to start working on your latest skincare product.

What does your typical day at work look like?

The crisp, morning air inspires me, and each morning I go photo walking, which for me is exercise + motivation through nature + capturing nature. After a smoothie or a nice cuppa joe, I begin thumbing through skincare magazines, looking for common skincare concerns, also finding myself motivated by the way various skincare ads are photographed. My studio is also the loft that I share with my husband, so I’ll get my products together and test out textures (sugar scrubs with shea butters, etc) and from those moments of exploration, new products tend to be born. I also use my workdays to reach out to people to possibly collaborate with. The networking process is ongoing, and in this age of social media its very easy to make wonderful connections.

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 love crystals, and have various crystals around my creative space. I love the energy that I receive from them, very uplifting.

What quote or mantra keeps you motivated?

I happened across a quote a few years back that read, “Never Try, Never Know.” I’m always going to try, because I never want the feeling of not knowing.

What are your most essential ingredients and elements of your process?

Activated charcoal and aloe vera gel are two of my most beloved ingredients. Both of those are miracle products, seriously. I also love herbs, I live for herbs!

Older Posts

Newer Posts