meet the maker

Meet the Maker: Charles Josef of Charles Josef Bridal

July 2, 2018

This week we’re delighted to introduce local maker Charles Josef of Charles Josef Bridal, a full-service atelier offering bridal and evening collections, alterations, and custom bridal design services out of Asheville, North Carolina. Charles’ exquisite creations have been shown locally at The Fashion Excursion, a charity fashion show in Charlotte, North Carolina as well as at New York Fashion Week twice a year. It was such a joy to learn about Charles’ inspiration, artistic background and life passions—we know you’re going to enjoy his interview just as much!

My day starts with …

“Wrangling my two dogs into the car and maybe a quick stop at the local coffee shop for a chai latte. Then it’s straight to the studio to work and prepare for appointments with private clients and filling orders. I usually take a look at the work day the night before so I always wake up with a sense of what needs to be done and I get right to it. Breakfast for me and the dogs is prepared and consumed at the studio, as are most meals, and I usually work until 11 a.m. which is when I receive my first appointment. The rest of most days is just a mixed bag of creative endeavors.”

Meet maker Janie Allen of Snuppets

June 4, 2018

This week we’re headed to sunny St. Petersburg, Florida to meet Janie Allen, the creator of the original Snuppets™ snack puppets. Janie says the idea came to her when “…My kiddos started going off to school with packed lunches and I wanted to instill the important habit of reusing rather than disposing. I figured if I made something fun, it wouldn’t get left behind in the lunchroom!” Her product line has evolved over time but always with one thing in mind: to create eco-conscious products and solutions for families. We’re so excited to introduce the Snuppet brand to our Spoonflower community. Let’s jump right in!

My day starts with…

“Coffee, kids, dogs and then, more coffee. Oh, and usually some reggae music!”

Meet the Maker: Cece Merkle of Plūme by Cece

May 7, 2018

Pink Punch by plumebycece

Hello, readers! This week we’re sharing the vintage-inspired surface designs and handmade work of Kansas City maker Cece Merkle of Plūme by Cece. Working as an art director at Hallmark by day, Cece is dedicated to late nights in her studio and quiet moments on the weekends when her toddler is napping to create her signature faux collars and unique home goods including pillows and art prints. In her own words, Cece started Plūme by Cece, “…as I was creating fabric statement pieces to wear with my own outfits. It grew from my love of vintage florals, color, shape, pattern and design.” She turns to her creative friends, her husband and family as her greatest encouragement and support team. Keep reading to find out why her fans and customer base keep Cece even more inspired.

My day starts with…

“I am a night owl so my ‘making’ starts after my toddler goes to bed. I work full-time as an art director at Hallmark during the week so late nights and weekend naptime are the magic hours for me and my side business.”

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.“