Farm Girl Studio

Name: Catherine Roberts

Location: Oak Park, IL 

Type of Business:
jewelry and handmade art

What does your business do?
give people quality one of a kind jewelry and art

When and why did you start the biz?
June 2000, I have always loved creating, people started asking me to make them things.

How Many People are in your Company?
1

Where's your office?
A very creative corner of my living room for the most part, along with a section of my basement. The jewelry is made in the living room with many projects spread out. I have a tendency to work on a couple of things at a time, and I think that creative chaos works best for me. The lamp working torch is set up in the basement. I can make beads for hours on end with not sense of time. I is all very zen for me.

What's the toughest part of running your biz?
Finding the time to take care of the creative end and the business end without feeling like you are neglecting one or the other. Money can also be a tough part, it is either feast or famine in the art world. Trying to make people understand that art is work too, so many people don't take your working time seriously.

What's the most fun part?
Having an idea in your head and watching as it grows into the finished piece. So many times I have thought the idea was great only to see a much better piece in the end. Teaching is fantastic experience. People so often don't think they are creative, so when you see the "light" go on and they see the beauty that they have made it makes it all worth while. Students are wonderful teacher also, they see things in a different way then you do. Very eye opening!

Anything you would have done differently?
I would have started this journey earlier.

What's next on the horizon for your biz?
I am opening a retail space where I can sell, teach and bring creativity to my local community.

What advice do you have for others?
Just do you, don't worry what others think. Everyone is going to have an opinion and advice. Listen, take what you can. use and ignore the rest. Where to sell, what to make, how many to make, everyone know better. Go to art shows and look at stores that land themselves to your style. Take pictures, carry a note book, you never know when you will be inspired.

How do you use Idea Cafe to help your biz?
I and new, but with the little I have seen I sense the knowledge and experience here. In the next couple of days I will look in depth. Just having a place to go where people are doing the same things. I need all kinds of information on opening a brick and mortar store.

School (where, still in school, degree)?
OLNEY FRIENDS, OAK PARK RIVER FOREST HS, DOMINICAN UNIVERITY

Contact Info:
Catherine Roberts
1119 Paulina St.
Oak Park, IL 60302

willowoakpark@gmail.com