Judy Richards - Cats Paw Artifacts
May 12, 2009 | By
Lampwork Artist Judy Richards crafting adventures began young and took off from there. Judy offers her fanciful creations on several online and retail venues. She took some time out from her busy day beadmaking and running her business to answer my questions regarding her craft, her favorite marketing techniques, playing with fire and more.
Name: Judy Richards aka Catldy99 - Firewoman2002 on ebay
Business Name: Cats Paw Artifacts
Where you live: Portland , OR
Personal factoids our readers might like to know: I'm married, with two cat supervisors. I was a Theatre major in college at the University of Minnesota, also a freelance graphic designer for about 20 years.
What is your earliest or fondest crafting memory?: As a child, I carved a miniature totem pole.
What does the “handmade movement” mean to you?: I think it is so valuable to own something someone has hand crafted rather than made by a machine.
Tell us a bit about your craft/medium and why you chose it?: I started out bead weaving and eventually got interested in making beads. I'm a fire sign, an Aries, seems to be natural to play with fire.
Is there an accomplishment you have made as a business owner that you are particularly proud of?: I was once juried into a gallery show in Portland that was associated with the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB) gathering.
What’s your crafty guilty pleasure?: I like funny cat beads.
Do you work from your home, or do you have a separate work space?: I work from home, and have an outside shed/studio.
Do you have a “Day-Job”, or is this your sole employment?: This is my only gig at the moment.
How many hours a day do you work at your business?: Beadmaking at least 3 hours a day, computer
work is about the same.
Do you find that there are ebbs and flows of income with your business?: I do better with in person shows than the internet, and the in-person shows are seasonal.
What has been your most successful marketing activity?: Twitter, blogging, in person shows.
If you could have lunch with and pick the brain of any artist living or dead, who would you choose and why?: Right now, Hugh Laurie. But it does change. I admire many theatre artists.
How did you learn your craft? Did someone teach you?: I learned from Sam Sypolt, Stephanie Sersich, Dustin Tabor, and International Society of Glass Beadmakers Gathering classes.
What do you like most about being your own boss?: I'm a very independent sort of person.
What is the hardest part of being your own boss?: Discipline
Where can your products be found, both online and offline?:
http://stores.ebay.com/Cats-Paw-Artifacts
My blog http://www.catldy99.wordpress.com/
The 2nd Street Gallery, Bandon, OR
The Village Gift Gallery, Yachats, OR
Who is the person most supportive of your craft business? How do they support you?: My husband silently supports me and literally supports me mostly as a Union Carpenter.
What do you do when you get a creative block?: I go to art galleries, The Portland Art Museum, the Japanese Garden, and the Chinese Garden.
What do you do outside of your craft? I like to attend Curves, aerobics, and mountain bike riding.
What advice would you give to a crafter wanting to turn their hobby into a business?: If it makes you happy - do it!
What’s your supply addiction; is there a specific color or type of supply you just can’t pass -up?: I love Gaffer glass, but I also use Lauscha, Morreti/Effetre, Bullseye, Messy...
What is your favorite tool and why?: My torch because it's where the action takes place.
What is your favorite type of handmade item to buy for yourself?: I love to buy hand thrown pottery.
Nichole Jeske makes handmade jewelry and geekery, which can be found at Paw & Claw Designs.
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