Featured Artist, Isaac Hayden

Welcome Featured Artist

Isaac Hayden



"Once you’ve seen Isaac Hayden perform live, you’ll understand immediately that he is doing what he loves to do. Full of passion, pain, love, hope, and years of toiling away amidst the undercurrent of indie artists, Isaac’s music grasps at the heart-strings of a generation that has chosen to find a new path, a new way to live… "

Photo by Laura Godwin

I would really love to give a better introduction of my dear friend Isaac Hayden than that, but this pretty much says it perfectly. I was lucky enough to befriend Isaac back in Feb. while he was up in Yosemite for a show. A long time mutual friend, Noah Waldron of Capsicum Pro Audio & Visual, had been telling me for ages that I needed to hear Isaac's music. Well, I finally did, and I understood why.

Watching Isaac perform live is such a treat. His songs tell story's that take you to a place you know that you've been once too.  My personal favorite is "Old Headlights", and "Wyoming" reminds me of the way I feel about the place I live and love. I loved watching him delve into the Blues and taking that soulful voice of his and rubbing some serious funk on it. He has a real charisma on stage that keeps you captivated.

Isaac is one of the most honest and genuine people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. When he laughs here in this interview, I hear his wonderful and contagious laugh. He is modest, and unbelievably gracious to his fans. Qualities that I hope never disappear with the fame that is soon coming.

So, pull up Isaac's website here: http://www.isaachayden.com/ in another window, and enjoy his beautiful music while getting to know this wonderful man.


Thanks for stopping in.


1. Who are you, where are you from, how old are you? Tell us about yourself.


My name is Isaac Hayden and I’m a musician from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I’ve been playing music for the last ten years and I recently turned 30!!! People tell me I look 25 though. Baby face.

Photo by Laura Godwin

2. What genre of music do you consider your work to be?

It’s a blend of acoustic singer-songwriter stuff mixed with some blues and soul and folk-pop.

3. Who are your major influences?

The first music I can remember hearing and finding a connection with was the Red Hot Chili Peppers, ha ha. Me and my 9 year old best friend Nate snuck into his big brothers room and popped the Blood Sugar album into the tape deck. We stumbled on this song called ‘Apache Rose Peacock’ and listened to it about 50 times straight - It wasn’t a profound song, but it had a killer groove and this one line, “Oh good brother, just when I thought that I had seen it all… my eyes popped out my dick got hard and I dropped my jaw…” For whatever reason, we found that line immensely hysterical and laughed for hours. That was the first time I remember being affected by music.

Photo by Laura Godwin

Later on I fell in love with Stevie Wonder, Harry Chapin, Cat Stevens, Jeff Buckley, Martin Sexton, Joni Mitchell, and so many others. Harry Chapin’s tune, ‘A Better Place to Be,” is still one of my favorites… I remember feeling transported inside that song like I was living the actual experience. Listening to these artists is what made me fall in love with music.

4. Do you play with a band or do you prefer to play solo? If so, what band do you play with?

I’ve played with a band before, and have some great musician friends in Wyoming I collaborate with when home. When I moved to Nashville I met AlMichael Rodgers. He plays cajon (a box looking percussion instrument), and we started messing around a lot and he even performed on my latest live album.

More recently, I’ve been lucky to have my friend Jared Kneale play cajon with me. Jared has a unique cajon, made in Australia. It allows him to use all of his limbs for controlling a different percussion instrument. It’s really great because he’s able to create a fuller sound with a lot less. He’s been helping me structure the songs so they will make more sense in a band format, which is something we’re working toward right now. So, I generally play solo, or as a duo with Jared or AlMichael, and hopefully someday we will be able to turn it into a full band sound.

5. Besides anyone mentioned above, what other musicians do you enjoy playing with?

I really just enjoy playing music with anyone who enjoys playing music. There’s something transcendent and incredible about bringing musicians who are dedicated to their craft together, because it is an opportunity to share and connect on a common ground where there is no wrong or right, to learn something new and participate in a new form of expression.

Photo by Kali Collado

6. When and how did you decide to become a professional musician?

Ha, well, I think it’s something that I’m continually deciding every day. When I first started playing music it was simply because I enjoyed it. I didn’t know anything about the business or the hardships or challenges, the road that leads to becoming a ‘professional’ musician. When I realized that I loved music enough to make it my life I began, and continue, the slow process of educating myself on the ins and outs of how to do just that.

Photo by Laura Godwin

Unfortunately, there are no clear paths to making a successful career in music. However, because there are no set paths, there is more room for entrepreneurial creativity, which in theory is something I should be good at, being in the creative field. But I’m not! What I’ve learned is that I can’t work the business side, be creative and write songs, perform live, record albums, travel, and stay on top of all that is necessary… by myself. Part of my decision to become a professional musician has been to build a team of people who share a common belief in the music, and who bring other assets to the process, so that I can continue learning in the areas I work best in.

7. Can you tell us about the instruments you play? How did you decide to play these instruments and what do you love about them?

I play an acoustic Taylor 614-CE series guitar. It was actually a “loaned gift” from my first producer, Mr. Kent Nelson. It was a beautiful looking and sounding guitar, and at the time, the nicest instrument I’d ever played. It’s been with me since I began playing music in any type of professional manner, so I have a deep connection with it; that, along with its wonderfully consistent tone and intonation, is why I still love it. It’s not very pretty anymore though. ☺

Photo by Kali Collado

8. What are your favorite and least favorite venues to play? Why? Do you play covers?

I love any venue that allows the listener(s) to connect with the music and provides the chance to find something they want to take with them after the show is over (like a cd. Ha ha, just kidding…. but not really ) Anywhere this happens is a great venue. I play cover songs when I’m hired to entertain a bar room or house party, but my goal is always to create and play my original music.

9. What are your favorite songs to play?

I love playing any song that connects with a person. If it connects on some level, and holds a person throughout, then I love to play that song. It’s a process though; trial and error, and sometimes it takes a song a long time to develop. It may be finished, but usually it takes time for a song to find its place. When it eventually settles it’s an excellent feeling.

Photo by Laura Godwin

10. Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?

I write my songs, and also co-write with other people. Most of the topics are a realistic or abstract retelling of a personal experience. I think the themes and topics are forever changing in direct relation to how I change as a human. Right now I’m really set on changing the tone of my songs so they can carry a little more relevance in today’s world. I love writing love songs, or songs about something that happened a long time ago, but it starts to feel empty when it’s all I write about. I’m really focused on trying to write songs that are applicable to right now, today.

11. How would you define the word “success?”

To me, success is doing something you believe in because you hope that it will inspire positive change or growth in yourself and the people you come in contact with.

Photo by Laura Godwin

12. Where do you find your inspiration? Who or what inspires you?

Inspiration is elusive at best. I don’t know how or where to find it. It seems to come and go as it wishes, without much thought as to who needs or wants it. All I’ve learned about inspiration is to try and develop the tools I use to interact with it, so that when it comes, I have a greater palette to draw from in that moment. It’s an incredibly indefinable phenomenon that manifests when it’s ready; so I find it by waiting patiently, in excited anticipation.

13. Could you briefly describe the music making process?

It’s strange, because often the music making process is coupled with that elusive inspiration which refuses to be bound by any process. So for me it’s like an interpretive dance or something, ha ha. That sounds funny, but it’s true. As ideas come, I work with them and try and develop them into something that flows with the original idea. It might be a melody or a guitar riff or words, but whatever it is, I explore it and try and make it contribute to the foundational idea. There’s no real beginning or end to the process, it just continues until I reach the place where the creation feels complete and the idea feels sound, or in some cases, until I’ve backed myself into a corner and need to just start over.

14. How has your music evolved since you first began playing music?

A friend of mine here in Nashville, who is a wealth of knowledge on poetic and philosophical writings, shared a short excerpt with me by John Gardner, called “On becoming a novelist.” It was painful to listen to, because it points directly at the manifested ego of a young creative mind, but also forgiving, in pointing out that this manifestation is an unavoidable act of growth. I’m boiling it down, but the essential point is that a young creative mind begins the quest in belief that it has something more important to say than anything which has been said. The creative predecessors to this young mind are viewed as miss-lead, even wrong, and with need of correction.

As time goes by and the young creative mind enters into maturity, it no longer views itself as having the answer to said question, but rather, a voice in the chorus of all who are addressing the question. It becomes a part of the body, instead of falsely believing itself to be the whole body.

I think this is often a sub-conscious dilemma in all people who want to say something unique with their life, because any new idea must have the unfounded confidence to get off the ground, because you are the only person turning the wheel. Once your wheel is turning though, you begin to see that you are just a part of the greater machine, which is humbling… and reinvigorating, to know you’re not alone, and to know you’re a part of something vastly bigger than yourself.

I really wanted to share this, though I don’t know what it has to do with the question, ha ha. I guess what I’m saying is, as I’ve passed through phases of creative growth and maturity, hopefully the music has, too.

15. What has been your biggest challenge as a musician? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

My greatest challenge as a musician has been overcoming my own self-doubt. What I’ve learned is that we are all unique, with our own perspective on the world, and it’s ok to share that perspective. If I remain open to my own uniqueness and allow other people to operate in theirs, it seems like the pangs of self-doubt become less relevant. It’s a moment to moment, day to day process.

16. What are your goals and dreams, and where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I’m working hard at bringing my dreams into the realm of achievable goals. My goal tomorrow is the same goal I have for ten years from now; to be playing music to more people than I am right now, writing songs that are more applicable to the world we live in, and to be a better, more educated man with more to say, and less to worry about. I’d also like to be living in Fiji in ten years, surfing and writing music on the beach… at least a few months out of the year. ☺

17. What advice do you have for people who want to become professional musicians?

A few pieces of advice some friends shared with me come to mind. First, no one will ever care about your music more than you do. Secondly, sometimes it takes a while for people to ‘hear’ you, for them to connect with you, for what you’re saying and what people want/need to hear to reach common ground. So, be patient.

It’s really important to love music... Be prepared to have nothing; nothing but your instrument and your belief in what you’re doing. If you’ve got that, then work hard at being persistent, and never give up. I think the world needs more people who follow their heart instead of the societal norm of comfortableness and security. So come on let’s play some music motha fu$%as!

18. Where can you be found?

Anywhere they serve a decent pale ale and have some good live music… Or, on iTunes, isaachayden.com, facebook.com/isaachayden, twitter.com/isaachayden. Either way, please stop by and say hi!!!

19. Any last words?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and please continue to search out music that is not made readily available to you. The music that falls randomly into your lap from a friend, or the music you pass on that no one has heard, is how we keep real music going. Keep passing it along, and keep searching it out. Don’t let the corporate conglomerates re-configure your mind to make you think Miley Cyrus is actually what you want to hear... even if it is. Party in the USA bitches!! Do some research, find the music that hits you because you know the person making it has experienced something you can relate to. And above all, all, all else… never, ever, ever, ever, let the government illegalize beer again. ☺

Ever.

Cheers

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I truly hope that you have enjoyed getting to know Isaac as much as I have.  I hope you will share this Post, leave a comment, and introduce yourself.

Thank you!

Featured Artist, Jon Swift

Welcome Featured Artist

Jon Swift

    I feel truly honored today to be bringing this Blog back with one of the most exciting musicians I have heard in a long time, singer/songwriter, Jon Swift. Jon plays his own kind of music. He doesn't limit himself to a genre, or get caught up in the idea of what he "should" be writing.

    Jon writes from the heart, and his songs are truly stories. They transport you to a place, as seen through Jon's eyes. For just a moment, you catch a glimpse of the world that inspires him. Jon's songs are real, beautiful and emotional and he isnt afraid to share the dark sides of the soul.

    I first heard Jon live at the Roost House. I sat in the audience, totally enthralled in the stories he wove with words and music. I can still picture the green sea and the boats from the bench that he writes about in "Ode to O'Rourke" and I can relate to the tortured soul of "...empty lighthouse".

    After listening to his music and getting to know Jon through this interview, he is someone that I just want to sit down and hang out with, over a few good beers and a few good stories. Please take a moment to listen to Jon's music with the Amazon Widget to the right of this interview. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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1. Who are you? Where are you from, how old are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born in New York some 37 years ago, grew up in San Diego. Since then, I’ve indulged wayward tendencies but have spent most of my time in the western US.

My fascination with music began early when my father was still alive. He used to sing American folk songs with me, and in doing so instilled a particular kind of joy, or even ecstasy, associated with singing. Later, in the solitary years of my childhood, I took to sneaking in to my neighbor’s house to tinker on their piano. These experiences formed the foundations of my music, and I have continued since then in a similar vein, teaching myself to play instruments and accompanying those instruments with voice. Over the years I have become more narrowly focused on creating and producing songs. As I side effect, I’ve taught myself to play guitar, banjo, piano, ukulele, mandolin, harmonica, jaw harp, and a handful of other folky instruments with varying degrees of proficiency.
Throughout most of my adulthood music has been a constant, though clandestine process for me serving to balance and enhance my other endeavors in life. I have spent many years working through the mathematical details of the physical universe and have received multiple degrees from the University of California in physics and astrophysics. Equally important in shaping my character has been an ongoing relationship with the natural world. I have frequented the ocean since I was 2, and have kept up my skills as a surfer over the past 27 years. On land, I prefer wilderness, be it desert, forest, alpine, or chaparral.

Though I have never really fostered any particular aspirations with making music, circumstance has allowed me to dedicate the vast majority of my time to making music these days. It has been a welcomed gift, and I intend to use the time to do justice to the abstract inspirations that have propelled me through the wonderful turbulence of life.

2. What kind of music do you play?

The American west has a distinct feel, philosophy, and character that I’ve been steeped in. This inevitably shows up in my music, in a similar way that an accent shows up in speech. Yet I don’t play western music, or country, or Americana, or folk either, really. I don’t know what to call it. My girlfriend calls it “mod-west.”

As far as intent goes, much of my music comes from a place of overcoming—be it hardship, tumult, fear, myself, whatever. Things that I feel fortify the soul, those are the things I feel motivated to share. In that way, I think my music is similar to the American spirituals. However, I am not in allegiance with any particular religion. So, I guess, in the end, you could call my songs “mod-west secular spirituals.”

3. What does your Band name mean?

I play under my own name usually, as I typically find myself band-less. However, I have had the recent opportunity to play with a truly inspiring group of musicians based mostly in Ventura and Ojai, CA. We worked on a surf movie soundtrack together starting in early 2010 and we call ourselves the Melali Sessions Band named after the movie, Melali. It is a Balinese word that means to hang out, in the colloquial sense.

4. When did you decide to make the leap from hobby to Profession? Tell us about your first show.

It is unclear when I became a “professional musician.” Perhaps it was when a couple of my songs were used in a surf video back in 1996. I’m pretty sure I didn’t get paid for that, though. My first performances back in the mid 90s were open mic things; those were hardly professional. Hmm... that’s a tough question. I’ve been playing little shows forever it seems, and people have bought music rights from me for years. So I guess I’ve been “professional” for quite a while. Now that I’m thinking about it, the Roost House show this past summer struck me as being particularly professional. I was approached and treated professionally—rather than it being a favor, or a friend of a friend thing—the performance was professional, and I had a couple of professionals accompanying me. But when the leap to professionalism occurred, I couldn’t tell you; it’s been a gradual thing.

5. INSPIRATION. Anything, everything. What inspires you?

I feel like the natural world is the ultimate inspiration. Everything we create comes from the natural world. All our great ideas and advancements are inspired by, or even directly modeled after, the natural world. After all, we ourselves are the natural world. Our visions, ideas, desires, emotions, thoughts; they are all part of the natural world. So, for me, understanding relationship is the source of inspiration, and the vehicle for growth. By that I mean being able to handle the connectedness of our world, the connectedness of people, and of people with the rest of the natural world. It is a sort of alignment of thoughts and actions, not necessarily in an intellectual way although the intellect is certainly a part of that process. There is no inspirational “thing” for me that can be defined, or grasped, or bought. Inspiration is in our very nature, and it is the decisions we make on a moment-to-moment basis that place us in the flow of that inspiration or otherwise.

6. Explain your process a bit.

Trial and error.

7. What are your goals and dreams, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I do have goals and aspirations, and I’m quite motivated. However, my goals are almost entirely abstract. They are things like discipline, joy, freedom. I pursue these things by dedicating myself to whichever path appears to lead in those directions rather than planning a long-term course of action and forcing myself through it. At the same time, I do not feel whimsical about the course of my life, and I stand by the commitments I set. It’s just that… well, 10 years is a long time and I can’t really say.

Interestingly, I also have these recurring images—landscapes, primarily—and they have something to do with the future course of my life. When the time comes to make significant decisions, I often notice some new feature in the landscape that has always been there but I haven’t seen before. Sometimes I think I missed my calling as a painter or visual artist. Though I think all my paintings would have been of the same thing; kind of like Frida Kahlo. Only instead of her mono-brow, it would have been a seagull flying or something. At any rate, I hope to be seeing many beautiful things in 10 years.

8. Where can you be found?

Ojai, CA is your best bet. Or, if you mean “found” in the virtual sense, jonswiftmusic.com is a good place to start; and Jon Swift Music on facebook can keep you updated on things.

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Jon-Swift-Music/442679465321
WEBSITE: http://www.jonswiftmusic.com/

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    Thank you for stopping by and joining me in getting to know Jon Swift. I hope you leave here with a new favorite artist. Please feel free to visit Jon at any of the places listed above. You can purchase his music directly on his website via PayPal.

    If you like what you hear, please share it and we would love if you left some comments below telling us what you think

Have a beautiful day!!

Featured Artist, Zebedee Zaitz and Sparrows Gate

Welcome Featured Artist

Zebedee Zaitz and Sparrows Gate

Hello friends!

     I'm back and I'm kicking off the Spring/Summer season with an interview from an amazing musician, Zebedee Zaitz and his Band, Sparrow's Gate.

     I discovered Zeb at the wonderful Roost House in Carmel, CA. He was a surprise guest for that nights show and he completely stole the night. Some great, fabulous actually, music was played that night (Walter Rose and Cave Country, who are both amazing themselves), however none of us could stop talking about Zeb.
     We loved his music. It seemed to take him a minute to find his groove on stage that night, but then, WOW! He danced, jumped, stomped his feet, played his harmonica, strummed that Guitar and belted out the lyrics in an almost Bob Dylan esc voice that had the whole room captivated (my favorite song is Rose Parade).
     That was it. I was hooked and I wanted more! Luckily, I'm not very shy so I promptly introduced myself after the show and when I got home emailed Zeb about doing an interview here for all of you! I'm excited as well that Zeb and his band, Sparrow's Gate, will be playing at The Roost again in a little over a week on Thursday, May 27th at 8pm. If you live in the area, you have got to come and check it out. I'll be there. ( You can find out more about that show here: http://www.roosthouse.com/events.html ).
     So read, listen, discover and enjoy Zebedee Zaitz and Sparrow's Gate. You can find Sparrow's Gate's music, available on Amazon, just off to the right of this page. Listen while you read, buy it if you like it, and leave some comment love below, letting us know what you think!

Enjoy!

1. Who are you? Where are you from, how old are you? Tell us about yourself.
     My name is Zebedee Zaitz, I was born in Tampa Florida but for now California is my home.

2. What kind of music do you play?
     I guess it would be considered folk rock but that all depends on the night. Some nights if spirits are high and if we had some drinks then its good old rock n roll.

3. What does your Band name mean?
     Well, we were playing a show and we didn't have a name yet so I turned to my drummer Casey and he said were called Sparrows Gate. I guess he went to some orphanage in Mexico that was called Sparrows Gate and we just never changed our name.

4. How long have you been (a) musician/s, how long have you been a band, and how did you get into music?
     I started playing drums when I was eleven and been doing this project since 2003. It's gone through different members and sounds. It's been a year with the members that are playing now so really it feels like a new project with a old name. I got into music because my father played piano and guitar and my grandfather played in jazz clubs till he died.

5. When did you decide to make the leap from hobby to Profession?
     I don't know if it was decision I made. I just feel like I it's something I've done and will keep on doing, its one long road.

6. INSPIRATION. Anything, everything. What inspires you?
     People, John Keats, traveling, the north, south, east and west. Love, pain and death.

7. Explain your process a bit.
     There is no specific process. I try and write everyday and make it a routine. Either in the morning or with a bottle of wine at night.

8. What are your goals and dreams, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
     New avenues where my mind has not yet traveled.

9. Where can you be found?

http://www.sparrowsgatemusic.com

http://www.myspace.com/sparrowsgate

and contact sparrowsgate@mail.com

Up-coming Shows:

May 20, 2010 8pm: The Knockout. with Gypsy Moonlight and Sweet Chariot San Francisco, California

May 27, 2010 8pm: The Roost House Carmel, CA

May 28, 2010 10:30am: The Crepe Place with Big Eagle(she and him after party) Santa Cruz, CA

June 12, 2010 7:30pm: Under the electric church with Little Wings and Rad Cloud San Louis Obispo, CA

June 13, 2010 6pm: The Steynberg Gallery San Louis Obispo, CA

June 20, 2010 8pm: Live Oak Festival Santa Ynez Valley, CA

Thanx for stopping in.

Featured Artist Michelle Pyxus

Welcome Featured Artist

Michelle Pyxus!

     I am SO VERY excited to be FINALLY, after much laziness on my part, be sharing with you my wonderful, talented, beautiful, funny, kind and oh-SO patient friend, Michelle!! Michelle is a ridiculously talented fashion designer who has an incredible and beautiful vision. Her clothes are chic, sexy and sophisticated with a punch of FUN!!

     Her designs are eco-chic, and often made with recycled fabrics. Her new Spring Line absolutely blows me away and leaves me WISHING I had every single piece hanging in MY closet!!!  I had the hardest time selecting pictures for this interview!  Like I said, I LOVE everything in her shop, and I think I have managed to put just about everything from her shop into this interview!  LOL!

     There is not much I really need to say to intrduce this amazing lady. You will see what I love when you look at her pieces. She has written for us all a wonderful, fun, perfect interview! A little ol' blogging gal like myself couldn't ask for more! :)

     Thank you Michelle for sharing so very much of yourself with us!

1. Who are you? Where are you from, how old are you? Tell us about yourself.

Hi - I'm Michelle and am originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba which is.. pretty much in the middle of Canada - not too far from Minnesota for all you stateside readers! Actually, before the move to Winnipeg came - I was from a small french town about 45 minutes outside of Manitoba's capital city. I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere which probably affected my imagination in ways I never thought of before. Hmmmm... Anyway, about 5 years ago I made a life changing decision to pack up my life and move to the east coast in search of.. well, MORE! So, here i am living in Montreal, Quebec and freezing my butt off - just as much as I was in Manitoba. What was I thinking?! All joking aside it turns out it was a really good decision, minus the freezing my bits off part.

2. How long have you been an artist and how did you learn about art?

I have been keeping my hands busy and making "stuff" since I was a little one. I couldn't tell you when it started but I do remember my grandmother (also known as my "memere" ) letting me dig into her crafty things. She had these amazing paints in tubes and heat transfer 'clip art' that you would paint onto aprons, napkins or whatever.. it was SO much fun. At some point I moved on to making little outfits for my cabbage patch kids and barbies (which.... I unfortunately chopped the hair off of). I guess that's when I figured out I loved to make clothes and that maybe I was a little 'arty'.

3.  What does your Business  name mean?

My official business name is under "Pyxus Passion Project". Pyxus was my original business name when I was a Winnipeg resident and is pretty much formed after the original version of the word - pyxis which is basically a constellation of stars. Mariners used to use this constellation to find their way when they were lost at sea, much like a compass. The business was something I needed to create so I could find my way and to help others find their way when they get lost in their wardrobe and need a little direction.

Simone's Rose is my first and new label under the Pyxus umbrella. It's named after my 'memere' who inspired me to do what I love.. she was a rock and if it wasn't for her - I'm not sure I would have ever made that first sale in junior high.

4. When did you decide to make the leap from hobby to Profession? Tell us about your first sale.

I first realized I could turn my crafty skills into cold hard cash when I was in junior high or middle school. After moving on from dolls and barbies I of course turned to chopping my own hair off and **gulp** dressing myself. Turns out those handy paints my memere eventually gave me came in handy. I had painted some of my t-shirts and jeans with some crazy Madonna worshiping phrases and portraits and along came my friends and schoolmates wanting me to paint their jean jackets with all kinds of nonsense. I'm talking beer mugs, band logos and more Madonna insignia. CHA ching! There was my first sale. Many years of practice and some years of schooling followed – eventually I set up a legitimate business and got really busy making lots of different types of clothing.

5. Explain your process a bit.

Now that I am back to working as an independent fashion designer I'm slowly but surely developing my process again. You see, I've also spent the last 5 years or so working for someone else.. Did I say working? I meant slaving. Yes, slaving - this happens a lot in the fashion industry. Now that I've come to my senses and decided to work for myself I'm breaking old habits and forming new ones like creating my own trends, researching sustainable processes and supplies and simply taking the time to create beautiful things. My process usually involves picking an inspiring fabric or sad looking garment, throwing it on my dress form and imagining it in a different form. Out come the scissors, pins and needles and **fingers crossed** something worthy of being out in the world is developed.

(Before)

(After)

6.  INSPIRATION. Anything, everything. What inspires you?

(Before)

(After)

.The process is inspiring, art and visual influences all around are inspiring, “freaks” on the street are inspiring, old men at the thrift store are inspiring, musicians are inspiring, friends are inspiring. Inspiration really comes from life and everything in it. Sometimes it’s more specific like the collection I’m working on now which is somewhat inspired by silks and vintage Japanese fabrics but really it’s all the combined influences of life that make the end product what it is. I guess at the end of the day I’m mostly inspired by the materials that I use… silks (vintage, eco friendly, fair trade and recycled), other vintage garments and fabrics as well as some new fabrics. Sometimes you just fall in love with a textured fabric or color – as long as I’m supporting a local business by making this purchase, I’m okay with that.

(Before)

(After)

7. What are your goals and dreams, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years I hope to have a thriving and successful business with different fashion brands - all of which will use sustainable business practices. My hope is that in 10 years it won't be as difficult to source fabrics and supplies that are actually GOOD for the planet. I also hope that 2010 will be the beginning of a trend for consumers to really think about their purchasing power. Just think what we can do by 2020 if everyone decides to spend their hard earned dollars on local businesses, independent artisans or at the very least on companies that have some kind of morals and sustainable business practices. If we can work together on this, I might even see myself swimming in an ocean in 10 years.. one that is not filled with a millions of plastics. I know folks, it's just a dream!

8. Anything and everything else about yourself that you would like to share.

What else can I share with you? I love to eat, I've been a vegetarian for over 20 years (I'll keep you guessing about my age), I love taking trips back home to be with my friends and family (especially my 3 year old niece) and I love to travel.

9. Where can you be found?

Check out my etsy boutique:
http://www.pyxuspassionproject.etsy.com/
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Fan page!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Simones-Rose-a-Pyxus-Passion-Project/164205706812
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Twitter!
http://twitter.com/pyxus
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Blog!
http://www.simonesrose.blogspot.com/
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I'm also working on a seasonal/monthly newsletter so shoot me an email if you'd like to be on the mailing list! michelle.pyxus@gmail.com

     I know that you have fallen in love with Michelle as much as I have! Please, show your support by stopping by her shop and leaving a comment below, letting her know what your favorite item is!!

Thank you!!