name: Momi Antonio-Barnes

company name: Space Moderne

hometown: Honolulu

how long have you been a resident of baltimore?:
I moved from Miami to Baltimore in the Spring of 1999

where in baltimore do you live? :Hampden

clubs/activities/affiliations:
Urban Designer’s Showcase, Charm City Roller Girls, Charm City Scooter Club

how long have you been crafting?:
I started in Art School in the early 90’s (showing my age here). I was studying print design and advertising but I dropped down from full time enrollment to part time enrollment my junior year to accommodate the success of a small handmade jewelry business. It was strictly wholesale and it required producing bulk orders! A year later, I stopped in order to concentrate on completing my BFA.

I didn’t really pick up sewing until I dusted off my sewing machine in 2002 after I decided to reupholster my Danish Modern sofa—a project most people wouldn’t attempt as a “first time sewing project.” It was being able complete that project with my basic sewing skills that I discovered sewing wasn’t rocket science. With that experience, I could conceivably construct anything I wanted and realized I could go really far if I combined my general craftiness with my design and marketing skills. I started making handbags (a good way for many to learn sewing). My handbags developed quickly into complex creations that required a lot of “textile ingenuity” since each bag was really an individual piece of fine art.

My brain is also happens to be wired as an entrepreneur so much of what I make is always designed so that it is sellable/marketable. My things have been in an array of independent stores and boutiques in several states. My crafting eventually turned into promoting and several years ago, I started hosting/promoting an event called, “The Urban Designer’s Showcase,” which provided an outlet for many local Baltimore (included the Maryland Institute College of Art’s BUY PRODUCT crew) and Virginia crafters. It was an intimate setting which gave opportunity to new designers to test their wares and provided lot of networking among other artists and was generally just a lot of fun.

can you describe your creative process?:
I practice form follows function and you can see it in my designs. I make practical things that are aesthetically beautiful. I used to let my creativity take over and my goods were complexly constructed, expensive and took a lot of time. As my business grew, I decided I was better off streamlining my production. The trick was to create simpler designs that don’t take as much time to construct. It still needed to be something I could be proud of so everything I make has to be something I would be willing to buy if I saw it for sale in a store.

I spend just as much time looking at resources (be it things that other people make or material supplies), as I do actually working on my own designs. I draw from many different sources for my influence. Mostly it’s mid-century modern design aesthetics and I enjoy studying patterns in textile design. The internet and books are the biggest resource for me for visually but so is tactile contact with things that are handmade. Currently, I’m getting the most enjoyment out of natural fibers which is why I’m currently focusing on wool felt.

I also spend a lot of time studying construction processes which also affect/influence my design style. I have a deep respect for things that are well crafted. It means the artist has put the time and energy into perfecting their craft. I aim to uphold the same standards for everything I make.

I took a year-off hiatus after loosing my 1200 square foot studio space in 2006. I couldn’t handle not creating work for such a long time, so early this past December, I started again. Currently, I’m limited to working in my dining room. At first, I felt as if my creativity was stunted due to lack of work space, but I adjusted and now I just work smaller.

when you are not in the studio, what can we find you doing?:
Researching, researching, researching—either for creative influence, or for materials and supplies! Also, traveling and networking with other creative types.

favorite songs/radio stations/t.v. shows to craft to?:
I used to listen to NPR during the weekdays but with the combination of the War in Iraq and the pre-election politics, I get too emotionally worked up to be creative. But, I will listen to the NPR on the weekends since the weekend lineup is entertaining. This sounds awful but I really only require background noise I and lately I’ve become addicted to be cheesy court TV shows!. TV will distract me just enough where I will occasionally get up and walk over to the living room to see or hear what is going on. I don’t actually see the TV from where my workspace is thus allowing my eyes or body to take a break from what I’m working on. Crafters who spend a good deal of time sitting in one place, in one position, especially when working on something small or detailed, need to give their eyes and body a rest and do something different for a few minutes every hour. TV accommodates this need where as the stereo/radio does not. My husband usually comes home in the evening and my routine changes. He is also a working artist so he turns off the TV and puts music on. It’s funny because at night, I don’t miss the TV but I don’t notice the music either since it gets tuned out—I just keep on working until it’s time to put away all my tools, clean up and turn off my sewing machine and all the lights.

one piece of advice you would give to anyone looking to start a craft business?:
I have two bits of advice. The first is to keep good track of your money going out (save your receipts) versus the money coming in. The second is to always remember that time = money. Because if you want to own a successful craft business, then you need to make sure that what you do is actually making you a profit. Otherwise your craft is a hobby. Many crafters don’t want to admit which side of the fence they’re on (business or hobby). You need to commit to one or the other because a hobby will muck with a business and a business can muck with your hobby–but it is important pick which ever you enjoy the most.

favorite baltimore craft resources and inspirations?:
I like what Charm City Craft Mafia has done for Baltimore. It has provided a good outlet for both crafters and for people who appreciate handmade goods. There aren’t really too many other business that support local handmade on such a level. There are a couple of other businesses here in Baltimore that , but no other organization has put DIY Baltimore on the map more successfully than Charm City Craft Mafia.

links we should check out:
http://printpattern.blogspot.com/
http://jennskistudio.blogspot.com/
http://www.designspongeonline.com/
http://www.trunkt.org/

3 books that share the history of three influential women designers are:
Charles and Ray Eames: Designers of the Twentieth Century by Pat Kirkham
Robin+Lucien Day: Pioneers of Modern Design by Lesley Jackson
Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives by Helen O’Neil

3 movies I believe will make leave a mark (you either will hate or love a couple of these):
Michael Gondry’s “The Science of Sleep”
Sergei Parajanov’s “Color of the Pomegranate”
Jan Svankmajer’s “Alice”

3 baltimore places we should go to:
hmmmm…Here are three retail shops that include handmade goods in Baltimore: Trixie’s Palace in Fells Point, and Shine Collective, Double Dutch and 9th Life in Hampden

anything you would like to add?:
If your husband/boyfriend or significant other says, “don’t buy that!” just because you don’t have a particular use yet for something that inspires you, buy it anyway!

thank you Momi!

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