Ten Minutes with Victoria Koupparis of Lavender Field

Remember those doilies your grandmother endlessly crocheted when you were a kid? Well, to borrow a popular advertising slogan–crochet’s come a long way baby. Don’t believe me? Just  check out Lavender Field, the Etsy shop of Cyprus-based crochet maven Victoria Koupparis. What I love most about Victoria’s colorful, crochet-and-glass bead necklaces is how the geometric structures seem to riff off everything from those molecular diagrams you used to have to draw in high school science class to coral branches to Italian millefiori glass. I keep imagining myself sporting one of her necklaces with my favorite sundresses this summer. Victoria is just starting to make a name for herself stateside, but I’m thinking it’s only a matter of time before her work ends up on the wish list of our favorite “It” girls. Keep reading to learn more . . .

Oligoville: How would you describe your ideal customer?

Victoria: I already have a few ideal customers.  We have become friends and they come back for more because they love my work and they trust that they will get something beautiful from me.

Oligoville: How’d you end up as a designer?

Victoria: I think this is something I’ve always had inside me, even though I could not afford to admit it. But there comes a time in your life when you need to show to your world what you really are capable of creating.

Oligoville: How/when did you launch your brand?

Victoria: I launched my brand about a year ago but it only developed into what it has become today about six months ago.

Oligoville: How’d you come up with the name for your company?

Victoria: I love the aroma of lavender as well as the deep purple color of some of them, but other than that the only philosophy I have is to listen to my heart and create with passion.  Do what feels right to you and people will accept you and admire you for that.

Oligoville: Who and/or what inspires you?

Victoria: I’d say that colors are one of my biggest inspirations.  Beautiful and neat things and places also inspire me a lot, and whenever I look at something beautiful that someone has created it just makes me want to go and create some more of my stuff!

Oligoville: What’s 24 hours like in your life?

Victoria: Always busy!  I thrive on being busy at all times.  I’m never ever bored. I might feel lonely at times or even exhausted, but never bored.  If I’m not creating, then I’m either cooking or tending to my house, kids, dogs, garden, restaurant, etc!

Oligoville: What’s in your closet? What are you wearing right now?

Victoria: I’m a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl.  I love being comfortable but trendy at the same time.  I’m in my pj’s right now though [because in Cyprus] it’s time to go to sleep!

Oligoville: What’s in your bag right now?

Victoria: I carry a small, trendy leather backpack with me because it’s very practical and doesn’t fall off my shoulders every time I move my arms (I have very small shoulders by the way).  In there I carry my wallet (full of cash…I wish ), chapstick and lipstick, keys, cell phone, pictures of my loved ones, tissues, the usual stuff, but not anything I don’t need.  I’m very practical that way.

Oligoville: Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned.

Victoria: My biggest setback has been promoting my work.  I have no experience in marketing or advertising so I find it very challenging trying to promote my work without being spammy.

Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Victoria: The creative part, of course.  Creating what comes from my heart, and not having to listen to a boss telling me whether it’s right or wrong!  If I feel it’s right, then it’s right!

Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next five years.

Victoria: I’d really like to grow my business and be successful, but for now I’m taking baby steps and see where it takes me.

Oligoville: Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Victoria: Yes, but this is advice I’d give to just anybody: Follow your heart!  You’ll never be wrong if you do!

Oligoville: Any last words?

Victoria: I’d like to give you a big THANKS for this interview.  This is a great opportunity for me to show my work to a lot of people, who will hopefully fall in love with it!

Ten Minutes with Jewelry Designer Hannah Blount

Inspired by the natural world, Hannah Blount Jewelry is elegantly minimalist. Whether riffing off native seed pods, fallen leaves, or the pebbled beaches of Cape Cod, the Nantucket Island native works each piece of her delicate line of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings by hand.  Add a little organic edge to your everyday with a pair of Hannah’s faceted button posts. Or layer on a couple of the charming—pun intended—fruit necklaces. You’ll have to practice your patience, as it takes two to three weeks for Hannah to handcraft each piece, but the admiring, and envious looks that’ll come your way will be proof positive that patience is indeed a virtue. Read on to learn more about Hannah Blount’s hands-on approach.

Oligoville:  In five words or less, Hannah Blount Jewelry is . . .

Hannah: Organic sophistication for the artistic soul.

Oligoville: How would you describe the ideal Hannah Blount Jewelry customer?

Hannah: I feel that my work applies to a number of ages, as well as a number of styles, and I believe my work supports an empowered image. I think anyone that is interested in a more organic, hand-made, and classic style would be drawn to my work.

Oligoville: How’d you end up a designer?

Hannah: I was introduced into jewelry-making when I was six years old. For my birthday, I received a little craft book with some simple beading instructions and a few funky glass beads. It was love at first sight! My family never had any television, etc., so my six siblings and I found other ways to entertain ourselves. I spent my days hunched over my beads, wielding my pliers and scissors, and I never stopped. Eventually, I went on to major in Jewelry/Metals at UMass Dartmouth, where I learned most of the techniques I use now.

Oligoville: How/when did you launch your brand?

Hannah: Although I have been selling little beaded objects since I was a little girl, I only launched Hannah Blount Jewelry in 2008. It started slow—with my Branch and Egg line—but has been evolving into a more varied ensemble of work.

Oligoville: Why the emphasis on making each piece by hand?

Hannah: I love a hand-finished surface. I can pay attention to every detail when I have it in my hand. It is important for me to maintain that relationship with my work. While it is a dirty process, it is a beautiful feeling to see the clean, finished product.  Also, I feel it is important for the designer to understand and work with the piece that is being produced. It is an important process for the artist to understand.

Oligoville: Who and/or what inspires you?

Hannah: I am from an island that celebrates natural beauty. There are many jewelers and artists there that have influenced me, from Ted Muehling and Gabriella Kiss to Jessica Hicks. But everything around me is an influence—the barren trees along the highway during a “dull” time in winter, the enticing allure of a local candy shop, or the dirt and grunge of my own father’s fishing vessel. If I see something beautiful or interesting, I think of how I can translate that into my work. Also, I have been fortunate to grow up in a family that embraces an artistic lifestyle. My mother, a seamstress, and my father, a fisherman, are only concerned with the fulfillment and happiness a good life brings. This makes them both supportive and proud of all success the Blount children accomplish. It also helps to have a mother, four sisters, and a couple of sisters-in-law that love to wear your work!!

Oligoville:  What’s 24 hours like in your life?

Hannah: Studio studio studio! I like to spend as much time there as I can. When I am not sleeping or eating (these do happen occasionally), I am either brainstorming new ideas or, like I said, studioing!

Oligoville: What’s in your closet?

Hannah: As for my closet, I have collected a number of nice in-between clothes. I try to be practical! I have a lot of nice denim and basic tees that I can grunge up in my studio, but also pair up with a nice sweater or heels/boots and head out of my apartment without cringing. Dresses are a great key to feeling lovely in any situation. And a lot of boots. I love boots. Right now, it is snowing like any great, white Christmas could dream of, so I am wearing my Frye boots with Citizens of Humanity denim. Great for the weather!

Oligoville: What’s in your bag right now?

Hannah: Ha—glad you asked! My bag (I just love) is Linnea Pelle, in which I have my FAVORITE orange Cleobella Mexicana wallet, a great number of chapsticks, a measuring tape (surprisingly handy), my sketchbook, a scarf, business cards, pliers, sunglasses, Tylenol, gloves, stamps… my life… like I said, I try to be practical!

Oligoville:  Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned.

Hannah: Finding the right vendor/niche for my work. It is so important to find the right fit for my jewelry, whether that means finding the right store, show, the right beads to go with my work, understanding what my customers want. It takes some time to understand what your work means to both yourself and other people.

Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Hannah: There are certain friends/customers that become very attached to your work. When you find those people who are that supportive, it is so rewarding to see them wearing the jewelry and feeling beautiful in it. I think, as well, it is incredibly rewarding to see an idea go from a drawing on a piece of paper to a finished product. It can take weeks, months, or years, to perfect a piece. When it is finally finished, I feel very accomplished.

Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next five years.

Hannah: Expanding! I need to go both up and out. I hope to spend a large amount of my time creating new designs, as well as finding my work in some new places, and on some new people.

Oligoville: Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Hannah: I’m still there! I guess, what I have learned so far, is not to compromise your own perspective. If your work isn’t going where you want it, keep working. There will be many “no’s” before there will be a “yes.” Don’t let it get you down; use it to push yourself farther, and let it make you greater.

Oligoville: What’s on your playlist right now?

Hannah: On my playlist is every Christmas song you could imagine. I happen to love Christmas! Among other music is Sia, Regina Spektor, Jason Mraz, Fever Ray, MGMT, Jem, Brett Dennen, Coldplay, Fiona Apple, Frou Frou, Imogen Heap, Joni Mitchell, Lady Gaga, the Killers, Santigold, Sara Bareilles, Silversun Pickups, U2— I could go on!

Oligoville: Any last words?

Oligoville: Thank you! And Happy Holidays.

Ten Minutes with Jesse Walker of REALM Jewelry

Mash up n:  to combine data from two or more external sources to create something new. Need me to use it in a sentence? How about “REALM Jewelry by Jesse Walker is a mash up of  DIY design, classic gemstones, and the eighties.” Using industrialish materials (think safety pins, dog tags, brass chains) and pretty pieces (think cameos, porcelain medallions, faux pearls), Jesse has crafted a unique look that I like to call uptown industrial. Jesse might owe a lot of his inspiration to the glampunk 80s, but I promise you that REALM is all the way au courant. But don’t take my word for it—here’s the scoop straight from Jesse.

Oligoville: Fill in the blanks: In five words or less, REALM Jewelry is . . .

Jesse: Organic meets industrial.

Oligoville: How would you describe your ideal  customer?

Jesse:  Someone who loves fashion and pays attention to style trends, but isn’t afraid to go their own way.

Oligoville: How’d you end up a designer?

Jesse:  I was always drawing as a kid, and then, as a teenager, I got really into music and fashion ( thank you MTV). So I went to FIT [Fashion Institute of Technology] in New York to study fashion design/ After that I moved on to home accessories design, but it was only a few years ago that I started making the jewelry, pretty much on a whim.

Oligoville: How/when did you launch your brand?

Jesse:  In 2005, at Eastern Market, here in Washington,DC. I made some jewelry to sell along with the home accessories I was making at the time, and the jewelry sold better—and was more fun to make—so I switched to it full-time.

Oligoville: What’s with the kilt pins?

Jesse:  I grew up in the eighties, so I’m always inspired by anything with a punk element to it. I also just think they have a really elegant and beautiful shape to them. It’s become a signature technique of mine to use them, not just as decorative elements, but as part of the structure of my jewelry.

Oligoville: Who and/or what inspires you?

Jesse: High Fashion, big cities, art, and music. I’m inspired by contrasts, mash-ups of unlikely or mundane materials so that they can be seen in a new way.

Oligoville:  What’s 24 hours like in your life?

Jesse:  A blur.

Oligoville: What’s in your closet? What are you wearing right now?

Jesse:  Oh god, for someone so interested in fashion, I don’t have any nice or cool clothes. It’s all jeans and t-shirts. Every few years I try to get my act together and buy some nice things, and make an effort to have some style. But I don’t have the energy to keep it up when I’m thinking about how to dress other people all the time. Also, I’d rather put my money back into my business right now.

Oligoville: What’s in your bag right now?

Jesse:  It’s a messenger bag with some basic jewelry making tools, an umbrella, my ipod and cell, a sample bag of Giant Cheetos, and lots of gum.

Oligoville:  Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned.

Jesse: The amount of competition can be overwhelming; there are so many jewelry designers out there. I’m learning to be ruthlessly honest with myself about what I design and sell. Is it really me? Is it really unique? Is it really wearable?

Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Jesse:  Being able to make money doing something that really allows me to put all my creative energies, and imagination, to use.

Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next five years.

Jesse:  I plan to start focusing more on wholesale, so REALM will be carried in a lot more stores. And I expect to have some employees, so that I can spend more time creating new designs and less time making product.

Oligoville: Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Jesse:  Get yourself a trust fund.

Oligoville: What’s on your playlist right now?

Jesse:  Lady GaGa, and Jordan Sparks…Yes I know it’s cheesy, but it keeps me moving.

Oligoville: Any last words?

Jesse:  Accessorize.

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