featured artist…ann marie mott
regular readers of my blog www.napafarmhouse1885.blogspot.com know how much i love my dog, mose…when we were creating our product assortment categories, pet accessories was a non-negotiable. i learned about ann and her commitment to creating cool, hip, eco-friendly accessories for dogs, saw her products..and was immediately hooked..we currently carry her dog collars and leashes..and will be adding additional items in the fall. learn more about ann and her products by reading the following interview..this is an excerpt from the website..etsy…
“tell us a bit about yourself (name, location, affiliations, personal stuff).
My name is Ann Marie Matott. I'm a 30 year old artist, activist, designer, wife and dog mom to two wiener dogs in Athens, GA. In the past, I was a new media university instructor and a video game producer for a major US toy company in NY. According to my psychic, in a former life, I was an explorer sailing the seas for the queen of Spain! Spritely, sensitive and quirky are good words to describe me. I'm also a proud member of the Eco Etsy, Trashion, Georgia, and Dog Mafia Street Teams.
what first made you want to become an artist?
I finally accepted my destiny as an artist after years of denial. I tried a lot of alternatives. I researched mortuary science, interned in the ER, perused a degree in Physics, switched to English and then finally New Media. During undergrad I worked in a movie theater, reviewed resumes, and eventually climbed the corporate ladder to the esteemed level of administrative assistant. I received an MFA from University of Buffalo studying the intersections of new media, activism and environmentalism through community art projects.
please describe your creative process (how, when, materials, etc).
My ideas come from everyday objects that beg to be tweaked and tinkered with. Improving end products turns me on. At the toy company, I became acutely aware of product design and strove to improve the "junk"....oh I mean products that are currently out there. I fill a need in my personal life through DIY measures and improve upon what the market currently provides. That means using sustainable materials whenever possible, offering grassroots recycling of collars and leashes, or using recycled fibers in modular pet beds. I've got my hate on for disposable technologies masked as convenience. I want to make it all last just a little longer!
My favorite materials are re-used or recycled. I love combing through thrift stores for sources of fabric. For example, I'll take a discarded, retro pillowcase, and transform it into a hum-dinger dog collar, leash or harness.
what handmade possession do you most cherish?
I have two. The comic book my husband made me for our 1st year anniversary. Paper is the recommended gift, so he created a year in review. The second, is the wooden wiener dog thread holder my brother made.
how do you promote your work?
I do a lot of link sharing and keyword editing with my website, annies sweatshop, to keep my ranking up in Google searches. I'm so proud that my company has been tops when “eco pet collar” is googled for the past year now. I've also done wholesaling, drop shipping, consignments and charitable donations. Content submissions to print magazines and blogs are good too.
In ten years I'd like to be...
In ten years or tomorrow for that matter, I'd like to be in Antwerp, Belgium, sipping on a DeKoninck with my husband and a six pack of wiener dogs in tow. We'd be brainstorming new adventures, ideas and looking forward to what lies ahead”
i feel so lucky..not only to keep finding really cool eco-friendly products made from reused, repurposed, reimagined and recycled materials…but also to be able to meet the very talented and creative artists who make the items by hand…ann is a perfect example. i am thrilled to be able to introduce her to all of you…
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