One Crafty Mastermind, Priceless

I recently did a post about a great new etsy shop that makes goods out of recycled materials.  Here is a short interview with the crafty mastermind behind Kellypress on Etsy, soon to be To the Farthest Star Press.  I hope you enjoy her amazing creations as much as I do!

Tell us a little about yourself:

I’ve been an artist my whole life.  While my favorite medium is paper, I also love painting, renewing antique furniture and items, sewing and letterpress.  I have a wonderful husband and a Boston Terrier named Spencer (our only child so far.)  I’m a creative soul with a big heart, I guess you could say.  The only thing better than crafting, to me, is the joy that my creations bring others.

I graduated Antioch College in Ohio last year, and then my newlywed husband and I moved to Portland, Oregon.  While he transitioned easily into a great job, it took me longer to decide what I wanted to do: I was looking for a career that combined my strengths, talents and interests.  After long deliberation, I realized that I should create my own business!   It would combine my passion for crafting, my interest in small business, my belief in living a green lifestyle, and would position me as the owner, the manufacturer and the designer of the business.  This enables me to ensure great quality of product, great customer service and a direct connection between myself and my customer. Tell us about your company:

KellyPress, (soon to be To The Farthest Star Press,) is a one-gal show.  , I create paper goods, such as journals, foto book sand greeting cards out of recycled materials.  I also do custom orders, which are some of my favorites.  The style of KellyPress is really my own personal style: classic and sophisticated as well as cheery, bold and romantic.  My main goal is to create a beautiful, lasting item that will act as a tool, in a way, in its owner’s life.  Greeting cards will convey their wishes to another.  Journals will hold their dreams and secrets.  A foto book will hold their memories.  It is a huge honor to create the tools that hold a person’s dreams and memories.

I work at home in my attic studio, often using the view from my attic window as inspiration for my next piece.  My business front is on Etsy.com as of now, with high hopes of my own website coming soon, and eventually a storefront studio.

Where can we find your products?

www.kellypress.etsy.com, and I blog about my crafting on www.papersweet.wordpress.com What do you mean by “recycled” products?

I use materials that have been pre-owned, disregarded as too old or unuseable and  items that would otherwise be destined for landfill somewhere.  I use paper that is handmade, generally from other paper.  I even use thread, buttons and hardware from old clothes!  My favorite items to reuse into a craft are children’s books.  I never use pages or parts from a book in good condition; most of my favorite finds are scribbled-in, torn and warped books. Do you consider your business to be a Green business and why or why not?

I definitely do! As well as saving trees and helping the ecosphere, I’m making older, tired items into new ones!  The items I use are recycled in  one of several ways,  the paper I use is recycled and several other materials I use are, too.  I also consider KellyPress a green business because I highlight my products’ renewed quality, and stress the importance of it!  I show consumers that recycled doesn’t have to mean shabby or cheap. What inspires your to be creative and how do you keep new ideas coming?

Oh, everything inspires me!  I’m inspired by strong, old things like trees and old books.   I’m emotionally inspired by other artists’ creations,  children, my family and my personal experiences.  I also get inspired by listening to people.  People so often say, “You know, they should make a….”  I keep new ideas rolling by writing every idea I have (or that my husband suggests to me) down, and I made a sample or trial item to see how it works.  One botched trial usually means three new great ideas! What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of your craft?

Hmm…accuracy in measurements, perfect-line trimming, producing an item from a vague mental invented image and not being able to give everything away.  Oh!  And glue!  I use a special glue for bookbinding, and it’s so hard to find, and most companies won’t ship it in the winter for fear of freezing!  Being in a creative mood without glue is a terrible thing!  :) On a personal note, do you consider yourself “green” or Eco conscious?

I do.  About a year ago I broke into my thirties and realized that I needed to start paying attention to what I ate, what cosmetics I use and how I affect the world with my intake and output.  I recycle, I buy organic, I use fair-trade and earth-friendly products, I compost, I garden and I reuse as often as possible.  And I love to learn new ways to be even greener!

If so what is one “green” tip you would like to share:

My favorite part of being greener is definitely shopping at the farmer’s markets.  Buying free-range eggs, organic apples and basil directly from the organic farmer is not only fun, but it’s a great reminder of my role as a conscious consumer. Also, use organic shampoo and conditioner!  Without all of the parabens, SLS’s and other junk, your hair will feel clean and shine! Anything else you would like to add? I’d love to add that recycled can be couture! It is possible to merge style, quality and usability into one creation!