DIME FEATURED ARTIST: SHEENA CROFT

Alyssa Stevenson September 17, 2013

Interview by The DIME Store, Photos by Sheena Croft

1930s beaded silk chiffon dress with trompe de l'oeil bow bolero — 1930s beaded silk chiffon dress with trompe de ***l'oeil*** bow bolero

For this month’s feature, DIME caught up with the amazing Sheena Croft of No Carnations Vintage. This lady is made of magic. There has to be at least 27 hours in her day. Not only is she the nationally-praised executive chef of Hannah’s Off the Square, but she also runs one of the best-curated vintage shops on Etsy. Read on to find out why this southern gal could give “the most interesting man in the world” a run for his money.

Sheena, what originally drew you to vintage?

It was quality clothing that was affordable. I would find great labels to mix into my modern clothing. But more to the point it was about the trends at the time. I remember watching 'Desperately Seeking Susan' and seeing Madonna find that second hand jacket with the eye on the back. Suddenly the thrift store find was way cooler than before. We won't talk about the brightly colored crinoline I think I once wore to the seventh grade as a skirt.

Did you come a vintage collector and by default a vintage seller, or visa versa?

I started collecting before I started selling. I sold jewelry on the side that I made and someone told me about Etsy for my jewelry. Not long after I realized I could sell vintage on Etsy. The first few items in the shop were from my own collection. Not really even clothes or items that would suite/fit me but items that I could not leave behind at an estate sale or thrift store. I just had to have them without never really knowing what I would do with them.

You're also the executive chef at Hannah's Off the Square. How do you balance having two very creative, very different jobs?

Both my love for vintage and my love for cooking fuel my creative side. Every day I think about how lucky I feel to do these things. Finding that perfect balance is everything but perfect. I try to use my down time away from the kitchen in a positive way. Vintage takes up a lot of that time, but selling has allowed me to set more financial goals for myself and that is a great freedom in and of itself. It helps that the vintage is considered a self-employment, so when my professional life needs attention and takes over I can adjust and set the Etsy job at a slower pace.

No Carnations logo

Your vintage clothing Etsy shop is highly successful. What makes your shop stand out from other vintage shops?

I tried to create a brand from day one. I also did lots of research about good cameras, taking quality photos, using photoshop for lighting issues. When it comes to vintage fashion, learning about labels and quality craftsmanship of textiles is equally as important. You need to know that a dress with a Ceil Chapman label can be sold for four times as much as another dress of the same style.

Do you have any advice for aspiring Etsy sellers or vintage collectors?

My suggestion to other sellers is to research your medium to the fullest, and create a 3 year plan for yourself with attainable goals. I also want to say that social media is a huge part of what you can do to brand and get your product seen. Even when I neglect my shop for a week, I try to re-list five items each day, mention something about my shop on twitter and send out a few Instagram shots. I've had quite a few direct sales from social platforms.

1950s Silk Estevez evening dress with yellow rose print

Where can folks shop your collection?

There is a limited collection of items that rotate in and out at the DIME Store. You can find me on Etsy, and I am happy to take appointments to view and purchase from my personal collection, most of which is not available online.

Sheena Croft, Chef Extraordinaire and Vintage Collector Queen

Do you aspire to someday have a brick and mortar vintage boutique? Or would you rather stay creative in the kitchen full time?

I look forward to my older years, a retirement I suppose, when I can have an encore career. I dream of a nice little flower shop with a wall of vintage wedding & party dresses from the 20s-50s. Kind of a one-stop-shop for the vintage bride. I imagine friends hanging out as well, so I'll keep the kettle on and always have cakes, scones, soups and sandwiches waiting with a smile.

The DIME Store is a shop and artist collective in downtown Denton, featuring art, craft, and vintage from 40+ local makers. Rachel Aughtry and Shelley Christner act as the "curators and purveyors" of the shop. When they're not at DIME, you'll find them behind their sewing machines or enjoying a margarita at Greenhouse.

WATER PISTOLS AT DAWN

Alyssa Stevenson September 13, 2013

It's Friday y'all. We stayed up way past our bedtimes and poured one out for the time capsule last night - so this morning we're nursing plenty of coffee and avoiding work by watching short but satisfying videos. We're especially fans of this one by local dude Wesley Kirk, who's work just doesn't disappoint. We certainly don't mind that it features one of our favorite funny guys Ron Lechler. We love seeing our favorite creatives come together and create great work that gets us through our Friday. Besides - who doesn't love a great water gun fight scene?

LYRIC LEAK: KALEO KAUALOKU OF SPOOKY FOLK

Alyssa Stevenson September 10, 2013

by Harlin Anderson

While bellied up to the bar at local haunt Dan’s Silverleaf the other day, talk turned to the first single, “Notion," from the forthcoming Spooky Folk album, Youth is a Notion. As if on cue, the Miss Petra Kelly entered the building. It didn’t take long for her phone – containing said single – to get hooked up to the bar’s PA system. It took even less time for most of the crowd to stop what they were doing and start listening. We fell hard for the new track, so we fired up the interwebs for a remote chat with recently relocated Spooky front man, Kaleo Kaualoku, on music, getting old, and life in the mountains.

The new album – especially this first single – deals heavily with the concept of youth. Is this something coming from your own life - or a response to a trend you see in the world today?

Kaleo Kaualoku: It's definitely something that comes from me. I always carry a bit of self-doubt when it comes to my accomplishments, and the older I get, the less I feel I've done. Even though this is an irrational paranoia, I think the concept that time is running out is something that drives a lot of people to do more, be more, try more, etc... I'm basically trying to be a hopeful cynic, stressing that if you've squandered your time so far, there's nothing to be done but get up and do something about it. Time will not pity you.

The song also lets me approach youth from another perspective - it kind of sucks. Let's face it, we all did/said/thought stupid, inane things in our late teens/early twenties. I still do, but a bit of age and experience have severely reduced the frequency that said vapidity exits my mouth. A big part of me is glad that I won't ever be twenty one again.

The first line of "Notion" is fantastic kick in the teeth. How did you arrive such a crushing starting point?

KK: I like the idea of starting the song off with the bummer of a statement that your youth is not going to last forever, and you are going to get old and die. I know it's not revelatory by a long shot, but sometimes being blunt is pretty heavy and effective.

There is an unmistakable 90's vibe radiating from this single. Is that a conscious decision? How does that mesh with the prevailing theme of youth?

KK: It wasn't on purpose. It's really just the natural result of Spooky Folk becoming more of a rock band. I remember that while writing the music I thought that it kind of sounded like a Weezer song. Maybe that's a connection to youth, replicating my 9th grade playlist?

"It's true we're fighting to lose" is a fascinating line. It's got the potential to be bleak as hell, but it doesn't quite play out with the sense of resignation we'd expect. What's going on there?

KK: It's acknowledgement of the futility of our desire – while also affirming that we're still alive, fighting for something.

"I'm looking forward to the things that come to pass/ Even though they never really seem to last" is probably the most bizarrely upbeat/hopeful part of "Notion." Moments may be fleeting, but is it possible to carry over or hold on to the joy we get from them?

KK: It most definitely is! I'd say that the memory of the moment is better than the original event itself. It's all that we'll ever really have of that moment in time. But that's just half of the meaning. The flip-side is meant to be taken with a bit more pessimism. We have things to look forward to, but they'll just happen and be over, so why really care? I like to imagine that this song is being sung by a sarcastic Debbie Downer.

“Youth is a notion that is crooked as crime
Death lies in waiting in these shadows of mine ”

— Spooky Folk

You recently moved to Colorado. How does that complicate the process of completing an album - or even simple things like practicing?

KK: Luckily we finished tracking the majority of the album before I left. This summer has been spent with the rest of the band wrapping up a few loose recording ends, a few still remaining. Me being out here has slowed us down a little bit in that I'm not able to give instant feedback on a take or what have you. But we're still on track to release this album by the end of the year.

What do you miss most about Denton?

KK: I miss my friends. I miss the feeling of community. I miss being able to walk into a club and find a friendly face. But most of all, I miss the tacos, particularly La Estrella. Please go give those wonderful people your patronage as often as you can!

Any plans to come back and visit - maybe even play a show - anytime soon?

KK: I'll definitely be back to visit soon! No Spooky Folk in Denton for the immediate future, but there are some exciting things happening and upcoming announcements. In the meantime, people should go check out the other bands that SF members are a part of! Jesse has Tiger, Tooth, and Paw; Scarlett is in New Science Projects and Fishboy; Petra is in all of the bands.

If you haven’t yet had the chance to give “Notion” a listen, we suggest you rectify that oversight with a quickness. It’s one of our favorite jams of the summer, and it’s sure to remind certain age demographics of that oh so sweet spot in life known as the 90’s. We think it’s the perfect soundtrack for a cold beer and a ramble down memory lane – however old or young you happen to be.

Spooky Folk Is: Kaleo Kaualoku, Jesse Clay Perry, Petra Kelly, Scarlett Wright, and Chris Brown

Get the lowdown on all things Spooky here.

“Notion”

Youth is a notion that is crooked as crime
Death lies in waiting in these shadows of mine
Don't try to argue with aging or fate
The end is then hurried rather sooner than late

We're all just drowning in this passing time
The reasons burn but will not be defined
I'm looking forward to the things that come to pass
Even though they never really seem to last

It's true we're fighting to lose
It's hard to swallow the truth

The sun will stop burning when the day comes to end
Fires extinguish but then ignite again
Our time is stolen it was not meant to last so
Enjoy what we've taken 'cause the end's coming fast

Harlin Anderson is the underground BBQ champion of Denton, Texas. When he's not digging through crates of vinyl at Recycled Books or Mad World Records, he can be found manning the smoker on the back patio at Dan's Silver Leaf - or wherever there are hungry musicians. His lives with his wife, Ashley, and their three furry children: Earl, Jake, and Nanette the Pocket Beagle. He prefers to stay comfortably within the Denton city limits at all times.

INTERVIEW: REDWOOD RECORDING STUDIO

Alyssa Stevenson September 5, 2013

It's been a few years since they teamed up and started playing together - now Joey McClellan and McKenzie Smith have started a recording studio together. They've had local and international acts come through to record and produce in their studio, tucked away quietly in north Denton - now we're looking forward to seeing and hearing what they'll be doing next. Lucky for us, we didn't have to go far to catch up with the dynamic duo.

What brought you to Denton? What keeps you here?

McKenzie Smith: I moved to Denton in 1997 to study jazz at UNT. During those first few years, the beginnings of Midlake were already forming, and by 2000, I had quit school to focus on the band and make a living as a full time musician. It wasn't exactly easy, I had to work a full time job teaching music at a school up until April of 2006, when the band began touring heavily for our second album, "The Trials of Van Occupanther."

There are a lot of things that keep me in Denton though. This is a great town to be creative in, with an amazing community of artists and musicians, and it continues to grow and thrive. It seems to be heading in a direction that is going to make me stay here even longer. The band, the studio, and the bar we own are three key factors of why I'm still here, but I think it might just be the fact that I can get the best sushi I have ever had anywhere right here in Denton at Keiichi.

Joey McClellan: I moved to Denton from Brooklyn after playing guitar with Midlake on a couple of tours in the US and Europe. After work on the new Midlake album began, it just made more sense to move here rather than traveling back and forth all of the time. At the same time, Mckenzie and I had talked about building a recording studio and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do both.

Denton is a great little town, with a lot of growth potential, and its exciting to be here watching it develop so rapidly. As with any great town - it's the good people that make you want to stick around, and Denton has that in spades. People here are passionate, have a thirst for knowledge, and are driven to express themselves creatively. I have no doubt that national recognition is on the horizon for Little D.

Can you give me a brief history of your career in music?

JM: I co-founded a band with my Brother Aaron called The Fieros that received two Dallas Observer Music Awards before relocating to Brooklyn in 2008. From there we were able to sign on with a music licensing company owned by MTV and have had songs featured in numerous television shows and even one Simpsons commercial that aired during the Super Bowl.

In NYC I began playing bass for a band called Hymns and did a tour with Texas legend Daniel Johnston that kicked off with a performance at ACL in 2009. Mckenzie called me in 2010 after the departure of their then lead guitar player Max Townsley and asked if I'd be interested in touring with Midlake. After two tours with Midlake I relocated to Denton to begin working on the newest Midlake record that is slated for release this November.

MS: I started drumming at the age of 5 and never looked back! I went to the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, TX, where I was born and raised, and then got a full scholarship to the UNT Jazz program. After playing in the 1 O'Clock Lab Band, my interest in school started to wane drastically . I left to work on the band and begin trying to figure out how to make a living playing music.

Along the way, I have been really fortunate to play with some great artists such as Regina Spektor, St. Vincent, and Sondre Lerche, to name a few, and being a studio musician has become a huge passion of mine. Midlake is my main priority in the music world, but I stay busy with lots of other projects as well, drumming, producing and mixing.

What is driving you to switch gears into becoming a producer? What does your role as producer for Redwood really look like?

MS: I started messing around with the producer thing about 10 years ago, when my sister was working on some music. I tried my hand at helping her complete some songs. Over the years, more and more people began to give me the opportunity to help flesh out their ideas and collaborate. I started to really fall in love with music production.

When Joey and I started talking about our mutual dream of opening a studio, it seemed like a good chance for both of us to work on projects we are passionate about. It didn't hurt that we would be able to work right from my back yard.

Every recording situation is different, so defining an exact role is difficult. Generally speaking, producing is helping facilitate someone else's music. At Redwood, we love to work closely with the artists that ask us to produce, which can be anything from co-writing, arranging, playing, and hiring the right musicians for the song or album.

JM: Music production has been a passion of mine since I first started writing and recording songs in my late teens. My approach is always to bring the experience I've gained over the years in the studio and touring while trying to not stifle the vision of the artist that I'm working with.

Tell us about the history of Redwood - how did it get started - what really drove you to start your own recording studio?

JM: Mckenzie and I began talking about the idea at the end of 2011. The building was once a wood working shop then a motorcycle shop. We opened the doors by September 2012 with our first client being Daniel Hart's new project Dark Rooms.

MS: When my wife and I were house hunting, this house stood out almost immediately because it had this big backyard with another house in it. It wasn't built out much on the inside, but the shell of a building was there. That pretty much sealed the deal for me - and I made my wife buy this house!

Joey and I spent almost an entire year gutting the inside, hammering, drilling, making huge rookie mistakes, and asking for a lot of help from family and friends. It took a lot of work to get the studio to look like what it does today. We still have big dreams and plans for what the studio will eventually become.

The space itself is really cool - very different. Who designed/built it? Who or what played major roles in your design decisions?

JM: We put our heads together on this, and came up with a design that we felt created the best sonic environment, while maintaining vibe that would make you feel like you're somewhere special. We wanted to avoid creating the generic and sterile environment that you find at most commercial recording studios.

We built it ourselves - we spent countless hours cutting wood and hammering nails in the midst of the Texas summer. We had help from some very good friends and family. It was an unforgettable experience.

MS: If I had the time and energy for it, I would be an interior designer! I'm not kidding, I love design, architecture and spaces that make life more enjoyable. Joey and I share in this passion and wanted to make the studio not only highly functioning, but also a really inspirational space.

We wanted the vibe of the rooms to be cozy - but not cramped, stylish - but not stuffy, and also feel lived in, all at the same time. So many recording studios feel like a spa or a doctors office. That is not what we were going for.

You’ve built quite the team for staffing the studio. Can you tell us more about everyone who is a part of the Redwood team?

MS: We are fortunate in that we all bring something to the table. I love working with Joey and Jordan and feel blessed to have such creative people around me all the time. It doesn't hurt that they also happen to be some of the nicest guys I have ever met.

JM: We were lucky to find our house engineer Jordan Martin through a mutual friend. He has been an invaluable part of this since the day we opened. He's a super talented, intelligent guy, who works really well with our clients. Mckenzie and I co-produce, perform, and sometimes engineer as well.

“People here are passionate, have a thirst for knowledge, and are driven to express themselves creatively. I have no doubt that national recognition is on the horizon for Little D.
”

— Joey McClellan

You’ve got a lot of bands coming in and out of the studio right now - including a few local favorites - Chambers, Seryn, Sarah Jaffe. And you just had a band from Sweden recording. What is it that makes your space the right recording studio for them? What kind of musicians are really attracted to what Redwood is offering?

MS: We are so happy that some really amazing artists have chosen Redwood to work with, even though we haven't even been open a year yet. There is so much local talent that we love, and there are some great studios in the area that people could choose over us, so we are definitely humbled and grateful.

Our plan is to continue to reach out to amazing artists, big and small, and hope that they will consider us for their next recording project. We have a great staff, a great environment to record in, and we're right here in the middle of Denton.

JM: Our initial vision was to always have bands and musicians recording here that we are actually fans of. It's been extremely rewarding to have some of our favorite local and international acts come through the doors and give such positive feedback about their experience here.

We were very selective in the gear we brought into the studio. Our tracking room has high vaulted ceilings which provide a great warm sound. Bands that are looking for a very organic recording experience fit well in this environment.

When bands from out of town come in to record - what are some of your favorite places to take them around Denton?

JM: The first place we took Johan Orjannson when he arrived from Sweden was Chuy's, which he loved and made sure to hit again before leaving town. We also like to take people to Keiichi if we can get in. Taco Lady and Sabrocitas are favorites for tacos, and Paschall Bar, Dan's Silverleaf, and Oak Street Draft House are great for drinks after a long session. We also like to show guests the Greenbelt and the swimming beach at Lake Ray Roberts.

MS: The Mini Malls! We also love taking people to Seven Mile, Loco Cafe , Greenhouse, Dan's Silverleaf, The Cupboard, Jupiter House, Hannah's, Hailey's, Oak St. Draft House, and of course our bar, Paschall's. Oh, and lets not forget... Keiichi.

IMAVOLCANO - MAKING OF VIDEO

Alyssa Stevenson September 4, 2013

Eric Michener, front man of the band FishBoy, has done it again. Not only has he put out a cool new album and been busy playing show after show, but he's also been teaming up with local artists and letterpress company Triple Threat Press to create jackets for his new 7" vinyl. He liked their work so much that he even made a 'Making Of' video to show us all how they created a piece of local music history.

Make sure to watch the video, get to know some great local artists, and listen to more of Eric's music over here. Oh, and you definitely want to watch all the way to the end! Lest you miss out on hearing our friend/printing guru, Laura Drapac, meowing like her giant cat Milo.

THE CONVERSATION

Alyssa Stevenson August 30, 2013

Labor Day Weekend is upon us. We're not sure about y'all, but we definitely need the long weekend. As we make our way through Friday, we're filling our headphones at work with local rappers AV The Great and Juicy The Emissary's newest single, "The Conversation." The video for which was filmed right here in Denton. We like that it makes us take a step back and reflect for a moment before we head into September - full speed ahead!

Watch their video and if you like what you see and hear, make sure you keep up with AV through his Facebook or Twitter to keep an eye out for his upcoming shows and new singles.

THREE SONGS: AUGUST

will milne August 23, 2013

Once a month, we like to take a moment and highlight three songs from local bands that have ear wormed their way into our brains. While we normally try to highlight some lesser known Denton bands, August has been a big month for music releases. Below, we take a listen to the likes of Midlake, Bad Sports and Botany. Read on for weekend tunes!

Which long standing Denton band is regarded as the most revered? Has any sort of committee decided this yet? We’re not sure if it’s supposed to be Midlake, Brave Combo or The Baptist Generals. Either way, “Antiphon” is Midlake's first foray back without longtime vocalist Tim Smith.

We remember once hearing Denton elder statesman Dave Sims discuss the state of Denton music in 2010, explaining that post Denton’s folk-explosion, the current trend was to find a a sound of a certain era and to finetune said sound to the point of perfection. Midlake has a history of doing just that. Sometimes it works in their favor. Other times, it doesn’t. Their last album divided many American critics right down the middle (those unshaved Europeans seem to think the ‘Lake can do no wrong). That said, Midlake has long been drastically changing their sound in between albums. The Trials of Van Occupanther was mutually agreed upon to be the best Fleetwood Mac album since Tusk. The Courage of Others from 2010, had Midlake evoking a different 70's sound with shades of Neil Young shining through.

The album release dates above show just how meticulous Midlake can be. They take their darn sweet time in between albums, fine tuning everything and hanging out in their studio. It pays off with “Antiphon.” With the departure of Tim Smith, Eric Pulido has taken on vocal duties. The change might not be noticeable to many listeners. The vocal harmonies carry the song throughout, but they eventually get the spotlight stolen by drummer McKenzie Smith’s ramshackle swing throughout the tune. While psychedelia is yet another new guise for Midlake to squeeze themselves into, we find it to suit them well.

Speaking of finding a dormant sound and reviving it well, local ne'er-do-wells, Bad Sports, seem to be doing pretty well in the national music scene lately. Spin is currently streaming their new album in it’s entirety and they’ve had tracks highlighted on both Pitchfork and MTV.com.

The trio has infiltrated the punk scene of DFW and pretty much dominated it for about half a decade now. We remember watching them tear apart a couch at some Dallas Observer show at least four years ago. Since then, they’ve gone on to join the likes of Marked Men, Mind Spiders and other North Texas punk royalty on the excellent Dirtnap Records out of the Pacific Northwest. This might be their crowning year, with their forthcoming album, Bras, looming on the masses.

Most of Bras finds Bad Sports sporting their garage rock moniker well, but this album shows quite a bit of growth. Some songs show hints of the Stones while some even remind us of AC/DC. As with Midlake above, we're once more finding an older sound and aping it to the point of perfection.

Above you’ll find “Get You,” the first track off of their upcoming album and a song which MTV calls this summer’s punk rock answer to Robin Thicke’s "Blurred Lines." We’d be hard-pressed to disagree. This tune is tight and focused, with guitar licks and hooks aplenty. Both tunes sound vaguely threatening to women, too. How did that become this summer's theme?

While we still bemoan the quiet fading away of Denton band, Sleep Whale, we’re happy to see that they acted as somewhat of a launch pad (maybe raised bed garden?) for several other entities that are still creating great tunes in the same vein. In June, we applauded the recent work of Paul North who was a part of that clan. This month, we’re highlighting a song from Botany, the brain child of vicarious Dentonite, Spencer Stephenson. After Sleep Whale, Stephenson gained some good cred through his work under the Abacus moniker. We’re not sure exactly what precipitated the name change - Botany’s sound isn’t far from what we heard with Abacus, but we’ll take these tunes however we can get them.

Anchor starts out sounding a little like a Tycho song, however, once the song finds it’s foothold (which happens about :45 into it), it becomes a beast of a different nature. The song certainly leaves you wanting to listen to the rest of the album.

DIME FEATURED ARTIST: INFINITE BLUE BIRD

Alyssa Stevenson August 22, 2013

Interview by The DIME Store, Photos by Infinite Blue Bird

If you’ve been in the DIME Store this month, odds are you might have spent a long time lingering at the featured artist table, admiring the eclectic jewelry collection from the giggly gals at Infinite Blue Bird. Wooden findings, leather bits, and vintage gems come together in new and exciting ways when “the Birds” get their hands on 'em. Read on to learn why they work great together and why they’re “the Birds” in the first place.

First of all, what’s the story behind the name “Infinite Blue Bird”?

Allison started an Etsy shop after her wedding to sell some of her vintage blue glass and miscellaneous wedding items; hence the “blue”. She also has a blog called Infinite Sunshine and thought she would continue the name in case they ever went hand in hand. So there is the “infinite”. As far as the bird, anyone who knows Allison knows she has a things for birds - cue the Portlandia video “Put a Bird on it”. Once Allison and Marilyn started making jewelry, they thought they would just utilize the already established shop to sell their jewelry. It has turned out to be a unique name that we are definitely both associated with now. Besides, it gives good reason to make bird calls to your friends without being viewed as crazy….right?

What got you interested in the DIY scene?

We both have a degree in Interior Design from UNT and enjoy creating outside of Infinite Blue Bird. We are always in ‘design’ mode. We are constantly DIY’ing items in our homes, making gifts for friends or artwork for each other. We both have that creative OCD gene, so it works well!

Above: The perfect brown and aqua necklaceLeft: Allison is the perfect model to show off their jewelry line. — Above: The perfect brown and aqua necklace
Left: Allison is the perfect model to show off their jewelry line.

How did you get into jewelry making?

We definitely like to wear pretty things, and one day we talked to each other about some pieces we saw online that were inspiring us. Sadly, neither of us are millionaires so we thought we could create our own unique (and affordable) pieces to wear. Allison wore one of our originals to work one day and had several compliments and an offer to buy the necklace off her body! That’s when we knew we were creating things that not only the two of us loved. That was definitely the spark that got us amped up to create more and open up a shop.

How did you two decide to do business together?

We have been friends for eight years and met while working at UNT as students. Through working together we found we had scarily similar personalities and interests. We have a tendency to say the same things at the same time and we find it’s always a good idea to call each other before a night out to make sure we don’t match, which usually never fails! Along with that, we are both always honest with each other and knew that a business partnership would be successful.

What does each of you bring to the table?

We have names for each other when it comes to certain tasks relating to business. Marilyn is cordially known as PR! She is great at communicating with clients, purchasers, and anyone else interested in our business. Allison is happily known as Techie. She works on managing the money and websites, while handling the marketing as well. As far as the designs, ideas, and creation of the product, we work side by side; equally coming up with new design ideas and getting cramps in our hands from cutting and assembling.

You both work 9 - 5 day jobs outside of your successful creative business. How do you balance it?

It is definitely a challenge to balance our full time jobs, have time to run Infinite Blue Bird on the side, and a social life. We like having the creative outlet, so it isn’t too hard to want to sit down and create. We accomplish most of our creating on the weekends or in the evenings in the studio at Allison’s house. We are usually hanging out together anyway, so it’s a nice way to socialize and be profitable! Two infinite blue birds, one stone! Ha ha ha.

How did you become involved with DIME?

We first encountered DIME while applying to be a part of the Summer Bazaar show in 2012. We were accepted and since then have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the ladies of DIME. We always look forward to working with them and are so proud to be a part of such a great organization. Denton needed a creative group like this, and the response around town has been ecstatic.

If you’re not hanging out up at the DIME Store, what are you favorite places to be around town?

We frequent Oak Street Draft House; it doesn’t get much better than a beer in their beer garden. Prost! We enjoy seeing live music at venues like Banter and Abbey Underground. Indulging in sushi at Uncommon Grounds is on the list too! And yes, we generally do these things together.

Aside from the DIME Store, where can we purchase your work?

You can shop our stuff on Etsy of course. We also have things available at a cute bakery called Crickles & Co. on the south side of town and for any Oklahoma travelers; we have items available in a store called Made: the Indie Emporium Shop in Tulsa.

Do you have any advice for aspiring Etsy sellers?

It’s definitely important to be flexible in working with your customers. Sometimes they have a slightly different vision for one of your products and as long as your shop is capable of the alteration, we think it’s important to try to fit the request. It may sometimes require a bit more time and brain power, but in the end it’s always worth it. Also, keep in mind what sells in your shop and what doesn’t when creating. Just because you are in love with a design doesn’t mean it will be beneficial to your business if it’s not selling. Use that as a reason to further develop other designs and concepts to keep your product fresh.

DENTON CROWDFUNDING: AUGUST

will milne August 20, 2013

It's been a while, but the crowdfunding scene in Denton is at a boil currently, so we figured it was as good a time as any to search through Kickstarter, IndieGoGo and a few others to bring to you the best of crowdfunding that Denton has to offer. Go ahead and read through the following campaigns. If something strikes your fancy, please donate and feel good about yourself for the rest of the day.

Denton Community Splash Park

With tomorrow’s Better Block’s meeting, the idea of making change happen is hot on the mind of Dentonites. This campaign, initiated by local mover and shaker, Amber Briggle, evokes that mindset in spades. If the concept of a “splash pad” doesn’t evoke anything in your mind, imagine the summers your spent in your front yard, running through the water spray from the nearby oscillating sprinkler. Well, a “splash pad” is kind of like that. It’s an area with multiple streams of water in various arrangements, with multiple drains preventing said water from pooling. It’s fun and kids love ‘em. Maybe you’ve seen a small one behind the Barnes and Noble in Highland Village.

Briggle has spoken with the powers-that-be at the city level and been promised that if she raises the funds, the park would be built. If not this year, then in the next year. Briggle went on to say, “The goal… is to bring this money to City Council, show them how serious we are about this, and hope that they can meet us the rest of the way so we can get this built in the next year!

Many Denton artists and businesses have donated their time and products as incentives to donators. $500 will net you your own Paul Slavens concert, $150 will get you an engraved brick on the site and a donation of $250 will allow you and seven of your friends to yell at Kevin Roden about politics of your choice at your very own Drink and Think.

Donate here.

Denton Holiday Lighting Festival Song Compilation

The event commonly known as “The Tree Lighting,” “wassail fest,” or “Kettle Korn Time,” is actually the “The Denton Holiday Lighting Festival.” It’s a free event in December every year that you probably already go to (we just learned that every year a commemorative Denton Christmas ornament is produced - how do we not already have all of them?).

This year, they’re producing a compilation CD in celebration of their 25th anniversary. The compilation will be full of of their favorite holiday performances from Denton bands. You can look forward to hearing Sarah Jaffe, Boxcar Bandits, the Denton Community Band and many others on this multi-decade spanning compilation. Our friend Nick is the only person we know who still buys CDs. Thankfully, the crew behind the The Denton Holiday Lighting Fesitval also plans on making the album available to purchase online, as well.

Donations to the cause can get you cool swag like T-shirts and framed photos.

Donate here.

Two Hearts, 6,100 Miles Apart

Well, this is a tough one. Local artist, Michael Todd, is looking to fund a trip to Paris to meet his longtime Russian internet girlfriend, Anastasia. He's looking for $25,000 in order to travel the 6,100 miles distance, document said experience through professional means and to then get their story out to the masses in the form of a documentary and follow-up book. While we were left wanting to call Max and Nev of Catfish after reading Todd's novel of a explanation (which we highly encourage you to read, yourself) on his IndieGoGo campaign, something kept us from finding their contact info on MTV.com. We want to read this book. We would pay $12/ticket to get the chance to see this documentary. While our pessimism forces us to doubt the legitimacy of Todd's girlfriends' story, either way, it would be wonderful to watch. Donations will get you the normal digital download or sponsorship credit, but we also found it interesting that they're offering the ability to go to the screening of your choice, naming SXSW, NYFILM and Sundance as future screenings. "Dream big and love conquers all," right?

Donate here.