DIME FEATURED MAKER: SAVANNAH TEEL

Alyssa Stevenson November 14, 2013

Interview by The DIME Store, Photos by Savannah Teel

Savvie Designs may be new to the DIME Store, but the amazing lady behind the brand, Savannah Teel, has been on the Denton creative scene for quite a while. She runs two Etsy shops, works part time at SCRAP, and serves on the DIME leadership board, all while hammering out the last few classes of her UNT visual arts degree. This busy gal took some time out of her busy schedule to sit down with us and talk about her love of making, lasers, and most importantly, tacos. Unfortunately, we didn't get to discuss laser tacos, the taco of the future.

Have you always been involved in creative things and making?

Yes! I often joke that I was born with glitter in one hand and a glue gun in the other. I grew up in a very creative family. Both my dad and brother were engineers and builders, my mom was the craftiest lady in town, and my grandmother was a DIY queen. It was impossible to just sit around when I was constantly surrounded by creativity.

What first inspired you to get into laser cutting and material fabrication?

I needed an extra studio credit and UNT was offering an online Digital Fabrication course over the summer. I enrolled because it sounded like an easy elective but after the first day, I realized that it was so much more. I was amazed by the possibilities that laser cutting provides and it was something that just clicked for me. Out of pure curiosity, I started searching for actual Digital Fabrication jobs and found a part-time summer gig working with laser cutters and 3D printers. I landed the job and had an incredible opportunity to pick up the trade. It fell together so quickly that I just knew it was what I needed to be doing right then.

What’s it like to finally have your own laser cutter?

So amazing! I’m not going to lie, it was the most terrifying purchase that I’ve ever made. Not only because it was a huge investment but because I had so much to learn. But now I feel so empowered by the potential!

What struggles have you faced in growing your business while still in school and still in a student apartment?

For one, there is no “I was late to class because I stayed up all night filling a rush order of 150 custom boxes” option on the syllabus. It’s not the easiest thing in the world to balance but it can be done. I’ve learned that time management and self-discipline are my best friends.

Now, trying to create a digital fabrication studio environment inside a tiny college apartment is an art within itself. The other day, one of my neighbors approached me and said, “You must be the girl who plays with power tools at 3am and has smoke billowing out of the window from time to time. Can you tell me what you’re doing?” Besides looking like I’m cooking meth in my apartment, I’ve also learned that space is crucial. Thankfully I have a roommate who doesn’t mind me storing piles of salvaged lumber in the living room and a little sawdust in the carpet from time to time.

In addition to Savvie Designs, you also have a partner Etsy shop with your mom called Regeneration. Is it easy to design and create for both, or is it a difficult balance?

You know, I feel like they sort of balance each other out. Although I love the creative freedom that the digital process provides, I think it is important as a maker to hang onto the skills that come with a more physical, hands on process. If I were doing it alone, I don’t think I could make it happen but my mom is a total rock star and it gives us something really fun to do together.

What are your plans for Savvie Designs once you finish your degree at UNT?

My thoughts are constantly evolving. One thing is that I really want to bring a more tactile sense to my work. I want to incorporate my love of sewing, drawing, and other hands on assets even more. I also have a vision of creating a resource for other makers. I’ve had so much fun finding ways to promote my own brand via laser cutting and I would love to explore the needs of today’s creatives. At the end of the day, there are so many possibilities.

How did you become involved with DIME?

I went to the DIME Spring Bash during my first year at UNT and was overwhelmed with excitement about what was happening. Later, I met the lovely Shelley Christner while volunteering at SCRAP and I remember thinking “I’m not sure who this chick is but we need to be friends.” When she told me that they were opening an actual store, I was beyond excited. I wasn’t selling at the time but I couldn’t get over the concept of a DIME Show year round. I was so encouraged by the creative community and realized that I had been ignoring my need to make for far too long.

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

I would have to say SCRAP is at the top of my list, which is rather convenient since I also work there. When I’m not being inspired from the goodness of creative reuse, I love to scour through the thrift stores of Denton or hang out on the square. I also frequent every single taco shop in town. All of them. That reminds me, I don’t think any interview is complete without noting that I do trade laser cut goods and services for free tacos. I’m looking at you, El Guapos.

Where can we shop your work?

You can find my work online at Savvie Design Co. I also sell at the lovely DIME Store, Fun and a Lil’ Chic Boutique in Irving, and I've made a custom line for Bella Gardens, a cute little flower shop in my hometown.

Do you have any advice for aspiring Etsy sellers?

Don’t play the comparison game. When I began thinking about starting an Etsy, I would go to the front page, look at the featured listings, and then close my laptop and walk away. I didn’t account for the fact that I was comparing myself to trained artisans who had years of practice under their belt. You should never stop learning or growing as a maker and as a person so don’t expect to start at the top. The best thing I ever did was write down all of my self-doubt on a sheet of notebook paper, then rip it to shreds and throw it away. Make what you love and make for the love of making.

The DIME Store is a shop and artist collective in downtown Denton that features 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 The Greenhouse.

TRADE FEATURED ARTIST: DANIEL ROUTH

Alyssa Stevenson November 7, 2013

Interview by TRADE

Daniel Routh is a self-described "multimedia creative" working predominantly in the realms of video, photography, and music composition. Daniel's visual work tells tales of his personal travels and explorations across the country, while his musical compositions travel across multiple genres showing a depth of emotion and range. Read on to find out how his multiple disciplines collide, as well as his latest project about an attempt at breaking a world record.

What is the focus of your work?

At the core of what I do I'm trying to stir up something inside of people that maybe they haven't been in touch with in a while or ever before. I want to break away from surface level thinking in terms of 'art' and really push the boundaries of our contemporary views concerning what art is or is not. So in my work, whether it be a composition, or a video, or whatever, I want people to feel that there is something deeper, something more meaningful and more real. I have a real distaste for a lot of mainstream music, art, and films. I don't mean that to sound pretentious but whenever I watch one of those movies or hear that music on the radio I find myself completely unmoved – like I'm no different now than I was before I went into that movie. And to me that's a complete waste of time. It's like candy, you kind of can't help but like it but it will never sustain you and isn't good for you in large quantities. I'm constantly trying to go deeper, to get more meaning and more substance in my work, and to do it in a way that I just think is cool.

From where do you draw inspiration?

That's a hard question. It's often times from unpredictable places but generally I find a lot of inspiration from other artists, from the natural world, from strange or peculiar sounds, from books and poetry. Some of my favorite artists are Beethoven, Arvo Pärt, Mark Rothko, René Magritte, and C.S. Lewis.

What kind of work do you make?

I call myself a multi-media artist. For me, that encompasses music, photography, and video.

What drew you to that form of art?

I've always been the kind of person that needs variety. Growing up, my older brother and I would film skateboarding videos using our parents’ VHS video camera. Then we would edit using two VCR's where we'd start and stop one of them and hit record on the other one and add music. So that got me really interested in video, I would film everything I could whenever my family and I went out to do things.

I always wanted to do photography but the kinds of cameras that I had access to were never really able to produce the quality of images I was looking for. Last summer, a friend and I took a long road trip up to the Pacific Northwest with a loaner 10 mega-pixel Nikon DSLR and an iPhone case that allowed us to attach an old Nikon manual lens. We filmed everything and took a ton of pictures. When I came back I put together a video of the trip which was my first video I'd made since was a kid. That experience really re-sparked my interest on a surprising level.

I grew up in very musical home. My dad is a piano tuner, my mom used to be a singer, and my step-dad is a musician and composer as well. Through high school I was really involved in band and jazz band and I spent the summer before my senior year touring with a drum corps. I wanted to study music at UNT but I had switched instruments a whole lot and didn't have exceptional talent on any one instrument. Because of that, I was initially rejected into the music program at UNT. But I knew I wanted to study music composition and I wanted to do it at UNT, so I practiced three hours a day for 8 months and then auditioned two more times until I finally got accepted, probably just out of sympathy.

It was a weird time for me, I knew I had a lot of potential as a composer and a musician – I felt it inside me – but I couldn't play any one instrument exceptionally well. I had all these people telling me that I wasn't good enough but I knew that I was good enough. In the end, all it really took was just a lot of patience, a little bit of spite, and a few people who saw the potential in me to help me through that time. Four years later, I won one of the biggest competitions a composer can win at UNT and I had a piece that I composed performed by the UNT Symphony Orchestra.

Do you find that your different creative disciplines influence or inspire one another?

Definitely. It's cool because especially when I'm editing video I find myself doing the same kinds of things that I do when I'm composing music. For example, a lot of times I'll create formal, structural designs and then I'll try and create these 'moments' that are special and stand out because of the context I've built around the 'moment'. That kind of thing definitely transfers over between composing music and editing video.

But the more challenging one for me has been photography, because I've been so used to working within time and suddenly I'm doing this thing that isn't really time-based. So I'm constantly asking myself "how do I create something deep and meaningful without time?" With photography, people can look at a photo any different number of ways but I think a good photo will almost lead the eye to where the artist wants it to go, and I think that's partly what would make a person subconsciously want to stop and stare at an image for a long time, it's almost like they can't look away. Those are the kinds of images that I try to create – something that almost pulls them in and makes them feel like they're inside the photo.

Tell us about your workspace and what tools you use the most.

I have a small music studio at home with recording gear and lots of miscellaneous instruments and music paper, so when I'm working on music stuff I usually do it at home. When I'm editing photos or videos I'll often times go to a coffee shop because I like the atmosphere and I usually am working around other photographers of videographers who can give me high-quality, honest feedback.

I use DSLR's for most of my video stuff, I think that's becoming a pretty standard thing now. For photography, I'll typically use a DSLR and my Pentax ME-Super film camera. I'm still trying out different films but my favorite so far has been Ektar 100 which is made by Kodak. I really want to learn some alternative photographic processes like wet plate collodion photography, camera obscura photography, as well as using alternative chemicals to process my film negatives (things like vodka and nail polish remover).

Your most recent video project is about your Step Dad's attempt at breaking a world record. Tell me about that project as well as a little about the inspiration behind it.

Well my step-dad, Michael Combs, had some really bad heart problems about 10 years ago that stopped his heart for several minutes. He clinically died twice in three days. But before he was sick he always had this dream to be a pilot, so because of his near-death experience he vowed to himself that when he got well again he would learn how to fly. Five years later, after being laid off from his job, he told us that not only was he going to get his pilot's license but that he was going to fly an airplane into all 50 states to spread the message to people that it's never too late to follow your dreams. Today, more than three years later, he has completed the 50 state goal and we estimate that about 30 million people have heard his message.

Last summer he and I attempted a time-over-distance world record attempt at flying coast-to-coast in his airplane which is a special class of airplane called Light Sport. Unfortunately, we got within 91 miles of the east coast destination but then had to abandon the record attempt because we got completely enveloped in some wild thunderstorms. We planned to try again this summer and have been waiting all summer long for clear weather so we can make our second attempt. It just hasn't happened yet and at this point, we’re not sure it will. We’ll likely need to wait until next year.

My plan has been to make a short documentary chronicling the whole endeavor in order to continue spreading his message about not giving up on your dreams. Honestly, if it doesn't happen until next year I'll be somewhat relieved. There are just so many factors in setting aviation world-records that it really makes attempts stressful and nerve-wracking.

Has living in Denton influenced your work?

Living in Denton has definitely influenced my work. There's this strong community of artists here and there's this way of thinking that Dentonites have that is just magnetic. I'm not from Denton, or even from Texas, I'm from Colorado, so coming here was a big culture shock for me. But as soon as I started getting into making art and doing creative things I found myself totally embraced by Denton and by the people that make up the creative community. There are lots of talented people engaged in so many different disciplines and on some level everyone is helping everybody else; I feel really fortunate to be a part of a group of people like that.

Is it important to you to be a part of a creative community?

It really is important to me. To have a group of people that I really trust and who I really feel respect me and what I do is totally invaluable. I feel like the quality of my work would really suffer if I didn't have people to be honest with me and tell me "that sucks" or "this part here is weak" or whatever. This was especially true when I was really first starting out.

Are there any local artists that you take inspiration from?

There are a whole lot of them. I can’t remember his name but I met this painter at the Denton Arts & Jazz fest several years ago. We talked for close to four hours and he told me something that that really opened my eyes to the way that I approach art. He said something along the lines of "Art is not the painting, nor is it the painter. Art is the exchange that happens between the painting and the viewer." That just really blew my mind and totally made sense to me. I mean a piece of music or a painting is not art. How could it be? It's just air molecules being knocked into each other or just colors arranged together on some paper. The thing that is art is that magical thing that happens when someone hears the music or sees that painting. And I think this is why people have different ideas of what makes good art and bad art, or even art and non-art.

So I took what that guy at the Denton Arts & Jazz fest said and I ran with it and now, four years, later my work is very focused on creating something that can be very personal to the viewer almost on a spiritual level, and doing so by creating something that might challenge them to look a little bit deeper. I love things that appear simple but actually have this subtle, nuanced depth to them that you kind of have to hunt for.

Then there are also the really talented people that I'm fortunate enough to be friends with or are at least be familiar with. People like Jordan Smith, Ryan Polly, Justin Lowe, Mark & Lauren Apel, Patrick Peringer, Carlo Canlas, Jeremy Ottens, Mandy Hampton, and a whole host of other highly skilled people.

What was the last film, video, and/or composition that blew your mind?

A short film called "Union Man" by Bobby Lewis. It's real short, like 9 minutes, but it's this really honest, gut-wrenching look at this janitor who works in the university union at UNT. It's all in black & white and there's this somber, melodramatic, bluesy piano thing that's going on underneath these visuals of him cleaning windows and mopping floors after everyone else is gone. The janitor, the "Union Man", is narrating the whole time and as it progresses he starts to really open up about his fears and his emotions. And then, when he has become most vulnerable with his words, it cuts to a shot of him playing that piano tune on this baby-grand piano that sits in the union. So Bobby used that tune as the score for the film and the music really sums up all the feelings that the guy described and it's so pure because it's coming straight from the source. It's really powerful stuff; a really simply made, vulnerable look at this guy who everybody else just writes off as a loser or whatever. I thought that was really cool.

What future project are you most excited about?

Well, I have several things in the works that I'm excited about. I'm really looking forward to making the documentary about my step-dad's upcoming coast-to-coast world record attempt. I'm also scoring a short film called Hero for writer and director Brian Anthone here within the next month or so. I'll also be composing music for a feature film called REM but that probably won't be until next summer. Lately, I've been working with the people at TRADE to produce a video that will hopefully generate a lot of interest in the future of the project.

Additionally, I've been working closely with Denton's new clothing line, Threadwell, doing mainly photography stuff. I’ve been designing their website kind of in my spare time the past couple months and we launched the site recently. As a photographer, it's really a great opportunity for me to work with Threadwell because we'll organize these shoots, I'll show up, and I'll have three or four different models who are really talented and make the shoots go really smoothly.

I stay pretty busy, which I'm really thankful for, but the thing I'm most looking forward to is simply to continue to deepen my skills as an artist, whether it be in photography, video, or music. As a multi-media artist, I thrive on creating things in all three of those mediums and I am very fortunate to be able to support myself by doing so. I pretty much have three criteria for my life's work: I want to benefit others in a long-lasting, meaningful way, I want to create really cool things, and I want to travel all over the world. So I'm excited to see what the future holds!

TRADE is a forthcoming collaborative creative space started by Heather Gregory and Tristan Bynum in the heart of Denton. TRADE works to bring together artists and creatives from different backgrounds and mediums by providing access to the space, tools, resources and creative community they need in order to thrive in Denton.

DIME STORE FEATURED SELLER: LAURA OF GYNX YARNS

Alyssa Stevenson October 15, 2013

Interview by The DIME Store, Photos by Laura Jinks Jimenez

Since it is finally getting a little cooler, DIME sat down to chat with yarn-dyer extraordinaire, Laura Jinks Jimenez, of Gynx yarns to see what goes in to crafting her amazing fibers and goes about creating specific colorways (the beautiful selections colors in her gradients). Jinks' yarn is unlike anything else sold at the DIME Store and always catches your eye. Read on to learn what inspires her and how she goes about connecting with her online community to grow her business.

How did you get into yarn dyeing?

I started knitting back in 2005. I was still in high school and broke, but I had a thirst for nicer yarns than the local big box places stocked. I took to recycling thrift store sweaters I found. I could rarely find exactly what I wanted that way, so I turned to dyeing to get the colors I wanted. When I was at UNT getting my Fiber Arts degree, I started experimenting a lot with dyes and came up with some pretty cool results, and I fell in love with the process.

All of your colorways have fun and quirky names. What inspires their monikers?

My colorway inspiration comes from all over, but I think I’m most well-known for my “nerdy” colorways. A lot of my inspiration comes from anime or video games. Both anime and video games are so colorful that they often put color ideas into my head. It always makes for interesting conversation when people ask about my hard-to-pronounce Japanese names.

A recent project of mine actually has to do with cities in the DFW area. I’m working on a collection of colorways based on every city I’ve lived in, which all happen to be in the DFW region. So far I have two: Denton is “DenTOWN”, for which I drew colors I found in photos of the square, and Dallas’s “The Big D”, which is from Dallas’s nighttime skyline. I still have Mansfield, Arlington, and Fort Worth to go, so be on the lookout for those soon.

Does the colorway always follow the name, or is it sometimes the other way around?

It definitely happens both ways. I work from an inspiration photo a lot, so the name comes pretty easily that way. Other times I wake up and decide I feel like dyeing something with purples and blues, and then I decide later on if it reminds me of something. Sometimes I have zero plan, which is the most liberating, and grab random colors and start playing with no end goal in mind. I will dye off of intuition and add a little bit of this or that until it seems right, which makes for really complex color combinations. Those are often the most difficult to name.

In addition to yarn dyeing, you've built a little knitting identity for yourself by talking about your techniques in your Podcast "The Dyer's Notebook," knitting with your own yarns, and having your yarns featured in yarn clubs. How does all of this add to your business of dyeing?

I started my podcast, “The Dyer’s Notebook”, a little over a year ago as a way to chronicle my adventures in the fiber world, educate others about dyeing, and also to connect with customers on a more personal level. Through the podcast and social media, I’ve created a network of customers, viewers, and friends that just continues to grow. A lot of people find out about my business through my podcast, and at this point I’d say the majority of my regular customers are viewers of my podcast as well. While I talk about what I’ve been up to with my knitting, spinning, and dyeing, I also give a preview of what’s going up in my [Etsy] shop each week so people can get excited about it and keep checking out my shop regularly.

While I offer my own yarn clubs through my shop, I’ve also started collaborating with other people on clubs and knitting kits. I recently worked with Etsy seller littleskein and knitwear designer Laura Linneman on a sock kit that includes a club-exclusive colorway from me. I love doing collaborations like that because it gets my name out there to people who might not have found me otherwise.

Before Gynx Yarns, you had a handmade Etsy shop. How does having a “supply” shop differ from running a handmade shop? Or do you see Gynx Yarns as more of a handmade shop than a supply shop?

When I first started on Etsy in 2009, I was selling finished products, and it wasn’t making me as happy as I thought it would. In 2011 I shifted over to selling hand-dyed yarn. The “handmade” vs. “supply” question is kind of tricky though, because I see my product somewhere in the middle. Yes, yarn is technically a supply to make something else, but I feel that hand-dyed yarn is in a completely different category from commercial yarn. When you buy a hand-dyed skein of yarn, you are buying a piece of art. When you knit with that yarn, you are collaborating with that dye artist on your own project. I lean more towards “handmade” because of the artistry that goes into it.

The main difference between the business I started out with and the business I own now is the community associated with the fiber world. It is easy for me to connect with all of the people just as obsessed with knitting as I am with social media sites such as Ravelry, Twitter, and Facebook. If you think there aren’t that many people out there who knit/crochet or that people don’t get obsessed with it, check out Ravelry. It is a whole site for knitters and crocheters, and there are currently over 3 million users from all over the world. Not only have I found customers, but I’ve made a lot of friends through the fiber world. There really isn’t that kind of a community for people who just like to buy handmade goods.

Do you have any advice for aspiring Etsy sellers?

Treat is as a business from the very beginning. Figure out how to make your business legal, find out what taxes are, how you’re going to handle things like shipping and customer service. Your business will grow and evolve over time, but you have to start as you mean to continue.

Where can we shop your work and find our more about what you do?

Right now I sell online in my Etsy shop. In person, you can, of course, check out The DIME Store.

You can find my blog and podcast here.

TRADE FEATURED ARTIST: MOLLY TESTER

Alyssa Stevenson October 8, 2013

Molly Tester is a graphic designer who works daily to make Denton look better. Between designing for Denton Record Chronicle, First Friday Denton and local band, Chambers, you’ve probably seen her work without even knowing it. Trade is thrilled to share our interview with this local talent. Read on to see why she loves Denton and her tips on getting paid for what you create.

What do you make?

Lots of things, that’s why being a designer is just the best. Designing a campaign for a brand utilizes the same skill set as making a map, style guide and album cover. I stole this explanation from a designer I really admire, that design is the umbrella that covers all my interests and projects.

What drew you to that form of art?

Initially I just loved typography and wanted to work at a type foundry or something, but was exhilarated by how wild and exhausting it was to move between different media, audiences and clients that all fell under 'design'. And still is. You have to constantly be on your feet, moving between different forms of art that all inform each other, and I love that. Understanding spacing between letters isn’t enough. You have to know everything or find the people who know that one thing and convince them to teach you about it. So it gives me the opportunity to collaborate with a real big spectrum of people.

What tool would you love to have access to that you currently don’t?

Space. Carved out space that I can spread papers out, hang projects on to examine far away and use huge paper without having to rearrange my house. And printers. It’s difficult to experiment with printing.

Can you talk us through your creative process? How do you go about designing a brand for a client?

I try and make sure it involves a lot of different things, especially in the beginning. Like for maps I’ve drawn them first with my left hand or painted with a really fat brush just to get comfortable and not care about getting it right initially. If I immediately make something with the mentality that it’s the end product, I don’t allow for any margin to create. I need to make mistakes and do lots of renditions.

With clients, my favorite part is the initial conversation. I try to pick their brain about everything surrounding their product/business/organization or whatever it is that I’m designing. And then I become friends with their (insert here) and start becoming part of the story. Like what kind of beer would this website want, or what did this brand look like in middle school. Then I can begin to translate their story into a visual representation, to design. Always in pursuit of continuing that dialogue between the client and their audience.

Between working for the Denton Record Chronicle and designing for Chambers, your work is visible to a wide audience. You are also part of the growing class of people in Denton who get paid for their creative work. Do you have advice for emerging entrepreneurs and creatives aiming to achieve similar goals?

WORK. It’s really easy to talk about ideas and goals in the dim light of Jupiter House, but ultimately you have to do something. Make something, anything. Also, angsty-artsiness leaves people (as it did me) to believe that the art gods will favor me and come to me as long as I follow my heart. Making art and making a living requires learning how to do business. Being an artists isn’t an excuse.

What’s your history with Denton? What brought you here after attending the Art Institute in Boston and what makes you stay?

I grew up here, but the extent of my exposure to the creative community was hanging out at Waffle House talking about graffiti. Which was really important, but not the whole picture of Denton creatives. So when I moved to Boston for art school and would come back for holidays, I realized I had been blindsided to the momentum Denton had. And I wanted to be a part of it, give back to the place that shaped how I see things. So much of my work in college was about Denton and drew from the visual culture I had been surrounded by, which romanticized it significantly. But I’ve stayed because of the creative community, because so many people here are open to the opportunity to collaborate and work together to make Denton better and more beautiful.

On your website, you mention giving back to the creative community in Denton. Why is that important to you?

Many are friends, and those who aren’t I would like to be friends with. They’re the type of people I admire and want to get a beer with. I think of it as one very strange family, that everyone knows of everyone and people are interested in making each other’s work more whole by whatever niche thing they do. So working together becomes this thing that furthers you and helps everyone, making a name for Denton. It’s hard not to fall in love with these quirky people.

Are there any local artists that you take inspiration from? How does that impact your work?

Morgan Everhart. She’s a phenomenal painter, and the thing that I admire the most is the non conventional dialogue her work creates. She was one of the pioneers of For The People art show, creating an environment for visual artists to showcase quality work and invited people in who weren’t ‘artists’ to interact with the work. Recently she did Eyes and Ears, a house show in which she painted and was fed direction from two musicians who were in turn playing based on her in process painting.

What future project are you most excited about?

I’m in the beginning stage of working with a videographer on a collaboration, and I’ve only worked with a handful of videographers so I’m really excited about learning more about their process and how to combine 2D/3D forces.

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.

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.

INTERVIEW: EAST SIDE SOCIAL CLUB

Alyssa Stevenson August 28, 2013

John Williams is the main man behind our favorite place to grab a craft beer and talk hops, Oak Street Draft House and Cocktail Parlour. He also used to manage Lou's, so he's been around. Now, Williams is opening his second bar. East Side Social Club is opening right down the street from Williams' first bar, nestled cozy right next to the Opera House. After taking a look at the incredible beers that will be available and the diverse whiskey and bourbon selection, you can officially color us excited.

East Side Social Club opens up this Thursday, August 29th over at 117 E. Oak Street. Expect to see us lined up and waiting for a double bourbon on the rocks. We'll probably be buying Williams a shot, as well - as a thanks for providing us with one more place we can happily imbibe on the weekends and maybe even munch on a banh mi from The Pickled Carrot. We hear they go great with beer cocktails.

What compelled you to open East Side Social Club?

Honestly, I just kept driving by it day after day and saw the "for lease" sign on the building. Another craft beer place from out of town had been looking at the building, so I decided I would rather compete against myself than against someone else. I could also picture the patio on the back side of the building and see the potential of it being a corner building that close to the square.

What have you learned after being open at OSDH for over a year now?

The greatness of the people in the city of Denton. The people in this town is what makes Denton so awesome. Also, I've really learned how giving back to, and being a part of the community makes Denton a better place to live.

With the opening of East Side Social Club, you’ll be taking over a large part of Oak St. What keeps bringing you back to that part of town?

The rich history of the area because that is where the City of Denton grew from its beginning in 1866. Plus, I like being close to downtown, and I wanted a large patio for people to sit outside and enjoy the open air. Close proximity to the A-Train station was something else I foresee as being beneficial.

If you ever had plans for opening up another bar in town, where would it be and why?

It would be in the downtown area for sure, and more than likely on East Oak St. I’ve got a few ideas in mind. Stay tuned…

What can we expect to be different from OSDH?

Other than the obvious fact of East Side not being in an old house, East Side Social Club will be very unique - but still have a similar vibe to OSDH&CP. It will have a laid back atmosphere. Of course we'll keep in the tradition of having a friendly and knowledgable staff serving up craft beer and whiskey at a great price.

We will have a few TV’s inside and out so that the sports lovers can catch the game, but it will feel nothing like a sports bar.

As for beer; we are still concentrating on craft beer, but we have 89 taps instead of 72. We'll also be focusing on having more regional and Texas Craft beer on tap. Craft beer will still be our passion but we'll be experimenting with beer cocktails as well. Mixing craft beers with liquor and mixers makes a mighty tasty beer-tail.

Bourbon and whiskey will be a big player in East Side as well. We plan on carrying over 60 different bourbons, scotches and whiskeys. We'll also have a cocktail menu of highlighting whiskey and bourbon based cocktails from the prohibition area.

Lets talk details about this whiskey selection - how many and what kind of whiskey and bourbon are we talking about? And what's your favorite?

35 bourbons, 10 whiskeys, 7 Irish whiskeys, 7 Canadian whiskeys and 8 scotches will line our top shelf. We will be carrying a lot of the local Texas whiskey and bourbon.

Jim Beam will be in our well and we have Knob Creek Single Barrel bourbon as our signature bourbon since we hand picked and bought an entire barrel from them. That was definitely a highlight in this process. We actually flew up to Louisville and toured the Jim Beam distillery, and tasted 3 different barrels of Knob Creek. We picked our favorite and now we have 150 bottles of it being shipped to us.

My personal favorite would be Garrison Brothers from Texas or Blanton's Small Batch Bourbon.

You’re adding on pretty large patios to ESSC also. What have been the challenges and benefits with using such large outdoor spaces?

Trying to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer have been the biggest challenges - but even in the cold and the heat people still like to sit outside. Once the sun goes down in the summer its not too bad outside.

The greatest benefit of the patio is that Texas weather is perfect for patios about 8 months of the year. It also allows us to keep the inside non-smoking for people that don’t want to smell or breathe in second hand smoke. With a large open air patio you can get away from the smoke if you don’t like it.

You’ve said before that food trucks will play a big part at ESSC. How will that pan out? Where will they set up? Are you allowing outside food in the bar? Will it be Denton-only food trucks, or are you hoping to get some from outside the city?

Once more food trucks open up in Denton we will hopefully have one there from open to close. We have spoken with 4 or 5 trucks who will be alternating between day and night. We would like for them to set up on the side or front of the building and serve to the patio. I would like it to be Denton-only food trucks - but for now there aren’t enough to meet the demand. Hopefully there will be soon.

Aside from that, we'll allow people to bring in or order food from other establishments just like we allow at OSDH&CP.

What’s your personal favorite bar?

In Denton I would have to say Oak St. Drafthouse - because I put a lot of time and hard work into opening it. The people that I’ve met there over the past year and a half make it very special to me. Other than that, it would have to be the Lustre Pearl in Austin. It gave me the idea to open the Oak St. Draft House.

Oak Street Draft House offers a great atmosphere for drinkers and non-drinkers (or designated drivers) alike. Do you plan on having a similar vibe at ESSC?

Absolutely. Anyone can enjoy a night out here by socializing with friends in the beer garden and enjoy a root beer on tap. We'll be offering 1 or 2 root beers on tap along with a few other non alcoholic cocktails and non alcoholic beers.

East Side Social Club opens this Thursday. Come join us for a drink and some good times in what we hope will become another great new bar in Denton.

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.