Monday, April 27, 2009
Getting to know the artisans - Michelle Ortiz
This is the first in a series of interviews with fellow Artfire artisans. We kick off with Michelle who makes soaps and other fine products.
Your name
Michelle Ortiz :: blog :: Artfire shop ::
Where in the world are you?
Currently located in Northern VA in the Washington DC area of the US
Briefly describe yourself and what you make
My name is Michelle and I have been making soaps since 2005. Although I work outside the home, I also have my small online soap business part time. I am a very quiet person and pretty much keep to myself most of the time. I don’t have any friends I hang out with or spend time with, I am pretty much a loner. I do have one special friend that I met online several years ago and she has become a very good friend. I love action packed movies, and scary movies. I love playing the Sims 2 game in my spare time and reading. I just recently bought the Wii console game which I love.
Who or what inspires you?
Curiousity inspires me. Why? Because by nature I a very curious person and that inspires me to what to figure things out and look for answers. So that sort of inspired me to venture into the bath and body industry. Just plain ole curiostiy. My husband inspires me to be all I can be as well and he tells me that there are no limits as to what I can do.
Why do you 'bother' to make things by hand?
I have always been the type of person that fixes things by hand. I repair things in my house by hand, I put in a new floor, paint, and did some plumbing myself. I guess making things and doing things myself gave me satisfaction that I can do things myself istead of buying it or having some else do it.
What is your craft ”philosophy”?
My craft philosophy that there is never a limit to what I can do and long as i try it. I would have never learnd how to make soap and bath products if I never tried it.
Have you always made 'stuff'?
No I haven’t always made things. I never thought I was good at anything til my husband pointed out to me all the things I have redid in our home. It made me realize that I can do other things if I put my mind to it and just try it. I also make glass pendnats on the side too.
How do you motivate yourself?
When I see how customers acknowledges my products and tell me how wonderful they feel after using them. That motivates me to want to do more and to do what I have to to please my customers.
How do you deal with crafty mistakes?
Whenever I mess up on something like a bad soap batch, most of the time I won’t sell it, I will just use it myself or give away to family members. I had a soap batch turn this really ugly color and thought no one would want to use this ugly soap LOL. So I would just give it away.
This is the first in a series of interviews with fellow Artfire artisans. We kick off with Michelle who makes soaps and other fine products.
Your name
Michelle Ortiz :: blog :: Artfire shop ::
Where in the world are you?
Currently located in Northern VA in the Washington DC area of the US
Briefly describe yourself and what you make
My name is Michelle and I have been making soaps since 2005. Although I work outside the home, I also have my small online soap business part time. I am a very quiet person and pretty much keep to myself most of the time. I don’t have any friends I hang out with or spend time with, I am pretty much a loner. I do have one special friend that I met online several years ago and she has become a very good friend. I love action packed movies, and scary movies. I love playing the Sims 2 game in my spare time and reading. I just recently bought the Wii console game which I love.
Curiousity inspires me. Why? Because by nature I a very curious person and that inspires me to what to figure things out and look for answers. So that sort of inspired me to venture into the bath and body industry. Just plain ole curiostiy. My husband inspires me to be all I can be as well and he tells me that there are no limits as to what I can do.
Why do you 'bother' to make things by hand?
I have always been the type of person that fixes things by hand. I repair things in my house by hand, I put in a new floor, paint, and did some plumbing myself. I guess making things and doing things myself gave me satisfaction that I can do things myself istead of buying it or having some else do it.
What is your craft ”philosophy”?
My craft philosophy that there is never a limit to what I can do and long as i try it. I would have never learnd how to make soap and bath products if I never tried it.
No I haven’t always made things. I never thought I was good at anything til my husband pointed out to me all the things I have redid in our home. It made me realize that I can do other things if I put my mind to it and just try it. I also make glass pendnats on the side too.
How do you motivate yourself?
When I see how customers acknowledges my products and tell me how wonderful they feel after using them. That motivates me to want to do more and to do what I have to to please my customers.
How do you deal with crafty mistakes?
Whenever I mess up on something like a bad soap batch, most of the time I won’t sell it, I will just use it myself or give away to family members. I had a soap batch turn this really ugly color and thought no one would want to use this ugly soap LOL. So I would just give it away.
scribbled by Carina 4/27/2009 10:00:00 AM
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