Do you have a story behind your company name?

“Cheesecake” is really symbolic of my journey in life! Before I found my love for polymer clay I was baking all kinds of sweets for friends and family with plans to become a pastry chef. The timing wasn’t right then so I never pursued it wholeheartedly. Baking polymer clay is very similar to baking cookies and cakes, so when I was dreaming up names for my company it felt very natural to marry these two versions of myself. Cheesecake is my favorite dessert and when it's my birthday I always ask for cheesecake instead of cake! Cheesecake brings feelings of decadence, celebration, sweetness, and complexity to mind and these are all vibes I want my company to embody.

Love that! Tell us how you got your start?

In 2019 I left my job to become a stay at home foster mom and raise two sweet little girls with my husband. Then the pandemic began and life got a little wild. It was incredibly traumatic and difficult and I felt lost and depressed. My mom gave me some solid advice: find a creative outlet for all those feelings. Then she handed me some polymer clay and a 10 year old box of beads. Cheesecake started that day as just me finding myself again in the middle of chaos.

I bet that was a great outlet, mental health is so important. Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

My favorite part is always when I’m playing with clay. I love mixing colors and cutting shapes. I think of this part of the process as the “daydreaming” phase because I’m thinking about what it’s going to be. I’m paying attention to light, movement, texture, and what feelings I want to evoke in these early stages of a design and it’s really fun!

Can you tell us what a typical day is like in the studio for you?

Well, my studio is in the corner of my living room and I am also a stay at home mom, so my personal life and my studio life are woven together! My day always starts with breakfast with my daughter and watering our flowers outside together. Then I start my studio day with product photography because I get the best natural light in the morning. Then I pack orders, answer emails, and plan out my social media strategy for the day. After I get all those things out of the way it’s clay time! I don’t typically plan my art unless it’s a commission. I create what brings me joy in the moment and focus on colors and feelings. Finished clay pieces go in the oven for an hour and that’s when I plan structures for jewelry pieces, beading, and assembly. At night I cycle between drawing on baked clay pieces, designing ideas on my iPad, and watching true crime documentaries. Once or twice a week when the rest of my family is gone for the day I open all the windows, get in my safety gear, and resin all completed clay pieces so they are ultra shiny!

What inspires you to create?

Lots of things! Random things! The shade of green in my mother’s eyes. A perfect curl on my daughter’s head. The yarrow that grows in my garden that is an incredibly bright pink! A stranger’s awesomely bold outfit. A beautiful sunrise on a morning vacation. I think what I’m trying to say is life. Living inspires me to create. It’s a compulsion!

Do you have a favorite item you have made?

My favorite piece I’ve made has to be these rainbow 2 tiered princess cake earrings. These were one of the first times I had attempted a 3-dimensional sculpt that was so intricate! I had to figure out how to make the sculpt hollow so they would appear heavy but weigh very little as well as make sure every individual piece was secured to the base. They were a big success and something I’ll never forget creating!

Those are so fun, I bet your daughters loved how they turned out! What do you love most about Minnesota?

Every inch of Minnesota is so beautiful and I love that we have a great balance between nature and city! The scenery here is pretty incredible and it’s a great place to live if you love the outdoors. I also really love how supportive Minnesota is of local small businesses and specifically artists. There are so many cool events to check out full of daydreamers like me!

What did you miss most about in person events now that events are picking back up again?

I missed the thrill of watching people bond over my work! You know what I mean? Like when you walk up to a booth with a friend and discover a new piece of art that brings you joy, you start making happy noises and chattering about how it makes you feel? Then suddenly everyone nearby joins in on the good vibes and it’s this tiny, perfect moment of strangers smiling at each other. That moment makes in person events so worth it to me! If you walk by my booth there is a good chance you will hear me cackling and being rowdy with my customers and I wouldn't have it any other way.

That makes us smile! What will you be bringing to Jackalope?

I will be bringing so much colorful clay in many different forms! I will have a lot of jewelry and home decor. I’m working on some special sun catchers, trinket boxes and dishes, as well as some larger original art pieces to hang on your wall!

We can’t wait to see you in person this September 10th & 11th for Jackalope Minneapolis!

Where to see more of Cheesecake Art & Design:

Website | https://shopcheesecake.co

Instagram | @pieceocheesecake

Do you have a story behind your company name?

Lillie Nell was named for my paternal grandmother, who unfortunately I was never able to meet in this life. Granny Lillie Nell was the matriarch of our family and an honored elder in our community. She was a seamstress of traditional Choctaw dresses, a Sunday school teacher, and gardener.

That is so sweet, tell us how you got started?

Lillie Nell was born out of a need to connect to my family and culture after fifteen years of searching for my biological father. Needing time for quiet meditation to process, I turned to my childhood hobby of beadwork... spending 10-14 hours daily re-learning the art and finding it to be a great medicine. As each bead is stitched with good thoughts and intentions, I have felt a greater connection to her family and ancestors.

Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

My favorite part of beadweaving is the calm it brings to my life. I was taught never to create when not in good spirits, as our energy is passed into our work. Beadwork makes me more centered and aware of my emotions. Wearers of my jewelry tell me they can feel the intentions woven into the work and that wearing my beadwork makes them feel strong.

What inspires you to create?

I am inspired by nature, Choctaw stories and mythology, traditional Choctaw patterns, and Choctaw language.

Love that! What’s a typical day like for you in your studio?

I start beading every morning around 7 am and usually stop around dinner time. I take "breaks" for sharing on social media or staging photos. It is very rare for me to take a full day away from beading, since I love what I do so much.

Do you have a favorite item you’ve created and why?

My favorite pattern is my SINTI design, which is a simplified version of the diamond pattern worn on traditional Choctaw dress. It represents the rattlesnake and respect for nature. I love that it is a small pop of my culture that can be worn casually and by everyone.

Beautiful. What do you love most about Minnesota?

Minnesota is home and is an incredibly beautiful state, which I think most of us don't think that much about or notice. I lived away from Minnesota for seven years and every time I came home I couldn't believe how lush and green MN is. It's just a gorgeous place. Our music, art, and food scene is also fantastic.

Definitely very fortunate for that here. Anything special you’d like to share?

I am an enrolled member of the The MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, which may be an important piece to add to be in compliance with the Indian Arts and Crafts act of 1990. Also that non-regalia Native-made beadwork is for EVERYONE to wear and supporting Native artists is cultural APPRECIATION, not cultural appropriation. I would not be able to do what I do for a living if I wasn't supported by people from all walks of life.

We can’t wait to see you in person this October 2nd & 3rd when Jackalope makes our debut in the Twin Cities!

Where to see more of Lillie Nell:

Website | https://lillienell.com/

Instagram | @lillienellbeadworks

1. How did you get your start in the handmade community? 

My grandma taught me how to crochet one summer and I started making earrings out of crochet and buttons. At this time I was studying art at UCLA. I took the option to study abroad in South Africa for 1 semester. So I started wearing these earrings to my art classes there and many students wanted to buy them. When I came back to UCLA the same thing happened. Being near very eclectic and cool boutiques, I started selling them on consignment at a few shops in the area. 

2. What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?

My approach in making/designing. I come from a fine art background so the initial stage is sketching out shapes from the environment. The things I find interesting can be very ordinary or a small detail of something. Then I think, can I wear this, would I want to wear this, how can I make it so it can be worn, what materials will help me achieve this idea? I am interested in making timeless pieces, not trends. It's also exciting to make pieces that are modular. Simple pieces that can be combined, rearranged, and reimagined by the wearer (such as the front back earrings and second hole earrings)

3. What or Who Inspires you?

It's hard to find things that don't inspire me. I see fascinating shapes everywhere. Shadows, strange angles of furniture, my backyard, construction sites, wires sticking out from electrical poles, unfinished buildings. I take quick photos of them and look through them at home. Going to a contemporary museum is super inspiring. I go with my 4 year-old son so it's even more eye opening seeing it from his point-of-view. Also, hardware stores are great for ideas. I go through each aisle looking at tools, parts, shapes. 

4. What is your creative process like?

I have a sketchbook and I make small drawings here and there. Being a mom I don't have the luxury of having a long stretch of time to focus on one thing. So when I have 20mins, I just stop and look around and search for shapes that catch my eye and document them. I make a lot of little drawings and I am not precious about them, I just put as many ideas down as they come. When I get a bit of quiet time (usually when my son is asleep) I look through all the drawings (and sometimes photos) and pick out a few and manipulate them and think about how they can be simplified and become wearable objects. Then I may make some samples. 

But sometimes this process is completely flipped. I love hardware stores and when I find a really cool part or piece there I think, how can I incorporate this into my work. So sometimes the work is completely informed by the material. 

5. What is the coolest artistic tip you have ever received?

The value of learning many techniques. I love to learn and having many making solutions under your belt puts you in a position to fully realize your ideas. 

6. What can we expect to see from you at Jackalope?

I will have minimalistic, playful, versatile earrings and necklaces. I look forward to helping shoppers try them on and find their own combinations. Almost every earring design has the option of being sold per piece (instead of as a pair) so you can create different asymmetrical looks. It's so exciting to see my work on someone else, it totally changes the context. As soon as they wear it, it becomes something else, something new. 

7. Where can we learn more about you?

www.sonemade.etsy.com

www.instagram.com/sonemade

www.facebook.com/sonemadeshop

How would you describe your style?  Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?

I describe my style as simple, bold and modern. I am always inspired by women artists/designers such as Frida Kahlo, Eileen Gray and Georgia O'Keeffe.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 

My designs are an extension of my visions and my personality.  The colors, textures, and materials converge into my creations.  They are the offsprings ofmy architecture background and my own design visions.  

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?

My daughters are a big part of my inspiration. They make me see the world humbly. They make me thrive and work harder.  I am also fortunate to have a husband that encourages my creativity. 

Inspiration comes to me in different forms and shapes, butI find that memories are a big influence in my creativity.  My days growing up in Puerto Rico with the beautiful deep and prominent colors of the Caribbean are a major influence in my designs. Now that I live here in the desert, I find its colors, shapes, and patterns  that make up these beautiful landscapes are becoming embedded in my visions.

When do you feel the most creative?

I am the most creative early in the morning with a cup of coffee in hand.  Or whenever I have a quiet moment to myself  which is hard to come by.

What is your creative process like?

I look at color patterns and materials and think of an idea. I start by drawing and using color to have a complete look.  Then I can start making my pieces and finally combining everything until I am satisfied.  Creating is a constant process. You are always thinking about it;  You need to draw it, make it, draw it again, make it again, until it makes sense. 

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?

When I was in my last year of architecture school I was always drawn to my memories and experiences to create a space.  It was during one of those moments that my studio teacher always told me to sketch, sketch, sketch because it was the only way to visualize what I was thinking. 

Where can we learn more about you?  

You can find out more about me on: 

        Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/soniagraciahandmade

        Instagram:@soniagraciahandmade

        Facebook: www.facebook.com/soniagraciahandmade

How would you describe your style?  Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?
My personal style is minimal in color but exaggerated in silhouette. I love mixing layers, textures, and neutrals. My wardrobe often becomes a blank canvas for my jewelry to really stand out. I admire the confidence and strength in vision that designers, Mary Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen have for their work with The Row, and the impeccable design sensibilities of Kym Ellery for her namesake brand, Ellery.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?
My work is my own simply because it comes from me and my experiences. There's a quality to everything I create that comes from within. When I start to feel lost in the sea of amazing jewelry designers out there, I look to my own center of gravity and find my inspiration again. This act turns good designers into artists. In this way, we're all sharing our own unique messages.  

When do you feel the most creative?
I feel the most creative about 2 seconds after I wake up in the morning, but that creativity is somewhat fleeting. Around my second cup of coffee the juices really start flowing. I also feel creative at the height of boredom. My best ideas come when my mind is clear and free of stress, which is often times at the most random moments. I have a notepad handy at all times to jot down my musings before starting on new wax designs. 

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
My dear friend and fellow artist, Joy Smith of Communion by Joy shared this notion with me, "there could be a million designers out there, but there is only one you." Such a simple, yet powerful concept that can be so easily forgotten. 

Where can we learn more about you?
My website! www.androgynydesign.com

SHOP Androgyny at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.