One of the Babes: eythink

Lettering by Ashlee J. Pryor, Photo by Amanda Stosz for Got a Girl Crush magazine

Meet Lindsay Eyth, the founder of the lettering and T-shirt brand, eythink. She'll be vending at our June meet! 

Q: What inspired you to start eythink?

A: Eythink was initially just a punny URL for my freelance design portfolio site! I started an Etsy shop under that name maybe 5 years ago, with very low ambitions really—I just wanted a place to put random, little experiments out into the world. I've always been interested in lettering, but in 2012 or so, I started pushing myself to develop my skills further. Then in 2013, I did a Valentine project based on the Magnetic Fields album "69 Love Songs," and the shop grew a little then. In the summer of 2014, I made the first version of the I Don't Fucking Care If U Like It shirt, which took off, wholly unexpectedly. Now, running the shop is a big part of my day.
 

Q: Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passion projects?

A: Oh gee, passion projects can be so different, depending on the person and their life's circumstances. So much of what works for one person may not work for another. I would just say: You deserve the chance to discover what you're capable of. Do your best to avoid spending time with people who make you feel like you're not enough. If you can, spend as much time as possible connecting with people who encourage/support/motivate you, people who make you feel smarter and more creative. 
 

Q: How do you stay inspired?

A: To be honest? I don't! In my experience, inspiration is fleeting, and that's okay. I'm a human being, not a machine, you know? I try to fill my life with as much of what's important to me as possible—ranging from dear friends to my favorite rappers to social justice stuff to bubble baths (I'm serious)—and to keep my hands busy, so that when inspiration shows up, I'm ready to do something with it. 
 

Photo by Amanda Stosz for Got a Girl Crush magazine

Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity (possibly a time when a burst of creative energy produced something you could have never expected, etc.)?

A: The origin of the IDFCIYLI shirt is a perfect example of the type of moment you're describing. I read this essay on a Friday, and it summed up a lot of what I was feeling after a lifetime of living under the patriarchy. That Saturday, a dude I'd been on a few dates with turned out to be wildly condescending and out of line, and I spent Sunday afternoon doing some aimless lettering practice, while both the essay and that guy's behavior bounced around in my head. I drew up the IDFCIYLI design that day and had it on a T-shirt the next day (thanks, Fine Southern Gentlemen). Within a week, Ann Friedman had endorsed it in her newsletter, and I was suddenly very busy. I definitely never expected all that.
 

Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?

A: Regular discouraged? A bubble bath or a hot tub, with a beer. If it's REALLY BAD? The Grand Canyon.
 

Your favorite band: Nicki Minaj
 

Current read: "Some Sing, Some Cry" by Ntozake Shange & Ifa Bayeza.
 

Your local Austin gem: Go get the coconut macaroon from Thai Fresh's dessert case. Also, bring me one. Thanks.
 

Your social media handles: eythink on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr. (It's pronounced the same as "I think.")

One of the Babes: Sound Dessert

Photo by Nicola Lyon, Editing by Ashlee J. Pryor

Meet Gillian Driscoll, the babe behind the Austin-based music blog, Sound Dessert. Driscoll has curated the playlist for the June meet! Learn more about her in the Q&A below, and be sure to sneak-peek her selected tunes at the end of this piece.

Q: What inspired you to start Sound Dessert?

A: Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved music. As I got older and met new people, I started discovering the vastness and variety of music that existed outside of what the radio played and what my family listened to in the house. Thus began a hunger for unearthing incredible, chill-inducing music that hasn’t stopped. In college, I decide to start my own blog for fun as a way to keep track of what I was listening to and also share with my friends who were always asking me for new band recommendations.

Fast forward a couple years, and I decided I wanted Sound Dessert to be more than a hobby. I’m building Sound Dessert to be a platform for supporting and exposing artists that deserve to be heard, and to be a trusted source for music fans to enjoy a carefully curated archive of unforgettable talent.

Q: Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passion projects?

A: My advice is to be as clear and specific as possible about what you want to achieve, as it makes reaching your goals, big or small, a lot easier. Being unclear can often lead to being in limbo, and nobody wants to be in limbo.

Sometimes, starting is the hardest part. Be easy on yourself and begin with bite-sized pieces: jot down ideas and sketches, talk things out with a trusted friend, etc. until you feel ready to take the next steps.  

Q: How do you stay inspired?

A: Meeting courageous, creative people keeps me inspired—impromptu, energizing conversations that last hours, pulling off things I wasn’t sure I could do.

And art that stops me in my tracks; be it a song, concert, photograph, painting, documentary or book.

Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity (possibly a time when a burst of creative energy produced something you could have never expected, etc.)?

A: For me, my favorite moments have been moments of clarity. When I’m really specific about something I want, the universe seems to step in and help things fall into place in strangely serendipitous ways.

Q: What have been the most challenging moments in your blogging career thus far?

A: The biggest challenge has been overcoming self-doubt. When I first started the blog I didn’t tell a soul it existed because I was concerned everyone would think it was dumb, that my writing was bad, etc. Eventually I got over that and have received such encouraging feedback in the process. There are still moments when I waver, but receiving those accolades goes a long way in re-affirming that I’m doing something right.

Doing everything myself also has it challenges since there’s only so much I can get done in a day, but I remind myself to be patient. I know I will get there in time, even if it’s not always within the timeline I intended.

Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?

A: When I’m discouraged I talk things out with close friends and family to get some fresh perspectives. I also spend time with myself, usually going for a long walk, to reflect on what I’m trying to achieve and reassess. That and a good night of dancing can prove to be very cathartic sometimes.

Your favorite band(s): Alvvays, Sol Cat, Unknown Mortal Orchestra (listen to them all in the playlist)

Your favorite book: I’m currently reading Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!: The Story of Pop Music from Bill Haley to Beyoncé by Bob Stanley. It’s a good read for a history book and really puts into context how radical certain music was when it was first released. Music that we view as tame today.

Your local Austin gem (can be a product, place, etc.): Stay Gold for drinks, Cheer Up Charlies for live music, End of an Ear for records

Your social media handles: 
facebook.com/sounddessert
twitter.com/sounddessert
instagram.com/sounddessert

#bossbabesATX June playlist

Need some music motivation? We got you.

One of the Babes: Merida B

Today, we feature Merida B, a craftswoman and bow tie babe based in Austin, Texas. Throughout the years, she has owned her own boutique and maintained an online shop. Catch her as a vendor at our June meet!

Q: What inspired you to start making your shop items at meridab.com?

A: I began the brand Merida.B when I was in college. I needed a bow tie for an event and attempted to make my own. Although the first one was an epic fail, it intrigued me to learn to make more. After four years of practice, research and dedication, I'm still going strong and what once was an idea has now become a lucrative business. 

Q: How do you stay inspired?

A: I stay inspired by reading and seeking knowledge, keeping my thoughts innovative and never in a box and surrounding myself with artistic and like-minded people.

Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity (possibly a time when a burst of creative energy produced something you could have never expected, etc.)?

A: I think when I did a safe sex bow tie made out of Magnum condoms. That was def dope. It was for a good cause and was very fashionable.

Q: What have been the most challenging moments in your maker career thus far?

A: You have to be prepared for highs and lows, good and bad, but it's how you endure the storm. Opening and closing my own boutique was so bittersweet and one of the best experiences in my life. When I graduated and closed it the memories that remained were like, "Wow, I actually did it." [laughs]

Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?

A: I run to God and positive energy, the power of prayer faith and manifestation.

Your favorite musician at the moment: Wale

Current read: "How Successful People Grow"

Your local Austin gem (can be a product, place, etc.): The Fort off of 5th and Chicon is my newfound sanctuary 

Your social media handles: @meridab on Instagram, @meridabboutique on Twitter

The Deets: #bossbabesATX June Meet

Our second meet will be on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at Chicon Collective in East Austin. It's BYOB (blast your own babes... with this RSVP link.)

VENDORS:

Merida B
Soul Rebel Vintage
Aurorealis Jewelry
Pink and Silver Fashion
Eythink

ACTIVITIES:

From 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., we are opening the floor for babe announcements. Got a project you need some help with? Hiring at your company? Looking to collab? This'll be the time to let errybody know.

The music will be curated by Gillian Driscoll of the blog Sound Dessert.

There will be a #bossbabesatx photobooth (eeep, we're very excited about this, but we'll leave the extra fun as a surprise).

We'll have a giveaway of local ATX goods, courtesy of Batch Austin.

Our wonderful space hosts, Chicon Collective, have created a wonderful drink menu, from cold brews to cocktails.

#bossbabesATX will be posting up with our Babe As Fuck tees, as well as sign-up sheets for the many ways you can get involved. 

We'll also be announcing our Summer/Fall 2015 calendar at 8:30 p.m., so there will be PLENTY of babe-ry to get your hands on.

BUT, most of all, ZE BOSSBABES OF ATX WILL BE IN ONE ROOM — collabin', jivin', gettin' to know one another.

Questions? Please email thebabes@bossbabes.org.

One of the Babes: Friends & Neighbors

We are so thankful to the babes of Friends & Neighbors, Jade Place and Jill Bradshaw, for graciously allowing us to use their space for our first #bossbabesatx meet.

After the meet, we caught up with Jade and Jill to talk brand-building, inspiration and learn a little more about the history of our beloved East Austin jewel, Friends & Neighbors.

1. How did you two meet?

Jill: We have a few mutual friends in New York, and when word got around that I was moving to Austin, they all told me I had to meet Greg and Jade.  We met up, became friends and later decided to work on the project that is now Friends & Neighbors together!

2. What was unexpected when establishing Friends & Neighbors as a business? 

Jade: I think we were all shocked and feel very lucky to have fallen in love with the first property we saw.

Jill: There are always unexpected events that will happen along the way with any business. You can research and prepare and have past experience, but every venture is going to be different. I think the buildout had a few unexpected bumps along the way; the city doesn’t make it easy for you sometimes! Also, just being in this location was unexpected, but was also a happy surprise. The house itself is beautiful and the perfect landscape for what we wanted to accomplish with this store, however it is also a lot further East than what was developed at the time.  We knew it would take a bit for the area around us to become more familiar with the city inhabitants, but honestly I couldn’t be happier with this location. 

3. Any tough bumps?

Jade: We really wanted to keep the character of the house, so our buildout was pretty minimal on the outside. However, we did need to replace all of the waterlines, electrical, add ADA bathrooms and a wheel chair ramp—all of which involves architectural plans, permits and city inspections. Unfortunately, the city of Austin's building department is extremely understaffed and backlogged, and waiting for permits set our opening date back many months.

4. Any personal victories?

Jade: F&N is a labor of love. Seeing people enjoy the space, just like during your #bossbabesATX meet-up, is the best feeling and makes it worthwhile.

Jill: I felt like our Free People event during SXSW was a fun victory. It was lovely to host such a great brand here at the store and have them take over, but really every time we have a successful event where people come through and make a connection with what we’ve created is a personal victory. Like yours! I loved seeing so many ladies together all pumped and ready to collaborate and make a difference.

5. What advice do you have for people attempting to create a space for their own brands (don't be afraid to be a little cutthroat; we like tough love.)?

Jade: Do it!! Creating a budget is a usually the first step, including items like rent during buildout, city permitting costs, legal/incorporating fees and a cushion of at least six to 12 months of operating costs is really important.

Jill: My advice would be to have a clear idea of what you want your vision to be and stick with it. It’s important to know exactly how you want your aesthetic to be and what your message is and to make sure that that message is carried throughout all that you do. I think people respond well to good branding. Also, expect difficulties along the way but keep fighting and making it work. I believe that the more you put into something the more you get out of it. You can’t just expect things to happen, you have to make them happen. Hard work pays off!

Above: Jill Bradshaw

Above: Jade Place

6. What inspires Friends & Neighbors' distinguishable style? How do you go about picking items and decorations for the store?

Jade: We really wanted it to feel like you are in someone’s home. I love to fill the cafe with my favorite goodies from all over. We have a strong Brooklyn presence on the shelves, because that was our home for many years. Also. I’m originally from Australia so there are a few Aussie goodies. We are always expanding our local offerings: Tyna makes our compost cookies (coffee, potato chip, pretzel, chocolate), our very own barista extraordinaire Emily has been making amazing caramels, we sell Lauren’s Bloody Mary Mix, and Evergreen Chai makes our delicious chai weekly. 

Jill: I have always been attracted to kitschy things and a lot of color so that will always go into my process of decorations and picking products out. I tend to gravitate toward creative people doing new and exciting things that fit within the environment of the store. I love finding new artisans!

For clothing, I have a wide variety of styles. I like having items that aren’t expensive ,and you can wear every day mixed with very special and rare vintage pieces. Whether you’re a mom, a college student, an entrepreneur, or all of the above, I think you can find something to suit your style here.  

7. What's your favorite record/album/playlist/whatever musical medium you're into?

Jade: This is so hard for me to answer; my Spotify account looks like I have multiple personality disorder, so Jill makes our playlists for the store. [Laughs]

Jill: I have a diverse taste in music so it’s hard to pin down a favorite. I usually just put my iTunes on shuffle and let it surprise me. I’m not a Spotify person, but i do love making my own playlists. Over the years I’ve collected a ton of mp3s, and I will still come across things I didn’t even know I had. I love discovering new old music. I’m more of a lover of the past than a lover of present-day music.

8. Beside Friends & Neighbors (which is obviously already super rad), what's your favorite hangout spot in Austin?

Jade: Completely biased answer, but Hillside Farmacy, which I co-own with my husband and 2 other awesome babes.

Jill: I have multiple!  I always enjoy meeting a friend at the San Jose hotel, grabbing a cocktail at Weather Up, taking a dip in Barton Springs… the norm.  My favorite hangout spot is anywhere under the sun, where I can enjoy a good read or a good beer that’s not too crowded or loud.

9. Favorite coffee drink?

Jade: I don’t drink coffee, but my favorite drink changes each week. Trevor has been making some amazing syrups and shrubs—last week, it was basil and blackberry.

Jill: I don’t drink coffee, either! Ironic, I know. But I do love our shrubs.

10. Favorite quote or favorite piece of advice (whichever means more to you)?

Jade: "Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.” — Dalai Lama

Jill: Every successful entrepreneur has failed at least once or twice before making it big. My dad told me that, and it’s something that has always stuck with me. I think it’s just as important to hit rough spots and learn from them as it is to find success. There are always ebbs and flows to every business, and even when you are successful there can be growing pains and difficulties along the way.

11. What have been some of the barriers you have faced starting a business specifically in Austin, TX?

Jade: I think the crazy rate in which people are moving and businesses are opening is creating barriers between small business owners and neighborhoods. This is understandable; there are a lot of historic houses being torn down and replaced by crappy condos and out-of-place businesses popping up by people who aren’t caring about the people that live in it. For both F&N and Hillside Farmacy, we were honored to be awarded by Preservation Austin for our preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of our buildings. We live in these neighborhoods and want to a provide spaces walking distance for people to enjoy with their families, dogs, to be able to show their art and feel included. We needed the help of our friends to open, and the support of our neighbors to stay open. I think neighborhood associations have been burnt many times with businesses coming in, promising certain things and doing another, so they are already on the defensive when something new is trying to open.

Jill: I think Austin has an interesting mix of people who have already lived here and those who were gravitated to move here. There are so many amazing, creative and talented individuals who call Austin home, but I also think that Austin maintains its chill and relaxed environment. I don’t think people have a consumerist attitude in this town and are more conservative on what they will buy. It’s tricky, because they tend to also want things that are well-made and worth the price. There are some things I’d like to carry in the store, but I don’t think it would resonate with our customers. It’s always important to evaluate who your customers are and what they want but be able to anticipate new things they may want as well.

12. Who are your women idols (can be anyone!)? 

Jade: My grandparents owned many different types of businesses throughout their lives: pubs, a gas station, a general store and they both worked in them every day wearing many different hats. Their first venture was a pub, which had a few rooms upstairs for guests to stay. In the pubs, Nana would bartend, help in the kitchen and clean the rooms upstairs, all while raising two children. She’s a tremendously strong woman, and even as dementia takes away a lot of her short-term memory, she can still vividly remember opening night, regulars' names, jokes, a bartender that would steal money by stashing it in her bra and the number of kegs sold in their first week open. Being a business owner is already a huge commitment and adding family to that is a new phase I’m about to embark on in four weeks! I hope I have the same strength Nana showed for all those years. 

Jill: Well, my mom of course, for her beauty and patience and generosity throughout my life that has seeped into who I am as a person. Also, my sisters! I look up to both of them, not only because they are eight and 10 years older than me, but because they are truly amazing and wise individuals who have always been there for me and give great advice.

There’s a lot of love in our family! I’d mention my awesome dad, as well, but I’ll stick with just the girls! Honestly, though, all women inspire me.  Every woman in this world provides something different and there’s something to learn from everyone. Being in the shop all the time, I get to meet so many interesting ladies and I love talking to them! So many of them are badasses. I love it.

Life Lessons From The Babes

At our first meet, we asked women to write down their words of wisdom and business intel onto notecards, then pin them onto our bulletin board. You can read the lessons they left here (and to be honest, these sentiments carried us through the planning stages of our second meet; thanks for the advice, babes):

I already knew girls rule, but it's nice to be reminded how much!

Always speak up in meetings — always. Especially when you're the only lady in the room. <3

Success is stumbling from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.

Ask permission. Give credit where it's due. Say yes (when it feels right).

Life is full of opportunity!! Take chances, and always learn life's lessons.

Get up. Get dressed. Be ready. :)

Keep drawing, creating, searching — successes don't stand out unless you have a notebook of mistakes!

Comfort zone. ————> *Where the magic happens.

"Another woman's beauty is no threat to my own." <3

Be you. Be confident! Be strong. And be friends with fab ladies!

Be you. (*sorry about the rip on this card; J's dog bit the board after the meet.)

I love people who admit mistakes/failures as case studies or moments to learn from! (as opposed to pretending perfection.)

Don't let anyone tell you that you are not good enough! You rock!

Persistence gets you noticed.

Just get out there and do it! You'll be glad you gave it a fucking try!!!

Identify and embrace your strengths. Be fearless. Don't under-price yourself!

Push yourself out of your comfort zone. It pays off!

It's OK to make a different decision, if that decision doesn't work for you!

The difference between the real winners is how long they take to feel sorry for themselves. — Barbara Corcoran

Be super raw and honest. Say all the things people aren't expecting girls to say!

When (not if) you make a mistake, be the first to admit it, laugh it off and move forward! :)

Sit at the table!! Don't take one of those seats against the wall.

Let yourself be the expert on you — your talent, your worth, your needs. Feedback is great, but don't be afraid to be confident.

Put yourself out there. Be the weird one who introduces yourself first. Go for the jobs you don't think you'll get! Don't be your own enemy!

#bossbabesatx May Playlist

Taken from @byjaneclaire

Have you ever worked, in a way so congruous, that you went hours without taking a pause? 

You were a creator, if only for a number of minutes, and the act of doing completely stole your attention.

You accidentally skipped out on a group hang.

You missed a million text messages.

You forgot social networking existed.

You may have burned toast.

But at the end you have this thing in front of you—this glorious, marvelous thing, and it's a memory all on its own.

No picture required.

Our May playlist will hopefully provide the space for you to get lost.

And make dope shit.

*Much love to our Administrative Babe, Leslie Lozano, for curating these tunes*

You're Welcome Here

#bossbabesatx

When I first heard the words "boss babe," I thought it was redundant.

To me, being a "babe" means being a "boss." The word "babe" has nothing to do with conventional beauty or its antiquated functions to belittle and demean women. Despite its historical context, for some (including myself) the term has been reappropriated.

Its new definition? Well, some may say "babe" celebrates femininity. Others may say the term is used to recognize and acknowledge "real." 

For me, though, the term "babe" is more than that. It describes ALL types of women—whether that woman is feminine, masculine, straight, gay, transgender, multiracial, white, into pink, or not into pink and so on—because "babe" has become a term we have taken measures to redefine in colloquial everyday language.

We OWN it... and we'll tell you what it means.

"Babes" are the many women who have become threads in the creative fabric of my life. They impress me day-in and day-out with their dedication to life, their passions, their businesses and their loved ones.

I think of our Vendors Coordinator, Ashlee Pryor, a badass maker momma, with her own clothing line and a blossoming toddler. I think of our Art Coordinator, Leslie Lozano, a recent college grad, with a heart for anyone and anything and a clear vision for making dope things happen.

Those two? They're "babe" as fuck.

So, why #bossbabesatx? Why do we need the qualifying term "boss?"

As women in business, we are well-aware of the present state of affairs.

We face dualities in the workplace. We face Catch-22s.

For some people, if I want to call myself a "boss," I can't simultaneously call myself a "babe."

We've been trained to think those two words are mutually exclusive. We've also associated each term with differing levels of masculinity and femininity.

And we want to change that. With positivity. With proactive language. With community. With voices united for something, instead of against.

Whether you consider yourself a "boss" or a "babe," you are welcome here. This isn't a gendered experience. This isn't a series of meets and retreats about changing the meaning of two words.

This is a movement.

A movement to connect women.

A movement to support creativity and collaboration.

A movement to make the workplace a woman's place.

A movement to make any place ANY KIND OF woman's place.

A movement to prove that the words "boss" and "babe" can be one in the same.

With love,

Founder and Head of Operations at #bossbabesatx

J