This artist’s spotlight is on @lydia__ricci !

1. Tell me a little about yourself:

“I’m a child of the 70s so I love TV, gameshows, feeling tan, frosty pink lipstick, popsicles, pasta and pizza. I dream about some day owning a hot tub. I grew up in the suburbs less than a mile from one of the largest malls in the country. The King of Prussia Mall was my wilderness. It’s where I went to to wander around and daydream. My father is Italian from South Philly that never throws anything away because one day we might need it or some day he might get around to fixing it. And and my mother was an immigrant from the Ukraine who could improvise anything when we didn’t have what we needed. Which was most of the time. I learned at a very young age the satisfaction of making something from nothing.”

2. What made you want to start creating art from scraps?

“When I was 21 I moved from King of Prussia, PA to San Francisco with two suitcases. I was in a pretty nice sized flat with some strangers and I realized what I missed most was tchotchkes. I was barely making any money (at my graphic design job) but every Friday when I got paid I would stop at the thrift store on the way home and treat myself to an armful of eclectic items I could decorate with. I also made use of a lot of people’s trash. I hung old broken frames and broken sewing machines and dead flowers on my walls and I slowly started to feel like this place was my home. The collecting (hoarding?) never stopped. I’d wander through Chinatown and Dollar stores and safely keep my treasures in a large box in my room. Eventually one box became 3 and then 5 and then when I moved back to the East Coast I started raiding my childhood home. It was like the best Thrift Store ever (not just because I didn’t  have to pay for anything) but the materials had even more sentimental significance. I consider these materials my inheritance! 

And one day to work through my horrible phobia of driving I started to make one of the first cars in my life that had significance. This green dodge. I always made collages but started to use the materials in the boxes at my feet. It was the first time I cut these treasures up. Yes they were just old packages, instruction booklets or tax records but I thought they were beautiful. It was a huge leap to chop them apart. But as I finished the car I realized it was better use of the materials then just having them stored under my desk or nailed to a wall.

The more I think about it: My sweet spot in life has always been making things from scraps. I’d much rather you just pop over and I have to make you a meal out of what I have in my cabinets and fridge. It seems like way too much pressure to plan something a week ahead. There are too many choices. Limiting myself to the scraps I have available offers some perimeters in a positive way.”

3. What is the most sentimental piece you created so far and why does it hold an emotional value for you?

“This is one of the hardest questions I have been asked. At different points I am very sentimentally attached to each sculpture I make.

But off-the-cuff it’s this small cigarette machine I made a few years back. My family rarely went out to dinner growing up but when we did I feel like it typically took about 16 hours for the food to arrive. To pass the time I’d play with the cigarette machine. It was the best video game ever. It was so satisfying to pull the levers and slam them back in. I felt like I was making real progress, accomplishing something with each push and pull (I am extremely goal oriented). 

I also have such vivid memories of my mom sitting at our dinner table after everything had been cleared off or on the couch, relaxing and thoroughly enjoying smoking a cigarette. I wanted this sculpture to capture this happiness and I wasn’t sure how it would be interpreted. But ironically it  is one of the most conversational pieces I have ever made. People in their 80s or a 14 year old want to talk about how happy it makes them. Smoking is bad but apparently cigarette machines are good! “

4. How long does it take you to make your art? What are your preferred tools to create them with?

“So everything I create is from these piles of materials. (I call them scraps.) I have been collecting for over 25 years. Deciding what object I am going to work on can take weeks. I have this conversation with myself and tell myself stories about when the object was significant. I also try and figure out what qualities of the object are significant today too.

Many of my objects are nostalgic but when I bring them to life I use them to tell an anecdote or an observation of something from the present day. 

Once I have  decided an object has “passed the test” it can take days to search though my piles of scraps for the right materials to construct it from. This searching and sifting process can be frustrating. I almost know what I am looking for and I am almost positive it is in my piles but it can take forever to locate just the right scraps materials. They need to look a certain way but they also need to “feel” a certain way too. That’s something I can’t really articulate.

Once I have a pile of materials I plug in my glue gun (I use all sorts of glue and tape) and grab some exacto knives and scissors (I do a lot with scissors: bend metals, cut hard plastic, hammer things down). I do not have fancy tools. Once a pair of scissors has too much glue on it or can’t cut anymore I stop using them (but I have a hard time throwing them away).  I work on the piece for a few weeks until it is completed and then I start to photograph it. I don’t start a new piece until I finish what I am working on. My studio can be a very dangerous mess with sharp scraps of anything all of the floor. No one can enter without shoes. It takes about a day to clean my studio after each piece is completed.”

5. Do you have any exciting news or events that you would like to share?

“I make a lot of stop motions with my sculptures. Most of them are under 10 seconds. But, I just finished my third  (4min) animation. It’s called I Will Always Love You. It has been shown at a couple film festival and some new ones will be announced soon.

Also I am VERY VERY excited about a show I am in (alongside an  amazing painter Sarah McEneaney) called Extra Ordinary. It opens this summer at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.”

If you like to learn more about Lydia and her art. The following contact information is below:

Website: https://www.fromscraps.com/

Instagram: @lydia__ricci

The Godfather is one of my favorite books and movies. Recently the movie just had it’s 50th anniversary so I thought to share some interesting facts about the movie.

-Marlon Brando wanted Don Corleone to have similar features like a bulldog. So he would put tons of cotton in his mouth in addition to wearing a mouthpiece.

-One of my favorite lines in the movie: “Leave the fun, take the cannoli.” was made on the spot by Richard S. Castellano.

The cat the Marlon Brando has in the movie was a random stray that director Francis Ford Coppola found on the Paramount studio lot.

Paramount Studio wanted Laurence Olivier to play the role of Vito Corleone:

However Francis Ford Coppola was so convinced that Marlon Brando was his Vito Corleone that the studio agreed to do a screen test. Marlon was not one to do a screen test however Coppola kind of tricked the method actor thinking it was a makeup test. He turned that into the executives at Paramount and upon reviewing it decided that Marlon Brando was Vito Corleone.

Orson Welles wanted to play the role of Vito Corleone and was even trying to persuade Francis Ford Coppola to cast him. Welles even offer to lose a lot of weight for the role however at that point Francis found his “Vito Corleone” in Marlon Brando and had to decline Welles offer.

Robert De Niro wanted to play the role of Sonny:

Francis Ford Coppola wanted Al Pacino as Michael Corleone:

However the studio wanted to cast either Ryan O’ Neal or Robert Redford as Michael Corleone. James Caan (who was later cast as Sonny Corleone) and Martin Sheen also screen-tested for the role.

The famous wedding scene in the movie was shot over a period of two days and the direction Coppola gave to the actors was to act how they naturally would act.

Director Sergio Leone was asked to direct the film but turned it down. Citing that he felt that book over praised the mafia. However when the movie was super successful he felt that was a bad choice to turn down. Then decided to make the movie “Once upon a time in America” in 1984.(also one of my favorite movies!)

Mario Puzo based his book character of Don Vito Corleone on two New York City bosses named Vito Genovese and Joe Profaci. However he based Corleone’s personality on his mother’s.

These are just some of the facts about this amazing movie. What other interesting facts do you know about “The Godfather”? Comment below!

Source. Internet movie datebase, Mental Floss

Hello everyone!

this week I interviewed a wonderful small business: @un.known.passage !

1. Tell me a little bit about how you started your business:

“Unknown Passage was born during a recent recovery period from carpal tunnel release surgery. I have suffered from carpal tunnel symptoms for over 15 years and was in severe pain for all of 2021. I finally had surgery in December of 2021 and while I  was relieved to be on the healing side of things, I was out of my mind with boredom. I wasn’t able to work or create and so I made plans and researched how to start and grow a small business.  I knew I wanted to offer phthalate-free candles made with soy wax. Many candle brands give me headaches and when I started doing research, all signs pointed to scents loaded with phthalates. I won’t try to explain what phthalates are, I’ll just say they’re bad news. I wanted to offer candles that were medium to heavily loaded with scent, but wouldn’t be harmful to my customers, their children, or their pets. I’m happy with the outcome and I can now burn multiple candles at once with no headaches and feel confident calling my candles headache-free. 

My product rage grew quickly once I regained strength and dexterity in my hand. I began to develop eclectic earrings, bold accessories, and uncommon home goods. I launched on Groundhog’s Day this year which was just 7 weeks after my surgery. I am still adding new products monthly with no signs of slowing. The first two months have already been a rollercoaster and I can’t wait to see where this business is headed.”

2. How did you come up with your business name?

“The name comes straight from a Dead Moon song and album title, Unknown Passage. I have been greatly influenced by music since I was a kid and it’s still true today. I grew up listening to Green Day, Rancid, and The Ramones. Eventually, I graduated to Black Flag and Minor Threat and started going to local punk rock shows in the early 2000s when I was just a baby punk. That road changed my life forever and for the better. I found my place and my people. When I discovered bands like Gun Club and Dead Moon, I realized punk was a more broad term than my teenage brain could handle. Dead Moon was the ultimate ‘do it yourself’ band and when searching for a business name, I knew it had to be Dead Moon related. Unknown Passage evokes a feeling of being transported and I loved the way that played with the idea of being transported by different scents into past memories and places.”

3. What is your best selling product? Why do you think it’s so popular?

” Unknown Passage is still in its infancy, at only 8 weeks old, and many products are brand new so I don’t have a full grasp on the answer to this question yet.

That being said, Dragon’s Blood is the most popular candle scent for new customers. Sage & Rosemary is the one people keep coming back for. As far as non-candle merch – basically anything Twin Peaks related sells the best! I think that show brings us weirdos together in a really special way. I first bonded with my spouse over his Twin Peaks tattoo, and anytime anyone recognizes mine it’s instantly a warm feeling knowing all of us weirdo kids are connected.”

4. How do you come up with your selection of smells for your candles?

“I think scent is super personal, and most people know exactly what they like. I choose scents based on my preferences and life experiences. I worked in a record store for a few years in my early 20s and the constant incense smell has influenced my scent preferences greatly. I love musky and earthy scents because of this. I have also been a cook since I was a teenager and certainly love all the herbaceous and bright citrus scents thanks to this.  Scent is highly tied to memories, so scents like Vine Ripe Tomato can transport you to your grandmother’s garden or Fresh Cut Grass can remind you of being a kid before the responsibility was yours.”

5. What Twin Peaks character do you mostly relate to the most and why?

“This question is so tough! I think in my early years I was definitely an Audrey. Mischievous, determined to get what I want, and a total sexpot.

Nowadays, I’m more of a Norma in The Return. A business owner that’s happily married to their hunk. One of the great things about Twin Peaks is how much you can find a little of yourself in every character.”

6. Do you have any exciting news or events that you would like to share?

“I’ve just launched the wholesale side of my business which is super exciting! It’s been a dream of mine to walk into a shop and see something I’ve made, so to finally get the ball rolling on this feels amazing.

Also, on April 1st I’m releasing the “Movie Time” collection! I selected 30 Horror, Sci-Fi, and Cult Classic movie titles and turned them into miniature VHS. There will be an option for pins, magnets, and earrings. Plus an option for custom titles! I’m also making some popcorn bucket pins to go along with the tapes, because how serious are you about a movie if you don’t have popcorn?”

If you like more information about Angel and the store. The following contact information is below:

Website: https://unknownpassage.com/

Instagram: @un.known.passage

Wholesale Inquires: contactunknownpassage

Thank you so much for the interview!!!

Until next time!

This time I interviewed: @funcult !

1. Tell me a little about yourself:

“My name is Caitlin, and I have been making and selling pieces on the internet since 2005. I began on Etsy 3 months after they launched, and I sold at numerous Renegade Craft Fair events. I was known then for a special sort of party banner that I created with vintage fabrics and fun trims, mini deer head wall plaques, and light shades created with vintage doilies. In late 2010 I created the Fringe Banner and it’s by far my best seller. The phrases that were in the debut collection were, BE MY BABY, LOVE ALWAYS, I 

 YOU, FOREVER, and WILD HEART. Today I work out of my apartment as well as a studio space within Chicago’s coolest store ever, Festive Collective, which is run by my pal, Angela.”

2. How did you come up with your business name?

“I first started making under the name Nice, but I rebranded as FUN CULT in 2012. This was something that had been in my mind since the early 2000s when my friends and I started jokingly calling our hang outs the C.F.C., which stood for Caitlin’s Fun Cult. I suppose this was because I was often the one initiating our plans or changing them up. I was way more extroverted in my late teens and early 20s! Anyway, it stuck with me and I feel it fits perfectly with what I want to create- fun pieces that represent a specific part of who you are, that others may or may not get, but for those who do get it, those are your people! “

3. What is the best selling item in your shop and why do you think it’s so popular?

“The I FEEL LOVE Fringe Banner has really taken off lately- disco is a big party vibe right now, from babies to bachelorettes! On the other hand, the WE’RE BORING Fringe Banner is hilariously in a very close second! I love this piece because of course it hits HOME (get it?) since we’ve all been home much more than ever, but it also works for new parents, students who study more than party, and couples who have grown a little too comfy together. It’s a crowd pleaser.”

4. How do you come up with your phrases for your banners?

“I have always loved pieces in home décor that are unexpected. You know when you are browsing a fashion magazine and the coolest part of an outfit always seems to be credited as ‘models own’? When I came up with the Fringe Banner

I wanted it to feel like the home décor equivalent of that. I wanted them to feel very personal and, well, cool. I have always loved music, so a lot of pieces are inspired by favorite lyrics or song titles. Some are funny and some are a bit affirmational without being too cutesy. “

5. What is your process if someone wants a custom piece?

“Currently the process is via email. If you send me what you’re thinking of and some color ideas, I’ll get back to you with some options! I am working on stream-lining this process in a way that will hopefully make it easier for you to create custom pieces, only needing my help with super special custom pieces.”

6. Do you have any exciting news or events that you would like to share?

“Just that fun changes are in store for the website and special pieces are in the works! I’d highly suggest signing up for the email list! “

If you like more information on funcult. The following contact information is below:

FunCult:

https://shopfuncult.com/

Festive Collective: https://festivecollective.com/?variant=41737033941162

Instagram: @funcult

This week I interviewed a great small business: @jukebox.mama !

1. Tell me a little about yourself:

“My name is Sarie Gessner and I live & work in Nashville, Tennessee making custom western wear for anybody who wants to spice up their wardrobe. I work with a lot of musicians making stage wear for performances or album covers, but I equally love working with anyone who wants to treat the world as their stage and wear some fun western clothing. 

      I started my designing & sewing journey when my grandma taught me to sew at a young age. After experimenting with making myself clothing in high school and participating in theatre, I decided I wanted to go into costume design. After a few years of working in various theatrical costume shops, I fell in love with western wear while living in Austin, Texas and going two-stepping to western swing music in the local honky tonks. I was doing a lot of hand embroidery at the time and started sewing some western shirts from some vintage patterns I found.

Getting an antique chainstitch embroidery machine in 2018 helped speed up the embroidery process while still retaining the vintage hand operated charm. I moved to Nashville with my boyfriend at the beginning of 2019 and launched Jukebox Mama while working part time for other designers before making this my full time business in mid 2020.

2. How did you come up with your business name?

“When thinking about a name for my business, I went through some song titles for inspiration and came across Jukebox Mama. There are a couple different songs called Jukebox Mama, one is by the legendary Link Wray in the early 70s and the other is a rockabilly song by Merdel Floyd. To me a jukebox mama is someone who simply has to get out on the dance floor when their favorite song comes on, which is definitely a feeling I (and hopefully my customers) can relate to!”

3. Can you talk a little bit about your process of how someone can order a custom piece?

“The process for ordering a custom piece starts with a conversation with my customer about what kind of garment and what kind of design details they’d like. Inspiration images are always helpful but not necessary. Once we get the basic design nailed down, I ask for a partial deposit to hold a spot in the order queue. After I receive the deposit, I will draw up a sketch for my customer so they can visualize the piece they’ll be getting and make any adjustments before I make the garment. I also send them a measurements sheet at this time so I can be sure to get the right fit. I’m usually booking several months in advance for custom orders. I’m so grateful that my customers are willing to wait for their pieces to be finished, and in the future I would love to hire more seamstresses to be able to get through orders in a more timely manner and have more ready to wear inventory in stock. I really do appreciate the patience of these custom order clients because with the amount of detail in each piece it does take a lot of time.”

4. What are your two favorite piece you created so far and why?

“One of my favorite western suits I’ve created was for Jim McGuinn, grandson of Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, and it featured the album art for The Byrds’ Sweetheart of the Rodeo on the back of the suit jacket. The suit also has saguaro cactus blossoms and lasso ropes embroidered all over the body of the suit to connect to the Sonoran desert landscape of Jim’s home. I loved working on something so personal with both a family history & music history connection. Jim is continuing those family traditions with his band The Cosmic Cowboys, and the suit was an excellent way to pay tribute to his grandfather’s legacy. 

      Another favorite project was an outfit I made for Sierra Ferrell to wear performing at the Ryman the night before New Year’s Eve. This was a very special project for me because Sierra’s album Long Time Coming was one of my favorite albums of 2021. It was such an honor to create a look for someone whose music I connected with so deeply, and my first time having my work on the Ryman stage. This look for Sierra was inspired by 1940s Hollywood cowgirls like Dale Evans, and every element of the design had some sparkle to it.

The vest and skirt were made of black sparkle lurex fabric, with silver leather stars surrounded by rhinestones and silver leather hand cut fringe. The third piece of the look was a western blouse made from silver star printed chiffon fabric with big sheer puff sleeves. Sierra is so spellbindingly talented and I can’t wait to hear what music she makes next! “

5. What is your favorite fashion decade any why?

“This is a tough question because I love embracing different decades in my personal style depending on my mood or where I’m going. For the longest time it was the 50s, but it’s been creeping later over the years and lately I’ve been very into the 70s both for fashion and music. The fashion in the movie The Love Witch and 70s horror movies has been a big inspiration in my wardrobe lately. Anything from disco glamour to 70s western wear I’m all about at the moment. 

      At the same time, my work will always be heavily influenced by the 1940s when Western swing bands like the one led by Bob Wills were very popular. There’s something so classic about the embroidery and construction details on those shirts and suits that will always be a major inspiration for my work. “

6. Do you have any exciting news or events that you would like to share?

“The next event I have coming up is the Nashville Boogie in late May, which is a weekend long festival for mid century music & culture, where I will be participating in the Western Roundup Fashion Show. I’ll have several pieces that I’ve made showcased on the runway there, along with designs from several other fellow western wear designers. The last time the Nashville Boogie happened was in 2019, so it will be so much fun to be back and see everyone again. The western wear community has been very welcoming, and I love a chance to spend time with fellow designers for us to all showcase our work as well as see some great bands all in one place. “

If you would like more information on @jukebox.mama The following contact information is below:

Email for custom order inquiries: jukeboxmamadesigns@gmail.com

Website: https://www.jukeboxmama.com/.

Instagram: @jukebox.mama

thank you Sarie for the interview!!!

Until Next time!

This week I interviewed a wonderful business @moridchalk !

1. Tell me a little about yourself.

“I’m Frankee! I’m 27 and I’m in the UK. I’m a 90s kid who’s always wanting to feel nostalgic. I also love horror, Doctor Who, Halloween, true crime and animals. “

2. What made you start Morbidchalk? 

” I started Morbid Chalk in 2017 with chalkboards to begin with. I’ve always loved art, especially drawing cartoons. The main reason I started it is because I couldn’t find anything I liked that had my favourite films/shows on it. My taste is a mixture of horror, nerd, 90s cartoons and cute things.

So I had to fill the gap in the market myself haha! I then moved onto plant pots end of 2017. Again for the same reason. I’d bought a plant and wanted a spooky pot for it. On Etsy at the time the only hand painted pots you could get were just not my style. So I decided to paint them myself! Because who doesn’t want a ghost holding a pumpkin on a plant pot?!”

3. What is the most popular item in your store? Why do you think it’s so popular?

“Oooh okay so this is a toss up between my Aliens pot or Homer in a Bush pot (Both Simpsons designs) They’re both my best selling designs and have been constantly ordered since I first made them in 2020. I always credit the Homer pot as to what gave me the push to what Morbid Chalk is now. That first Simpsons collection I did is when I really saw that this could actually become my job. And it has! “

4. What 3 cartoon characters best describe you and why?

” I’d say Buttercup from Powerpuff Girls, Grim from Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and Angelica Pickles from Rugrats. Because I’m a grumpy, creepy, morbid and sassy little creature. “

5. Do you have any exciting news or events that you would like to share?

” I have my first ever stall this year which is super exciting and very scary. It’s at East Midlands Comic Con in Nottingham! So if anyone is attending please come say hi! “

If you like more information on Morbid Chalk. The following contact information is below:

@morbidchalk

Until next time!!!!

It is no hidden secret that I have always enjoyed watching Unsolved Mysteries. Since I was eight years old it was one of the shows that really caught my attention. But I always wonder if the unsolved mysteries from over thirty plus years ago that aired on the show were ever solved? Or continue to be an unsolved mystery?

Which brings to the next round of a memorable unsolved mysteries: Season 4, episode 16. A segment called: “Dial A for Abduction” left an memorable impression of me because you could be doing something that is part of your daily routine and something happens that you aren’t prepared for at all.

In the above youtube video forward it to 30 minutes and about 32 seconds into the video and you will hear about missing person Angela Hammond.

Angela Hammond was a Missouri State University student who also worked at a bank in 1991. She got engaged that winter to a man named Rob Shafer:

She was just going about her normal life when the worst happened. During the night of April 4, 1991 she dropped off her fiancé at his house after a dinner but they planned on meeting later that night. However Rob had babysitting duties that night until his parents got home. Angela decided to hang out with her friend Kyla in town and around 111:15 pm that night she went to a pay phone at an intersection that in the middle of town to call Rob.

While talking to Rob on the phone she began to notice a green Ford pick up truck circling the pay phone that she was using. He kept on circling the pay phone and she got super nervous.

Telling Rob how scared she was about this person circling the pay phone booth she noticed that the truck stopped next to the pay phone and a man got out of the truck. Then proceed to take out a flashlight and starting looking for something around the truck. Angela asked the guy if he needed to use the phone and he said no so then Angela decided to go back to her conversation with Rob. Which mainly consisted of telling Rob the description of the truck and also the man. Suddenly Rob heard a blood curling scream from Angela and he vaguely heard the truck owner’s voice saying that “I didn’t need to used the phone anyway.”

Rob then ran outside to his car and drove to where the payphone but stopped when he saw the truck going the opposite direction of his. He drove a couple of more miles chasing after the truck until the transmission failed while making a sharp turn.

A search for Angela quickly started which involved Rob being investigated by the police. Although he did pass a polygraph test but his story was not very believable to the police. Until two witnesses backed up him by saying that they saw the same man and the truck around the time frame that Angela was taken.

It also took a short time to connect Angela’s abduction with a couple of other unsolved cases in the state.

The first case was a women named Trudy Darby.

On January 19, 1991. Trudy Darby was 42 years old when she was working at a convenience store in Macks Creek, Missiouri. She noticed a weird gentleman outside of the store and felt uncomfortable. So she called her son over the phone to come to the store which was about a ten minute car ride. When he arrived there were no signs of his mom and the store was empty. Unfortunately two days later Trudy Darby’s body was found about ten miles from the store. She was raped and then shot twice in the head.

The second case connection was of Cheryl Ann Kenny:

On February 27, 1991 Cheryl Ann Kenney was also working at a convenience store. This one was called “The Quality Convenience Store” in Nevada, Missouri. Cheryl Ann had two children was thirty years old when working an evening shift at the store when she decided to close the store early since it was so slow during the evening. There was evidence that she clocked out of her shift at 10pm and set the store alarm at 10:17pm however from that point on it is believed that she was taken from the store’s parking lot. There was a janitor who claimed to have seen a man go into the store before it closed but was unsure if he’s connected to Cheryl’s disappearance. Also two witnesses said they heard screaming in the direction of where the convenience store was around the time Cheryl was taken.

Till this day Cheryl and Angela’s are still missing. There was some leads about what happen or who took them but they quickly fizzled out.

Here is Cheryl Ann Kenney case file on the Doe Network: https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2858dfmo.html

Also Unsolved Mystery wiki has some great resources: https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Cheryl_Kenney

Here is Angela’s Hammond’s case file on the Doe Network: https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1299dfmo.html

Here is Angela’s Unsolved Mystery wiki: https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Angela_Hammond

If you had an information or would like to learn more about these cases please refer to the links above.

Until Next time!

Sources: Youtube, https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Unsolved_Mysteries_Wiki, https://www.doenetwork.org/

This week I interviewed an amazing small business @lepuzzles !

1. Tell me a bit about yourself:

“Alistair: I’m a photographer who specializes in still life. I am also a collector of many things which I often use in my photography. My collections include but are not limited to: miniatures, novelty candles, fake food, vintage puzzles and novelty lamps.

Michael: These days I’m bouncing around New York as a part-time stay at home dad. I enjoy making paintings (but that happens less and less these days). I’m a record and tape collector, puzzle collector, book collector, tattoo collector.

We’ve been friends for a long while and met in Chicago in probably (2008?) in art school in a Japanese literature class.”

2. What inspired you to start your business? How did you come up with your business name?

“LP: We love puzzles and are continuously inspired by the rich history of vintage puzzles. We felt like there were certain things about our favorite puzzles that were not being represented on the market. We wanted to take our favorite aspects of those older puzzles and translate them into a new product. Le Puzz is our attempt at distilling all that inspiration into something new. Early on we made a checklist of things that we always hoped to to find in a good puzzle and we made sure Le Puzz checked all those boxes.

As for our name (lol!) after a lot of back and forth pitching names (of course all of Michael’s were amazing!) one of them was Le Puzz. We both loved it so much because we already always referred to puzzles as puzz’s. There’s a little puzzle within the name – if you move Le to the back in front of Puzz, it spells puzzle!! We were kind of surprised no one had taken that one yet but also I think Le Puzz in Italian is pretty close to “the stink”, which is probably why and just for the record we are 100% ok with that.”

3. How do you pick an image that ends up becoming one of your puzzles?

“LP: For our first series we were working a lot with items we already had in the studio since the pandemic had limited our ability to source things to photograph. Luckily I have several collections of interesting items that served as the inspiration for our first group. There are so many fun tropes to draw from in vintage puzzles like piles of fruit or collections of objects, we just do our best to bring them into a more contemporary setting. Moving forward with future collections we make lists of ideas and the ones we both like the most often just float to the top. We also work a lot with how an image falls on top of a die-line, is it too easy, too hard or just hard enough?”

4. What are your best selling puzzles and why do you think they are so popular?

“A: It’s interesting, we have 4 puzzles that are almost neck and neck with sales. Juicy, Oops!, Match Made in Heaven and Lighten Up were all selling at relatively the same speed. It seems like the fruit theme is the most universally appreciated but our Matches puzzle has been really popular – maybe because it’s one of our 1000 pieces puzzles which is popular with the seasoned puzzlers out there. Matches is also super fun to put together, each matchbook is like it’s own mini puzzle =)”

5. What’s the hardest puzzle you ever did? What made it so difficult to complete?

“A: The hardest puzzle from Le Puzz is definitely I  Stickers. There isn’t any negative space in that one it’s all information and some of the stickers repeat, just when you think you’ve found where something goes you’ll realize it’s a different sticker. After we made it we were both like, WHOA, this is going to be impossible. Thankfully it’s still super fun to do and all the small details really pop out the more time you spend with it. Michael completed it with his family over the holidays this past year, it was a marathon of 6-7 people working on it around the clock.

More recently, the hardest non-Le Puzz puzzle I’ve done was this B. Kliban Momcat puzzle from the 80’s. It was so hard because the focus of the puzzle is a big orange cat which has a lot of similar markings on it. It’s surrounded by a giant blank white space which leaves you with about 200 totally white pieces that all look exactly the same. This puzzle was ribbon so the pieces were relatively uniform which made it so much harder! With random cut pieces at least you have shapes to look for but in the case it’s just a matter of trying them all until you find the one that fits. Maddening!”

6. Do you have any exciting news or events that you would like to share?

“A: Yes! Our second series is launching soon! We have 6 new puzzles launching this spring that we’re so excited about!! We also want to dip our toe into the merch-pool a bit, we have a hand full of funny ideas for stickers, totes, hats and more! We’re also developing a line of mini-puzzles that we’re absolutely obsessed with! We promise to have those out in time for the holidays.”

If you like to learn more about this great small business. The following contact information is below:

Instagram: @lepuzzpuzzles

Website: https://lepuzz.com/

Thank you so much Alistair and Michael for the interview!!!!

Until next time!!