Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Get To Know... Phydeaux

Well, I've been trying to come up with a great introduction for my next interviewee, but I think I just have to let her shops, blogs and finished sentences say it all. Meet Brenda, the woman who runs Phydeaux and Phydelle. She knits scarves and accessories for people and fashion dolls and lives to blog all about it. She's also excited to be adding mitts to her shop and is generous enough to give away a pair to a lucky winner!I am… a business manager, a writer, an artist, a knit wear designer, a daughter, a friend, a sister, a momma to two kitties, a lifelong student, a cook, a gardener, a dreamer, a realist, a small business owner, an entrepreneur, a lover of books, a dark chocolate addict :) and a watcher of too much TV.

I was… all of the above! As well as a student and healthcare worker. And once, I only dreamed about being able to sell my creations …
In my early 20’s, my life was going to be about art and writing. And medicine. What can I say, I’m right and left brained! I certainly didn’t foresee where I’d be more than 20 years later.

I will be… a success, wherever life continues to take me. I’m thinking positive! I’m at an interesting point in my life, with major decisions to be made, any of which will result in completely different futures. More short term, I am very excited about knitting designs being published in 2010. I’m excited about new possibilities with knitting (this holiday season and winter will have many new creations at Phydeaux Designs!).

I’m very excited about re-embracing painting and drawing and typography, creative processes that I couldn’t imagine my life without 20 and 30 years ago, and yet I put them away for nearly 20 years! I’m excited about my true love, writing, and the opportunities and directions that writing will take me in the next year. But most of all, I’m excited about exploring and reconciling the differences and the similarities and the surprises between my young 20 self and my current 40 something self.

I am motivated by… creativity, originality, learning new things, achieving potential. In business speak, I’m driven by intrinsic, rather than external, motivators. I motivate myself, which sometimes mean I need to kick myself in the pants to be motivated! I’m constantly trying to learn, grow, improve – all of which motivate me. When I’m stagnant and stuck mentally and emotionally, it shows in my work! When I get stuck creatively, I challenge myself to learn a new skill. I felt creatively stuck this Spring, after a super busy holiday season for Phydeaux, and a bit disheartened by a lack of originality I was seeing in other folks’ work. So, I chose to stop looking at others’ work – if I or other people are being copied, freaking out about it wasn’t doing me any good – and also decided to finally learn how to knit lace. And did!

My passion is… continual learning and growing. I can’t imagine a life without both! I’m never “done.” I’m always challenging myself to learn a new skill, whether a knitting technique or HTML coding for my blog or a new way to roast a chicken. I can always do and be better!

Many people don’t know that I… competed in the 1984 Olympics. I’m kidding! I’ve done nothing quite that exciting! Well, let’s see … I believe that Big Foot exists. I am seriously freaked out about clowns. I’ve never travelled outside of the US. I used to make all my own clothes. I’ve never smoked. I am a videogame junky – haven’t played any of my games for so long – I miss it! I hate iced tea. Now you all know a bunch of things about me!

I’d like to learn to… make stained glass windows! Dye and spin my own yarn (I’m working on the latter)! Program videogames – wouldn’t that be fun? Animate – the good old fashioned way, not computerized. The list of things I’d like to learn is endless!

I wish I had known… that Piglet is pig. Oh my gosh, I didn’t know what kind of animal Piglet was when I was young! It just didn’t make sense to me – he couldn’t be a PIG, since he didn’t have a curly tail! I felt like such an idiot when I figured it out … as an adult! (By the way, you might be laughing, since this is so obvious to the rest of the world, but my brother totally gets this!)

If I won the lottery, I would… pay off all of my and my family’s debts. Invest wisely. Buy myself my dream piece of land with cottage by the ocean and take in abandoned kittens. And design and create and write to my heart’s content. Sigh.

I’d like to thank the Academy for… the opportunity to play myself in my life story. It’s definitely the most challenging role I’ve ever been offered!
Now for the Giveaway!
So here's how you can enter to win one of the brand new mitts from Phydeaux.
Visit her Etsy shop and post a comment to tell me what your favorite item is and what colors you'd like to see more of. You have until Oct. 26th to enter, and please make sure I have a way to contact you. The winner will be announced on Oct 27th.
Additional entries:
1. Follow Brenda's blog.
2. Join her mailing list, which you can do from her blog, and tell me that you did.

3. Follow my blog.
4. Twitter about this giveaway. Please have @juneshindesigns in the tweet.
5. Become a Facebook Fan of June Shin, and post a comment on my wall.
6. Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.

Special offer just for you!
Brenda is also offering
15% off your order and free first class shipping (not including gift certificates)! Just mention my blog at checkout. This is valid until Oct. 26th.

33 comments:

Ngan {eNVe Designs} said...

Hmm, my fav item has to be the spiced pumpkin cowl. As far as colors, Brenda does a beautiful job incorporating just about every color. My favs are greens and teals/blues so more of those would be my vote. :)

Wonderful interview! I dig the format and what a great interviewee!

I follow both your blogs
I'm a facebook fan
I subscribe to Brenda's list

Thanks, ladies!

Ngan
envedesigns.blogspot.com

Sherry Go Sharing said...

I like Granite and Fig Cowls / Neckwarmers - PDF PATTERN, I like to see in mix colour of orange, green, and yellow :)

sherrygo at hotmail dot ocm

Sherry Go Sharing said...

blogged http://iluvcontest.blogspot.com/2009/10/phydeaux-giveaway.html

sherrygo at hotmail dot com

Sherry Go Sharing said...

follow your blog :)

sherrygo at hotmail dot com

Kat C. said...

I really liked the Tropicale Scarf...love the colors!

katch05 at gmail dot com

Bachuchay said...

I love the Cherries and Chocolate Scarf

huggie0109@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Hi June! I'm following you now....!

What a great interview with Brenda - she is an inspiration and good friend. My favoritest of faves in her shop is her Blue SKies scarf:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27163252

I already follow Brenda's blog, am on her mailing list, and I'm now following your blog, too! Keep an eye out for my tweeeeet!

Thanks for the great giveaway, guys.

wendyz
buttercupbloom.etsy.com
buttercupbloom@gmail.com

Lilly said...

I love the Soft Gold Neckwarmer. It is really beautiful and I would like to see more purples.
Thanks a lot.
eli_green22 at yahoo dot com dot br

Lilly said...

Facebook fan (Lilly Papers)
eli_green22 at yahoo dot com dot br

Lilly said...

I joined her mailing list.
eli_green22 at yahoo dot com dot br

lillyella said...

yay! Great interview. I love brenda, I wish she lived closer to me so we could hang out with our kitties and be crafty all day. I love everything in her shop but right now my favorite is the lotus scarf! I love the colors and the chunky yarn. She has a great variety of colors, I dont really think she is missing anything. Maybe more cherry/ruby red in long scarves?
ok lets see!
I follow your blog
I follow both of brendas blogs
Im on her mailing list
Im twittering now
Im a fan of yours on facebook and will go comment now!

thanks for the chance, ladies!

nicole @ lillyella

savor said...

How exciting! I am already on Brenda's mailing list but I can definitely tell you the Napa Harvest scarf has been a favorite since I first saw it! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19762991

I love purples, corals, light teal. So pretty!

Design & Libraries Authors said...

Love the ivory and granite items. Also like the spiced pumpkin. Would love to see more that.

Really think the woods neck warmer cuff is fab. Would make a good cowl too. (Also subscribed to Phydeaux's blog!).

xox Love her work.

IlanaWrites said...

Wow! The Cowl's are beautiful. I love the spiced pumkin one. A blue and grey would would be really cool too!

DesertNana said...

oh good Good grief!
I adore all of her amazing hand knitted items. I covet the neck warmers,but am afraid my sensitive skin would go itchy blotchy with one of these beauties against it =(
Breaks my heart
truly its impossible to pick only one but since it is a directive i am going to say
Soft Gaucho Fingerless Mittens or Mitts
I would LOVE TO SEE items for toddlers and kids!!!!!
~Hugs
DesertNana

maryam said...

maryam @ talktomaryam@yahoo.com -> email me there, if i win!!
heyy! i twittered about you..
soo, i joined the contest(:
my fave probably is the neckwarmers. they are GREAT(:

Jennifer Cowgill said...

I have some fingerless gloves being custom made by Brenda so that is my favorite thing!

I follow both blogs,
I tweeted it,
I'm a fan on facebook.
I subscribed to the newsletter :)

Polestar on Etsy

phetched said...

I love ALL the scarves, but my favorite item is the Spring Leaf Brooch - it's so unique, and I love pinning a brooch on my cloth handbags, like a little piece of flair. :D

phetched said...

I was a little quick with the trigger there and forgot to comment on the color. I'd like to see more oranges, just 'cause I love wearing warm colors like that in the fall and winter.

My tweet:
http://twitter.com/phetched/status/5132264477

Clementine said...

It's so great to learn more about Brenda!

I know exactly what my favorite Phydeaux piece is-- the Midnight Neckwarmer. And I'd love to own it in a rich, deep blue, an indigo or lush navy. I wear a ton of blue and it looks better on me than black. Um, and clearly it's all about me? ;0 Kidding!
Anyway, I'm totally jonesing for those mitts now! Perfect for the coming months when I can't feel my hands on the keyboard. Seriously.

--Cassie
shopclementine [at] mac [dot] com
(I've got both your blogs on my reader, I think I'm "google friend" following them? I dunno what it's called, but you know what I mean.... :)

dymphna said...

i found what i loved right away it's the Concretos Sangria Scarf
deefna at gmail dot com

dymphna said...

following brenda's blog

dymphna said...

already following your blog

dymphna said...

signed up for brenda's newsletter

Callooh Callay said...

I love the chunky knits--the orange spice scarf is one of my favorites (it's in my current treasury--
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=73111

I'd like to see some purple and wine shades.

Thanks!

Susan

Unknown said...

Beautiful items and a great interview! Thanks so much!

My favourite item is the soft orchid cowl. Purples and plums are my favourite shades, so I vote for more of these!

I follow both blogs!

Carrie
nadiasrosegarden.blogspot.com

Aik said...

I love the Ivoire Cowl / Neckwarmer.
I'd like to see more items in white and bright pink.

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

Following her blog.

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

Already following your blog.

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Hi! What a nice discovery of the day! (both of you) That is some site/store, Phydeaux (Fido?) I too am in love with the Midnight Garden Neck Cuff/Choker! I love the description of nicotiana and I love those colours. Can't decide if I want more of those colors or that pretty ivory Brenda talks about.
Thanks! VictoiseC

Brenda said...

Thank you everyone! So fun to read your comments!

For Lilly - I have a lot of purples coming up! A purple cowl/neckwarmer tonight!

For the orange fans, I LOVE orange too! I'll be very very happy to knit up some more. :)

Ngan, I absolutely love green and teal - another that I'm very happy to knit more of.

Thanks and I can't wait to see who wins and which they choose!

xo Brenda

Nancy said...

The Concretos Sangria Scarf is my favourite scarf so far from Phydeaux. I was to give it away as a gift but kept it for myself. It is beautifully knitted and the colours are so vivid and cheery. It looks great with any outfit that I wear and is so cute! I would love to see more of this type of scarf especially in the beautiful pinks and greys.

mchen said...

Lots of gorrrrgeous stuffs in phydeaux' shop... but the Soft Gaucho Fingerless Mittens are my fave.

I'm already a facebook fan of yours.

And just tweeted:
http://twitter.com/mchenwears/status/5191629003

Gawd, I'm a keener. Thanks for the giveaway!!!