Artist name: Shannon Riffe/ Rifferaff
Etsy URL: http://rifferaff.etsy.com
Blog: http://rifferaff.typepad.com
City: Ann Arbor, MI

Shannon. How did you get started? 
I’ve always wanted to own my business but I didn’t know what that business would be. After two years post-college in the real working world, I was drawn back to art and craft, activities I had enjoyed in my childhood and somehow lost along the way. I dabbled in alot of different things: jewelry making, batik, block printing, screenprinting. After working for a year at a fabric and wallpaper company I developed an interest in pattern design. I taught myself some basic screenprinting techniques and launched Rifferaff officially in October 2007.

Where is your studio located? 
My studio is in my home in Ann Arbor, MI. I just moved to the area in August and I’m adjusting to a space that is much smaller than my last apartment in Boston. As a result, I’m planning to work on a smaller scale in the new year. I just don’t have enough space to store the screens and paper I use for full-size gift wrap.

Are you working on anything new for 2009?
I’m pretty excited to try something really new in 09′. For a long time, I’ve been really interested in creating patterned papers to wrap soap. About 10 months ago I started contacting some small soapmakers asking if they’d be interested in a collaboration or custom work. I didn’t have any success going that route so now I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands and make my own soap! I’ve been doing alot of research and I’m excited to get started. Especially because the process seems very similar to cooking, another one of my favorite hobbies. I’m planning to make soap for friends and family this Christmas as a trial run and then hopefully introduce them to the world in early 09.

What websites and/or trade magazines are a must for people who are just starting out?
Hmm, this is a good question. I can tell you what my regular reads are:

Design Sponge. This is *the* blog for upstart designers. They’re always highlighting designers and crafters at all stages of their careers and there are always lots of DIY projects and interior design inspiration.

Domino Mag- I have a little bit of a love/hate relationship with this home decor mag.  On the one hand, they’re the only magazine I read regularly and subscribe to. On the other hand, they’ve gotten less creative and more high-end in recent years which I find pretty irrelevant to my lifestyle. I keep subscribing in the hopes that they’ll get their mojo back.

Etsy Storque.This is Etsy’s online publication for Etsy users and sellers. They highlight trends, profile succesful sellers and give updates on new Etsy features. I’ve found alot of new artists via Storque articles that I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.

I’ve got 144 blogs in my Google Reader, so I’m a big blog reader! Too many to list here, but you can see more of my favorites in the Links section on the sidebar of my blog. I’ve also added Get Togetha to my feed list of must reads!

At Get Togetha we have weekly iconic inspiration. Who or what is your inspiration and what motivates you to do what you do?
That’s a hard question for me, actually. As a business person, I’m motivated by what I see as a glaring lack of people of color in the design field. As a designer, I’m inspired by creative color combinations. That can be found anywhere, like packaging design, clothing, architecture, food, books and magazines…

What is the most challenging aspect of being an entrepreneur?
I’m not great about the record keeping and accounting side of things. I like to be hands on in most aspects of my business but this is the type of thing I’d love to pay someone to take care of if I had the money to do so. That day will come sometime!

How do you relax after a long day of creativity?
I like cooking at home, eating a great dinner and catching up on my favorite shows at hulu.com.

If you could have dinner with anyone living or dead who would you invite?
This may be totally predictable but I have to say Barack and Michelle Obama. They’re both incredible individuals and also make a great team.