Name: Laurie Cinotto
Location: Tacoma, Washington
Company: La La Laurie
What is your aesthetic? Vintage inspired, fanciful but not whimsical, curated craftiness, and on occasion, borderline kitschy.
How does your studio style convey your professional aesthetic? I feel the things I choose to surround myself with, and the way I present them in the space, truly represent my craft style. Most words used to describe the things I make, could describe the room I make them in.
Favorite part of your studio? What I love most about the space is the light. It’s a corner room, with windows on the south and west side. In the afternoon on a bright day when the sun hits the “foam flower pink” walls, the room is aglow. Close seconds are the vintage linoleum floral “rug’ or the farm scene mural.
Where do you go for inspiration? Estate sales, antique stores, and flea markets are always great for inspiration. I love old things. Mother Nature is a great source too, especially when it comes to color. I worked as a florist for many years and learned everything I know about color from the flowers.
What tool do you use in your business that you can’t live without? Floral corsage tape. I swear, if I were ever lost in the wilderness, I would hope to have a roll of it in my pocket. Corsage tape works miracles.
Is there anything you’d upgrade to? I would love a larger space with more storage. It’s a constant battle to remain organized, and keep the things I use most at my fingertips.
Anything else we should know? More than anything, I care a great deal about the quality of the things I make. I use old-school techniques and never take short cuts with my crafts. Yes, I own a glue gun, but I prefer a needle and thread. Also, I have a paper flowers book/craft kit coming out in February of 2011. It’s for Fall Rivers Press, a division of Barnes and Noble.
[images from La la laurie]