Trish Anderson from Bella Grano

1. Tell us about Bella Grano
Bella Grano is my little design company started about two winters ago in my dining room. With tender love and care it has grown into more than I ever imagined. It is where I can nurture all things creative.

2. What inspired you to start creating?
My need to make things has always been. It is just a major component of being me. I am inspired and fascinated by objects in the world around me.

3.What do you intend to accomplish with your work?
I want to have my customers smiling a bit when they purchase my products. Brand recognition would also be great!

4. What lessons have you learned along the way?
The most important lesson I have learned is to keep at it. Try and maintain an unwavering confidence in yourself, and one day before you know it things will start happening the way you dreamt they would!

5. What do you enjoy best about your work?
There are a few things:
Being the opinionated, control freak that I am…I like enjoy making ALL the decisions! No seriously though, I love how an idea can turn into an actual object.
I enjoy how peaceful and quiet my mind gets when I work.

6. What is your favorite thing to make?
My favorite thing to make is anything that I am giving to someone else as a gift. Watching them smile is truly a selfish little addiction.

7. Where did you learn your craft?
I learned my crafting skills (sewing and jewelry making), through observation of other artists. My (often less than desirable) sewing skills come from my mom…(who has seriously tried to teach me how to follow a pattern, measure ect.!)

8. How do you get into the creative state of mind?
I lay awake at night, listening to my head just swirl with ideas. If it is something that I think might be really, really cool, I will actually get out of bed and go try it! Usually though, just entering my craft room flips the creative switch and I can go right to work.

9. Describe your workspace:
My workspace is something I am extremely grateful for. I use the spare bedroom in our house. One area is a jewelry table, another is a sewing table, and all around me hang pictures, objects, and art that have either inspired me or just made me plain weak in the knees!

10. What are your favorite books/websites/movies or magazines?

My favorite books and magazines are:
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins
The Secret by Rhonda Byrnes
Dwell (magazine)

My favorite movies are:
Pollyanna
Star Wars
The Fifth Element
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

My favorite websites are:
Design*Sponge
Etsy.com
Google Earth

11. What are your least favorite & favorite trends?
I love the trend towards vintage mixed with color.
I don’t love the trend (that seems to be sticking) towards wearing athletic wear all day long.

12. What is your latest obsession?
Honestly, Pre-Fab modern home kits! I have lovely Dwell magazine to thank for it.

13. What our your favorite places to go in Idaho?
My favorite place to go in Idaho is the Sawtooth Mountains. We go there every year, and I truly feel as if I want to stay there forever. It’s just this big love fest you get to have with nature up there.

14. What do you do when you are not creating?
When I am not creating, I am hanging out and being a mom to my two little boys. We love make up imaginary stories, invent new superheroes, and read books out loud. I also love, love, love to watch movies, watch my dogs play together, and drink beer on my deck.

15. What direction would you like to see Bella Grano go?
I want Bella Grano to keep expanding. I mean that in all ways, customers, profit, craftsmanship, amazing brand labeling, advertising ect… But most importantly I want Bella Grano to always be something I take joy & pride from.

16. Where can people see you works?
My works can be seen at Sparrow in Downtown Nampa, my website www.BellaGrano.Etsy.com, and the rotating Idaho Indie Works booth at the Nampa Farmer’s Market this summer.

www.BellaGrano.Etsy.com
www.IdahoIndieWorks.blogspot.com

Trish will also be a part of IIW at Urban Shed June 14th.