The winner of August 19 Miss Eileen’s Etsy Picks is Jennifer Beinke of KissMyMutt and her wonderful Medium Dog Bed, Green Knot Garden. Here is her interview.
Hi Eileen!
Thanks so much for this amazing opportunity! I'm really excited!
Here are my answers below:
Tell us a bit about yourself (name, location, affiliations, personal stuff)
My name is Jennifer Beinke and I'm from Santa Barbara, California. I began making pet products because of my two passions, dogs and design! I love designing products, homes, rooms, and pretty much anything I can. I also love dogs (I have two of my own) and volunteer at my local animal shelter as often as possible.
What are your favorite materials?
I love love love fabrics. I love different textures, colors, patterns. I could spend hours upon hours inside a fabric store. I love water resistant fabrics, I think this is probably one of the best things around! Water resistant fabrics work so well for dog beds; they're durable, stain resistant, and really maintain their colors! I also love soft linens, but we all know that if you're a pet owner you must keep these special pieces far far away from them! :)
What is your favorite color combination?
Ooh, I love soft greys and light pinks together, and I'm also loving green and blue combos right now.
What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it?
The first thing I ever made by hand was a doggie t-shirt. I made it for a friends' dog who had surgery and needed to cover up. It took me a very long time, but it ended up being well worth it!
What inspires you?
If I had to pick two places I really go to to find inspiration, I would say I find myself in nature and in fashion. Maybe these are opposites, but I am a nature girl at heart and I love fashion and design mags.
Including eco-friendly fillers in my dog bedding comes from my love for nature, and my designs come from the inspiration I find in the fashion and design world.
Where do your ideas come from?
My pet product concepts really come from my own dogs. I want to make sure my products are quality, durable pieces that I know I would want to have in my own home.
Who is, or was, your greatest inspiration?
While I have a few designers I truly love and find inspiration from, I would say my greatest inspiration comes from both of my parents. They have always taught me to strive for my dreams and to do something that I truly love, and for this I will be forever thankful to them.
What is your favorite thing to do with your creativity?
I love designing products. I'm always drawing, sewing, or working on new concepts I hope to create for the future. Finding materials, especially fabrics, and working them into a product is so rewarding to me.
Why should people buy handmade? Any tips of wisdom on selling handmade items?
People should buy handmade and from small businesses because it truly is quality over quantity. I have had a number of customers that have bought a Kiss My Mutt bed from me tell me that in the time their friend bought 3 dog beds from a mass retail chain, they still had their 1 Kiss My Mutt bed in great condition. The people making handmade products are creating these products with passion in mind, not just dollar signs. Handmade sellers are meant to be personable and care about their products, so be kind to your customers and always be open to helping them out.
What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists?
I used to want to try to please everyone, but realized that is almost impossible. If you are a good artist and have a good eye, customers will come and you will gain a following. It takes time, but remain patient, be yourself, and others will love you for being you.
Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I am currently working on developing a line of dog toys that will be manufactured in the United States.
What are the Web addresses for your work?
www.KissMyMutt.com
www.Etsy.com/KissMyMutt
Are you offering my readers any specials?
Readers can receive 15% off on www.etsy.com/kissmymutt with coupon code: DogLove
You can find KissMyMutt products/creations at her Etsy store and at KissMyMutt.com, too.
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