This month's featured artist is Brandan and Chelsey from Crooksville, Ohio. I got a chance to interview them about their collection of home decor items! Here is what they had to say...
What type of artwork do you do?
Right now, our focus is mainly on wall décor.
Farmhouse signs have been our specialty so far, but we are looking to expand to
other types of home décor. We haven’t decided exactly what yet, but we are
exploring our options.
How long have you been creating?
I have been creating since March 2019 after a
visit with my Fiancés Brother. They have a Silhouette Cameo and when Brandan
learned a little about how to use the machine we thought, “easy peasy, we can do
this."
How much time do you spend working on your craft?
I am usually always thinking of new
ideas and designs. In a place like Etsy I feel like you must stay on top of your
game to be able to compete with others who are selling the same type of
product. I am more of the creative designer and my Fiancé Brandan is the builder. I
have put together a few pieces myself from start to finish. It makes me feel
like we have something to look forward when working on a project together. Completing
one item usually takes between 30-40 minutes to cut a sticker, place it and
then build the frame. We paint, stain and cut everything all at once so when we get an order it can be completed in the same day.
What inspires you to create?
I get most of my inspiration from magazines,
friends, family and my own dreams. I love the farmhouse style that is so “in”
right now. I dream one day of having our own little farmhouse down a dead-end gravel
road with pastures full of farm animals and a garden full of fresh vegetables.
I ask my friends and family what they would like to have in their homes,
what their idea of a farmhouse looks like and then I try to make
those ideas come to life.
Where do you do your creating?
As of right now we do all of our creating at the kitchen table. I don't have a desk right now as I repurposed an old desk for a makeup vanity table. I do have a beautiful IKEA desk on
my Christmas wish list though, so fingers crossed. (I hope my Fiancé reads this)
Have you always been artsy?
Yes, I would say that I have always been
artsy. My Grandma loves to show everyone a picture of me when I was 6 years old fast
asleep on the floor with a crayon in hand and a coloring book. I started taking art
classes when I was 9 years old and even took advantage of the fact that my last name just
so happens to be Ross. I loved recreating Bob Ross paintings and I did a little
bit of photography in high school.
Do you have another job?
Right now, I am not working. I left my job at a local
hospital to stay at home with my son during the summer before he started
Kindergarten. I have had plenty of time to sit and think and then overthink and
critique my work, so I would say all the free time has been a blessing and a
curse.
Where do you sell your pieces?
Our pieces are sold on Etsy under the shop
name BCJHomemade. We wanted a simple name, so we took our first initials (and
my sons) and just added homemade after it.
We set up our shop in April 2019 after deciding that we wanted to get
back into some sort of small business. At this point our house was full of my
designs and family and friends were asking for their own.
Do you enjoy what you do?
I really do enjoy creating. I love that I get to turn my ideas into a
physical object that I can admire and cherish every day. I get to walk into my house and
see something that I made and be proud of. I have suffered with
depression and anxiety so feeling some type of worth and accomplishment is very important to
me.
Do you have a favorite piece in your shop?
My favorite piece in my shop is the “you’re
cute” sign. As I said before I have struggled with depression and anxiety and
this particular piece is kind of motivational to me. I have one displayed in my bedroom
near my makeup vanity table.
Do you have a blog, website or other social media setup?
www.instagram.com/bcjhomemade
www.facebook.com/bcjhomemade
