Vivian Au

Where are you from and does that affect your work?  

  I was born and raised in Kansas City and I am first generation American born of immigrant parents. As teenagers, my parents immigrated to the United States from Hong Kong. Growing up as the only Chinese kid in school, my parents made sure that my brothers and I were exposed to our Chinese culture as much as possible. Every few years we would travel to Hong Kong to visit family, which is how we were mostly exposed to our culture. Hong Kong is known for its extensive chains of jewelry stores shinning with 24 karat gold jewelry of all kinds. On those trips, I remember so clearly everyday going to the main streets of Kowloon going into jewelry stores one after an other. Intricate 24k gold chains, pendants, earrings, bangles, and traditional Chinese wedding jewelry was what fascinated me the most.

These memories were my early love for jewelry.

Melody Lil’ Girls fancy bracelet and matching Mommy bracelet

How did you get your start with your own business?

Seventeen years ago I was creating jewelry for a local jewelry designer. I learned a lot in how to run a business while having the creative freedom in creating her jewelry line. At twenty five years old, I decided to take the leap of faith to become an independent jewelry designer and manufacturer. Thirteen years in creating your Forever Love Story, that is how Vi Ling Designs was created. 

What is your biggest artistic influence?

My ethnic culture is my biggest artistic influence. Growing up as the only Chinese girl in grade school really made me appreciate my ethnicity. I love to create pieces with influences of Chinese cultural art combining my love of fashion and minimalism. 

How do you define success as an artist?

Success as an artist in my perspective is looking back of all the years prior to and seeing the growth of my business and myself. All the tough times and struggles has built me to who I am today. I didn’t pack up and give up during the hard times. Instead I kept learning different aspects of the jewelry industry to build self growth. 

NEW Lil’ girls fancy bracelets for Spring

What is a typical day like in the studio for you?

There are not enough hours in a day! I break my daily tasks by the hour to accomplish roles such as: email marketing, content strategy, website maintenance, photography, CAD designing and much more. Addition to Vi Ling, I am also a consultant for a jewelry insurance company. With that, it requires a lot of economic research of diamonds, color gemstones, gold and all sectors of the jewelry market. 

NEW! Popular Vi Ling Front to Back style earrings featuring cultured pearls and rough diamonds set in oxidized silver. 

What is the hardest part of your creation process?

At times, the creation process can take longer than expected when a client wants a custom piece giving me the 100% creative freedom. For new clients, it can be challenging to design a piece to their liking or matching their life style. Sometimes clients wants something generic, but I want to put a creative twist to it. Finding that balance can be time consuming and prolongs the process from start to finish of their custom jewelry piece. 

How has your style changed over time?

As I’ve gotten older, my style has changed. I’m not scared of incorporating gemstones into my demi-fine jewelry collection which has also evolved my design style. Crafting jewelry with quality metals, accents of natural gemstones, mean while keeping price conscious is my main objective. Earrings has become my best sellers so I have concentrate in adding to the collection. 

What’s your favorite item that you’re created, and why?

My favorite item is the “Front to Back earrings” These earrings can be worn from day to evening and it incorporates all the elements that I follow by in my collections. Modern - Fashion Forward - Classic

Anything new in the works?

Last year I added an in house CAD service for my clients custom creations. This coming month, the addition to one-on-one CAD design services, I will also be providing 3D jewelry mock ups for my clients. This add on service provides extra love and attention to creating their Forever Love Story. 

Is there anything else that you would like to share?

I love Hello Kitty, Pomeranians, llamas, character art of asian culture, harajuku street fashion and anything pink and cute. That is where you will see a bit of my sweet and dainty side in my designs especially for the Lil’ Girls jewelry collection. 

Catch Vi Ling Designs at Jackalope Pasadena on April 27th & 28th, 2024.

Website: www.vilingdesigns.com

Instagram: @vilingdesigns

Where are you from and does that affect your work?  

Nathan Eigenfeld of EigenVisison

I currently live in Colorado, but am a avid road warrior. It’s a part of my process, I am on the road 5 months out of the year. Living in the mountains helps me connect with nature and feeds my process. One of my favorite artists is Mark Rothko, known for his outstanding color block images. I’ve tried to channel his style into my photography. 

How do you define success as an artist?

Success for me is making people feel- anything, it doesn’t matter - awe, inspiration, emptiness, loneliness, despair, hope, love - whatever. Color seems to simplify feelings.

What is the hardest part of your creation process?

The hardest part for my creation process is the alone time. Many of these images have been created on multi-day backcountry wilderness treks while alone. That’s where I can let myself create the best and let my intuition guide me. Despite it giving me a sense of freedom, overcoming physical challenges alone in the wilderness can be daunting, and yet, it is ultimately rewarding as well.

How has your style changed over time?

My style is always evolving, but I have certainly settled into a minimalist style, emphasizing empty space. It has been fulfilling to have people identify with this.

What’s your favorite image that you’ve created, and why?

One of my favorite images I’ve created is my silhouetted image of Joshua Trees. It was at a time when I was unsure of my process and was struggling to “Be Myself” - which I’ve named the image. I shot it during a brilliant pink sunrise just off the road in Joshua Tree National Park in December of 2021. I absolutely love how the silhouette emphasizes the quirkiness of the trees, all different and disjointed in their own ways - they have no issues being themselves.

And finally, what do you love most about Pasadena?

Having attended Pasadena fair last spring, I fell in love with the energy of the downtown - a destination for such a diversity of people. Californians love their art and are not afraid to buy things on the street! Selling photos of pure wilderness in a city setting is rewarding and can even feel like a sort of ministry to me, reminding people of what’s ‘out there’ beyond the concrete and hustle and bustle. I am looking forward to this Fall’s market!

Catch EigenVision at Jackalope Pasadena on November 18th & 19th!

Website: www.nathaneigenfeld.com

Instagram: @eigenvision

Where are you from and does that affect your work?  

We live in Orange County and could not be more grateful for the amazing women in business we have met through building a strong presence in the local community. These relationships have brought us events, partnerships, and sponsorships which are so vital for local businesses like ours. 

Who/what are your biggest artistic influences?

Both my business partner and I had unique permanent jewelry experiences on girls trips in Seattle and Nashville and fell in love with the concept. As for our artistic influences? Our customers! The custom creations they make with us never cease to amaze us and we love seeing what they come up with or what they came in wearing. We strive to make our brand unique to us and encompass who we are and how we want to impact our communities. 

How do you define success as an artist?

Success is doing work that you love. It’s choosing to get up each day and participate in a life you truly enjoy. Getting to work with our customers and get creative bring us both so much joy! We love that Parker J allows us to do that!

What is the hardest part of your creation process?

We wouldn’t say anything is particularly hard, it’s more about finding the right fit and chain for our customers. We get to be a part of their process in curating the perfect piece for them. It’s one of the best parts of our job.

How has your style changed over time?

When we first started our company in 2022, we stuck to dainty pieces, which are very typical in the Permanent Jewelry industry. However, we chose to branch out and try bolder styles, calling them “statement chains”, and they’ve been a hit so far. We’ve added many charms and connectors along the way, and have even changed up our chains every few months. Our most recent addition has been colored enamel chains that we plan to drop for each season. They’ve been a hit! It keeps our collection, new and fresh.

As for our newest service at Parker J, we just added a customizable charm bar that brings back the nostalgia of building your very own charm bracelet or necklace. Customers get to choose from hundreds of unique charms to create something that’s very meaningful to them. It has been so fun to see what people choose, and we love putting it together for them and seeing their reactions!

Custom Dip Lariat

What’s your favorite item that you’re created, and why?

We love creating custom pieces. One of our favorite pieces that we’ve created is our dip lariat. These are custom order only & we absolutely love creating them for our customers.

Is there anything special that you would like to share?

We are just grateful to share what we love to do with others and are hoping to get more people styled and stacked by us at Parker J!

What do you love about Pasadena?

Pasadena has this perfect blend of old-school charm and modern vibe that we just love. Whether it’s grabbing coffee at a cozy spot or strolling through the tree-lined streets, there’s always something new to discover.

Catch Parker J Jewelry at Jackalope Pasadena on November 9th & 10th.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/parkerj.pj

Instagram: @parkerj.pj

Daili Shang

Where are you from and how does that affect your work?

I am from China. I majored in Physics. Being an Asian descendent who was forced into a career which didn't bring joy to me makes me understand those who want to be true to themself. I promote pursuing one's dream and self-care in my work. 

We love that mission. How did you get your start? 

I majored in physics in college because that’s one of the “society approved” majors in Asian culture. I’ve always loved art and the great outdoors. I wanted to be true to myself and started exploring art and a more flexible lifestyle after I graduated.

What are your biggest artistic influences?

My biggest artistic influences are the problems we face every day. I try to use a humorous tone to address the problems and use my art to let people know that this is okay. We will get through this. In the meantime, take a deep breath and take care of yourself.

Love that. How do you define success as an artist?

A successful artist is progressing compared to herself/himself/themselves. A successful artist has the freedom to create what makes herself/himself/themselves happy.

What is the hardest part of your creation process? 

To slow down and recharge to create better work.

It can be hard to step a way at times. What is a typical day like in the studio for you? 

I reply to emails in the morning. I spend most of my day learning and practicing as I’m a self-taught artist and I’m only in the second year of making art. There is a ton to learn. 

How has your style changed over time?

I intentionally make my style simpler and more stylized over time.

What’s your favorite item that you’re created, and why?

My favorite piece is the national park sign which says "some who wander are lost and that is okay too". I love that I altered Tolkien's saying and made it my own version. Many people get courage and spend time to explore more from this new version. This piece is also clever in the sense that a national park sign is supposed to tell you where you are, but this sign tells you that you are lost and that is okay.

As someone who’s attended fairs in multiple Jackalope cities, what do you love most about Pasadena?

I love the mountains in Pasadena. The authentic Chinese food in San Gabrielle village comes to a close second.

And how about (Arvada) Colorado?! I love nature. I love bicycle riding in Colorado.

Now we can’t wait for you to be a part of our Burbank event and see all that this great city has to offer as well.

And finally, is there anything special you would like to add?

I started my art journey in my 30s two years ago. I am a full-time artist now. I want to let those who want to pursue their dream but in doubt know that you just have to start. The rest will take care of itself. 

My work can also be found at Ten Women Gallery at 2719 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405. 

Catch Shang Daili at the Downtown Burbank Arts Festival on December 7th & 8th, 2024.

Website: www.shangdaili.com/

Instagram: @shang_daili

Michaela Vae Walton

Where are you from and how does that affect your work?  

Hi! I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Growing up I was surrounded by nature, whether it was our big magnolia tree in our backyard that served as the safe zone in a game of tag or the wide open woods of my grandparents house, knee high grass, trees, and flowers surrounded me.  Nature feels like home and it affects every aspect of my work.  I see my art in nature, the textures, the colors, the movement, how the wind bends and sways the plants.  When creating with flowers I try to embody nature's natural movements and textures.  What I grew up surrounded by is in every aspect of my art.

That sounds like an absolutely beautiful place to grow up. Who are your biggest artistic influences?

My biggest artistic influences are my mom and grandmother, the two of them instilled in me a love of flowers.  They owned their own floral and home décor business called The Town Peddler. Their creativity and way of viewing the world shapes who I am.  Seeing beauty in a weed, how a stick can create movement in an arrangement, how statement flowers should be in odd numbers, and that everything always needs a touch of red.  They are the strongest and bravest people and I owe all that I am to them.

How do you define success as an artist?

I think success is defined by being able to create.  I feel success when I finish an arrangement or when I feel in the groove while creating a wreath.  My idea of success is doing what I love.  When I am in my garage making things with my hands, I feel an immense amount of joy, often skipping into my house yelling, “I’m so happy!” and I really am, that to me is success.

Does your art help you in other areas of your life?

My art helps me in every aspect of my life.  I find myself always looking for inspiration, I love seeing plants growing from the concrete, I think the way they grow wild and free anywhere is inspiring, it helps remind me in life that everything will be okay and to always grow wherever you find yourself planted. 

How have you developed your skill at your craft?

People always say practice makes perfect and it's true, the more times I create something the better it gets. I have been creating things with flowers for years and the work is always improving.  I also read a lot, I have many books on flowers, the art of wreaths, flower recipe books etc, and they are filled with techniques and practices that better shape my work.  Also, a lot of hours spent on pinterest, I think it's wonderful to see other people's work and skill, it is inspiring and there is so much to learn from others.

What is the hardest part of your creation process?

The hardest part of my creation process is often the final small details, I work with delicate subject matter, dry flowers can break or crumble and it is a material that needs to be handled with care.  It’s the last little details that are often the hardest parts, intricately threading a piece can be tedious and time consuming but it is in those little details that really count.

How has your style changed over time?

My style has definitely become more wild with time, I love a lot of movement in my pieces and the wild bits of palm or curly willow sticking out have become a signature for me.  At first I was focused on how I can cover this wreath form and with time and experience it has become more about how I can make this product look like it's been blown by the wind or about how different textures of flowers accentuate the other.

What’s the best thing about being an artist?

The best thing about being an artist is the joy I have in self expression.  I pour out who I am into every piece I create, everything I make is a little love letter.  It’s the best feeling in the world to be making something with the idea that it will spark joy for someone else.  A little kindness, a smile, a happy tear, I feel all those things in being an artist and it's my life's greatest joy to share it.

What’s your favorite item that you’re created, and why?

My favorite thing I have ever created is this wreath I made a few years ago for my mom.  I foraged the greenery from her backyard and made it sitting in my parents driveway.  It still hangs in their living room.  I love it because it was early on in my journey of wreath making and it's made from home for the person who inspired it all. It has a peacock feather (which wasn’t foraged!) that represents my mawmaw, and I will always love this little wreath.  It has taken me a few years to get where I am now but this wreath is filled with love and gratitude to my mom.

What do you love most about Burbank?

Burbank is my home. I live here and I love it deeply.  I love that Burbank feels like a small neighborhood in the middle of a big city.  I love that Burbank celebrates small business and community.  My full time profession is an Assistant Director in the film industry so I love that work can sometimes just be a short drive from home.  I love that Burbank was a safe space for my boyfriend and I when we first came to LA (before even officially moving here).  Burbank is truly my happy place, on Magnolia everyday can be Halloween, the mountains make me feel as if I live in the Shire, and some of the greatest stories ever told are made down the street.

 Anything special you’d like to share? 

All of my creations are made with recycled flowers, they start as fresh arrangements and are then dried out in my garage, my vases are recycled cans that I patchwork.  I'm doing my best to make art more sustainable.  I hope that it can bring you a smile, a small bit of joy that feels like home.  My art is intended to make us all check in and ask, how are you bud?

See How are you Bud in person at the Downtown Burbank Arts Festival on June 3rd & 4th!

Instagram: how.are.you.bud

How did Stray Cat Alliance get its start?

Stray Cat Alliance started 21 years ago with one homeless kitten named Chloe. One cat needed care and support in a time when none was easily found. One cat was the catalyst of over 150,000+ lives saved over two decades. Today, we are still going strong and saving more lives than ever before. Every cat we save is a reminder of a time when cats and kittens were overlooked and is a recommitment to our mission of ensuring every cat is safe, healthy, and valued.

Where and how does the rescue get involved when saving a cat? 

Stray Cat Alliance has many programs that focus on lifesaving. One of the most successful programs is Safe at Home. Safe at Home empowers community members to serve as foster care givers, playing an integral part in saving animal lives. At the South Los Angeles shelter, Stray Cat Alliance community engagement counselors intercept people, before kittens and cats are impounded, and mentor and support them as fosters, providing training on all aspects from bottle feeding through adoption. We also supply all food and medical care. This is one of the few programs of its kind in the United States. It shouldn’t be. We would like to expand to as many communities as we can.

That is amazing. What is a typical day like working with the rescue?

Stray Cat Alliance is an incredible lifesaving team, from cat care, through the clinic, to our admin and program staff. Each day is full of hard work, dedication and lots of love that helps us achieve our lifesaving goals. We are very grateful for our donors, supporters, fosters and volunteers, too!

How do you define success as a non-profit?

Success is being able to save a furry life everyday and finding them a forever home.

Yes, love that! Does your work with Stray Cat help you in other areas of your life?

You learn so much about rescue, spay/neuter, cat care and medical care while working at Stray Cat Alliance. It's wonderful to be able to provide this experience, knowledge, and support to friends and family.

What is the hardest part of your job with Stray Cat Alliance?

Refraining from wanting to take home every cat and kitten that we save!

That would be hard! Can you tell us more about the process behind adoption and fostering?

Stray Cat Alliance Adoption Program:

Stray Cat Alliance's adoption program provides foster and forever homes for cats and kittens found on the streets through their Trap / Neuter / Return (TNR) program, impounded at the shelter, or from hotline requests for support when cats are faced with being taken to shelters or abandonment. Many cats from their other programs feed into their adoption program. Each cat and kitten receives veterinary care (spay/neuter, vaccines, testing, check-ups, microchips) until a permanent, loving home is secured.

Stray Cat Alliance Foster Program:

Whether your home is small or large, you live alone or have other animals, we have cats and kittens who need your help and will thrive under your care. We rescue nearly two thousand cats and kittens every year and rely on our fosters to help us care for them until they’re adopted. The more fosters we have, the more lives we can save.

Website page for adopting and fostering with Stray Cat Alliance: https://straycatalliance.org/adopt-and-foster/ 

Do you have a favorite story or moment from the rescue?

We recently rescued the cutest 8 week old kitten who we named John Belushi. He was on IV fluids, antibiotics and in oxygen for sever upper respiratory infection and pneumonia. After several weeks of critical care with our team, our litte fur-angel made a full recovery. He began walking, eating and breathing on his own. We never gave up on believing in little John Belushi. That is our lifesaving mission.

Any additional success stories we can share?

THIS STORY REALLY WARMS OUR PAWS! 💜

A big-hearted ❤️ community member went to the local shelter looking for help and guidance with two kittens that he found.

He had zero kitten supplies and purchased cat food from the closest store in order to put a little food in their bellies.

We told him that we would provide him with supplies and food if he was willing to foster the kittens 😻 until they are adopted, so he wouldn’t have to worry about purchasing supplies.

This is a photo of the community member holding our @CatalystPet donation because it is lightweight, and he was already carrying a few other cat supplies home on the bus. We asked him if the donations were too heavy for him to take, and he said, "He would manage!" What a sweetheart!

He was so grateful for our help and left confident that the kitties would be cared for with our support. We are never not amazed by how resilient and kind our community members can be. They go above and beyond to seek help for the kittens and cats, and we are very grateful to help!

Mellow & Alaska 😻 are available for adoption! Apply to Adopt from Stray Cat Alliance: https://bit.ly/adopt-sm

This is why your generous donations to Stray Cat Alliance are so important. Please consider donating from our Amazon or Chewy wish lists:

Amazon: https://a.co/a3MAeMQ

Chewy: https://bit.ly/3lcKhy6
Donate to our current lifesaving campaign, Kiss a Kitten this Season: https://bit.ly/kissakitten-ig23  

That makes us smile! We can’t wait to see you in person at Jackalope Pasadena!

Where to see more of Stray Cat Alliance:

Website | straycatalliance.org

Instagram | @straycatalliance

Dana and Gary

How did you get your start?
It all started during the pandemic when I took some homemade samples that our parents made for the house to a notary signing appointment for a client whom I was visiting for the second time. I decided to put them in a little ziploc baggy and asked if she wanted some. Originally, she rejected my offer as she's older in her 80s and thought it would be hard for her teeth. When I then offered it to her son who was also present, she decided to try it and loved the honey glazed walnuts and asked how she could buy some for friends and family for the holidays. I told her they weren't for sale and I would have to go home to ask my mother in law if she would make them to sell to people. I went home and told her an older lady wants to buy her nutz. Since a complete stranger enjoyed the product, we decided to continue testing the product (honey glazed walnuts) with friends and family where we got positive feedback so that's when we knew there was something there for a business idea.

Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

Our favorite part of the process is getting to quality control taste the nutz to make sure they are of great quality for our customers.

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

Our days can be long as Dem' Nutz takes a detailed process to make. They include us sourcing the best walnuts or pecans first, then we boil our nutz to clean them, then they roast on slow heat for several hours, then they get glazed over the stovetop, then immediately pulled apart so they are in individual pieces, and lastly they get bagged. The entire process is hand made by us.

Love that. What inspires you to create?

Our parents because this is their own recipe for the honey glazed walnuts that we're now sharing with the world. Once we began, we knew we needed other flavors and nutz so we added the honey glazed pecans and spicy honey walnuts. The response we get from the customers when they taste our samples for the first time motivates us to continue making Dem' Nutz as there's nothing out there with the addictively delicious flavor like our nutz.

Do you have a favorite item you have made?

Besides our delicious nutz, we have some merchandise and our favorite item we came up with is the Customized Nut Sac to hold the nutz as a gift set.

Too funny! What will you be bringing to the festival?

We have honey glazed walnuts, honey glazed pecans, spicy honey walnuts, Dem' Nutz t-shirts, Stress Nutz and Customized Nut Sack.

Anything special you would like to add?

Come by our booth for a nut shot and have a great laugh!

We can’t wait to see you in person this May 14th & 15th for the Downtown Burbank Arts Festival!

Where to see more of Dem’Nutz

Website | www.Dem-Nutz.com

Instagram | @omgdemnutz

Do you have a story behind your company name?

Our founders names are Ailing and Marissa, so AM is the combination of the first letter of our names. What’s the most important, we love sunrise, so am always means hopeful, active and optimistic to us, JUST like what we want to bring to our customers with our jewelries.

Love that double meaning. How did you get your start?
After graduating from Academy of Art University’s School of Jewelry & Metal Arts; we worked in different jewelry companies for years, which gave us more valuable experience of jewelry business. We launched our brand in 2018 with wearability at the forefront of our design approach. Using traditional goldsmith techniques, we craft trendy jewelry at an accessible price point.

Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

Of course the creation part! Illustrating our ideas effectively is essential to keeping our design pipeline moving and in keeping the store stocked with new designs :)

I bet it is very satisfying to see it all come to life! What is a typical day like in the studio for you?

The first thing we do is A CUP OF COFFEE lol. Then we starting fulfilling our orders, because we’re very thankful to our customers who support us. Never want them to wait too long for their orders. No matter how busy we are, we always use one hour to work on new designs.

Love that. What inspires you to create?

Anything can inspire us! Movies, books, flowers, animals, the artworks from the artists we like, and even small things that happen during the day can give us inspiration. A notebook is very helpful, so we can write down and illustrate our ideas.

Do you have a favorite item you have made?

This is my favorite item during our latest product. I think the idea of this necklace is so cute. In the front of the necklace, a large freshwater gives one of a kind shine with cute arms hugging it. In the back, there’s a print of the arms. It makes me smile whenever I see it. Gives the wearer a very warm and helpful feeling. I think this is a necklace we need during a pandemic.

What will you be bringing to the festival?

We’ll bring our newest designs to Burbank. Some of them are not even updated on our website! Included is our newest pearl collection, hand printed enamel collection and a lot of cool designs!

We can’t wait to see you in person this May 14th & 15th for the Downtown Burbank Arts Festival!

Where to see more of A.M Jewelry Studio

Website | AMJEWELRYSTUDIO.COM

Instagram | @a.m.jewelrystudio

Do you have a story behind your company name?

Yes! My dog Elvis was the stinkiest little guy, and so I used to call him stinky paws.

How cute! How did you get your start?
I learned to crochet when I was a kid and picked it up again when my dad passed in 2012. I learned that it was very therapeutic and then only crocheted occasionally.

Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

Watching it all come together and becoming something that I created.

Must be very satisfying. What serves as inspiration for you?

My boy Elvis and my parents; I miss them all so much.

What is a typical day like in the studio for you?

Chaotic. I work two part time jobs and trying to turn my passion into something I want to do full time is insane but totally possible.

Do you have a favorite item you have made?

I think my favorite piece is the cat house I made. I used a lamp frame and made a cat like sleeve over it; creating a cat house.

What will you be bringing to the festival?

Crocheted items for fur babies, their pawrents and many other items!

We can’t wait to see you in person this May 14th & 15th for the Downtown Burbank Arts Festival!

Where to see more of Crochet for Stinky Paws:

Instagram | @Crochet_for_stinky_paws

Do you have a story behind your company name?

My father has always been proud of his last name, so naturally I became just as proud and that’s how OLIVO was founded.

We love that! How did you get started?

I was slowing down with being a fashion photographer when my daughter was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and I needed a creative outlet. I knew how much I loved handbags and spent thousands per year purchasing them so I decided I wanted to learn how to make my own!

That is so cool! What inspires you to create?

I get inspired by all sorts of things. Many times it’s simply practicality. We all need practical items in our lives to make our lives easier.

Very true. Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

Every project has a different favorite part. Personal projects, favorite part = getting it done! Work, client projects = favorite part is coming up with a new idea that actually works the first time around. Picking out the right leather for projects and having great hardware that I know will last the test of time excites me!

What is a typical day like in the studio for you?

A typical day in the studio is getting organized to get work done. I don’t work well with anything being disorganized.

Elysian Bag

Do you have a favorite item you have created?

My newest favorite item is The Elysian Bag. I love it so much because of it’s minimal look but classic design that I created from start to finish really quickly and got it right the first time!

Do you have anything special that you will be bringing to Jackalope?

This will be the first time I will be bringing saddle stitched leather goods to Jackalope which is exciting. I will also be bringing some new block printed goods like stationary and small accessories that make great stocking stuffers.

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

I miss meeting my clients in real life and being able to talk to them about my process and getting excited with them about my products. I look forward to being able to be back in a collective space with fellow artisans and others that appreciate our work.

What do you love most about California, any special memories about Burbank?

I remember my first trip to Los Angeles very clearly in 2001. I fell in LOVE immediately with the mountains and the weather. In 2002 I made it my home. Since moving to LA I have always been a “valley girl” and I wouldn’t change that. Burbank is a sweet suburb where we always join our friends for Halloween because it’s always so festive and fun.

We can’t wait to see you in person this December 11th & 12th in Downtown Burbank.

Where to see more of Olivo:

Website | byraquelolivo.com

Instagram | @byraquelolivo