Balancing Act

Balancing Act: Susan Saltzman of SToNZ

Hello everyone, here is the interview that I’ve been meaning to post for WEEKS, that keeps getting interrupted by work and school and work and shows and life and whatnot — with many apologies to Susan for putting her on hold, here she is at last!

Susan W. Saltzman is the amazing artist/ designer behind SToNZ, where she makes beach stone and glass jewelry. Her jewelry a gorgeous blend of natural beauty and technical skill, and thanks to her graphic design background, there is a wonderful precision to her branding and a stunning crispness to her photography. Her work has been a favorite of mine since I met her.? I am proud to own one of her necklaces, and even luckier to call her a friend. You can find her work at http://www.stonz.etsy.com

1. Tell a little about your business – what do you make, how long have you been in business, and what do you love most about it?

SToNZ is my line of handmade sterling silver jewelry, featuring beach stones, sea glass and freshwater pearls. Being an artist all of my life, I have studied a wide variety of artistic media (including metalsmithing, many moons ago). While earning my graphic design degree from the University of Michigan School of Art & Design, I was hired as an in-house illustrator at a major greeting card company. Upon the birth of my kids, I decided to begin a home-based freelance design studio. After spending more than a decade as an illustrator and graphic designer for a diverse range of corporate clients, non-profits and community organizations, my longstanding love for wearing and working with natural materials and silver drew me back to the jeweler’s bench.

Living near beautiful Lake Erie is a huge inspiration to me. I love to walk the beach and gather stone and glass specimens washed smooth by years of natural tumbling. In August of 2007, I discovered Etsy and realized that it would be a great venue for me to market my new creations and SToNZ was born!

It?s difficult to say what I love the MOST about my SToNZ business. I revel in the beachcombing, of course, but I also love sorting through my finds and designing a new piece of wearable art that best features the unique beauty of that particular piece of glass or stone. I love finishing a piece, and marveling at how it can end up entirely different than the way I originally envisioned. It’s such a thrill to see SToNZ being worn and hearing about how it “speaks” to the wearer. Something about this organic jewelry draws the most amazingly wonderful people. So, I have to say, I also have loved meeting many of the special people who appreciate SToNZ this jewelry really does draw interesting people into my life. Sometimes it is difficult to part with a piece of SToNZ once completed, but when it finally goes to a person who truly loves it, it?s clear ?that it wasn?t meant to stay with me. The feedback I get is truly gratifying and reaffirming.

2. How does it differ from your day job?

SToNZ actually IS half of my “day job”. I alternate my time between the jewelry stuff and the freelance graphics stuff, from my studio, which is set up for both! I guess I get bored doing one thing for too long, so sometimes I work at the jewelry bench, and sometimes at the computer each one giving me a break from the other. Both endeavors are creative, but they seem to use different parts of my brain.

3. Identity is often closely linked to what we do professionally. How do you identify yourself, and does it relate more to your business/ artisan side, or your day job?

I used to say I was an illustrator, then, a freelance graphic designer, then, a jewelry designer. I think I’ll go with artist. Happy artist. I love to make things and always will. How fortunate I am to be able to do these things that give me fulfillment. And many of these things make others happy too, so that’s even better!

4. Give one tip that has been invaluable for your work.

One thing I really valued in art school and in the workplace was being surrounded by inspiring creative people with whom I could share ideas and feedback. As an artist, it’s very easy to get caught up in my work and cut off from the world. I won’t say it’s lonely, because I really don’t mind working on my own for long periods of time, (most of the time I actually prefer it) but it’s easy to isolate oneself. Etsy, as one example, is a great way to connect with like-minded artists. I take classes. I seek advice and feedback from a variety of sources. It’s rejuvenating and educational.

stonz 4

My advice? Seek out people with whom you can share ideas and learn from. Chances are they have something to learn from you as well, and you’ll both come out ahead! I suppose that’s good advice for everyone, not just “artists”.

5. Any additional words of wisdom you’d like to share?

Do what you love, love what you do. Create something new every day. And thanks Chris, for your interest in SToNZ and for the inspiration and creative energy you have shared with me!

Balancing Act: Lisa Kirkpatrick of Estasketch

In today’s Balancing Act, a new twist: Lisa Kirkpatrick is a full-time student, in addition to running Estasketch. Her work is incredible — if you’ve seen her things on popular blogs like Decor8 or VenusZine, you would never suspect that she wasn’t a full-time professional with a million years experience behind her. Her work is clean and polished, with personality. If you want an artist to watch, check her out!

1. Tell a little about your business — what do you make/ sell, how long have you been in business, and what do you love most about it?

I make 2D original artwork like printmaking and collage. I love working with paper and recycling materials so I also play around a bit with paper goods and small artworks made from recycled prints. I opened my etsy store mid 2006, shortly after I’d begun studying Fine Art at university and was looking to sell maybe a few extra prints I’d been making in the studio (the nature of many printmaking methods allows you to create multiple copies, often we’re required to make larger quantities to work on editioning and consistency.. and as lovely as they all are, I don’t need all of those prints sitting around my house forever!) Anyway, to my surprise things sold surprisingly well, especially considering the total lack of promotion I was doing at the beginning. I decided to take advantage of this potential for a side-income and work on other products for this handmade community, as well as my own artwork.

2. How does it differ from your day job (creativity, skill, autonomy)?

I’m a full time student currently so most of my day is spent in the studio or the library, which flows into my home-studio time very nicely. The two do differ surprisingly quite a bit but I think having the two running side by side has helped my business and my studies – looking at historical, academic and professional art practices informs my business, and using my online store to look at business practices, marketing, the DIY movement and the expanse of ideas coming out of the online creative community, and just in general what people are interested in helps my art theory and practice

3. What has been the most challenging part of juggling a business and school? How have you gotten through the difficult parts?

I think the most challenging part is managing your time, and learning how to say no. Unfortunately I’m not too good at that part yet and often commit to more than I can handle. That, or things will come up unexpectedly that you’ll suddenly have to find time for – when that happens I just put my head down, get up earlier, get to bed later, eat cereal for dinner and turn off the television until everything finally gets done. I think I get through it by making a mental list of all the wonderful things I’ll be able to do again after this deadline has passed – cook a proper meal, sleep in, read that book I bought a month ago, try out some new ideas for products, etc…

2010 Silkscreened, poster style calendar

4. Identity is often closely linked to what we do professionally. How do you identify yourself?

I suppose I identify with my artistic side, since it does take up the majority of my life currently. I am always looking at things from an artistic perspective these days, seeing what I can do myself, make myself, trying to find harmonious solutions to things. I’ve been reading a lot of art theory for school currently too, including interviews of artists, and some of the things written or said resonate with me so deeply that momentarily I feel as though I’ve definitely made the right decision pursuing this career path. (Though most other times I am not so convinced).

5. Give one organizational or business tip (or product) that has been invaluable.

My tip is to keep in touch with your customers, make sure they have all the information they need, it *really* helped me cut down on the amount of emails I receive and have to take time to answer. Give as much detail as you can on your shopfront, every detail about the item as well as your business practices – shipping cost and estimated time, whether you do custom orders and a rough timeframe, where you’re located, how often you ship, whether or not you gift wrap or can include a note if the item is for a gift, etc, etc. And once somebody has bought something, let them know you’ve received their order, payment and when you intend to ship it. I know personally when I hand over my money to a stranger online and don’t hear a word back I get a bit concerned. Most of the time there is no problem but as a customer I think good communication is really important. (And as a seller I think it’s incredibly time-saving.)

6. Some people use a side business as a way to slowly change gears. In the future, do you ever see yourself as a full-time entrepreneur? If so, what would ultimately help you ultimately make that leap? If not, what benefits do you enjoy with your current situation?

I still have a whole lot to learn about this business, I haven’t had a chance to research the viability of it at all yet, but even if it wasn’t to be, being a part-time artist or crafter would be just as rewarding. You might have less time for it but you might have more freedom too, when you aren’t relying on your passion to provide your income, you can turn down jobs, not have to make the same thing over and over just because it’s selling well, and just have a bit more fun with it. At the moment I’m just really enjoying making things, trying new things and meeting people from the etsy and online arts community, I’ll have to see where it takes me.

7. Any additional words of wisdom you?d like to share?

I think it’s important to be passionate about what you do… people will pick up on that. And really get involved in your area as much as you can, everything you do doesn’t need to be profitable or teach you something you can translate to your business. Admiring the work of others, learning the history of your craft, new techniques, experimenting with or teaching your own techniques, and connecting with like-minded people you can share your passion with. I think just generally immersing yourself in what you love to do will affect your own work positively.

Thank you for the wonderful insights! Best of luck to you in the future!

Balancing Act: Tricia McKellar of Eyeful

“Balancing Act” is a series focusing on the amazing people who run a successful business while working full-time, and somehow still manage to eat and sleep occasionally.

Tricia McKellar is an accomplished photographer and collage artist with two amazing shops, and a stunning website. Her images range from gorgeous, soft scenes of birds and nature to richly layered compositions that are a wonderful blend of mechanical and natural. If you look closely enough, you can sense the technical side of her brain in her digital collage. On top of that she is just a darn nice person, and I learned that she also has a teenage daughter (as do I). So when I say she is one amazing balancing act, I mean it, and then some! Without further ado:

1.Tell a little about your business – what do you make/ sell, how long have you been in business, and what do you love most about it?

I’m a mixed media artist & photographer. For the past couple of years, I’ve focused mainly on my photography. I love trying to open my mind to new ideas. After a day of shooting, I look at possibly 100’s of my new shots on my computer.? I winnow them down and delete many of the images. Sometimes my first impression is that an image is junk, but then something causes me to look again, and sometimes that image turns into one of my favorites. After all this time, I don’t have a formula for an interesting photograph– I think that’s what I love most– the
daily discovery.

2. How does it differ from your day job (creativity, skill, autonomy)?

My day job is as a database administrator. So I sit in front of a computer a lot. Getting out with the camera, driving around? looking for birds on telephone lines and lovely landscapes, is heaven.

3. What has been the most challenging part of juggling a business, day job, and family? How have you gotten through the difficult parts?

It is tough to juggle it all. My only child is 19 and in college, so I
have a lot more time and freedom now to devote to my art making and business. My advice for those with younger children is to do what you can with the art, but cherish the time with your children– they grow up so fast!

4. Identity is often closely linked to what we do professionally. How do you identify yourself, and does it relate more to your business/ artisan side, or your day job?

I don’t really feel the divide. I love the art, the IT work, the
business of being an artist. I think we need a variety of interests
and skills to keep our brains fresh and curious. I just wish I had
more time or enjoyed napping on the couch a little less :)

5. Give one organizational or business tip (or product) that has been invaluable.

Hmmm. This is a tough one– I have so many ideas and questions about indie businesses.? I think there are two key ideas for success with a creative business: make what you love and know where you want to go.

Make what you love and people will respond. Maybe a million people won’t like it, but do you need a million buyers? Maybe you only need a few hundred or thousand fanatical buyers for success.

What do you want in your future? Where do you want to be in two years, five years, ten years? Knowing your heart-felt desires will make decisions along the way much easier (for example, should you wholesale? should you make pendants of your art? should you start screenprinting tea towels? should you start photographing weddings?).

6. Some people use a side business as a way to slowly change gears from employee to business owner. In the future, do you ever see yourself transitioning to full-time entrepreneur? If so, what would ultimately help you ultimately make that leap? If not, what benefits do you enjoy with your current situation?

Yes!!! I would like to work for myself eventually.

With a daughter in college and a fabulous day job, I think it may be
several years before I take the leap. In the meantime, I’m working on developing my craft and becoming the best photographer I can be. Also, as an artist, it’s very nice to have the day job income and not worry too much if my photography is selling. I can develop my work without the stress of needing to sell my art to pay bills.

I’m also using this time to develop the skills I need as an entrepreneur. I’m currently focusing on indie business marketing and plan to make a study of copywriting soon.

I’m also thinking about developing multiple streams of income. What kinds of businesses would dovetail with my photography business? What kinds of businesses could I maintain while touring the country in a big RV, photographing lovely landscapes? :)

I have a *very* new project that I am really excited to tell you about. I’ve started a blog dedicated to living the creative life and building an indie business: http://www.wonderthinking.com It’s *very* new, but I’m excited to get started– this is an idea that has been bumping around in my brain for a couple of years. I’d love for folks to visit and leave me comments, tell me what to write about :)

Thank you for your amazing work, and your insights Tricia!? Best of luck to you!

Balancing Act: Jane Pierce of zJayne

“Balancing Act” is a series focusing on the amazing people who run a successful business while working full-time, and somehow still manage to sleep and eat occasionally.

Today’s episode features the amazing zJayne! Not only does Jane make wonderful artistic jewelry and have a huge array of assorted upcycled functional products, but she is a marketing master. She is featured in like a zillion books and magazines, and I can no longer go through a checkout line without her “Paper or plastic?? How about neither!” slogan jingling through my head. I have admired her from afar for several years (ironic that we live only 30 minutes apart), and am thrilled to have the opportunity to interview her (and find out that she has a quote box too! How cool is that?)

1.Tell a little about your business – what do you make/ sell, how long have you been in business, and what do you love most about it?

In a nutshell, my business is focused around upcycling and recycling. I like to think I am helping to “make” a difference by creatively designing functional items that others may want, need, must have, and appreciate. I began online with my altered art heirlooms and ACEO collectible art cards. This business has evolved, and of late, recycling every morsel of material from tShirts and creating new products that are eco friendly, sustainable and not making it to landfills anytime soon, has been keeping us busy in our evening hours.

2. How does it differ from your day job (creativity, skill, autonomy)?

My day job involves administration, human resources, and a rather newly assigned area of helping to create recycling awareness opportunities in the growing community where I work.

I read something once about the best ideas come from newbies and not long time knowledge in a field. I think it was worded much more inspiring than I just stated, but the point of it helps me in my day job. I realize from my own successful recycling endeavors, that you can look at something differently to find a solution for an existing situation. Day jobs can be like that, so used to doing a job one way that finding a way to do it better is not looked into.

So, simply put, my day job does differ from my business, yet what I’m learning about myself and creating does me well in my day job.

3. What has been the most challenging part of juggling a business, day job, and family? How have you gotten through the difficult parts?

In some ways I have been lucky that what I find to be the most difficult – having a personal life – is made somewhat easier because my significant other, a.k.a. “shipping department”, and Co. and “beach glass by DET”, has played an important role in the zJayne product line. Dan (real name used) enjoys a good buy, in fact, little known to anyone, I was introduced to my first thrift store with Dan. Yes yes, a thrift store virgin I was. . . and with wild abandon I’ve become a connoisseur of thrifts throughout Ohio and, yes, when we travel.

What gets us through the difficult parts is a much needed sense of humor. If you’re juggling work and your own business, a family (and all that comes with blending them), and a personal loving relationship, heck, both of you have to have something in common and for us being able to see the oddity of it all with humor helps tremendously.

4. Our identity is often closely linked to what we do professionally. How do you identify yourself, and does it relate more to your business/ artisan side, or your day job?

I see a link professionally with my artistic side. Both are people-oriented; finding ways for management and employees (creative recycling and consumers) to work together. If a customer is happy, they’ll be back. When an employee is happy, they stay.

I have benefited from letting go (okay, I still work on this) of my preconceived notions of what others may think of my art, designs, quirky ideas and do my best to remember that if I like it, need it, laugh at it, am moved by it, then someone else is likely to see it fitting in their life as well.

5. Give one organizational or business tip (or product) that has been invaluable.

Inventory is necessary, you have to have it. If you’re going to believe you have a viable product, you have to have access to making it when multiple orders come in.

Walk away from thinking you can do it all. Something suffers when I try to do it all. So do what you can for the day and then walk away from it.

Vacation(s). Priceless. There are no excuses for not refueling your creative spirit.

zJayne 5 — Paper or Plastic No Thank You

Something certain that I have learned about myself from this side business is that I have talents that will take me into retirement. I might leap, but am careful not to jump. To make that leap . . . that’s a thinker. Right now I am happy to pay attention to the “signs” and “coincidences” and living in the present. I am open to advice and learning from what others have experienced.

7. Anything that came up while you were answering these questions that you?d like to share?

Yes, I noticed that I own and listen to three versions for the song “Crazy”, one by Shawn Colvin, Gnarls Barkley and another by Alice Russell.

8. Any additional words of wisdom you’d like to share?

Keep a happy box and fill it with words of wisdom that hit you at the moment you hear them. Jot them down on torn paper, and drop them in. Then, when you are asked for “words of wisdom” or need a “pick me up”, take a peek and see what you thought was important when you wrote it down.

Here?s a few I just pulled:

“Do what you gotta do, so you can do what you want to do.”
-Denzel Washington? (I think this was from his father to him)

“Learn to give from the overflow – not from the cup – don’t deplete the cup.”

“The fifties are everything you’ve been meaning to be.”

“What if the mightiest word is Love.”

Jane, thanks so much for sharing! You can find zJayne at www.zJayne.etsy.com

Balancing Act: Lisa Salamida of Savor

“Balancing Act” is a series focusing on the amazing people who run a successful business while working full-time, and somehow still manage to sleep and eat occasionally.

Lisa Salamida is the magic behind Savor, a soap and body products business she runs with her husband Mike. Not only are her products to die for, but her packaging, presentation, branding, product photography, and virtually everything else business-related are impeccable as well. And she is very open and giving when it comes to helping new businesses, which is the ultimate show of grace — and one which I’m sure will give back to her in good karma for years to come.

1.Tell a little about your business – what do you make/ sell, how long have you been in business, and what do you love most about it?

Savor opened on October 23, 2007, just before my dad’s birthday. In a way, he is probably the subconscious motivation behind the business – he was self-employed for most of my life, so I like to think I got that drive and determination from him. (Another way to put it, we’re darn stubborn!). I make a wide variety of soap bars, whipped soaps, body butter, body mists and occasionally lip butters and bath salts.

I know that with careful planning and even more careful budgeting, Savor will be a successful business, supporting both of us full time some day. At the moment, I’m enjoying my double-life ; a computer tech by day and a soapstress by night. Soapmaking gives me a wonderful creative outlet – from the blend of oils to create a special scent, to selecting the ingredients for their special qualities, and just designing the look and feel of the soap itself. It is incredibly fun – I know I get more ideas in my head than I?d ever be able to make!

I put in 20-40 hours a week (not counting “laptop time”, just running the shop itself). My husband Mike puts in about 20 hours, and we hired a friend to help package, label, and stock, and he currently works 10 hours each week.

2.How does it differ from your day job (creativity, skill, autonomy)?

Being a computer tech is mostly pretty compatible with running Savor.Â I’m comfortable using programs to my advantage (Excel, Etsy Hacks, etc). I have computers in my house all networked, so I can be in my studio crafting and have access to my printer in my stock room, or be able to check my shop, that kind of thing – and I always have my laptop and broadband mobile card with me, so I have internet wherever there is cell reception.

Since my tech duties are mostly sitting at my desk and remote controlling various systems, I can have my personal laptop with me and easily run my store at the same time.

3.What has been the most challenging part of juggling a business, day job, and family? How have you gotten through the difficult parts?

The biggest challenge has been to live through the messy parts. Last year, we bought a house, and now we’ve got plenty of room for both a studio and a shipping/stock room. Before that, we were working in a condo – the soapmaking took place in our kitchen and the shipping and stock room was in an upstairs bedroom. This created an absolute mountain of mess, trudging up and down stairs with heavy boxes, and even the condo itself was on the second floor so all of our supplies had to be lugged up stairs. Honestly, that was really a nightmare and I’m not sure how we got through it.

That’s basically remedied, so really the only struggle left is having the time and energy to complete everything we want to do. We’ve hired a cleaning service (they cleaned the condo too), so all of the household chores are taken care of. We just recently started a meal service as well – while I love to cook, we simply don’t have time to. Our meals are delivered in dry ice on Friday and we’re set for the week – it’s wonderful! This frees up time and energy to devote to non-soap things – art, gardening, running, biking and camping.

4.Identity is often closely linked to what we do professionally. How do you identify yourself, and does it relate more to your business/ artisan side, or your day job?

Right now, I call myself a computer tech and small business owner. I think of running my business as my primary occupation, and my day job as being my means of becoming self-employed in the future.

5.Give one organizational or business tip (or product) that has been invaluable.

If we’re going to talk Etsy-specific (as that is the only place I currently sell directly), I would say that the scripts Ian writes for Etsy Hacks are the only thing that makes my store run. Etsy simply is not designed for high volume selling, but Ian makes it possible.

Outside of Etsy, my new toy is a barcode scanner and system for inventory. With barcodes on all of my items, scanning them in and out of inventory as they are created and sold helps me keep everything counted.

6.Some people use a side business as a way to slowly change gears from employee to business owner. In the future, do you ever see yourself transitioning to full-time entrepreneur? If so, what would ultimately help you ultimately make that leap? If not, what benefits do you enjoy with your current situation?

While I love San Francisco with all my heart, this place is quite expensive and there’s no way to live without our day jobs (Mike and I do work at the same company as well). Our work provides health care, dental and optical care, pays our gym memberships, and provides a wonderful retirement package and life insurance. Thinking long-term, I’d like to do 4-5 times the amount of business we currently do. That?s probably going to have to come from wholesale. At the moment, we don’t seek out any wholesale accounts, they’ve all approached us which has been fine for now. Ideally, I’d like to have a year of our current gross income saved before we go full-time.

7.Any additional words of wisdom you’d like to share?

Live debt free. In business and in personal accounts, the only debt I feel comfortable with is a home (and if we were in a less expensive area, we would have paid cash if we could). Living debt free means you are beholden to no one – you are financially free. I’ve bought some very expensive equipment and had some pretty big outlays of cash, but it has all been cash. If my business folded tomorrow, we’d walk away clean, without any worry or stress (other than disappointment!). I could never stomach working my butt off just to pay interest to someone else.

Many thanks to Savor for the peek behind the scenes into your incredible business!!