Tell us a bit about yourself (name, location,
affiliations, personal stuff).
My name is Suzanne Stallard and I live in Reading UK, with my family comprising of a guitar playing carpenter husband, one set of creative and eccentric 10 year old twins, 2 mad cats and a rescue dog in a old victorian draughty terrace house.
I trained as a Fine Artist graduating in '92, specialising in painting, film and photography and have been making all sorts of things ever since then. I set up an artists co-operative in '93 of a gallery space with studios, which has developed and changed over three different properties, which will finally culminate in a new space in 2008 with over 5,000 sq ft of gallery, education space, artists resources and makers space. I work with young and emerging artists and arts organisations, being a mentor, working on their strategic development and helping them create their dreams.. the best job ever.... but always with my knitting needles, camera and sketch book with me, just in case. I was introduced to Etsy by one of my knitting friends knitwit in October 2005 and I have loved watching the Etsy world change and grow.
I am a geek about so many things and have weird oddities but am the proud owner of a rocking set of t-shirts and too many stashes of yarn then anyone would ever need in a lifetime (sssh, don't tell my husband).
What is the first thing you can remember making
by hand? How and why did you make it?
The first knitted thing I made was, yes you are right, a scarf... the most painful early experience ever as it seemed to take a long time and I managed to make an accidental wavy edge and holes in it but it held together - I can't remember how old I was but I was very young. Apart from that I just really remember painting and loving colour and being glad when it was a rainy day so we could stay inside and get the paints out.
What inspires you? Where do your ideas come
from?
I am inspired every single day, my head hurts sometimes as there are so many ideas and my sketch books are full of potential waiting to come out. I am inspired by films, books, everyday life, paintings I see, people I meet, often things I make are inspired by one specific person. I have a collection of objects I find and my house is wheezing at the sides full with odd things that I love so I just get to look around sometimes and make something new. Random inspirations before have come from Mork (from Mork and Mindy), Johnny Rotten form the Sex Pistols, Joan of Arc, Bridget Riley, Pippi Longstocking and Johnny Depp ala Edward Scissorhands so an eclectic mix from an often mis-spent youth.
What are your favorite materials?
Colour would have to be my favourite material, in all it's forms, paint, yarn - and I am never without my sketchbook and a Venus pencil, just in case.. my camera, always with me, the amazing yarn that I buy of some great etsy sellers, wooden knitting needles and strange old boxes that I find.
What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists on Etsy?
Be yourself, love what you do and make what you love - it is not as easy as looking at a best seller and saying they sell because they make these so if I do I will be... it is all about passion, with a good chunk of great customer service, good photos, individuality and fantastic products...yep, that should do it!
Why should people buy handmade?
Because it is made with soul and integrity, it is not about a quick buck but people make things because they love it and I love the idea of buying a gift for someone that has been made with love, care, attention and detail. So many Etsy sellers go out of their way to deliver not just an amazing product but the packaging and communications make it all that extra bit special.
What features/services would you most like to see on Etsy?
As so many other people have said, I'd love to see Alchemy back - that is one of my most favourite things to make things specifically for an individual and Alchemy was a great tool for doing that. The other thing I'd love to see is a currency convertor.
Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I belong to an artists group called Hang-On Mondays, where we hang out together (on a Monday!) and Outcast, another group of artists that make things on a Wednesday and also hanging out with the UK street team in the real world and on the forums. I love to walk by the sea, make things with the kids (every day is set up as if it is a rainy day here) walk the dog, look at amazing things either at art shows or strange little markets, obsessively visit this indie cafe by me called Picnic to eat cake and sometimes sleep.
Read any good books lately?
I have just read The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell which kept me entranced and with the children I have been reading Coraline by Neil Gaiman because we like reading books of a dark nature. In my job I get to read a lot of Art Periodicals but one I buy personally for myself is Selvedge which is stunning.
In ten years I'd like to be...
doing more of the same, being inspired and meeting inspirational people but preferably living nearer the sea. |
