Libby Hampel of LJLH*Designs
October 16, 2009 | By
I've been talking to Libby for quite awhile. We've discovered that she doesn't speak knitter and I don't speak jeweler paper lover, but the love of art, texture, and color translates for both of us. Looking at her work will never leave you bored. Her work is varied, bright, colorful, fun, and has a little something for everyone. Whether you have a fabric fettish, a paper passion, or jump over jewelry you will love Libby's work. She's one smart lady, wonderful to talk to, and her tweets are always overflowing with creative inspiration. I'm suprised she doesn't drowned in her own creativity (although she might drown in the paper in her craft room). I hope you enjoy reading about Libby as much as I do and I how you fall in love with her and her work as much as I have.
1. Tell me about yourself?
a. Name: Libby J.L. Hampel
b. Business Name: ljlh*designs
c. Location: Ann Arbor, MI and www.ljlhdesigns.com
d. Interesting personal factoids: I have a BFA in Textile Design from Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I could have made college my career. Loved it!! Love the city and school.
2. Tell me about your craft/mediums.
Right now most of my time is going to making jewelry. I also spend some time taking pictures of and listing my handmade boxes. I've made beaded jewelry most of my life, but lately I have really gotten into making paper beads. I fell in love with paper after taking a book making class in college. This class also taught me how to make handmade boxes. I have a lot of paper from making boxes and jewelry supplies, so a I did not have to buy new supplies. That doesn't mean I don't go buy new paper. Can never have enough of that! Many people make paper beads and roll them up starting with an isosceles triangle. Doing this hides the pattern on the paper. My goal is to show the lovely patterns and textures on the papers. I roll my beads starting with rectangular piece so when I roll it up you can see the patterns on the paper. Sometimes I show more of the pattern and sometimes less. Initially I was not using a varnish because I did not want an artificial look to the beads, but for practical purposes I am using one now. I use a satin art varnish that is water resistant. A matte varnish dulls the colors and a glossy varnish looks too artificial.
3. Why do you love your particular mediums?
They are so versatile. There are so many beads and papers in the world. Combinations and designs are endless.
4. What are your influences?
How color and shape work together is the biggest influence. My favorite part of making any jewelry is figuring out how shapes and colors go together. Well, that is true for anything I do. No matter what I create, shape and color are always the top two factors. After those it is the practicality of the piece I am making. If someone can't wear it, but it looks cool, I don't make it. Finding the balance between something creative and practical is important to me. I enjoy looking at fine art and appreciate it, but I prefer to create art that has uses. Jewelry you can wear. Boxes you can put things in. Surface/textile designs can be used for fabrics, greeting cards, stickers, dish ware, etc.
5. What is your favorite material to work with?
Paper, glass beads, jump rings, metal. I prefer using only glass beads because the colors are vibrant and, for the most part, the beads are shiny. Plus, I have found they work great with the paper beads if I want to add interest and a little weight.
6. What inspires you and reflects itself in your work?
Going to art/craft stores really gets my creative hamster running. Seeing all of the options at stores gets me in the zone. On the way home I start thinking of ideas. I buy beads and papers I like without having designs in mind. I know I will come up with something and will find a way to coordinate all my materials together. Sometimes it is scary how well things work out. I also enjoy looking at other art/crafts. I like finding cool ideas and techniques and say to myself, "How can I make that my own and/or possibly better?" Techniques are techniques. How any one person adapts those techniques to their style and skill is what makes something unique.
7. Tell me about your most enjoyable experience with a customer.
It was actually a person who won a giveaway I did. She won a pair of earrings and was soooo excited to win them. She had never won anything before. I found out later she didn't even have her ears pierced. She got them pierced recently, but she can't wear the earrings she won for six months. It is so nice to make someone happy.
8. Where can we find your work? (both online and off)
Right now I am online only. www.ljlhdesigns.com is my main site where you can find everything I do.
9. Any advice to new or young sellers just getting their feet wet?
Pictures are always going to be the least fun part. I guess unless your medium is photography. Be patient and persistent. Whether you are making sales or not, keep creating, creating, creating. Most creatives create for themselves first and foremost. Keeping that in mind is important.
10. What do you do outside of your business? (Can be your career or other types of hobbies)
I left my J.O.B in late July to pursue my creative passions full time. It was full time, stressful, and I had yo-yo hours. Having so little or no time to be creative also made me unhappy. Now creating is my full time career. It is my career, not a J.O.B. When I am not creating you can find me at any art/craft store, coffee shop, grocery store, or in the kitchen. I enjoy cooking, and cook, what I call, Julia Child style. That means I don't measure anything. A little of this and oh, maybe a little more of that. Baking is not so much my thing. You have to measure and be pretty precise.
11. What does the "handmade movement" mean to you?
It's about supporting and nurturing people who love what they create. The movement also allows us, as a people to connect with one another. Being able to communicate with people who buy handmade is so rewarding and fun. Talking business with other creatives is equally fun and rewarding.
12. If you could have lunch with and pick the brain of any artist living or dead, who would you choose and why?
M.C. Escher. His work is so bold and fascinating. The way he creates patterns, the perspective he creates, and how he makes you think, makes his work enjoyable. As much as I love color, his black, white, grayscale style is brilliant. He used color in his later works, but the b/w's are the best. His detail and use of positive and negative space is awing and powerful.
11. Tell us a bit about the space you create in? How has it evolved since you started your craft?
It has evolved into a larger mess. The spare room of the apartment is divided between my half and my fiance's half. The room is small. Between his books, both of our art supplies, and both of our clothes, it is pretty full. I pin up small, resealable bags with my beads in them up on a corkboard that sits on my drawing table and leans against the wall. I also have many other small plastic containers for beads. I try to keep my papers rolled up in a tube. My attempts at this are bad. I have to have everything out at once.
12. What is your favorite type of handmade item to buy for yourself?
The only thing I have bought for myself so far is soap. There are so many awesome soap makers out there. Bath products are the one thing I have no interest or talent making, so I plan to buy more in the future. And maybe some knitted things. I tried knitting once and I just don't have the patience for it.
13. Who is the person most supportive of your craft business? How do they support you?
My fiancé. He believes in me and sees how happy creating makes me. When I worry about money, or anything really, he says "We'll find a way to make it work." That is so calming. My family is fantastic too. They have always supported my creative ability. They put me through college, which I am very grateful for. And my mom has been my number one buyer. Thanks mom!
Grad Student, knitter, and owner of Sugar Plum Ferret Knits: http://sugarplumferret.etsy.com & http://sugarplumferret.artfire.com
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