meet the maker

Meet the Maker: Jo Kalute of Clovelly Cozzies

April 23, 2018

The sun is out and we’re headed to the beach to meet maker and designer Jo Kalute of the women’s swimwear brand Clovelly Cozzies based out of Sydney, Australia. Inspired by sea-side living and Jo’s African heritage, Clovelly Cozzies offers timeless beauty that is accessible to women all across the globe. Not summer-ready in your part of the world? A unique thing about Jo is that she offers the designs she features on her swimwear line in her Spoonflower shop. (We’re loving her Many Hands Print on the Inari Crop Tee available on Sprout Patterns.) It was such a pleasure getting to know Jo and you’re going to love this feature—so suit up and dive in!

My day starts with…

“A healthy breakfast of muesli, yogurt, and fruit followed by a hot cup of coffee. I love to brew my own coffee at home and experiment with different blends. I’m partial to Kenyan coffee!”

Meet the Maker: Geoffrey Merlet of Le Chant Du Robot

April 9, 2018

This week we’re traveling to London, England to introduce French maker Geoffrey Merlet of the handcrafted bag and purse boutique Le Chant Du Robot. Geoffrey’s unique vision and quality craftsmanship offer a truly one-of-a-kind option for his customers who seek a bold statement through the use of striking color and tailored design while staying true to a functional product. Since Le Chant Du Robot bags are handmade, there is an element of limited access which drives demand and in turn creates an opportunity for buyers to build their collection such as one would collect works of art. When you see Geoffrey’s passion, you’ll understand what we mean!

My day starts with…

“A good breakfast with freshly ground coffee, a homemade cake and a glass of apple juice…and then I’m ready for a long working day.”

Meet the Maker Zala Pavsek of Hiškarija

March 19, 2018

Today we travel abroad to Ljubljana, Slovenia, to meet maker Zala Pavsek of Hiškarija—the brand known for handmade notebooks made with eco-friendly papers and Spoonflower fabrics. Hiškarija also offers mindfully crafted children’s games that are simple in design and promise to deliver classic childhood giggles and imaginative playtime. Zala, who has two children of her own, says that the spark of an idea to start her company came to her after creating a wall clock for her son’s birthday. Like many makers in the Spoonflower community, Zala discovered a way to combine her life’s passions with creativity to create a sustainable living doing something she loved. This kind of inspiration always makes our hearts happy!

My day starts with…

“Getting my kids ready for the day and walking them to school. After that I have a cup of black coffee with cinnamon while checking daily emails.”

Meet the Designer: Dinara May

March 12, 2018

Watercolor Peaches by dinaramay

Today we’re elated to introduce watercolor designer Dinara May (aka dinaramay in the Spoonflower Marketplace) for this week’s Meet the Designer series. Dinara’s home base may be in Moscow, however, she has spent the past year and a half traveling the world on a self-described “amazing journey of personal transformation and self-acceptance.” All the while, Dinara stays true to her unique vision of expressing her art and her human existence through being 100% present in her inward and outwardly exploration. We’re willing to bet you’ll be in your own meditative state by the end of this inspiring interview.

My day starts with:

“Tea and meditation. I don’t get to work until after lunch so my mornings are usually very slow and full of the things I love. I like to treat myself in the morning, it gives me a great boost for the rest of the day.”

Meet the Maker: Caroline Bowers of Waggin’ Tails

February 26, 2018

Donuts Pink Chocolate by charlottewinter | Donut worry, Bark Happy dog bandana by Waggin’ Tails

This week in our Meet the Maker series, we’re staying close to home to introduce local business owner (and dog lover!) Caroline Bowers of the dog accessory brand Waggin’ Tails. If you’ve ever dreamed of marrying a side-business venture with something that brings you great joy, Caroline understands the feeling. Her vision for Waggin’ Tails was inspired by her pups, Holden and Sophie, a new sewing machine and, “a vision to make dogs even cuter than they already are.” We’d say that Caroline (and her pups) were more than successful in their dream manifestation—keep scrolling for extreme cuteness!

My day starts with:

“Puppy kisses. Always puppy kisses. Holden (insta-famous @holdenthegolden_) and Sophie follow me downstairs, watch me make my coffee and then we proceed with the puppy kisses.”

Black Makers + Creatives You Need to Know

February 19, 2018

Today is an exciting day, but first, introductions! My name is Jenell, and I’m a graphic designer on the Spoonflower marketing team. Nice to meet you! Today, I’m bringing you some magic in the form of a few black makers and creatives you need to know. No seriously, they’re pretty magical. Together they offer a smorgasbord of talent that ranges from surface pattern designers and illustrators to interior designers and DIY bloggers. That’s right, I am hooking you guys up! Enough chit chat, let the fun begin.

What’s the best part about being a woman of color in your industry?
“I think the best part is that I have a different cultural background to tap into. I find joy in sharing that part of me with the world.”

Meet the Makers: Kelly and Spencer Shull of Jellykoe

January 15, 2018

Meet the Maker: Kelly and Spencer Shull of Jellykoe

Graveyard Gang by Jellykoe

Gather ’round you ghouls, meat-heads, pizza lovers and everyone in between! This week’s maker series is headed to Columbia, SC to meet husband and wife duo Spencer and Kelly Shull of their designer toy company, Jellykoe. Working seamlessly to bring their wildly adorable monsters to the masses, Jellykoe’s original prints, enamel pins and plush pillows can be found both globally in print media and galleries and at art festivals across the United States. While Spencer acts as lead product designer and illustrator for Jellykoe, Kelly is in charge of production, design and marketing. Join us today as we sit down with Kelly to see how she and Spencer utilize Spoonflower to bring their unique vision to life.

Our day starts with:

“We wake up, check emails and get packages out the door, then run any errands before having lunch. We do our creative work in the evening, and keep horribly late hours.“

Meet the maker: Lindsey Bonnice of Live Sweet

December 11, 2017

This week we’re delving into a world of magic and make-believe to meet maker Lindsey Bonnice (and her daughter Libby!) of the whimsical brand Live Sweet. Tucked in the country beside a shimmery lake, Lindsey and her family of 5 live in North Eastern Pennsylvania on a hobby farm complete with an array of fuzzy animal friends and everyday adventures. The ethos behind Live Sweet’s creations are inspired by Lindsey’s children and the nurturing world she creates for them. Live Sweet brings a dreamscape of play into every moment of life and we’re so thrilled to share their story with the Spoonflower community!

My day starts with:

“Lots of snuggles with my kiddos. After a smoothie for breakfast, I usually look over everything that needs to be accomplished for the day including returning emails and making phone calls.”

15 Things to Know When Starting a Small Business

November 25, 2017

Over the past (almost!) 10 years, the Spoonflower community has grown into a family of designers, crafters and makers. You could consider Spoonflower a melting pot of talent where one artist’s strength in design supports another artist’s strength in making. We love seeing these collaborations grow and we’ve even gotten to know some of the small business owners on a personal level through the Meet the Maker series on the blog. If you’ve ever considered taking the steps to owning your own business, you won’t want to miss these words of wisdom our maker community is sharing today!

"If you try to please everyone, you won’t please anyone. Be authentic and create a style, let it evolve as needed and then shout it out from the rooftops! Your people will find you.” - Elisabeth Wing of Wingmade | Spoonflower Blog

Meet the Maker: Elisabeth Wing of Wingmade

Meet the Maker: Ashley Alexis McFarlane of Omi Woods

November 6, 2017

Mudcloth II Black on Bone by domesticate

This week we’re so beyond pleased to introduce pure elegance with maker Ashley Alexis McFarlane, owner and creative director of boutique brand, Omi Woods based out of Toronto, Canada. In Ashley’s own words, “Omi Woods is grounded in a love for timeless silhouettes, African and Indigenous textiles, and ethical practices.” In fact, much like Spoonflower, Omi Woods creates very little environmental impact as each piece of clothing is custom made-to-order for each individual client, with remnants going towards reuse and recycling efforts. Keep reading to gain an insider’s scoop on what inspires Ashley to create her truly unique fashion brand.

My day starts with:

“A smoothie, some oats and daydreaming about upcoming collections. I then go onto Instagram and Facebook to check social media updates. I get a lot of my news from Facebook.”