Meet Jess of Pine & Boon + Giveaway!!

When Jess Griffith, owner and designer of Pine & Boon, approached us about a giveaway on our blog, we couldn't say yes fast enough! Just our style--minimalist and modern yet completely functional--Pine & Boon is a great pick for gifts (or a little something for yourself).

This week, Jess will be giving away one of her most popular items: the Easy Circle Tote (a $56 value, pictured below) to one lucky reader. Leave your name, email address and comments to be randomly selected as the winner on Monday, August 5th. We loved getting a chance to ask Jess a few questions while she was around as well! Note: This giveaway is now closed to entrants.

When did you launch Pine & Boon? What was your inspiration for starting the company?
I launched the website and blog of Pine & Boon in May of 2013. However, I worked on my designs, concept, and branding for a solid year before that.

I had a great career in the contemporary art gallery world and while I loved my job, I lost my motivation to create in my own studio. Which meant, I was not getting much fulfillment out of managing other peoples passions. I also knew I did not want to just make 'art' in the traditional sense, even though I studied art in college. I wanted to create more utilitarian objects or clothing. So I started dabbling around with leather and happened to find myself a deal on an antique industrial sewing machine. Once I purchased, I dived in head first to this whole business thing. Friends have always loved my style and eye for fashion and art. I felt like I could capitalize on that somehow, while still staying true to myself. I believe surrounding yourself with lovingly made items and artwork is a happy investment.

Tell us a bit about the product you will be giving away.
I do have to say my favorite item to make is the Easy Circle Dot Tote--which is why I included it in this giveaway. I love painting the fabric and seeing how each one turns out. It is also the first bag I made for my line.


What is your favorite item? What is your best seller?
I love the new Ultramarine Suede Dot Tote. I started punching dots into my leather to create a polka dot pattern. The bright blue is such a fun and easy way to brighten up a simple outfit. I tend to have less and less time to think about styling an outfit or even brushing my hair. Grabbing a statement accessory these days is my go to way to look put together. A color like this just makes you happy looking at it! My best seller is the Dot Card Pouch. Sometimes wallets are just too complicated. This is a zipper card pouch for those who enjoy simplicity when they reach for their wallet.


Image courtesy Moorea Seal via Pine & Boon
Do you have any favorite designers that inspire you? Role models?
My aunt Suzy has always inspired and encouraged me to sell my creations. She has been knitting her sweater and hat designs for ages and selling them at craft fairs in Seattle. She works SO hard to make a living. She also knows how to step back and slow down if she does not like where things are going. She used to sell wholesale to high-end boutiques and attend trade shows. But then she realized they way she was doing business was consuming her family life. Thus, she went back to selling at solely at craft fairs. Now, her best customers are those that do not have a lot of money, but want to put their money towards something local and handmade. I really admire her ability to stick to her guns, no matter how difficult it can be financially and emotionally.


My husband and I were traveling in Europe for our honeymoon this summer, and I fell in love with Simon Hantaï. Centre Pompidou had an amazing retrospective. At first I did not love his early work, but as I walked through the exhibition I really fell in love his process.

Do you have any new projects in the works? Long term goals?
Yes! Right now I am creating more hand-painted fabric designs for table linens and totes. Long term, I would love to eventually work with my husband to create a line of printed fabrics. He is a painter and I want to use elements of his paintings in our fabric designs that can be used to make linens, pillows, and canvas totes.

What do you do when you're not working on Pine & Boon?
I am probably working on another DIY project. I have made shampoo, soap, leather polish, and lots more. I also have another part-time job as an administrator. Which is great because I get to be around people. While I love working from home, it can feel a little lonely sometimes.

If you could catch a glimpse of any celebrity in a magazine with one of your designs, who would it be?
Diane Keaton! I think she would go for the Leather & Copper Tote. Annie Hall would go for the Dot Card Pouch don't you think? (Editor's note: Yes! Definitely!)

Thank you, Jess from Pine & Boon!

Images courtesy Pine & Boon
{Sponsored Post}

Favorite Friend Friday: Slide Sideways

We're really excited to have Tacoma-based duo, Slide Sideways, on our list of favorite friends. We met Jacqui and Scott Scoggin during the first Etsy Rain Craft Show, and fell in love with the two of them and their work almost immediately. Talented, genuine, and ultra-adorable, Slide Sideways creates thoughtful and stylish products that are always at the top of our best seller list.

Assemble: Tell us a little bit about Slide Sideways.
We started a little over four years ago when we were both working full time at graphic design jobs that ironically were not that fulfilling creatively. When we would come home and on weekends we would draw and make things with our hands. We decided to apply our illustrative skill-set and our fondness of craft and make something out of it. Today Slide Sideways is about half graphic design business and half handmade goods. We do quite a bit of traveling in the summer and winter for craft shows.

How long have you guys been working together as a couple?
We've been exploring, learning, and working together as a couple for over eight years, but working together on Slide Sideways has been just over four years.

What do you like the most about your job?
The hands-down best part about what we do is that we get to be creative for a living. We get to work with great clients tackling ever challenging graphic design projects on one side and on the other we get to use our hands and minds creating handmade goods, it is a great balance for us and keeps us very busy.

Do you sew and silkscreen every piece? If so, where do you work?
Yes, we sew and silkscreen every product we make. We are very concerned about having the best quality possible in all of our products and for us that means not overlooking even the tiniest details. Everything has always been made in our home studio, which has gone from a tiny apartment, to recently our first home. We have so much more room than we've ever had and it's made things so much easier on us.


Do you have any new designs in the works?
Yes, we just finished a series of silkscreened prints that we are excited to release. We also have some holiday wrapping paper that will be available this holiday season.

Which product is your "fan favorite?" What are your favorite products?
Our produce bags have been doing pretty well and we get a lot of use out of ours, so those are probably a mutual favorite. We also really love our new tote bags that we released this last summer.

Green Market Weave Tote Bag and Pencil Pouch by Slide Sideways
Now for the fun ones!

What do you like to do in your off time (if any)?
As much as we enjoy the work we do for a living, we also enjoy the non-work that we try to make time for every day because we feel that stepping away is a hugely positive thing to do. Our favorite place to step away into is the out-of-doors. We are so fortunate to live in such an amazing place as the Pacific Northwest. We have a great park near us that we can ride our bikes to and do some nature exploring, we find so much inspiration out there! We also enjoy working in our garden, and the occasional surf out on the coast is always a great time.

If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?
Scott: Birds seem to have all the fun, especially on a windy day.
Jacqui: If there is a job title for it, I'd just like to explore woodsy trails and coast lines. Then at the end of the day cook a big meal and enjoy with fellow friends, family, travelers.


If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Scott: There are many places I'd like to visit for sure, but I really like it here and it would be very hard for me to leave, this is my kind of environment.
Jacqui: If you had asked me this 10 or even 5 years ago my response might be very different from today. But I'm with Scott, I really love where we live and can't imagine our life anywhere else. Although one of the islands in the San Juan's around here might be a close second.

If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Scott: I am answering this pre-breakfast and I am pretty hungry, but Jacqui made some pancakes the other day that were beyond great. Also Thai food always has my vote.
Jacqui: This is tough. There are 2 things though that I can straight up always eat with nothing else around, avocados and chocolate. But at some point I'd really need to add in some kale, you know, for balance.

And the age old, dinner question: who would you have dinner with dead or alive?
Scott: A group of my living and deceased relatives would be great.
Jacqui: I definitely put family and friends at the top of the list.

To shop view more of their designs, go to our shop and see lots more of their work at their website. Thanks, guys!

All images via Slide Sideways.