Lou & Kathi Lozier of WoodenLoveAffair
October 17, 2009 | By
Name: Lou & Kathi Lozier
Location: Western New York.
Shop Name: Wooden Love Affair.
How did you come up with the name of your shop?
We named our shop this, because we both love wood, and feature exotic woods in most of the items we make.
Tell us a bit about your craft/medium: Why you chose it?
Lou was a Navy Seabee, and did all kinds of carpentry/construction work. He worked as a private contractor for a while, and now he repairs furniture. The jewelry and boxes we've started with were more of a hobby than anything else. Friends and family liked the things we made so much that they encouraged us to try to sell some things. Most of what we make is just trial and error, until it turns into something we like.
What is the most difficult part of your craft?
The most difficult part of our craft is getting the crimp tubes and crimp tube covers to co-operate! No, I guess it would have to be the making of our wooden beads. They usually start out as a pretty good sized block of wood. Then we make them into small pieces. From there, we shape, and finish them. Sometimes that can be very close work...talk about a cheap manicure!
Do you have a favorite item that you have made?
We both are fond of our antler pieces. They are all so different and unique in themselves.
Where can we find your work?
Our work can be found in the plastic containers under our dining room table...oh...you will find us at:
www.WoodenLoveAffair.artfire.com
www.WoodenLoveAffair.etsy.com
Do you create in more than 1 medium?
We use mostly exotic woods for our wood creations, but we have recently started using genuine deer and moose antlers in our jewelry. We also were commissioned to make some necklaces incorporating bear claws from the gentleman's first bear hunt. We are open to try just about anything natural/ nature.
What kind of music do you listen to (if any) when you create?
It kind of depends on the mood, but usually we listen to classic rock...of course it has to be loud...so we can hear it over the sander!
What has been your most successful marketing technique?
Word of mouth seems to be our best marketing technique. I like to wear our earrings to work... to show them in action...so to speak. I drive school bus, and see lots of other drivers, parents, students, and other school staff members. Each piece we make is pretty much a one-of-a-kind, since there isn't any one exactly like another. Each one speaks for itself, and I have had several people comment when I wear the different pieces. I try to promote on FaceBook, too.
Do you have a favorite handmade item that you like to buy for yourself?
We like the homemade soaps from 2VirgosDesigns.artfire.com . She can also be found on 2virgosDesigns.Etsy.com
Where do you get inspiration from?
Our inspiration comes from many places. We get ideas from what others are wearing, or from things we see in magazines. A lot of it is by trial and error. We put thing together, and if it looks good, we keep it. If it doesn't seem quite right, we start over with something different
How about some of your favorites?
Color? His: blue Mine: purple
Food? His: calamari Mine: popcorn
Movie? No favorites....I usually watch movies through the back of my eyelids.
What is the best thing and the worst thing about being your own boss?
Motivation, or lack there of, is both the best and the worst thing about being our own boss. We feed off each other. We keep each other in check most of the time, but there are those days when we just make that "executive decision" to slack off for the day.
Photos courtesy of Lou & Kathi Lozier
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