My name is Lindsey, and I am a machinist and designer in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. This city is home to my retail store Lucca Laser Workshop. Combining Shop + Studio, you can see how all the magic happens when you come to my retail location!
Lucca, a city in NW Italy, is the center for the rich agriculture of the Alder tree. Alder wood, the pioneer of wood grain for my shop, remains the staple element in many of my products throughout my store. The sheets of Alder are baked, pressed and sealed for durability and sustainability.
Growing up in my fathers machine shop, I was in awe of the precision cuts, mathematical detail and raw smells that these machines were able to create. With my love for linear design and symmetrical detail, I took my knowledge for machining and my love for functional, natural design to create my own niche of wood cuts, specialized gifts and unique accessories.
Each and every piece in my shop is created from natural wood and recycled paper. From the packaging to the tiny details inscribed on the back, it is all created by me. Long hours are spent designing, engraving, sanding, scrubbing and packaging every item.
My inspiration and drive actually comes from my passions outside of my business. The importance of maintaining an active social environment outside of my work really allows me to approach each day with a new feeling of exuberance. Moving my studio to the heart of the city allows me to take daily walks to adore the architecture of the city, take my shop dog to the dog park or allow myself the relaxation of opening my large shop doors and sketching new designs on the couch. A weekly visit to the neighboring small shops allows me to explore what is on the market, converse with other educated business owners and observe how others find their passion and motivation!
My main inspiration? My father. Hands down my father. Or should I say my family. My father raised me on the power of entrepreneurship, precision design and love for the constant search of knowledge and expansion. He taught me to never ignore my instinct or deny an idea/design no matter how simple or obscure or difficult. He also ingrained in my mind that sometimes you need to relax your brow, step away from what you're doing, and grab an ice cream cone :)
The best part about Etsy, for myself, is learning time management and discipline through my creative process. Allowing my mind the time and space to expand and explore new avenues all while maintaining current orders, taking new photography, responding promptly and thoroughly to customers AND running a retail business can seem painfully taxing on the mind. But with the ease of Etsy, they have allowed me to feel confident in the spot light with consistent informative emails, a VERY supportive Forum for conversing about issues, and they have allowed me the freedom to quit my day job and start doing what I love with the ease of their user-friendly database!
As a young woman starting a small business, it has been nothing short of hectic, but the freedom to succeed starts when you allow yourself the room for trial & error. Alleviating expectations can be difficult, but having confidence in your successes and designs will allow others the room to believe in you as well.
Shop Small!!
<< www. LuccaWorkshop .com