Meet Missy Stocks of Beast Little Cannery

Organizing a local event called The Maker’s Mash is one of my very favorite things! I love meeting talented makers and artists right here in our community. In the next few months, look for their stories here on the blog.

Now, your turn to meet Missy, who described herself as ,“just a lady with big dogs who needed a fence and ended up with a cannery!” If you’re local, you can shop with Missy in person at the Maker’s Mash on Dec 13th. Shop Beast Little Cannery any time on her website!

Now to the questionnaire:

What do you enjoy most about making?

My favorite thing about making is when someone buys our pickles (mostly the bread and butter) then they return, moved, telling us how they are just like their great-grand-mother's. I love making connections for people that strike a chord and offer a small window back to relationships that are gone.

Why do you think handmade is important and worth doing?

I'm the poster child for "shop small" and "buy local." Giving makers an opportunity to grow personally, offer a product that they believe in, and a chance to diversify their communities through art, food, clothing, etc is always worth it. You are also directly supporting the people beside you in the grocery store or car-pool line. Someone isn't putting your $10 toward a second home or massive retirement, chances are you are helping pay for a ballet class or carrots for the dinner table.

What advice would you give others just starting out?

Patience and hard work.

YES! Thanks so much, Missy!

See you at the Mash and don’t forget to connect with Missy on Facebook!!

Meet Sam Fletcher of Weaving for Good

Organizing a local event called The Maker’s Mash is one of my very favorite things! I love meeting talented makers and artists right here in our community. In the next few months, look for their stories here on the blog.

First up, Sam Fletcher of Weaving for Good!

Psst. If you’re local, you can shop Sam’s work in person at the Maker’s Mash on Oct 11th and Dec 13th. Shop Sam’s work any time on Etsy and give her shop a favorite if you’re inclined! Now to the questionnaire:

What do you enjoy most about making?

Making is my meditation. It allows me to get out of my head for a while and just explore. My favorite part is working through an idea only to then come up with 5 more ideas!

Why do you think handmade is important and worth doing?

Using your hands is so important for the soul. It really gives you that mind body connection, allowing you to take what your dreaming up in your head and putting them on paper, into textiles or any other media you can work with. We are all creative, but I think we forget that sometimes. Making something with your hands brings you back to that creative knowing.

What advice would you give others just starting out?

Well I'm pretty new to this myself, but I think the key is to keep coming back to your intention. Why is it that you wanted to be a maker? Why is it that you like to make your art? If you keep going back to those questions, whose answers may change over time, you will always find the inspiration to just keep making!

See you at the Mash and don’t forget to connect with Sam on Etsy or Instagram!

Local Makers: Jennifer Griffin of Jennifer Griffin Studios

I can't think of a better maker to be present on the 28th! It's also Reformation's Harry Potter celebration. YAY! I love the many ways Jennifer brings imagination and story to life. I'm always blown away by her work. Read on below to see what I mean!

What do you make?

I'm a costume and costume accessory designer, mixed media artist, themed wedding designer, and conceptual art photographer.

How did you get started making?

Years ago, after my first child was born I started designing hair accessories, costumes, fabric toys, bow ties and flat caps for my kids. That led into creating for other people and thus my shop opened.

What does your average day look like?

Since my kids are still at home and young, I spend most of my day "momming." But when they get to bed, or during school hours, I get my journal out to look at the ideas I've jotted down to start a new project. Or if I have custom orders I work on those. Then there is the customer service portion of the business. I spend lots of time in communication with my customers to be sure I am giving them the best quality and the best of my creativity.

What inspires you to keep making work? 

If I am in a rut, I try to step away and go for a walk in the woods. Recently though, I have been very stagnate and a walk in the woods didn't cut it. So, I spent 2 weeks in Scotland and I think it changed my entire creative level. My inspiration comes from nature and my cultural heritage, and the Scottish country side and forests were the culmination of both of those inspirations.

What is the hardest lesson you learned through your business/creative process?

Not being supported by one's circle is hard. I think this was the hardest thing for me to deal with. In art, regardless of medium, an artist puts a bit of their soul into their work. When the art is then rejected, it is hard to not take it personal. It feels as if it is a personal rejection.

What's the best part about doing what you do?

There are two things that I love about what I do. The first, making my customers feel like they are the unique and beautiful creatures they are. Especially brides. Most of the custom work I do is for themed weddings or hand fasting ceremonies. It's such an honor to be apart of something so special, but even more, knowing that the bride & groom fell like they are really in the fairytale they created. Making their romance come to life in a tangible way. The second is the personal satisfaction from creating in this world, the things from the world in my head. I have loads of ideas and designs in my head, being able to create those in real life is quite satisfying.

What are you working on now?

I am actually working on a collaboration with a few other artists. However, it is hush hush right now, so we will have to just wait and see when the project is done. It will be epic. That's all I can really say about it. But just for Jenifer Griffin Studios, I am working on a few photo shoots for the fall based on a fan fiction of the 1980's movie Labyrinth with David Bowie, and another shoot based on the original tales of the Brother's Grimm. So, a little on the dark side. With both of these, I get to create new characters or create my concept of old ones, and their costumes. Very exciting for me. All of which will be available for purchase after the shoots, which will be before Halloween. If you follow my social media, you can be looking for these costumes by the end of September, 2018. They are one of a kind so get them when they are released because chances are, they won't be available again.

View Jennifer's work on her site, Instagram, and Facebook! And don't forget to swing by the Maker's Mash this Saturday from 5-8 to shop her work in person!