We make Portland awesome: Lumafina

"We make Portland awesome" is a weekly series. I’m interested building our community of artists by helping us all find out more about each other.

This week: Hilary of Lumafina

Who are you?
I am Hilary Alexander: happy wife to Aaron Alexander, chief over lumafina, my own little business; I am an avid reader, cook and determined gardener.

What do you make?
My current fixation is quirky and cheerful jewelry designs, though I often daydream of being a carpenter, farmer or stay-at-home mama.

Besides making things, what do you do?
When I am not creating, I dream about the future and having a little family. My husband and I camp, run, play soccer and attend a small church in Portland that we are continuously blessed by. I love to cook all kinds of foods and host family and friends. I must admit I could talk about food all day, or read, whichever. Preferably both.

What inspires you?
Being out of doors, where things are quiet, is always inspiring. Journaling and sketching, laughter, adventures of any kind (even to the library) or perhaps seeing a perfectly shaped quartz crystal...makes me itch to design and create.

Where can your work be found?
lumafina is global! New Zealand, Australia, Canada...but the shops in Seattle and here in Portland are also dear to my heart: Noun, Tilde, Flora, Ink & Peat, Little Things, Redux, Icon Tattoos, are some of them...I am always expanding!

What do you love about Portland?
Portland is home to me. I feel, well, at home here - it's like putting on that familiar sweater that moves and breathes with you. I am excited about the handmade, diy lifestyle that seems to have taken hold of Portland, flabbergasted by the never-ending food carts to sample from and always gleeful over how many streets, neighborhoods and fun places there are to explore in our little city.

We make Portland awesome: Betty Turbo

"We make Portland awesome" is a weekly series. I’m interested building our community of artists by helping us all find out more about each other.

This week: Agnes of Betty Turbo

Who are you?
I'm Agnes, also known as Betty Turbo, a nerdy, tattooed wrestling fan and dessert expert, trying to bring you as much goofiness as possible from my very tiny (but chock full of radness) hot pink studio in Corvallis.

What do you make?
I make drawings and deliver them to you as art prints, greeting cards, plush toys, tea towels, and limited edition wearable items.

Besides making things, what do you do?
Sorry, what? I'm supposed to do something else?! In all truth, "making stuff" is pretty much my entire life. I stop for a popsicle or a dance party from time to time, but making art and being crafty is what I love and spend most hours of the day on. I do love cooking and baking, riding my bike everywhere (yay Oregon!), and running. But running for hours and hours is really my mental time-out to plan out art projects in my head, so I think it's all ultimately part of my creative process.

What inspires you?
ICE CREAM. Dessert. Okay, food in general. Wrestling, muscles, geeky tv shows, outer space, wild animals, words and typography. I am never short on inspiration. I want to squeeze all the juicy bits out of every day.

Where can your work be found?
In Portland, my work can be found at Powell's, Tender Loving Empire, Mag-BIg, Icon Tattoo, and ZimZim. I also sell at about a dozen other shops across the country. My Etsy shop is always the biggest selection of my current work, but I also show in galleries, and enjoy debuting new products in person at craft shows like Portland's super fabulous Crafty Wonderland sales.

What do you love about Portland?
FOOD TRUCKS. Crepes in the middle of the night. Portland is such a jackpot for vegetarian food, too! Prior to moving to Oregon, I had been living in Tennessee for several years, where most vegetables were either deep fried or cooked to mush with a ham hock. I am constantly in awe of Portland's food offerings. I like that it is big enough to have lots going on, but still small enough that you can easily connect with other art weirdos and find the funky places where you fit just right. SO many awesome artists and creators, and a great support community of art fans and people who are eager to support creativity and small businesses. Also, how rad is Powell's? I would like to build a tiny fort in the stacks and live there forever.