Bella Blosfelds - Pins and Needles

"I’m a really creative person, and am so grateful to have the opportunity to express my creativity. I’m passionate about art and design, and am constantly inspired by what I see." Bella Blosfelds, the creator of Pins and Needles talks to us about her interest in design and shares how she had developed her hobby into a business allowing her to share her creativity with a wider community.
"I’ve always been really inspired by different fabrics and textile designers. I have a bit of an obsession with them really, and I love the idea of being able to make whatever you like with the fabrics that you chose yourself. So I suppose looking around at different fabrics and imagining how I’d use them has been my biggest inspiration. And the idea of making bags works with this idea, because they can be used as the accessory to your outfit, they can be any crazy or simple design you want. I like that they are so versatile."

Prior to starting Pins and Needles Bella sewed mostly for herself. She shares her nervousness about starting Pins and Needles and having the opportunity to showcase her designs to a larger audience, "When I first put up things to sell I didn’t really know what to expect, at the moment my audience isn’t very big at all, mostly just friends and people I know. And it was a bit nerve racking putting my work up for people to look at, but at the same time I’ve really enjoyed the feedback I’ve been given, and I’m very glad I’ve done it.
In the short time that I’ve been working on this stuff I feel like my confidence with things has grown a lot. I feel like a much more competent sewer, and I feel much more comfortable putting things on show. I’m really exited to make some new things and put my designs out there. It’s been really exciting to see how this all goes!
I’ve always enjoyed getting creative with all kinds of materials. I love to draw and print, and now I’m just really enjoying getting back into sewing, something that I’ve always loved doing but have never been all that good at!" Bella has studied a number of courses at university, most recently Graphic Design, which she shares she "wasn’t quite convinced by." So is now working in hospitality and as a Teachers Aide, saying "I'm really enjoying the extra time now I have to create. My business is more a hobby then anything else at the moment. I work a bunch of different jobs, and I’m not currently studying so I’m just making things in my spare time. I started sewing again at the start of this year and started making bags to sell around March this year. I’ve only just began to make totes as well as drawstring bags, and am hoping to make makeup bags/pencil cases etc. in the future as well.
To put it simply, I make and sell bags. I started of with drawstring bags, like casual backpacks and have recently started making totes too. I really enjoy making them both. The actual shape and style of my bags are quite simplistic, it's experimenting with different textiles and exploring abstract patterns that I like most. I like to try and make things that I haven’t necessarily seen on the market before, but which I would really like to buy. I like having the freedom to experiment and create an aesthetic that I like, and putting it out there for others to see."

Inspiration can be drawn from almost any element of a designers life, and Bella knows all to well about this, "I feel I am constantly inspired by nature and by the aesthetic of fabrics from different cultures." Recently returning from a two month trip to India, she shares "I was constantly in awe of their textiles." She goes on, " I love their use of block printing and tye die, their obsession with colour and the organic form of their patterns. The same can be said of Indigenous Australian design. I love their earthy colours and their close connection with nature. I’m impressed by how their use of simplistic elements like dotting or linework create such a powerful and distinctive feel and tells such a story of their culture. I love having the opportunity to bring these styles and techniques from all over the world and putting them into a design that can be enjoyed in our modern context. It’s not to say that this would be my sole focus for my aesthetic, but I do want to draw inspiration from such things and to experiment with abstract patterns, collage and more organic and earthy textiles."

As Pins and Needles is a young business, there have been few issues that Bella has needed to deal with that other small business owners may face from time to time. She shares "Getting my designs out there has been a bit of a challenge. I’ve only ever designed and created things for my own enjoyment. I never thought to put things that I’ve made out there for others to judge and potentially buy. But since doing so I’m having a lot of fun. It’s been really exciting so far to hear people’s feedback about my work, and I’ve been really inspired by this whole experience. I really encourage people to get there work out there. It’s really good to know that people are seeing what you’re putting your time in to, and that other people might be enjoying it too."
As a strong supporter of handmade, Bella says, "I think it’s so important to support handmade. For one thing, you’re supporting someones passion and you know that the quality of the product your getting will be good – no one wants to put their name on a bad product. For another, the person who made the product really enjoyed making it, and that will feel good for your conscience. You’re also getting new and original design. You’re supporting creativity by encouraging people to explore their ideas to evolve and your allowing a whole range of people to get their work out there. It’s just really exciting to celebrate unique ideas, and you can always be assured that what you have is original and that the person who made it put a lot of time in to making it look the way it does."

Bella's designs are created of limited stock and posts all her latest bags on Instagram. If you are interested it is recommended that you follow her page!

You can find all of Bella's designs on her website and Instagram page:
http://www.pinsnneedles.bigcartel.com/
https://instagram.com/___pinsandneedles/ (3 underscores)

Marisa Mu

"Marisa is a Sydney-based designer that loves to capture and challenge the possibilities of colour through abstraction and materiality. The founding philosophy embodied within my work is to create contemplative pieces that are visually bold yet embody the tangible beauty that is specially found in handmade work." http://www.marisa-mu.com/

"I have been hand making since I was a little kid, maybe 4-5. I used to love using my hands, molding things out of play dough and painting artworks. I remember once doing a drawing of my family standing outside of my house when I was in primary school and thinking ‘I’m going to be an artist when I grow up.’" Marisa has channeled this enthusiasm for craft into an independent business selling handmade leather bags, this business has been running since September 2014. "I consider my business as a personal outlet for me to be creative and have balance, so yes, I do have a day job that enables me to have my leather project." Prior to starting her business, Marisa did free lance design work, studio assistance and also worked in retail.
Upon starting up her business, Marisa shares that she felt "anxious, being a creative person and investing a lot of your time, money, effort and self into the work we do and then putting it out to the world is always a scary prospect. I found that it was the perfect opportunity for me to start something that I have always wanted to do, and bit the bullet and I haven’t looked back since. I feel accomplished and proud that I started my own thing, it is still in the early stages but I can already sense a strong potential for greater growth. To see and hear feedback from customers and stockists, it makes me feel incredibly happy inside and just reminds me that all this hard work is worth it.
My process is very organic and my enthusiasm comes in bursts, so when I am feeling a sudden drive and focus on the project on hand, I take advantage of it and work like a person possessed!  I am a very driven person and like ticking things off the to do list!

A highlight of running my own business has essentially being able to do what I love and having people wanting to collaborate with me because of the aesthetic and style that my work has. A great achievement I recently encountered was being approached by a stockist in Brisbane who had found me through social media and wanted to stock my products. To be approached while still being so young and trying to build onto my foundation, is a great achievement in my eyes. It's reassuring that people love my work and can see the value in locally made goods.

For me, making things has always been about the process and the satisfaction you get when you see it in its final state. I would say that it's a combination of both my own personal taste and style, and being influenced by my late mother and aunty. My aunty was in the rag trade and was a phenomenal seamstress, whereas my mother was always a hard working woman who loved to have her own creative outlet. One of my fondest memories was when I would come home from preschool and I would sit with my mum and pick out different coloured wool for her to crochet and knit into patterns and squares for blankets" 

Marisa describes herself as "a maker of colourful leather goods! I currently make mini pouches and clutches that are made from Italian leather that I have sourced locally. This leather then undergoes a process where my bright and bold artworks are applied onto the surface, creating a visually beautiful finish. My designs and visuals have always been quite abstract, a lot of my aesthetic is dream-like and of a smokey patterning. I love encapsulating an organic form and integrating it onto a textural surface like leather."

As Marisa runs her business independently she understands the potential difficulties that may arise for small businesses, "As a local and independent business, I haven’t faced serious difficulties but have become a lot more wary of agencies and stockists who claim they want to support your work but evidently just want your hard earnt money. I think large businesses wouldn’t be necessarily approached and manipulated in such a way that I could had potentially been. Luckily I have a lot of close friends in the industry and after speaking with them, I managed to take back my own control and decline unfair offers from agencies with confidence." Speaking confidentially to aspiring business owners and hand-makers about putting in the hard work, Marisa shares about her passion for the craft of handmade and supporting locally made goods, "Its unrealistic to think that things will be easy, if it were easy then everybody would be doing it. And don’t wish things were easier, wish you were better. The people that are around you are a reflection of the person you are, and its so important to expand your mind and self by discussing ideas and sampling potential projects with people in your network – they understand the creative process and know how much of our own self we invest in our work

It is so important to come back to the core of our society- local businesses and local makers play an important role in supporting the striving Australian rag trade. Locals invest their efforts and time into their craft with such care that is not found in mass produced products found off shore. That sentimental value embedded into a locally made product tells a story of the maker- the love, passion and desire to be more socially and sustainably aware of our community- it is such a simple yet beautiful thing.
Handmade products and local businesses go hand in hand as they represent people who see the value in bespoke and handmade products. Its reassuring and promising to see a growth in this market as it highlights the growing interest in buying local. The reason I do what I do is because I can see the beauty and sentimental value embodied within my products, and that is how I approach my shopping decisions- is it locally made? Is it sustainable? – these are questions we should apply into our daily lives as it shows community support and a love for bespoke craft" 


You can find all of Marisa's designs on her website and Instagram page:
http://www.marisa-mu.com/
https://instagram.com/marisa.mu/

Maria Raciti - Goodiis

"I love to sew and sculpt things by hand. My business allows me to be as creative as I wish. I craft because it makes me happy. It’s therapeutic, fun and rewarding when I see customers interact with the products I make. I am a very passionate and vibrant person, so this just suits well!
I create a range of quirky softies and craft accessories sold online and in stores, in Australia and internationally. My style is bright, eclectic and original. I love making plush toys, working with various fabrics, textures, bold colours and a range of materials. From my studio in Melbourne, I design, make and sell a range of handmade crafts. I love making all my pieces, but most of all, I love making Mr. Sloths. Each one is unique and has it’s own personality. Their different themed shirts make me laugh." As well as creating her adorable Mr. Sloths, Maria works as an Industrial Toy Designer, designing and engineering infant development toys. "I completed a Bachelor of Industrial Design (4yrs with Hons). As a senior designer, I’ve worked on numerous well-known consumer products and designed and engineered world-known infant developmental toys over the past 12 years.  I’m a crafter at heart. My love for fabrics and clay has pushed me to be more creative in my spare time. So I decided this was a hobby I had to pursue more seriously.

I’ve always loved designing and creating things for fun, ever since I remember. I was raised in a creative environment with a creative family. They encouraged me to pursue what I loved the most. I’m now living in my own creative space with my hubby, who supports my creativity and side business.

For the past two years, I’ve taken my craft seriously and created my own Goodiis’ label. I'm absolutely loving it! My love of textiles and product design has evolved through my strong art and design background, and years of innovation and product development.

I’ve always wanted to create things. I started to make things, wear them and give my pieces away to friends and family for gifts. They would always ask me, ‘Why don’t you sell them!?’ From then, I made the decision to turn my craft into a business. This enabled me to learn new skills along the way, on how to manage a successful business, liaise with shops and customers. Upon staring her business Maria was excited, nervous and enthusiastic for what was to come, "When you start a business, you need to research, have a vision and most importantly, have passion in what you do. You need to be inspired along the way, reinvent and continue what you love, even on those off days. I am fortunate to make things, wear, sell and watch people light up when they wear my colourful art and see children play with my quirky plush toys." Reflecting back upon how far Goodiis has come Maria shares, "It has been incredibly satisfying to see my pieces come to life and for them to be adopted so quickly in Australia’s and overseas' thriving craft community. I can’t wait to interact with more of the greater craft community and to see what’s in store for Goodiis!"

Maria's influences come from her love of "bursts of colour, contrast and everything fun! My 80iis necklaces specifically  are inspired by the 80’s Memphis Group. My jewellery pieces are made of chaotic, geometric and organic shapes that use energetic colours, with contrasting textures to create bold personal statement pieces with a unique twist. My Mr. Sloth plushies were inspired from my travels. I always enjoyed taking photos of my figurines, taking selfies from the other side of the world. This is where ‘Mr Sloth’s Adventures,’ eventuated from. I created a lovable sloth, who loves to wear different shirts and travel the world."

As Maria independently owns Goodiis she shares advice about time management from her own experience, "I work on my craft on my own, with the assistance of my hubby, time to time. I think running your own business can be challenging when you receive large orders from different stores and private customers, so time management is very important. Especially if you are working for yourself. You learn very quickly, on how to adjust and manage. I love making things for Goodiis, so to me, it doesn't feel like it's a job. It's my passion.

Life is busy, but working for myself is the best! I think I’m lucky to spend my days making beautiful things that make me and other people happy. Goodiis are bright, unique and one-of-a-kind collection has been exhibited online, in-stores, in markets and featured in successful craft blogs. I'm so grateful to be featured in numerous places! Lately, Mr. Sloth is getting a lot of exposure. I will be releasing a new children's book, 'The Many Shirts of Mr. Sloth,' very soon. It's based on my handmade, lovable plush. Mr. Sloth is already getting some great buzz in the public eye and in social media. There is so much more ahead for this lil sloth! I think we should admire and support handmade goods. I know Australia has embraced this culture in recent years and I’m happy to be part of it! Support handmade. Be original and be inspired! There is a fantastic craft community out there. Get involved and have fun! Thank you for reading! I hope I've inspired you"

You can find all of Maria's designs and Mr. Sloths at her website and Instagram:

http://www.goodiis.com
https://instagram.com/goodiis_workshop/

Holly Grose - Hv Jewellery Designer

"In simple terms, I make Jewellery. But I do it in a way I like to describe as new, showing off metals in a way that is often forgotten." Holly's captivating jewellery designs are something that stand out of the crowd, with each piece being handmade using a lost wax cast process, the end result is a wonderfully unique item which recreates classic jewellery. Holly shares that part of her enthusiasm and passion comes from "seeing someone else enjoy its beauty!"

Holly feels that motivation stems from within, saying "I think I definitely motivate myself to make things but you can’t have zero inspirations". Finding that the simple things around her inspire her "from my best friend to walking through the bush and fellow makers." Holly shares that she has "always been a maker of things – since as long as I can remember. I think that it really took off in high school and then moved in the direction of metal in my late teens." After high school, Holly went on to study contemporary jewellery at Monash University. There she was inspired by Van Kouswik, whos focus is 'on the re-creation of everyday objects and references to botanical specimens' (http://www.hvjewellery.com/about/)

"Supporting local and small businesses keeps opportunities like mine possible. I keep this in mind with every purchase and every material sourced. It’s important for your community if anything!" Personally understanding the significance of handmade Holly says confidently that "Every purchase is an investment when you support local handmade makers."

HV Jewellery has only been running for six months but Holly says "it feels like a real part of me now". Being something of a "natural passion, one that comes from the joy of making things with my hands" it's easy to understand how these unique designs and inspirational concepts have become apart of Holly. 
"I love having a personal connection to every piece that goes out the door. And who doesn’t love working to their own hours, I sure do! Achievements come from every piece I make, making something new is always an achievement for me."
And lastly she shares with aspiring business owners and hand-makers "It’s cliché to say…but always stay true to yourself and your vision. The other important thing would be to remain savvy with all your investments." 


You can find Holly's designs on her website and Instagram:
http://www.hvjewellery.com
https://instagram.com/hvjewellery/

Bella Derham - Brother Billy

"Brother Billy has been around for nearly 8 months, the inspiration was mainly from wanting some simple everyday jewellery that didn't break the bank. I design and sell sterling silver jewellery, the pieces are very dainty and simple which I love. I wear at least 4 rings every day of my own. I would have to say the Katie Necklace and the Kate Ring's are my favorite purely for the simplicity of them and how I can layer them with so many other brands for every day wear or for a special occasion."

Before starting Brother Billy and since finishing school, Bella has been working in hospitality at cafe's and bars. She now studies full time, "At the moment I'm still studying so I find it hard to find time to throw anything else into the works so I focus purely on Brother Billy and my studies."

"When I first came up with the idea of starting my own small business I was so excited!! I couldn't wait to be my own boss! I didn't really think about all the boring behind the scenes stuff that comes along with it but I wouldn't change it for the world!

I am so proud of myself and what I have achieved so far. Brother Billy is still a work in progress but thinking back to a year ago I'm so glad I had the balls to do something like this, it is such an eye opener and an exciting time for me."
When speaking of what Bella loves most about Brother Billy she shares, "I absolutely love the idea generation, starting off with a tiny idea at the back of my head and then bringing it to life. I am extremely passionate about what I do and the beautiful pieces I have designed. I have always had a passion for the little things in life. My designs are influenced by simplicity and the small things in life that put a smile on my face."

Bella runs Brother Billy independently and says that, "Sometimes it can be a little tricky being a one man show and trying to juggle my everyday life." She shares with aspiring business owners, "Do what you love and don't let anyone bring you down! The biggest highlight is being able to create something and share it with others. I would have to say that my greatest achievement yet is when Brooke Hogan wore some of my pieces for a photo shoot in Fashion Journal Magazine! My head nearly exploded with joy!"

Bella speaks passionately about supporting hand-made and independently owned businesses, as she knows personally how the support from a wider community is so greatly valued, "It is so important to support handmade and local businesses because your not giving back to a large corporation, you are helping individuals put food on their table or pay their bills! I love how someone can one day wake up with an idea and have the courage to start their own little brand or company it makes me so happy! There is a lot of time, effort and love that goes in to each handmade piece and we just want you to love them as much as we do!"

You can find all of Bella's designs at her online store and Instagram page:
https://instagram.com/mybrotherbilly
http://brotherbilly.bigcartel.com/

Wendy Ma - PHT

"Super cute outfits and accessories for any occasion! Think Barbie lost in harajuku in the 90s but Romy and Michelle are hanging out there and end up being room mates." Wendy begins by describing her fun creations and her inspirations, "Fuzzy and furry materials are my favorite things to work with. I also have been working on a new project that’s coming soon! 
I’ve always been influenced by the 90s but mainly characters from movies I’ve seen or books I read. Like Greg Araki characters to anime girls, I’ve always got a character I conjure up; what does she like, what would she wear. I guess the obsession with fur and fuzzy things have stuck with me from childhood too!" 
Now Wendy sews these adorable accessories by hand selling to a number of fans, but initially she was sewing for herself, inspired by other designers and discovering ways to make her designs original, "I got my first sewing machine when I was about 13. Since then I’ve been sewing things for myself – lot less for myself these days! The PHT furry business started the moment I posted a photo of a clear heart furry bag on Instagram and someone had asked me if I could make her one if she paid me.

In the beginning, I was motivated to make things that I had seen in high fashion magazines, things I couldn’t afford as a student.  Back then, the internet wasn’t a highly accessible shopping mall. I never tried to reproduce something directly though, I always liked to put my own spin on things."

74 weeks ago, according to Instagram, Wendy posted a picture of the very first bag she made. Upon starting PHT Wendy expresses "I was just excited and optimistic because I had nothing to loose. I used blogger to setup my first store which was completely free. I also made orders as they came so that was a very organic and slow process I felt I could keep up with. I just enjoyed making things for people who really understood what I was about, who wanted something handmade by me – to have a little part of me."  
Today PHT has become much more than just selling through Instagram, Wendy has been successful in sharing her designs through other online stores. She reflects on her highlights from running PHT, "Being able to connect with girls I admire and collaborate with people I never thought I’d meet. Being approached by Dolls Kill and Shop Jeen to be apart of their online store as well as physically in Distal Phalanx in Melbourne. Spreading the furry love!"

When reflecting upon how far PHT has come since posting her first Instagram picture Wendy shares excitedly "I’ve been overwhelmed by all the support I have received! That goes for the girls who buy my pieces and my girls who have got my back when it comes to seeing knockoffs floating around. They’ve defended me till the very end. It’s so heartbreaking to see your things stolen, copied, and being sold under another brand. I used to get so stressed out and upset dealing with people/companies who have done this to me, almost to the point of stopping it all because it’s disheartening. Because of the crazy support these girls have given me (a lot of them I’ve never met but follow me on instagram), it’s all worth it in the end."

As an independent business owner Wendy has had to face some of the difficulties that are common in the industry. Speaking from the perspective of a small business owners, she states that she mainly faces "Copyright issue. I invest so much time, love and energy into creating my designs, it just feels violating when someone tries to take credit for something that is a blatant reproduction (and even use your images to sell ‘their’ knockoff while they deny they’ve done anything wrong). It is a popular belief that there is nothing original any longer, especially in fashion but I think there are always ways to make things different and own it. I’ve been in touch with other independent designers and artists and I think this is a huge issue where everything is super accessible, on the web; your images get lost in a black hole and becomes untraceable to a source (eg. Tumblr). It’s like, people think they can get away with taking ownership of things floating around in cyberspace.

Anyway, despite credibility and financial loss, at the end of the day, I took is as the highest form of flattery, LV has knockoffs only because it’s coveted right? I realized that you can’t stop people, it’s bound to happen but you can help them understand how it has hurt you and that they are talented and don’t need to copy your ideas to be successful. If they can be proud, truly own an idea, believe it’s their own and defend it with everything they’ve got then I won’t stand in their way. There’s absolutely no shame in giving someone credit for inspiring them, it’s real and people will respect you. 

From that, I’ve learnt to simply stop looking at what others are doing and focus only on making my things for my particular market of incredible women, who truly understand what it’s all about, I’ve never been happier!"

For aspiring business owners she shares "Maybe…don’t launch into this as your day job at the beginning. Have something stable so that you’re not forced into it. I like to focus on my handmade business as a hobby. That way I enjoy it and will always love it, it doesn’t become a chore or something I stress about.

It’s a therapeutic process for me, that I come home to after a long day’s work. The end result – happy customers and sharing apart of myself with people drives me to keep PHT running."

The importance of handmade for Wendy begins with "Integrity and relationship. It’s not everyday you know who made your clothes with loads of TLC, packed it up and sent it out, all from scratch. It’s a point of difference to have a one off hand made item too! It’s also to support creative people who are not solely driven by profit. From an ethical point of view, it’s important to question where the products you buy come from and how it’s made. Ultimately,  it’s an alternative to fueling the fast fashion industry and slavery."


You can find all of Wendy's designs at her online store and social media pages:
http://pht.storenvy.com/
http://instagram.com/wenopia
http://panache-halloweentown.blogspot.com.au/

Lauren Morton - Made By Morton

"I’ve always been a maker! For as long as I can remember, it’s always been a passion of mine." Lauren begins by sharing her love for making and recalls on some memories, "The first time I can really recollect beginning to make jewellery, however, was in year eight. I loved to make statement pieces from little metal things I’d find around the house, like old keys and Coke can tabs. I EVEN tried to make the whole ‘wear one massive statement earring’ a trend. Needless to say, my year eight peers didn’t follow suit with that fashion statement."

Lauren shares that while growing up her parents "were unfortunately a little lacking in the creativity and craft department." But that didn't deter her, "I looked to my school art teachers for inspiration!" During school Lauren was not largely exposed to art and crafts, although she still today values and is inspired by the quality of exposure she did have, "I went to a country school that was very small (and I mean VERY – we only had nine kids in the WHOLE school at one stage!). As such, art class wasn’t something that was taught on a regular basis due to a lack in resources. However, we did have a ‘mobile’ art teacher who came to visit our school every fortnight. Those visits where heaven! Not only did we get time off of boring school work, but we also got some great one-on-one time with the teachers, as there were so few students! I still really vividly remember some of those classes, and get some great inspiration looking back to them."

Made By Morton is now entering its second year of trading. Lauren considers herself "a polymer clay artist." Making a range of jewellery, homewares and statement art pieces entirely out of polymer clay. She shares that she is now experimenting with polymer clay in other ways, "I’m working to move away from that [jewellery] a little bit and explore the possibilities of polymer clay (to which they are endless!)"

When running a small business many difficulties arise in the competitive industry, Lauren discusses the difficulties she has been faced with and how she has developed Made By Morton to overcome these, "I think the biggest difficulty for any small business owner is being unique and different. I’m totally aware that there are many other makers out there who create similar products. I’m also aware that I definitely wasn’t the first to be making things out of polymer clay, and I definitely won’t be the last! I hate feeling like I’m encroaching on other designer’s territory by making items with polymer clay. That’s why, I really try and make my designs as individual and unique as I can. I want people to be able to recognise my designs as a ‘Made By Morton’, and not as anything else. It’s also a reason why I’ve made the move to produce more homewares within my range, as I believe it’s a market that has not yet been explored."

Lauren expresses with optimism to aspiring hand-makers, "It’s important to keep at it. At times, you may feel like you’re not getting anywhere, but you never know what might be around the corner if you just keep trying." She then shares from a business perspective "something I’ve learnt from experience is keep on top of your accounting! It’s definitely not one of my strong suits and it hurts you in the long run…
I think, if there is one thing that I’ve discovered during this whole journey, is that you have to be REALLY passionate about creating from the beginning, because if you’re not, you’ll never persist. Sometimes, it’s hard, and it’s complicated to fit around your life, but if you love what you do, you’ll always be able to find time." And its not just a passion for creating that Lauren admirers in the craft of hand-making, it is also the pleasure received by the maker from the support of the buyer, "You really have no idea how much happiness just one sale can give to a local maker – it’s able to not only support their work financially, but also give them reaffirmation that their dream to make a living off of handmade isn’t just a dream!"
For Lauren, "the best highlights from running my own business come from customer feedback. I love knowing that I’ve made a customer happy and that they’re a fan of what I’m doing. Nothing makes me want to continue doing what I’m doing more than that."


You can find all of Lauren's designs on her website and social media pages:  
https://www.facebook.com/madebymorton
https://instagram.com/madebymorton/
http://madebymorton.bigcartel.com