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WHERE DO YOU SEE STONEDWARE COMPANY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? WHAT’S YOUR NEXT BIG<br />
STEP? Oh boy! Stonedware has been an evolving journey and total learning<br />
experience for me over the past three years, same as when I started I don’t<br />
have a distinct goal other than making work that excites me and other<br />
like-minded individuals. This year I’m hoping to add new items to my<br />
offerings as well as hire on both administrative and production assistance<br />
so that I can have more time for designing and growing the business.<br />
In five years I’d love for Stonedware to be a global brand that still focuses<br />
on craftsmanship and elevating the aesthetics of cannabis consumption.<br />
AS FELLOW ARTISTS, WE KNOW THE INTERNAL STRUGGLE WITH SELLING & VALUING OUR WORK.<br />
HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES? Pricing and selling my work<br />
is still a struggle, especially in an era of Amazon and mass-produced<br />
ceramic wares, but through the years I have learned that in order to keep<br />
doing what I love with a level of craftsmanship that I require for each<br />
piece, I have to value my creations at a level that will make it possible to<br />
sustain myself and the business. Customers who respect and value the<br />
handmade process are typically more than understanding of this reality.<br />
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ARTISTS WANTING TO SELL THEIR WORK IN THE CANNABIS<br />
SPACE? Go for it! The market is growing daily and it’s exciting to be at the<br />
forefront of a culture shift that is taking place.<br />
IN A DREAM WORLD, WHAT WOULD YOU BE WORKING ON AND WHERE? If I had my way<br />
I’d be focusing more on my art, creating large-scale ceramic sculptures<br />
and installations or just messing around on my pottery wheel. I’d love an<br />
ocean view somewhere sunny and tropical. I think I’d be pretty content<br />
being able to take a beach walk daily with my furry bud, Bernadette.<br />
GIVE US YOUR ‘HIGH & LOW’ OF BEING A CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR. I think like most<br />
entrepreneurs in any field the highs and lows can both be derived from<br />
the same thing, for instance, I can take as long of a vacation as I want<br />
but at the same time there is no one to fill in for me, being self-employed<br />
doesn’t come with PTO.<br />
Most of my highs come from when I get to personally connect with<br />
my customers, and hear direct feedback about how much they appreciate<br />
my work. Most lows stem from the overwhelming feeling that there<br />
aren’t enough hours in the day to ever make it all the way down the never<br />
ending, always accumulating “to-do” list. In these moments it’s important<br />
to remember, one day at a time.<br />
98 <strong>MJ</strong>LIFESTYLE.COM