Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Local Featured Seller: Lucy2s

Who are you? Meredith Cantrell, Lucy2s
 
Where are you located?  Raleigh NC
 
What do you create?  I make handmade accessories from second chance materials (i.e. recycled, upcycled, scrap, remnant... anything that someone would toss out or not use)

What is your favorite place to visit in the "triangle"? My favorite place to visit is the NC Art Museum. I like go with my husband and son for walks there. It's a great place to get out and be active while also getting inspired.
Blue and Marigold Flower Hair Clips
 When did you start creating?  I started making things as soon as I had enough motor skills to do so. I can remember being very little, too small for needle and thread, but my Mom would let me use this tiny stapler and so I would make stuffed animals out of construction paper, stuffing and then staple the seams. Once I got old enough I would make my own dolls out of my grandmother's panty hose and then sew them clothing out of her scrap fabric pile all by hand. After my grandmother passed away I was given her sewing box and inside I found all of these things that I had made as a 7 or 8 year old and they had hand written price tags on them. lol. I guess you could say that my entrepreneurship started quite early.

What is your most cherished handmade item? A Christmas ornament that I made when I was about 6 years old with scraps from my grandmother's stash. It's a little angle with wings and a halo. 
T-Shirt Hair Flowers
Why did you choose your medium? Well, I studied painting when I was in college and I'm truly loved painting, but once I had my son sewing came back into my life and I've found all sorts of new passion and inspiration in working with the fabric. I guess you could say that it chose me, because I was trying to be a painter.

What inspires you?  I am really inspired by fashion and art, but my husband and son are what motivate me to work so hard every day.

Where do you create?  I work in my home now since I also take care of my 3 year old all day. I am hoping that one day once he is in school I will have the income and business that a studio space would make sense. I like the idea of having a separate work space and living space, but for now this works pretty well.

Why did you choose your shop name? Lucy was my first dog. She was mostly crazy, very spunky, determined, headstrong, fearless and loveable. She was everything that I want to be in my business. Naming it after her helps to remind me of the need to take those chances and do things that scare me and push myself. The number 2 is because everything is made from "second chance" materials. 

Patchwork HoBo Bag
What are your goals?  I just want to be successful enough that this can be my job. We don't need a lot, I just want to do well enough that I don't ever have to take a desk job again. Owning your own business is very overwhelming at times, but I would rather be overwhelmed than work for someone else. I just do better being my own boss.

What do you do when you are not creating? I spend time with my family. I like to read. We really like to watch movies at our house and play outside.

After you've viewed all the gorgeous accessories in the Lucy2s etsy shop, don't forget to keep up to date by liking the Lucy2s facebook page and following her on twitter!

NCTriangle Team members who'd like to be featured, please contact ShoreDebris.

4 comments:

  1. Wonderful article! Lucy2s makes BEAUTIFUL things!

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  2. Love the artist, love the article!!! I "LOVE" all of Meredith's creations.....she is very talented and has a great eye for unique things. I'm always on the "lookout" for something she can "repurpose" and give new life!!

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  3. I appreciate your love for recycling! So many great approaches to creating things that most of us would toss in the trash!

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