Featured Seller: chewingthecud

chewingthecud

Story by chewingthecud

Published on Dec 03, 2010 in Shop

Photo by Anna Kuperberg

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Viola Sutanto Ting and I am a designer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I run a design studio called chewing the cud, and share a workspace with my husband who runs a branding agency, Elephant. When I first started my studio, I was mostly working on branding and identity projects. Since then, the studio has evolved into a creative space that offers more services like event concepts and product development.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

My husband and I are both avid athletes so a large part of our lives are spent outdoors running, playing hoops, or hiking. We love to travel, explore new restaurants and watch films. I’d be happy as a clam to spend all day rummaging through bookstores and flea markets. We welcomed our little girl, Maika, a few months ago and since then, our lifestyles have really changed! Between work and a baby, there’s not much time left for anything else. Weekends are usually spent at the farmers’ markets, cooking at home, and relishing life as a family.

What first made you want to become an artist?

I still struggle with the “artist” label as I consider myself to be a designer. However, I feel that there is an artist in everyone. Most of my work is targeted to a specific audience, to solve a problem or a need. Growing up, I knew I was creative, but it never occurred to me that I could make a living in the visual field. That scenario seemed like a luxury that I could not afford. Not long after graduating from business school and a short stint in the financial industry, I became more informed about the graphic design profession. I decided to go for it and haven’t looked back since.

FS_chewingthecud_1.jpgPlease describe your creative process.

I know this sounds so cliché, but inspiration comes from everywhere: literature, a fleeting scene from a film, an overheard conversation on the train, venturing to unexplored places, revisiting old favourite haunts, or running (I do this a lot when I hit a roadblock). I think the key is to keep an open mind and be playful. Don’t discount random or seemingly mundane thoughts, but also learn to edit during the design process.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?

There are quite a few, but one of them is a handwritten letter from my best friend that he packaged beautifully in an old bottle with his illustrations on the outer box.

What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?

Make products you feel passionate about, and make them with the level of craft that would make you proud. Presentation is key; style your photos well. Be ethical in your business dealings, with customers and peers. Play nice — integrity goes a long way!

What are your favorite features on Etsy? What new features would you like to see?

I wish I could spend more time discovering these features. The treasuries are cool, and they foster a sense of community. I like the simplicity of the listing feature, but I wish there was a way to “batch” them so that it’s faster to list similar type of items.

FS_chewingthecud_2.jpgHow do you promote your work?

Word-of-mouth marketing and social media (my blog, Facebook and Twitter) have proven to be effective. The press has been very kind to me, which I’m grateful for. It’s also about getting your work out there through different avenues, not just through direct retail or wholesale. Think licensing, royalties, co-branding, and collaborations. However, at the end of the day, despite the rampant use of electronic media, it’s really the long-term human relationships that count.

In ten years, where would you like to be?

I aspire to have a thriving business, a better grasp of creating balance between life and work, and enjoy the two big loves of my life — my husband and daughter.

Featured Seller Archive

Discuss: 186 comments

Seller's Items

186 comments

Sign in to add your own