Monday, July 19, 2010

Behind the Design - Super Duper Things

Happy Monday everyone! Did your weekend feel as short as mine did?! I can't believe Monday is here already. At least we have some beautiful inspiration to start the week out with Louise of Super Duper Things and her beautiful collection of jewelry and art work.

Where does your inspiration come from?
Lots of places: my friends, things I see out and about, the materials themselves. Often when I find a certain vintage component the whole piece will just spring up fully-formed in my head.


Do you have a spot you like to go that helps you feel creative?
Not really, but I do love my messy old desk.  It's piled high with all my stockpiled supplies, and often a new idea will come out of two materials accidentally coming together and my eyes just liking how they mix! The desk I'm very fond of too - my parents, erm, 'salvaged' it from the workplace that they met in, and it's been there all through my childhood. It has a inch-deep draw in the back with lots of little dividers which is perfect for sorting supplies.


Where do you do most of your work?
Oh, I've sort of answered this above! As well as working at the desk I take all my photos on a piece of white card on top of the coffee table. It's in a big bay window and has the best light. It's not very high-tech around here! I'd love a dedicated studio space though.


How did you come up with the name for your business?
I'm not really sure - it just sort of came into my head, perhaps because I couldn't take the trouble to think of a real name! It's a bit of a joke but it seems to work, it makes people smile.


Your favorite thing to make?
Oooh, tricky. All things, I don't have a favourite!


What is your all time favorite design from past or current collections?
The hand-cut paper silhouettes collection is a bit of a favourite. It's very versatile which is good as I can get bored making the same thing over and over again. One-offs and small editions are what I prefer.


You couldn't run your business without _____________?
I couldn't run my business without .... car boot sales, the post office, paypal.

What advice do you wish someone had given you when you first started your business?
Not to undersell yourself. In fact, a lot of people did give me this advice but it still took a while before I found it comfortable to ask a more reasonable price for my items.

Coffee or tea?
Tea! Everytime. I can't even get dressed without two cups of tea.

Favorite magazine/blog/daily read?
Fine Little Day, Kingdom of style.

If you could follow one person around for a day, who would it be?
The Queen. Just to see what she really gets up to! And maybe to try and purloin some of the china...

Do you have any hobbies or creative outlets other than your work?
This sort of is my creative outlet, as I was doing a full-time degree and am now interning. You could call it a hobby that got out of hand!  All hobbies find their way into my work eventually as my jewellery attention-span is so short.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, money and time being no object, where would you go and why?
Ooooh, Late-twenties Berlin? Or perhaps I'd like to go all the way back to when Stonehenge was being built, just to see exactly how they did it.

If you had to spend a year on a deserted island, what 5 things would you take with you?
Ummmm... ipod and solar charger, one of those swiss army knives with ALL the attachments, a satellite phone (is that allowed?!) and the complete works of Shakespeare. That should keep me going.

Thanks Louise for participating in this week's Behind the Design.

Photos courtesy of Louise, Super Duper Things

Louise can be found at:
Etsy shop
Blog

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