We're constantly inspired by the talented makers that are within our community and in our markets! In today's segment of Meet The Makers, we're getting to know Ali of Eugenia Kids. We love her vintage-inspired hair accessories (& your kiddos will too!) - we can't wait to see what else she has in store for us at our Findings Market Spring Fair this May!
Happy New Year! We're eager to hop right back into our first Meet the Maker segment of 2023 to get to know the talented makers that make up our shop.
This series is intended to shed light onto more of the talented folks that make, create & curate inspiring wares and goods for all of us to enjoy. Telling the story of these makers tells the story of this shop, our markets and the community of creatives that surround us.
Today, we will be getting to know Erin and Lauren - the organizing loving sisters who created Humble & Grand!
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You can find Erin & Lauren's beautiful curated goods, here.
We're constantly inspired by the talented makers that are within our community and in our markets! In today's segment of Meet The Makers, we're getting to know the powerhouse team over at Dazey. Tori, Emily, Chris & Scott are passionate about their CBD - we loved learning a bit more about their process!
We were living in Seattle when we started Dazey. We were both working at a tech company and overwhelmed with stress when a co-worker recommended CBD to Tori. At the time, you could only find CBD at local PNW farmers markets or health food stores (if you were lucky). Tori picked up a mint chocolate flavored tincture at a store and hated the taste but loved the benefits. It wasn't until we met the farm we work with today that we found a CBD that we actually liked: no added flavors, sweeteners, or additives. We knew we wanted to share it with the world so we decided to partner with the farm to bring their organically grown hemp to market. We enlisted our co-founders, who are our best friends and extremely talented designers, and the rest is history!
We're inspired by so much. Of course, as a brand focused on hemp, we're often inspired by the beauty of the plant itself and the impact it has had on so many. We're also very inspired by color and try to bring a playfulness into our branding that inspires fun, confidence, and relaxation.
Unlike large production facilities that source hemp from all over the US for mass production, our hemp is grown, harvested, extracted, and bottled on our small farm in Oregon. It is grown organically under the sun and the CBD only ever leaves the farm to be tested by third-party labs for potency and purity before making its way to our office.
Design is one of our favorite parts of the business: everything from planning social content to designing our packaging. One of our favorite ways to work with our team is to use a projector for our art files so that everyone can be involved in the process. While one person is designing, you will typically find the rest of us searching for inspo online, inspecting samples, or managing the Spotify queue.
We love spending time around town and you'll often catch us at Frontside Cafe, Topa Topa (of course), or Model Citizen. A perfect day usually starts with walking the dog at the beach and ends in Ojai for date night.
Yes! We launched hemp pre-rolls last year and our customers love them so we're working on some new flower products that will launch in 2023. We're also designing some new merch that we're excited about, including hats with joint holders!
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You can find Dazey products, here, and at our Good Tidings Market on December 3rd!
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We're constantly inspired by the talented makers that are within our community and in our markets! In today's segment of Meet The Makers, we're getting to know Amanda Cox of Little Salt Wagon. We love her nature inspired art and we can't wait to see what other beautiful cards + prints she has in store for us at our Findings Market Holiday Fair this season!
Little Salt Wagon was born in 2017, although I had been drawing and painting since I was a young kid with my grandpa who was an artist. I went to our local college here, CSUCI, for drawing and painting, but had not been in the habit of creating much in the years following.
There was a maker's market at the Patagonia Headquarters in Ventura that year, so I thought I'd give it a try making a few things and get back into the swing of things. Lo and behold, the Thomas Fire started the night before the maker's market and raged through our county throughout the following weeks and turned our world upside down. I had created all of this work with nowhere to sell it. Thankfully, Topa Topa on Thompson St. was kind enough to host all of us makers during their holiday market the following week when it was still raining ash outside, and we donated a percentage of our profits to help those in need and affected by the fire. It was such an incredible experience connecting with our community in that way and I had such a blast doing it, Little Salt Wagon was born and I haven't slowed down since.
My inspiration comes from my heritage and childhood, the natural world and community that has surrounded me here in Ventura County and California, and my travels around the greater American west. The nostalgia of what it was like growing up with room to roam in such a beautiful place learning from nature has formed who I am today and what I am drawn to create.
The rich history of California and my heritage here plays a big role in my inspiration too, with elements of simple country living always working their way into my work- wide open landscapes, native plants and animals and the simple things in life are the things that inspire my spirit and I hope to share with others.
For my cards and some prints, I start by finding visual inspiration in my own life and the landscapes around me, and combine that with ideas I've been cooking up for wording on greeting cards or prints that would be a unique locally inspired addition to homes. I sketch and paint out all my ideas by hand using gouache paint which is my preferred medium compared to watercolor as it has more pigment, but isn't as opaque as acrylic. I recently was able to buy an iPad, which is amazing, so now I can save time by drawing my lettering out on there and import that along with my paintings into Photoshop and Illustrator and prepare it for print. I'm not a digitally inclined person, so I try to simplify and get through this process as efficiently as I can. I have all my cards and prints printed locally here in Ventura using eco friendly, recyclable and compostable materials and packaging.
For my plein air landscape oil paintings, which are a newer addition to Little Salt Wagon, I scope out good painting locations in our county when I'm hiking and driving. I bring along my grandpa's old easel with me and a small selection of materials, and set up my scene and start painting right there. I usually end up taking a photo by the end of it and finish it at home, since the wind usually kicks up, or the sun starts to set. Working out in the natural elements is one of the greatest challenges with plein air oil painting but it's what keeps bringing me back to it.
I don't need much, as I've always had to work out of small spaces. For my prints and cards- just a clean space on my desk that my husband and I DIY'd, my brushes, paints and paper and my computer.
Plein air painting is done outside on location and I finish them up in the garage with good lighting and air flow. I love playing music (I’m an old soul and have always listened to country and western, folk, oldies, and soul) or a good podcast. Lighting a candle and having enough lighting is essential. It's always a nice bonus to have a coffee, tea or glass of wine but not mandatory! Anything to get me in the creative flow. :)
I love this question. I have lived almost my entire life in Ventura County, so for me it feels like there is so much to do in Ventura, but I know compared to other big cities, it is quite small. I think the unique thing that Ventura County has to offer is the unending variety of outdoor activities in our county.
My favorite activities are:
-Surfing and sun soaking when I get the chance (Although it's much less these days!)
-Riding horseback with my husband and father-in-law in the back hills of Moorpark
-Hiking and exploring in Hill Canyon and Wildwood Park where I grew up
-Driving into Ojai for hiking, beautiful views and the amazing array of local spots to hit- a few of my fav's being Fern's General Store, Wachter's Hay and Grain, and the Deer Lodge.
-Camping, hiking and exploring in Los Padres National Forest
-When I go into town, I love grabbing a coffee at Singing Sun or Prospect, or something to eat at Frontside Cafe, and checking out our local businesses like Timbre Books, The Wharf, and Findings Market of course!
I have 6 new cards that I'm excited to share, and I also have been releasing a new print reproduction each season of my favorite piece from my last plein air painting collection.
I am also very excited to have a series of plein air paintings from the Eastern Sierras in addition to a selection of landscape paintings from around the county. I am thrilled to offer them framed this season as well, made by myself from recycled scrap wood.
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You can find Amanda's work, here, and at our Findings Market Holiday Fair on November 26th!
]]>We're constantly inspired by the talented makers that are within our community and in our markets! In today's segment of Meet The Makers, we're getting to know Natalie Marino of Meadow Bakery. We love her nature inspired baked goods and we can't wait to see what other beautiful + yummy treats she has in store for us at our Findings Market Holiday Fair this season!
Meadow Bakery started just over a year ago, during a pretty big turning point of my life. In August 2020, I had a baby and was lucky enough to spend the first year of her life as a stay at home mom, which gave me the time and patience to really get to know myself, and what matters most to me. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen and in the garden (my favorite places!) and began putting a lot of energy into combining these passions of mine.
What started as making garden cakes for friends and family grew quicker than I realized and from that Meadow Bakery was born!
The Earth! I am deeply inspired by nature and its seasons and cycles. I love watching the plants grow, bloom and fall, the animals go through their energy and hibernation cycles, the moon wax and wane, the wheel of the year rotate. It all feels connected and it all feels a cause to celebrate and nourish.
This translates into my daily life as well as my work. I try to create cakes that celebrate and nourish both ourselves and the Earth.
My recipes come from a lot of trial and error - it’s all a learning process. I try to always use ingredients that are in season and see how I can get creative with combining flavors.
A lot of recipe testing comes from my intuition and without measuring, [then it] gets tweaked and written down to become a reliable recipe. I find myself learning new techniques constantly. I don’t have any formal culinary training or education, but I do try and research as much as I can about edible and seasonal plants as well as baking sciences and techniques.
I work out of my home - which I love because it is definitely my sanctuary, especially the kitchen. I love getting started early in the morning as the sun is rising, with open windows to let in fresh air and natural light. I’ll usually do a little ritual to start the day with good intention - this involves lighting candles, setting up my kitchen altar with crystals or other little items, a big cup of coffee, and music!
A perfect day in Ventura would probably begin with coffee from one of the many amazing coffee shops in town, a walk in nature - either in the hills or by the ocean. My little family and I love having lunch at the local breweries and ending the day in our cozy little home with a big nourishing homemade dinner. This is pretty much what we do every weekend, it’s quite dreamy!
Yes! I’m always working on new recipes. Lately, my favorite seasonal treat to make is apple butter. It’s like a big potion of spices and a lot of apples. Definitely expect to find it in something at the market :)
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You can find Natalie's handmade pastries, here, and at our Findings Market Holiday Fair on November 26th!
]]>We're constantly inspired by the talented makers that are within our community and in our markets! In today's segment of Meet The Makers, we're getting to know Summer Dalton of TIGEROWL. We can't wait to see what else she has in store for us at our Findings Market Holiday Fair this season!
I left a career in the NYC art world and moved back to my hometown of Ventura in 2010 not exactly sure what I would do, but knowing I needed to get back to the west coast, so I followed my heart and began TIGEROWL as a creative side project.
At the time, I was screen printing my drawings onto t-shirts. Years passed and I had a full time job but the need to create was still nagging at me. During my first pregnancy, I began to sew a lot more, though with no real intentions of creating a clothing line. Interest grew in some of the designs I would wear (none of which I had made patterns for) including the early iterations of the Wrap Pants so here we are now, with a small but growing collection of garments!
Life. I'm pretty hard on my clothes and I'm very much a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl most days for the ease and versatility, but that can get boring. My goal is to create garments that are durable and basic enough for everyday wear but feel a little more special and different than your super basic wardrobe.
Being a mom of a couple young kids, I need something that isn't too fussy or precious, and its got to have functional pockets, but I want to feel a little unique. I also spend a lot of time and thought on sustainability and how the garments I'm putting out in the world are going to be used. Are they going to be something that the wearer only pulls out on special occasions? (Hopefully not!) Or are they going to be worn, loved, and lived in?
I highly encourage mending whenever possible and do my best to utilize my fabric scraps for various projects, minimizing any waste.
One thing about me is that I move pretty slow. I am not following a ton of trends or even launching new seasons of products at this time. I try to be really organic about how I navigate this business right now, not pushing too hard if it seems like something isn't working. I spend a lot of time trying to work on new designs and get them just right, but I'm hoping as I get more help, I can speed up that process (at least a little!). But I like sitting with something new for a bit and making sure I believe in it enough to go through the process of actually making it to sell.
Up until now, I've been cutting and sewing everything myself, but I'm not able to grow or continue to make more new products if I stay in that cycle, so my upcoming new products will be the first release of products that I'm having sewn for me by a contract sewer in LA. I'm super excited about starting this partnership and am hoping it helps me free up some time to develop new products I've been wanting to make. I also met a lovely local quilter who has been helping with the laborious process of piecing together some of my scraps to make some fun one-of-a-kind things!
Podcasts! I sew a ton and if I don't have someone else talking in my ear, my mind wanders like crazy and I end up in some weird places (in my mind!). So unless I'm writing emails or doing something that requires a ton of brain power, I need those stories to get into a good work flow.
Also the presence of other creatives. I'm currently in a shared studio space. Alexa Coughlin of Rat Boi and I moved in together after working in our garages for years and I immediately fell in love with co-working. She has since moved into a bigger space but Daniella Manini is still in our building so that's great to have people around to chat with so I'm not just living in my head all day.
On warm days, I love a good long beach day. Both my kids have been so into boogie boarding so a day at the beach that involves lots of ocean dunks and snacks is the best. We live in downtown, so as a family we really love walking out of our house and being on Main St. for a stroll, or biking down to the beach path. I love that the creative community in Ventura has become so vibrant so being a part of that and continuing to meet new creatives has been a highlight for sure.
I am hoping I have my first run of production done in time for the Findings Market events! I have 2 new products coming out, as well as a new and improved version of the Grace Dress and I can't wait to launch them! I'll also have a handful of one-of-a-kind Quilted Coats as well as some oversized tote bags that are made up of my linen scraps.
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You can find Summer's beautiful designs, here, and at our Findings Market Holiday Fair on November 26th and our Good Tidings Market, December 3rd!
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Since I was younger, I always had a goal of having my own business. I had no idea what that would look like up until I took a ceramic class in college. What started out as just a means of fulfilling an art requirement evolved into a passion for pottery.
In college, we were required to stamp each of our pieces and my "logo", for lack of a better word, was a drawing of a boob. In Spanish the slang word for boob is Chi Chi, so I came up with Chi Chi Ceramicas in honor of my Latina background and my admiration for the female body.
I’m most inspired when I’m in community with people. Whether I’m at a coffee shop catching up with a colleague or gathered around a yummy feast with friends. I get inspired to create pieces that can aid in those moments of creating memories with others.
I get hit with design concepts at very random times so I compile all of my sketches in my notes honing in on a few that coexist well together and start working. I normally have a good feel for what clay bodies and glazes will be used after this step.
I then weigh out the clay and start wedging to eliminate the air bubbles which can cause a piece to explode when fired.
Now, I'm ready to start throwing, using my hands as a tool to transform the clay to my desired shape. The shape then gets refined when I start trimming the ‘leather hard’ piece (not wet but not completely dry). Then voilà, we’re ready for the ultimate test against the first round of firing. After their bisque fired, I hand brush the glazes on so every piece is truly handmade. The ultimate satisfaction happens when the glaze firing is complete and these vessels are ready to be housed.
I don’t start working until I have a hot drip coffee on standby. I almost always have to be listening to Salsa music or some 2000’s Hip Hop & R&B song to get the creative juices flowing. I enjoy some spruces of eucalyptus spray in my studio. All those three things combined creates the most magical workspace!
A perfect day in Ventura would have to land on a Wednesday because the flea market is on Wednesday. I’ll take a trip to the flea, grab a coffee then head to the beach for a fun boogie boarding session. I love to finish off the evening roller blading from San Pedro to Emma Wood during sunset time. For a little cherry on top a home cooked dinner completes this perfect day.
I’ve been working on expanding my collection that is catered towards entertainment ware. A new item that will be making an appearance at the market will be a connectable platter that can be used to display food or used as an accessory piece. Also be on the lookout for the Maria Copita, my modern take on a wine goblet.
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You can find Karissa's handmade ceramics, here, and at our Findings Market Holiday Fair on November 26th and our Good Tidings Market, December 3rd!
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