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Lauren Venell is an independent toy designer + artist from San Francisco, whose wonderfully kitschy Sweet Meats  plush toys are scattered across stores all over North America and Europe. She’s also the co-founder and programming director for the Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs , and teaches small business workshops around the Bay Area. As if that weren’t enough, Lauren also writes for design*sponge , acts as the Indie Business columnist for the Bazaar Bizarre SF blog , and maintains her own stellar blog. She also owns an ornery parrotlet named Elvis. But that’s a story for another time.

We are stoked to the max to feature Lauren Venell today, as part of our Small Batch Story series.

We're so curious about how you developed your signature style, and why you decided to focus on toys & other playful adornments. Who — or what — inspired you, at the beginning of your design career?

I am hopelessly drawn to things with a colorful, playful aesthetic. There's something so fascinating about how bright, shiny objects beg to be both touched and carefully preserved.  Childhood objects like toys and sweets exploit that tension to the fullest — just consider the beautifully decorated cookie that's almost too pretty to eat, or the fluffy white teddy bear that wants so badly to be snuggled but that you're afraid to get dirty. I strive to capture this tension by making everything I design both pristine and irresistible.

The inspiration to become a professional toy designer actually came from a 1994 New York Times Magazine article that profiled Galoob's creation of its "Sky Dancer" toys.  As a high schooler, the entire process was fascinating to me, and it was a revelation that toy design could be a legitimate career option.  The only job choices I had previously been exposed to were doctor, lawyer and teacher.  When I graduated college, I lined up a job to be a design assistant for a children's accessory company, but they could only pay me $7 an hour, which was impossible to live on in New York City. So I fell back on my training as a teacher, and taught middle school computer classes for six years while designing and selling toys on the side.  In 2007 I lost my classroom, but had a decent savings cushion, and so was able to return to toy design full-time.

Sweet Meats

You market your products through a variety of channels — online, offline, in schools, galleries and at conferences. How do you decide which tradeshows to enter, which websites to align with, and which opportunities to say "no, thanks" to?

This is something you really learn as you go. At first I said "yes" to almost everything, and made some expensive mistakes by paying too much for traditional forms of promotion like trade shows and print advertising.  What was infinitely more useful was taking my products door-to-door, approaching the buyers for any shop where my toys might fit in. Those buyers taught me (for free) that the market for my toys wasn't in standard toy or gift shops — it was at comic book shops, high-end pet stores, home design stores and fancy food shops. Galleries and museums also like to host my work, which is nice for "cred," but I sell very little in those venues. 

Mitch the Monster

One way to evaluate which opportunities to take and which ones to leave on the table is to do a quick cost-benefit analysis: how many subscribers does that blog have that wants you to do a giveaway? How many people attending that event represent your target audience? Could you achieve similar results with a smaller investment of time or money?  Most important to me, however, is whether the person approaching me is someone with whom I want to develop a working relationship. 

Really, though, the best opportunities aren't just there to accept or reject. You have to make them yourself. Approach the store you want to sell in, the publisher you want to write for, or the blog you want to feature you and let them know what you love about them, without asking for anything in return. If you are genuine in your interest and communication, things will often work out down the line. I've been hired by several wonderful clients just by showing them portfolio projects they have inspired. I never asked them to hire me, but when a job came up, I was already a natural fit.

If a brand-new designer asked you whether they should sell their wares in a retail setting, or wholesale, what would your sage wisdom be?

I myself am leaving the world of retail, since the shipping, bookkeeping and customer service are too much for me to do by myself, but it's a really good way to get started.  You get direct feedback on your products, learn what your retailers deal with on a daily basis, and figure out who your market is.  Wholesale is great, but it takes a while to get going, and is really a volume business.  If you don't have the resources to devote to a ton of inventory up front, it's probably a good idea to have some retail in there to start.

What tools have served your design business, over the years? Any technical (or organizational) recommendations for hobbyist designers who desperately wanna "go pro"?

A few of my favorite technology tools have been Mal's e-commerce shopping cart ($8/month and provides everything I need), Things by Cultured Code (a tagged to-do-list manager), Evernote, and Quickbooks.  I use Wordpress to power the back end of my portfolio site.

Last but not least: describe the kind of world you want to design.

Oh man, that's a really hard question. I guess the short answer is that I want to design a world that is not so disposable.  If we can get people to care more about what they consume — in other words, if we can make products that are well-made and meaningful accessible to more people — the world as a whole can put its energy towards fewer, more beautiful things, rather than the tsunamis of crap we're currently drowning in.

Find Lauren (and her fanciful creations) online at LaurenVenell.com.

PhotoCredits :: Lauren Venell

Small Batch Stories profiles artisinal designers, producers and manufacturers who are committed to local economies--and global good. If you'd like to share your Small Batch Story on Vianza.com, introduce yourself to editor@vianza.com.

Interviewed by Alexandra Franzen, Featured Contributor & Interview Wrangler. Say howdy on Twitter at @Alex_Franzen, or shoot a note to alexandra.franzen@vianza.com.
 

By her own admission, Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark spends her waking hours dyeing a spectrum of yarns, and her evenings dreaming up ways to use all those groovy colors. Not a bad life for a comic book-loving, belly-dancing, craft-tastic gal from Connecticut.

Mercedes is the main brains behind Kitchen Sink Dyeworks , as well as The Badass Yarn Club  -- a fiber-arts collective devoted to making the planet “better, brighter, kinder, and safer -- without having to thrash a single villain or dish out a roundhouse kick.” As if the Badass Yarn Club wasn’t, uh, badass enough, a portion of each month’s proceeds get pumped directly into the club’s selected charity o’ the month.

We’re delighted to feature the venerable Ms. Tarasovich-Clark (and her general bad-assery) as this week’s Small Batch Story.

Describe the type of world you want to design.

I want to design a world where people can feel secure, loved and safe. Where kids can have a good education and everyone has clean water, food, and basic health care. Where people's creativity and individuality can flourish in a way that nurtures their community as well as themselves.

The words "Yarn" and "Badass" don't typically sit in the same sentence. What inspired the formation of The Badass Yarn Club?

I was reading an article about finding the "voice" of your business, in order to narrow down a business' focus. Something KSD and our little family of core customers and helpers have in common is loving badass, righteous do-gooders. People doing the right thing, helping the little guy, making a difference. That is the best form of badass. So when it came time to think about a new project, the Badass Yarn Club was born!

Photo Credit :: KSD

You state that one of your goals is to "make our world better, brighter, kinder, and safer, without having to thrash a single villain or dish out a roundhouse kick." How are you striding towards that sizable goal?

Baby steps! The club is still in its growing stages, so while the donations we generate may not be world-changing in and of themselves, I like to think our collective voices and celebration of women kicking butt will shine a light on the good things we want for our world.

You donate a portion of each month's proceeds to a featured affiliate or charity. With so many worthy organizations to support, how do you choose who to give to?

While I do pick which women and charities to honor for the club, in the end, the honorees get to pick who gets the proceeds. They often get used for their own organizations, but sometimes the Badass Yarn Club members surprise me and pick other interesting non-profits! I'm always looking for organizations working to improve education, health care and quality of life. If readers know of any women working with organizations making the world better, I welcome nominations!

What's the biggest business lesson you've learned, since founding Kitchen Sink Dyeworks?

Roll with the punches. Fail and try again. Follow that crazy idea.
Basically, if you're building your own business, remember that it's yours! So if you have an idea, it’s worth pursuing as long as it has value TO YOU. It's OK to be cautious, but don't be afraid.

If you didn't run KSD, how would you spend your days?

I'd still be creating, and probably pursuing some non-profit projects. I tend to wander into opportunities rather than plot them out meticulously, so honestly, I could be anywhere! *throws dart at world map, packs suitcase*

Find Mercedes online at KitchenSinkDyeWorks.com, and on Twitter at @mercedesKSD. And check out her Badass Woman blog series , profiling saucy Yarn Club members with community-building superpowers.

Small Batch Stories profiles artisinal designers, producers and manufacturers who are committed to local economies--and global good. If you'd like to share your Small Batch Story on Vianza.com, introduce yourself to editor@vianza.com.

Interviewed by Alexandra Franzen, Featured Contributor & Interview Wrangler. Say howdy on Twitter at @Alex_Franzen, or shoot a note to alexandra.franzen@vianza.com.

Colleen Dougherty Bronstein  is an artist, clothing designer and metalsmith, whose work has been showcased everywhere from the White House in Washington D.C. to the Celestial Seasonings tea factory in Boulder, Colorado.

After being diagnosed with malignant melanoma, Colleen alchemized her considerable talents into a sun-safe clothing line, with a colorful, feminine spin. She is currently developing her next clothing line, which will feature block-printed images of the sun, sea and sand.

We’re honored to feature Colleen Dougherty Bronstein’s Small Batch Story, and share her insights on inspiration, creativity and artistic restraint.

In addition to crafting jewelry with metal and pearls, you've released a line of SunSafe clothing. What compelled you to dive into clothing design, and how does UV Protection fabric work?

I was diagnosed with melanoma, lived a very active outdoor lifestyle and wanted to continue to do all the summer things I love. I researched sun protection clothing and only came up with unisex and generic styles, and I needed something with some flair and color. UV protection fabric works to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. The Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) shows how well a fabric protects your skin from solar UV and lets you select sun protective clothing with confidence.

Sun Protection Sarong

You've stated that you're drawn to the ocean and the beach, and that color is your primary inspiration. Describe a perfect day of inspired creation, from dawn till dusk.

A perfect day of inspired creation is at those moments when I see everything around me with immense clarity. I am awed by the hues of the morning light and the colors projected from all that surrounds me. During midday the sun changes position, the lights are brighter, more intense and objects pop all around you. At day’s end the palette is softer, yet just as intense, and if you are connected to all things related to nature you will have tones, textures and colors to use in your next body of work…waiting to be created.

What's the biggest business lesson you've learned, throughout your award-winning artistic career?

That you -- the designer -- are not the customer. Therefore, there are times you must show restraint, pull a design back and allow the customer to have control.

If you weren't a metalsmith, jeweler and clothing designer, how would you spend your days?

I would probably still be creating in whatever capacity creating would take; the creation of a child, the creation of a beautiful, warm, safe home, and pursue those creations with the same depth of passion I am used to in my art.

Portrait of the Sea

Describe the type of world you want to design.

I would have to say a beautiful, warm, and safe world full of love and passion.

Find Colleen online at BronsteinArtwork.com or request a project quote or commissioned piece by emailing her at colleen@bronsteinartwork.com.            

Photo Credits :: Colleen Dougherty Bronstein

Small Batch Stories profiles artisinal designers, producers and manufacturers who are committed to local economies--and global good. If you'd like to share your Small Batch Story on Vianza.com, introduce yourself to editor@vianza.com.

Interviewed by Alexandra Franzen, Featured Contributor & Interview Wrangler. Say howdy on Twitter at @Alex_Franzen, or shoot a note to alexandra.franzen@vianza.com.

Growing up in the small historic New England town of Mystic, Connecticut, founder Caroline Colóm Vásquez learned to appreciate antique treasures early in life. Her mother, an art historian, taught her that items holding special meanings or their own history are meant to be cherished – a philosophy that is the inspiration of the work she creates today at Paloma’s Nest.

In 2007, Caroline’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to launch Paloma’s Nest, which is named after her daughter. In Spanish, “paloma” means “dove,” a powerful symbol of peace, tranquility, and hope – elements that she hopes each Paloma’s Nest piece will bring every customer. With over ten years of experience working with ceramics and wood, Paloma’s Nest is the realization of Caroline’s desire to share her works of art and to create collectible heirlooms for others.

We’re honored to feature an exclusive interview with Caroline Colóm Vásquez, as part of our Small Batch Story  series.

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In our modern culture, we tend to buy cheaply-made products in bulk, use them, and toss them. What inspired you to create a line of "handcrafted modern heirlooms?"

I grew up in a small New England town on the coast, Mystic, Connecticut. The town was founded in 1654; the home I was raised in was built in 1863. My mother is an art historian, and has always had amazing collections of vibrant antique quilts and textiles.

I learned from a very young age to appreciate and honor items that told a story, pieces that held history.

I find so much beauty and life in items that are old. To me, seeing the hand of the maker in an antique piece is like reaching back into time, to the moment the piece was crafted. To stumble upon something old that appears so fresh and modern -- to me that is very humbling as a designer.

This is my main inspiration in creating what I like to call "Handcrafted Modern Heirlooms." I aspire to create items that will be cherished and passed on to future generations. Items that will tell the story of a treasured moment or occasion, and still be timeless and elegant in 100 years from now.

You donate a portion of your monthly proceeds to Kiva.org -- a micro-funding lender dedicated to alleviating poverty, around the world. With so many worthy organizations to support, what compelled you to choose Kiva?

I was raised to believe I could be anything I wanted to be, and more specifically, I was always encouraged by my grandfather to "be my own boss." As an immigrant and self-made man, my grandfather knew the value of entrepreneurship, and how empowering it can be to control your own destiny in that sense. He also taught me of how fortunate we are to be in business here in the US, with have a culture so supportive of the entrepreneur.

I connect with Kiva and their mission statement in that I believe strongly in the gift of opportunity. I believe in supporting other small businesses, all across the globe, and giving to others the chances that I have had starting my business.

Through small loans, paid back over time, then re-invested in another entrepreneur, Kiva instills a sense of pride and ownership in communities, which I find is invaluable. Families become self-sufficient; businesses become viable; communities grow and prosper, and so do the opportunities for the next generation growing up there.

We are proud to be able to donate a portion of our proceeds to Kiva and to entrepreneurs worldwide.

What's the biggest business lesson you've learned, since founding Paloma's Nest?

Know when to seek help! One person cannot do everything. One person does not know everything. Many things are new to small business owners. But, I have learned that a business can only grow if you have other minds and resources working with you, Whether it is a studio assistant, a mentor, or a professional, I have learned to ask for answers and be OK with the fact that I do not know it all. (In fact, I'm often glad I don't "know it all!" Certain business topics are just not my cup of tea!)

If you didn't run Paloma's Nest, how would you spend your days?

I would be a figurative painter and spend my days in a studio surrounded by my life-size canvases. My second creative love is figure drawing and working from live models. I especially like an oversized format -- which you may never guess from the size of my ceramic work!

Last but not least: describe the type of world you want to design.

I want to design a world where people stop to smell the roses, and where tiny details are noticed and appreciated.

Find Caroline’s heirloom-worthy collections online, at PalomasNest.com.

Small Batch Stories profiles artisinal designers, producers and manufacturers who are committed to local economies--and global good. If you'd like to share your Small Batch Story on Vianza.com, introduce yourself to editor@vianza.com.

Interviewed by Alexandra Franzen, Featured Contributor & Interview Wrangler. Say howdy on Twitter at @Alex_Franzen, or shoot a note to alexandra.franzen@vianza.com

Build your own long-lasting business with the tools we're giving away.  Enter to win  here.

Tweet  this link and you'll be entered TWICE: http://svy.mk/articensus

Leela Design Studio designs and develops hand-crafted products, while pumping critical business-building resources into New Delhi's local craft community -- and across the country. "Leela" literally means "imagination," and the studio's core mission is to act as a creative conduit -- a channel for Indian artisans to connect with the wider global marketplace. Explore their high-quality offerings -- and socially-conscious philosophy -- at LeelaDesign.in, and say hello on Facebook.

We're thrilled to launch our Small Batch Stories series with a beautiful contribution from Shalini Dutt + Anurag Rana, the co-founders of Leela Design!

The Leela team scoping crafts in the desert village of Jaisalmer

Describe the type of world you want to design.

Fair, green and beautiful!

You chose to name your design studio "Leela" -- a word that means "imagination." How does imagination propel your business?
    

Imagination allows for a fresh approach. An approach that opens up new worlds for us, our customers and partners.

Knitting handspun angora yarn in the Kullu valley of the Himalayas.

On your website, you state that one of your goals is to "become a bridge for our craft producers to the outside world." How are you building that bridge?

  
 Leela Design Studio is a platform that allows artisans to reach partners and customers in a fair, transparent manner.
 We work with the artisans across the country, reviving our rich traditions, developing contemporary products, and taking the products to markets in India and abroad.

What are the biggest obstacles standing between Indian artisans, and the global marketplace?
  

The issues that we see in this respect are lack of awareness, inaccessibility, and a need for an open global marketplace and support system.
 Although a lot of effort has been made in the past to provide training and support to the artisan communities, and it'd been a challenge to keep pace with the ever-evolving markets.
 We hope that a platform like Vianza is able to address some of these issues!

Hopeful of livelihood opportunities, skilled crafts women from the camel herder communities of Jaisalmer.

You lead training workshops on cost-setting, delegation, design development, and brand-building. What's the biggest business lesson you've learned, through teaching?

Teaching enables sharing, revisiting and questioning our work. Our rural artisans are faced with impossible situations, very often. Sharing our experiences builds a database of knowledge that helps face these challenges better.
    

A varied collection of scarves, stoles and acessories in wool, and upcycled silks from Leela Design Studio

@ Ethical Fashion Show, Paris-2010.

If you didn't run Leela Design Studio, how would you spend your days?
    

We totally believe in the life that we have created for ourselves, so I'm sure whatever else we did would revolve around the same philosophy...with a little "Leela" in it!

Small Batch Stories profiles artisinal designers, producers and manufacturers who are committed to local economies--and global good. If you'd like to share your Small Batch Story on Vianza.com, introduce yourself to editor@vianza.com.

Interviewed by Alexandra Franzen, Featured Contributor & Interview Wrangler. Say howdy on Twitter at @Alex_Franzen, or shoot a note to alexandra.franzen@vianza.com.