I’m delighted to introduce Aya Padrón, a talented indie artist from Portland, Maine. Sit back, grab a coffee and follow her through a day in her life.

Morning Routine

The day begins with my alarm beeping at about 7:20, but I typically don’t get out of bed until 8 or 8:30. In general, morning is the time of day when I’m least inspired, so I usually take things slow. Sometimes I’ll just sit and read for a little while–it’s a nice calm way to start the day. After a quiet period of waking up, it’s time to go to the gym. My partner works from home too, and since our days can sometimes be pretty sedentary, we’ve dedicated part of our morning schedule to exercise.

Office Hours

We generally skip breakfast, and have a coffee ritual instead. Sometimes, we’ll pick up a coffee on our way home from the gym. Other times, we’ll pack up our laptops and work at a coffee shop for a couple of hours. So, coffee in hand (or tea, since I’ve been cutting back on caffeine lately), I start up my computer and begin answering emails and revising my to-do list. Sometimes there’ll be a new project to work on or an order to fill, and I’ll get started on these right away.

If the weather is nice, I might grab a camera and head outside for a few hours to shoot some new photos. My city, Portland, Maine, has some nice green spaces that I’ve only just begun to explore. (Yesterday on a walk through the woods, I discovered a strange little tombstone dedicated to a French fur trapper who passed away in 1880.) Sometimes I’ll go on a longer excursion out of the city. There’s plenty of beauty and diversity in the local landscape: ocean shores, marshes, forests, fields, and mountains, all of it changing with the seasons. Small journeys like these are refreshing and inspiring.

On days like today (a cold, grey rain is melting away all of our snow), I’ll spend my time on indoor projects. I certainly love getting out and taking pictures, but for me half the fun of being a photographer is digitally post processing my images. I love pushing them toward the margins of realism, where they may become vaguely surreal, or dreamlike. I’ll curl up on my couch with a blanket and mug of tea, turn on NPR or an ambient music stream, and start working on photos from my archives. Thousands and thousands of images taken during the past few years are stored on my external drive, so I have an almost endless supply of material to work with.

LUNCH!

Around 1:00, we’ll take a break for lunch. After spending a couple of hours absorbed in quiet freelance pursuits, it’s nice to get away from the computers for a bit. We chat about our work as we prepare lunch, standing around the stovetop, eyeing our separate pans. His current specialty is fake-bacon BLTs; mine is kale with garlic and raisins. As we eat, we’ll watch an episode of The Simpsons. (We don’t have a television but often indulge in DVDs of our favorite TV shows!)

A Typical p.m.

If I need to run any errands or mail some order at the post office, I’ll make a trip out after lunch. I generally allot some time in the afternoon to promotion and research, and I also like to work on my website, catch up with my favorite bloggers, and browse the Internet for inspiration. Seeing the work of other artists motivates me to experiment with my photography and helps me keep up the momentum necessary for a freelance lifestyle. It’s always consoling to know that there are lots of other indie designers out there who, at any given moment, are struggling or thriving or seeking encouragement just like I am.

For dinner, my partner and I prepare our meals together and often sit back and watch another television episode on DVD, usually Arrested Development. After that, it’s back to work again.

On Monday and Tuesday evenings, I take classes in Spanish and ceramics. Although they aren’t directly related to my business, these classes can be quite stimulating. I find that they exercise my mind in a way that makes me more productive. When I don’t have class, I often spend my evenings listing new items in my shop, updating my blog, and posting recently finished images to Flickr. Sometimes I’ll be at my computer until 11:00 p.m., making the most of the creative energy I have in the evening. Because I end up spending a lot of time at home in front of my laptop, I usually take one or two nights a week off and go out, either to a pub or a new restaurant. Between 11:00 p.m. and midnight, it’s time to decompress before going to bed. I need a little bit of time to wind down at the end of the day, otherwise I’ll lie awake in bed thinking about what I have to do tomorrow.

What I Like Best About Being an Indie Artist

My favorite thing about being an indie artist is that I never know what the next day will bring. Unlike office jobs I’ve had in the past, my current lifestyle is full of surprises. One project will end, and something new and exciting will develop in its place.

It’s also wonderful to be part of such a creative and empowering community. There are so many indie crafters, artists, and designers out there who are making a living doing what they love. They are a constant reminder of what it’s possible to achieve when you have the ambition.

What I Like Least About Being an Indie Artist

Well, it can be difficult to let go of a steady paycheck…but, for me, some amount of financial insecurity is worth it in order to pursue what I love!

Thank you Aya - that was a great read and really inspiring.
To find out more about Aya visit her blog at http://www.underthesugar.com/blog.
To browse Aya’s online store go to http://petritent.etsy.com.

It’s New York City at the dawn of the Jazz Age. Imagine it - the beautiful deco haute couture, the glamour of the speakeasies. . . . This is the inspiration for Octavine Illustration - a gem of a store specialising in Art Deco inspired wares. You’ll find custom invitations, posters and calligraphy, as well as screenprinted apparel, journals, and cards. Each has been illustrated by the talented Cara Buchalter.

Shop at www.octavineillustration.etsy.com and prepare to be dazzled.
Catch up at www.octavineillustration.blogspot.com.

And PS, I’ve just treated myself to the Parisian Moleskine Journal (bottom right)!

A little while ago I blogged about Bonbi Forest and Lee May’s menagerie of animal doodles. Since then Lee May has expanded her empire and created the Bonbi Forest Indie Emporium. As well as Lee May’s own range of hand printed t-shirts and quirky jewellery, you can now shop for indie inspired clothing, accessories, zines and homewares. Designers include Fluffstuffs, Cat and Bang, Mr PS and Gallery A. They’re all interesting and original and very very cute.

Check them out at www.bonbiforest.com.

I always think that January is a good time to invest in new pictures and home interiors. Once the Christmas tree and decorations come down everything looks bare and a little bereft.

Angela Hogan or Artangel is a painter, working mainly in acrylics and mixed media. Her work is contemporary, colourful and feminine. She only sells original paintings and so you can be sure that whatever you buy your walls will be truly unique. And a lot less bereft.

Buy online from www.artangel.etsy.com.

Yay! Calloo Callay - it’s Christmas! Well, strictly speaking it’s Advent but I feel that I can now talk about Christmas unreservedly. (Not that I was exactly holding back. )

I’ve had this gem of a site up my sleeve for a little while now and have been waiting for just the right opportunity to share. Glitter Workshop is an art craft boutique which stocks the work of over 100 artists. Skip straight to the Holiday Gifts and Accessories section to find handmade tree decorations, vintage ornaments, storybook coasters, cards and other goodies. My favourites are the reconstructed cards, made from vintage children’s book illustrations, sewn onto card. In addition, there are lots of cute gift ideas and stocking fillers.

Shop online at https://shop.glitterworkshop.com.

We haven’t had a ‘Day in the Life of Feature’ for a little while. Indie artist Gina Blam has graciously offered to put her typical day under the microscope for your reading pleasure.

Early Start

I get up around 7.10am and before that first much-needed coffee of the day I usually check to see if my sprogs are awake and starting to get ready. I don’t usually have time to listen to the radio or watch television and I usually grab a couple of breakfast bars so I don’t faint on my way out the door!

The Office

I work from home, but first there’s the school run to do! After all the palava of the morning I usually get back and get started by around 9am. I spend a lot of time checking emails, post and fulfilling orders. There isn’t anything I really hate about my business and I enjoy hearing from people, contacting new fellow indie artists/designers and of course actually designing. My favourite part of my work is when I have found inspiration for a new design and after a few rough sketches and paintings, it’s time to get down to the final image.

After that the really exciting bit is when I take pictures of my work and display them online for people to view and then hopefully buy.

Working Mum

It is a definite plus working from home as a mum, because I’m not tied to an office, if my children are ill I’m here to look after them. Also being my own boss was always very important to me, so after many years of trying to find something that suited my personality perfectly, this was the one that made mostly all of the puzzle pieces fit.

The Great Indie Lunch

I usually eat at home, although sometimes I meet up with friends or my mum. Lunch can be between half an hour to an hour. In the summer months (i.e. the summer holidays) lunches are usually a bit longer to ensure a bit of sunshine time. When I do this, I make up for the work later in the evening.

Clocking Off

I finish work in stages. 3pm is when I stop for a bit to do the school run, although even then if there are orders to send out I’m still strictly speaking working at that time when I go to the post office. I have family time from about 4pm til half 7 and then it’s back to drawing, painting, research and/or paperwork, including keeping the accounts correct.

I properly chill out from 9pm and watch television, usually something funny or one of those silly celeb reality shows. Bedtime is usually 10pm.

The absolute thing I like best about being an indie designer is the freedom to explore my own ideas and individuality without being constrained by other people. There’s nothing really I dislike but I guess it would be great to meet more people as working from home can occasionally be a little isolating if you don’t make the effort to see people.

Blam Designs creates and paints contemporary and retro motifs onto furniture and homewares and sells limited edition original artworks. Still curious? Find out more about Gina’s work and buy online at www.blamdesigns.co.uk.

If you are interested in writing a ‘Day in the Life off’ feature for Indie Quarter, please contact me and I will send you some guidelines. All Day in the Life of Features receive a one month free banner ad.

Artist, writer and illustrator Jessica Poundstone became interested in jewellery through her love of bright colours. Looking for ways to utilise the bold, vibrant patterns in her artwork, she began creating wearable art.

Each piece of jewellery is made from clear shrink plastic. Jessica cuts the plastic to size, adds the original illustration and it is then baked, painted and varnished. Each and every pendant is unique with small variations in shape, size and design and comes complete with a leather cord. Bespoke orders are welcomed.

Shop online at www.jewelrybyjessica.com.

A few years ago when the internet was relatively new, one my friends remarked that he had travelled all over the world via his PC. I remember thinking how amazing that was. Today we take it for granted. I regularly email people in the US and Europe and don’t give it a second thought. When I received a message from Iris Mishly in Israel, I had that same feeling again - a kind of awe that someone across the world was reading Indie Quarter and that they too were involved in craft and design.

Iris Mishly is a polymer clay artist. Her main focus is fashion accessories and jewellery the ‘millefiori’ way. Her colour combinations, patterns and designs are unusual and very pretty. My eye was immediately drawn to her Hamsa Home Decorations. Each decoration is made entirely of polymer clay and contains a Hebrew blessing for the home and for everyone who lives in it. Each one is unique.

Other items include charms, earrings and hair slides. And if you like to make your own accessories, Iris also sells polymer clay canes which can be cut and baked and used in a variety of art projects.

Buy from www.irismishly.etsy.com (international orders welcomed)
Read Iris’ blog at polymerionline.blogspot.com