Designer Q&A: Joy Hockensmith

Meet Joy, the designer behind jewelry line Be Joyful. Her fun and unique rings, earrings, and necklaces can be found in the shop. Read on to find out more about how she got her start, her favorite trends,  and what she has next for Be Joyful!


Introduce yourself  

Joy Hockensmith

How did you get started? 

I started making jewelry when I was young. My Mother had an extensive jewelry collection and would ask me to fix the broken pieces. Sometimes pieces could not be fixed and that left me with the challenge of making them into something useful so that they can continue to be enjoyed. I learned silversmithing at The Art Center.

What are you up to now? 

I just finished a bunch of “love” necklaces for Vitae’s Valentine’s promotion. I’ll be making polymer flowers to add to pieces I’ll have for spring.

I'll Have the Salmon

Suzabelle dresses at Vitae

 Wildfire 

Tristeza

Shining Through

 In jewelry design, as with many things, in comes down to balance - and Maude Wren has got it down.

 

 Crafted by Alicia Held Morris, Maude Wren pieces tell a story.  In the context of keepsakes and tokens,  they speak  of glamour, beauty and strength.  With this new collection, more so than ever, we are captivated.  We are listening.

                                                            

Designer Q&A: Josh "Jay O" Ansah

Meet Josh, the designer behind clothing line Jaytees Apparel. His comfortable, eye catching, and conversation sparking t-shirts can be found in the shop. Read on to find out more about his favorite trends, personal style, and what he has next for Jaytees Apparel! 

Introduce yourself 

My name is Joshua Ansah, but I also go by Jay O. It’s a nickname my friend gave me a few years ago and it just stuck.

 

How did you get started?

Jaytees Apparel started off with me making some shirts for an Ansah classic basketball game I put together. The shirts turned out really cool and became popular. I decided that we could sell these, and it helped me come up with other ideas. I made those shirts and then I made a few other shirts that were kids’ shirts, Sneak’R Prince and Princess. (I love sneakers. I collect them, probably since 7^th grade. I love wearing collectable sneakers and vintage Jordans). Those shirts sold really well, and I wanted to see what it would really take to make it into a business. I spoke with a few colleagues in the business world to find out what it took to legally start a business and have a legitimate business with the state, retail, and sales tax. I had the opportunity to speak with Mike Draper of Raygun and found out his story and got advice on what to use and what to avoid and how to help my business prosper. I had never run my own business before, I didn’t have a lot of money before, but I decided that if I was going to do it, I wanted to do it right. There are so many creative avenues to explore when making graphic t-shirts. You can create designs that mean something. It takes a little while for me to come up with designs and lines for my clothing and apparel designs within those lines. I never want to just come up with something that I wouldn’t want to wear myself! I want every single design that I come out with to be relevant and make sense.  It’s hard to come up with something that is relevant, understandable and people want to wear. 
 

Styling With Sweats

You don't need to shed your glamour when putting on the layers. Here are some examples of sweats with sex appeal from Acanthus Apparel (top 2) and Lovan (bottom photo).  Find these styles and more at Vitae Design Collective.

What's In The Shop?

Come into Vitae to take a look at the new, amazing local designs and vintage finds we have just for you!

Above is a vibrant, red dress from Pink Revolver. It’s perfect for dressing up and pairing up with opaque tights to combat Iowa winters!

Designer Q&A: Cara Veeder

Meet Cara, the designer behind accessories line Little Pretties. Her cute earrings, necklaces, and bracelets can be found in the shop. Read on to find out more about how she got started, her favorite trends and what she has next for her Little Pretties line!

Introduce yourself

My name is Cara Veeder. I'm 33 years old and was born and raised here in Des Moines. I studied Graphic Design at Minneapolis College of Art and Design from 1998-2000, and I got a BA in Graphic Design from Drake University in 2003. I'm a self-proclaimed design addict and jack-of-many-trades. Aside from making jewelry and accessories for my "Little Pretties" line (and designing all related branding, packaging, and displays), I also love to explore other artistic avenues by creating illustrations, hand-lettered alphabets, graphic design (both for print and web), writing short fiction, crafting with papers and fabrics, knitting, photography, and sewing. I'm also obsessed with researching trends and innovations, mainly in the design and fashion worlds. I love finding new ideas and inspirations for color palettes, materials, shapes, and other artistic elements. I keep countless journals and sketchbooks full of various project ideas and new things I'd like to try!

How did you get started?

From early childhood, I loved to draw, and as I grew older, my drawings grew smaller and smaller, full of almost tediously ornate, complex patterns and lines. I began to form a love for the tiniest details and for adding in little unexpected "surprise" elements that might not be noticed at first glance (like my own little secret message!) By my early teens, I decided to experiment with a new medium, to see if my attention to detail and interest in working on a small scale would translate well to making jewelry. In middle school, I started making simple beaded jewelry for myself, my family, and a few close friends. Then, in 8th grade, my school held an Art Fair and allowed students to display and sell their artwork. I jumped at the chance to market my earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, and they were a hit! I had found my niche! Over the years, I continued to hone my jewelry-making skills and perfect my techniques, getting plenty of practice by working at Bead Creative, a local bead store, for several years. This long and winding road ultimately led to the birth of Little Pretties, my line of one-of-a-kind jewelry and accessories, in early 2008. My jewelry has evolved immensely since those early days of bead-stringing, and my pieces will continue to change as I learn new techniques, discover new inspirations and influences, and experiment with new ideas.