name: Leah Bloomfield

company name: Curious Zoo

hometown: Baltimore! (Although I was born in upstate New York and travelled all over the world because my father was an air force attache)

clubs/activities/affiliations: I’m a part of the Baltimore Etsy Street Team

how long have you been a resident of baltimore?: Just under a year.

where in baltimore do you live?: Westgate

how long have you been crafting?: I’ve been crafting for almost all of my life, assuming of course you count intentionally melting crayons in sweltering Colorado summers or macaroni necklaces. I did get serious about crafting about a year ago though, after my uncle died. He was an amazing artist and I felt the need to carry on what I remembered of him, and his talent through my business.

can you describe your creative process?: I spend a lot of time looking at art, going on walks and museums. I really love fashion shows. Those really help me. You can actually see a “design board” in my studio space on the wall. That helps my mind flow. It’s a collection of Marie Antoinette and French Revolution fashions.. which is the new “style” some of my newer products are going to be like. After I have all of these things, I sit down at the computer, or in front of a sketch book, and just draw. Sometimes I’ll finish in a few hours, or sometimes I’ll let it sit for a few days. With the photographs, I really love to get out and just take photos of things I think are neat. I come back to the studio and spend a heck of a lot of time editing, then I run it through a filter of critiques, on various forums and friends (my husband is a big help) Often times, I’ll edit, then put it up for sale.

one piece of advice you would give to anyone looking to start a craft business?: Marketing your business though contacts and blogs and friens, spending time photographing and refining your products, and coming up with a brand and an identity for yourself is key. It might take a good amount of time to get there, but once you sort of have your niche, it helps to define what you’re about. When you know your craft, when you do your best, and when you have your identy, your customers can tell and it makes a difference. Take pride in what you do.. When you know better, do better. That’s my motto. I think that was more than one piece of advice.. : )

when you are not in the studio, what can we find you doing?: I write a lot, and my family goes for 2 hour walks almost every night (even in the snow) I also spend a lot of time with my two boys, Nicolas 4 and Lucien 1 1/2. I’m a stay at home mom. So aside from the neighborhood, I like to go to the mall a lot, not to shop, but to watch everybody else and walk around. One of my favorite places is Brookside Gardens in Wheaton.

favorite songs/radio stations/t.v. shows to craft to?: Right now, I’m listening to Les Thugs - Moon Over Marin. I listen to a ton of 80s, a ton of punk (like Dropkick Murphys). I’d have to say I listen to Ella Fitzgerald the most while crafting, and I watch Ugly Betty and Lost on ABC.com in the background a lot.

favorite baltimore craft resources and inspirations?: So far, that would be BEST, and Charm City Craft Mafia. I just moved here really, so I’m getting used to the city.

favorite local crafter/craft business?: The ladies of BEST, I’ll have to say. They’re all exceptional and quite diverse. Truly professionals in their field.

3 links we should check out:

I LOVE Jenn Docherty. http://www.jenndocherty.com/

Kat has amazing photography.. plus, you can find links to a lot of other things, like my TTV group. http://flickr.com/photos/katphotos/

And Aimee Major is one of my favorite artists. Her website is just HUGE! Check out the links. www.aimeemajor.com

I also want to say I love gmail.com . I couldn’t do what I do without gmail! (I just accidentally closed the window and it had saved the draft automatically! I only lost one line. )

3 books we should read:

Anything by Vladmir Nabokov

1984 by Orwell

Joseph Campbell stuff..

3 movies we should see:

V for Vendetta

Adam’s Apples

anything by Quentin Tarantino

one more thing. I would not be where I am if I hadn’t decided to follow my bliss. I strongly urge you, if you are truly passionate about something, to go out and do it! You only have one life to live, and every day you spend not doing what you wish you could do, or not working to the ends you wish you had for yourself, you’re wasting. Enjoy life, enjoy the journey, and live the life you want to live.

Thank you so much Leah! - especially for your “one more thing”!

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