Featured Seller: ReadyGo

ReadyGo

Story by ReadyGo

Published on Mar 18, 2011 in Shop

Photo by ReadyGo

Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Nadia Marks Wojcik and I am an artist and maker-of-things living in Pittsburgh, PA with my husband and two funny dogs. I am an art, design, music and food lover and a proud, but not pushy, vegetarian. I have a fine arts and graphic design degree from a university. Since a formal career in the field has never materialized, I am making my own. I am also the person behind the shop Oh, Hello There.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
As relatively new residents in this city, my husband and I love going to new places and eating at new restaurants here in Pittsburgh. We’re amazed at how much we still haven’t done. I spend as much time as possible outdoors, being with friends, meeting new people, making a mess in the kitchen and being a supportive wife, sister, daughter and friend. I make it a point to try to get outside with the dogs every day. I also work full time as a nanny during the day for an adorable little girl.

What would be the title of your memoir? Why?
The title of my memoir would be “Ready Go.” I’ve always lived with the tendency to jump and allow the net to appear; running with an idea or new experience and seeing where it takes me. This can lead to amazing new discoveries and, of course, complete disasters, but I’ve never regretted it. And because “Just Do It” has a copyright, of course.

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Where does your inspiration come from?
Inspiration comes from everywhere and everything: people, places, nature, the city, animals, food. But I’ve found many of my best ideas have come out of complete necessity. I’d never really thought too much about cake toppers or business cards until I needed one.

What does handmade mean to you?
Handmade means something made by hand, sometimes for someone you love and sometimes for a complete stranger. The best part of handmade is that the object gives just as much satisfaction to the recipient as it did to the maker during its production. Pretty amazing, right?

Who has been most influential in your craft?
Topping the list are my parents, who once disassembled an entire church by hand in order to salvage all of its pieces, who showed me how to work hard and keep going even if the job seems too big. Also, my amazing sisters who have been my best friends and biggest fans, as well as my husband, who believes I can do anything. I wouldn’t be anywhere without a few great friends and my customers. I hate to admit it, I wouldn’t be the same person now if it weren’t for that college degree and a handful of really amazing instructors.

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When did you know you were an artist/maker?
Like most artists and makers, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t making something. My family is full of all kinds of creative people and that has no doubt given me the tendency to be creative and have an interest in all kinds of craft. It seems many creative people, myself included, are hesitant to give themselves the title of artist. A certain amount of time, experience and confidence in my work made me much more comfortable calling myself an artist, even though I truly feel that everyone is an artist in some way.

How would you describe your creative process?
For the most part, ideas come to me like the light bulb epiphany in cartoons, and I’ve found I am most inspired by patterns, texture, colors and shape. I will usually keep the idea in my head for weeks or months before sketching it or bouncing the idea off of my sister, husband or friend. Then I make a mock up or draw it on the computer and do trial runs until I either find something that works or discover it doesn’t work at all and start the process again.

If you could peek inside the studio of any artist, designer or craftsman (dead or alive), who would it be?
For reasons I can’t fully explain, I have always been fascinated with Marcel Duchamp and the readymades. I don’t find the aesthetic properties of that body of work very interesting, but the thought process involved is interesting. I would love to see it happen.

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What handmade possession do you most cherish?
If you’ve ever made something for me, I can promise you it is one of my favorite possessions. Some of my favorites are a Princess Furball doll my mom made for me for my birthday, a box of ornaments my dad made us for our wedding, and a ring my sister made.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?
When I’m stuck or frustrated, I go for a walk, go somewhere new, eat new and different food, or sometimes just take a break to watch some bad TV.

Where would you like to be in ten years?
In ten years I would like to be happy, healthy, co-owner of an independent cinema, mother to a boy and a girl, well-traveled and still making things, just in a much larger space.

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