Congratulations to My Green Boot as this week's featured artist! Read below for the interview to learn more about this one-of-a-kind artist.
Introduction- Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in Central Louisiana. My father is a hardworking man from Avoyelles Parish, who loves the outdoors and instilled in me a love for fishing and camping. My mother is the sweetest woman you will ever
meet. She grew up in the New Orleans area and is a very talented seamstress. We all (including my brother) live in Cajun country now. So, I'm a mix of redneck, Cajun and NOLA!
How did you get started making handmade items?
My grandmother and my mother taught me to sew, embroider and crochet. I've always loved playing around with markers, paint, pencils, clay, etc. But, I never tried selling anything until I learned how to make
jelly. One day, my mom showed me how to make pepper jelly and wine jelly - and I was hooked! They became inexpensive and unique gifts for me to give. I finally started selling a few years ago - on etsy and to
friends and family. I look at perfectly good food and alcohol and think to myself...could I can that? It's become a slight obsession. I tell everyone that jars are gold to me. So is fresh produce. (Luckily, my
jar collection hasn't taken over the house yet thanks to orders!)
What does a typical day look like for you?
I wish I could say I wake up and start working in the kitchen, but I don't (YET!). I work for a commercial real estate agent (seriously one of the smartest men I know) full-time, so my crafting is done at home,
after work and on weekends. One day, I'd love to be able to create full-time, but in the meantime, I'm learning as much as I can in the real estate industry. (Commercial real estate requires some very
creative thinking sometimes!)
If you could tell someone anything about Louisiana, what would you tell them?
It would take me forever! I absolutely LOVE Louisiana. We've got such a mix of cultures here. Redneck, Cajun, New Orleans, Lake Charles has Texas influences and WAY down South you've got the THICK Cajun accents and lifestyle (al a Swamp People). We'll find any reason to party (down South, anyway!). We are a true Sportmans Paradise, with all of the hunting, freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing opportunities a true outdoorsman could want. Even some of our "big" cities have a small town feel to them. There is a festival almost every weekend. We've got some super talented musicians and artists. And the food!!! (Did you know, Lafayette was named Best For Food in Rand McNally's Best Of The Road Competition 2011??) There are so many other things to mention, but likeI said, it would take me forever.
What is your favorite item to make?
I'd have to say the wine jellies. I make everything with the intention of it tasting good (of course!), but there is just something that makes me smile when I hold a jar of wine jelly to the sun and see how it captures the beauty of the wine's color.
However, my favorite item to make AND consume is my pickled okra. I can't keep enough of it in my stash because my co-workers are literally buying it before I can it. Yes. I'm bragging. My pickled okra is
awesome!!
What is your favorite food from Louisiana?
Two words: boiled crawfish.
Any other information you'd like us to know?
It's so hard to explain everything that I like to make in my etsy shop or on facebook. I LOVE being given a challenge or being given free rein to be creative and make something I've never made before to fit a
customer's needs.
I'm also very proud of the fact that I am the only person who sells honey bourbon jelly. (Google it!) And right now, I'm the only one selling crawfish jelly on etsy.
SHOP!
I grew up in Central Louisiana. My father is a hardworking man from Avoyelles Parish, who loves the outdoors and instilled in me a love for fishing and camping. My mother is the sweetest woman you will ever
meet. She grew up in the New Orleans area and is a very talented seamstress. We all (including my brother) live in Cajun country now. So, I'm a mix of redneck, Cajun and NOLA!
How did you get started making handmade items?
My grandmother and my mother taught me to sew, embroider and crochet. I've always loved playing around with markers, paint, pencils, clay, etc. But, I never tried selling anything until I learned how to make
jelly. One day, my mom showed me how to make pepper jelly and wine jelly - and I was hooked! They became inexpensive and unique gifts for me to give. I finally started selling a few years ago - on etsy and to
friends and family. I look at perfectly good food and alcohol and think to myself...could I can that? It's become a slight obsession. I tell everyone that jars are gold to me. So is fresh produce. (Luckily, my
jar collection hasn't taken over the house yet thanks to orders!)
What does a typical day look like for you?
I wish I could say I wake up and start working in the kitchen, but I don't (YET!). I work for a commercial real estate agent (seriously one of the smartest men I know) full-time, so my crafting is done at home,
after work and on weekends. One day, I'd love to be able to create full-time, but in the meantime, I'm learning as much as I can in the real estate industry. (Commercial real estate requires some very
creative thinking sometimes!)
If you could tell someone anything about Louisiana, what would you tell them?
It would take me forever! I absolutely LOVE Louisiana. We've got such a mix of cultures here. Redneck, Cajun, New Orleans, Lake Charles has Texas influences and WAY down South you've got the THICK Cajun accents and lifestyle (al a Swamp People). We'll find any reason to party (down South, anyway!). We are a true Sportmans Paradise, with all of the hunting, freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing opportunities a true outdoorsman could want. Even some of our "big" cities have a small town feel to them. There is a festival almost every weekend. We've got some super talented musicians and artists. And the food!!! (Did you know, Lafayette was named Best For Food in Rand McNally's Best Of The Road Competition 2011??) There are so many other things to mention, but likeI said, it would take me forever.
What is your favorite item to make?
I'd have to say the wine jellies. I make everything with the intention of it tasting good (of course!), but there is just something that makes me smile when I hold a jar of wine jelly to the sun and see how it captures the beauty of the wine's color.
However, my favorite item to make AND consume is my pickled okra. I can't keep enough of it in my stash because my co-workers are literally buying it before I can it. Yes. I'm bragging. My pickled okra is
awesome!!
What is your favorite food from Louisiana?
Two words: boiled crawfish.
Any other information you'd like us to know?
It's so hard to explain everything that I like to make in my etsy shop or on facebook. I LOVE being given a challenge or being given free rein to be creative and make something I've never made before to fit a
customer's needs.
I'm also very proud of the fact that I am the only person who sells honey bourbon jelly. (Google it!) And right now, I'm the only one selling crawfish jelly on etsy.
SHOP!
Yay Emily! I can hardly wait to try some of your wine jelly. I don't eat okra so that's more for you. But if you make pickled almost anything else we're in business. LOL I hope to meet you one day.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! Your jelly and okra sound delicious! Congrats on the feature and good luck with your shop.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview Emily! Knew we had a lot in common - love jellies and pickled okra and bet yours are all good. Hope the feature brings you lots of business!
ReplyDeleteThanks, y'all! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great interview! I really enjoyed it!
ReplyDelete