Liz Morrow 9/15/16 Liz Morrow 9/15/16

Maker of the Month: Amy of Little Bright Studio

Maker of the Month- Little Bright Studio

This is a series I've wanted to do for a long time and I'm SO excited to finally get it started! One of the things I loved about blogging back in the day was the Blogger of the Moment feature I did. I got to interview other bloggers I liked, and most of those bloggers became real-life friends, plus it was fun being able to share cool people with my readers and send them over to follow new, rad folks!

Over the years I've been inspired by so many super cool lady makers who are running amazing creative businesses, and I want to share them with you, because a) they're inspiring AF, b) who run the world? Girls. and c) you should go support them and their small businesses!

My first Maker of the Month is Amy of Little Bright Studios! Amy makes, quite possibly, the cutest bags of all time. I remember coming across her stuff a year or two ago and was so taken with how fun and bright her creations were. I was so excited to do a little interview with her about her creative business and get to know her a little better!

Tell us about your creative business! What do you do? How did it start? Where do you want to take it?

My name is Amy, owner of Little Bright Studio, a handbag and accessories brand based in Portland, OR. With my bags, fun and function come in equal parts: I want them to bring a little sunshine to the world, while giving the wearer a piece that is practically designed and long lasting. Little Bright Studio became official five years ago when I closed my portrait photography business to focus on what I love most. It has been a slow progress ever since, but I believe it has allowed me to invest thoroughly in how my brand speaks its message. My goal for Little Bright Studio is to become an internationally recognized brand with strong ethical standards and always synonymous with fun and quality!

What do you do to keep your creative juices fresh and flowing?

I have to make a confession: It’s unbelievable challenging to nurture your creative drive when running a business solo. Because most of my time is spent marketing, researching, customer service, business outreach, etc, creativity can sort of slip away if I let it. The best way I have found to counter this is to actually schedule time to paint, draw, sew, collage, or write. Taking the time to let myself immerse in art does wonder for my business and my sanity.

What is your favorite part about having a creative business?

I’m not gonna lie to you, I seriously love creating spreadsheets to track inventory, finances, wholesale accounts, and just about any other data related need! Haha, Of course, I LOVE the aspects of creating pretty things, getting to know people, working with other makers and such, but I thought I’d give a shout out to those entrepreneurs who LOVE their spreadsheets as much as I do.

Do you have a routine that helps you stay balanced? If so, what do you feel is most important to your routine?

Now that I finally have a separate studio 5 miles from my residence, I am sticking to a regular 96ish schedule, which of course, is terrible because I want to work 24/7, but it keeps me grounded and able to function better. I also stick to my daily to-do list as much as humanly possible, beginning with answering emails, making phone calls, and then heading into the meaty part of the list.

What are the biggest struggles associated with having a creative business?

My number one challenge at the moment is reaching that niche market for bags that are bright, colorful, and have a higher price-point. It is as market that relies heavily on brand loyalty and passionate word of mouth. It is satisfying when I am able to meet more of these ideal fans.

Do you have any advice for others who are thinking about starting a creative business or pursuing a creative career?

It’s not going to happen overnight. And that’s a positive thing, because you DO want to be 99.9% ready when an unexpected opportunity arises down the line after years of hard work. Often times these opportunities occur because you have cultivated a community that respects you, so be kind, be generous with your knowledge, and TRUST ME, the right things will come your way.

Other than what you create for your business, do you have any creative pursuits that are merely for your own pleasure?

I am hoping to score a nice used easel to put in the corner of my living room so that I can be creative outside of my business once again. I have several dress and quilt patterns I need to convince myself to make.

What other makers, creative folk, shops, instagrams, etc. are inspiring you at the moment?

Quiet Clementine in Arkansas for her playful ceramics, Jill Makes from Louisiana makes colorful jewelry, ORU here in Portland waves teenie tiny beads and mixes them with metals for her fine jewelry, and Natelle Draws Stuff in Florida fills my life with the cutest enamel pins in the universe.

Is there anyone who encourages you to pursue your dreams and goals of living a life with creativity at it's core? How do they do that?

Some days I can’t believe how lucky I am in being surrounded by friends, family, fellow makers who are extremely supportive of me, especially on days when it’s tough to see the value of your work. They remind me that creating art is NECESSARY, that my product has an audience, and that’s okay to feel sad at times. My mom, of course, is my biggest cheerleader.

What was the path that brought you to where you're at with your creative business right now? Any specific, notable moments you remember that led you to where you are now?

It’s been 12 years since I began sewing handbags for fun on my mom’s old Sears Kenmore machine. For many years, I stuck to creating one of a kind designs, which was a LOT of fun, but obviously, that kind of business model is tough to maintain sustainably, so I opted to create collections instead. This new collection draws from some designs that debuted on my shop 2-3 years ago, but I was never satisfied with either the materials I used or their construction. I applied feedback past customers provided into creating a higher quality (and more fun!) product that I can be 100% proud of calling my creation.

Make sure you head over and check out Little Bright Studios' shop, and give them a follow on Instagram and Facebook!

If you know of a rad lady who runs a creative business making super awesome stuff who you think should be our next Maker of the Month, submit them at the bottom of the page here! We love learning about new BA Chicks making stuff, running business, and being generally kick ass and creative.

All photos c/o Little Bright Studios, except last photo via @lalafauxbois

Liz Morrow 9/14/16 Liz Morrow 9/14/16

Maternity Style // Week 18

Well folks, it's begun. I bought a crib and baby clothes. The first actual baby things I've bought during this pregnancy. Our nursery room is cleared out (it used to full of stuff in storage), and it's a blank slate! It's super bizarre to think that a real live baby will be in there by Christmas. A fact that I'm pretty positive won't sink in until I've pushed it out and am holding it in my arms.

Little yellow leaves have started falling and it's been interesting to think about how my trimesters have synced up with the changing seasons. I've been enjoying the shift in season, and I'm so looking forward to having a "real" winter this year, complete with snow (don't let me down, Anchorage!). I'm usually holding on to summer for as long as I can, but there's something about this year that has me craving the crisp, chilly days of fall and winter, and I'm not even a PSL person!

Dress (old) : c/o Modcloth | Succulent Crown : handmade | Necklaces : c/o Tribe Jewelry

Liz Morrow 9/10/16 Liz Morrow 9/10/16

Maternity Style // Week 17

Guys. We need to talk about maternity jeans. I know, if you're not pregnant you're probably like, "no, we actually don't." But let me tell you, they are a godsend. And if you're not pregnant and you like eating a lot of food at, say, Thanksgiving... you just might want to grab yourself a pair of these bad boys. Life changers, I say. And also: thank god for designers making decent maternity pants these days. Pretty much every woman from my mom's generation laments to me about the maternity wear options when they were pregnant saying that everything looked super dumpy and gross. I pour one out for you, ladies (well also: I pour one out because I can't drink it anyway. Sad face). These Jessica Simpson maternity jeans are my only maternity jeans and I need to buy at least 1 more pair because they are the only pants I wear any more. Oh stretchy, high waistband: bless you.

My "Death before Decaf" shirt has become my new favorite because: irony. I only drink decaf now, so this shirt is like an inside joke to myself. I actually got berated (okay, berated might be too strong of a word) by a barista recently for ordering a decaf americano and I was all, "It's for the baby." Already blaming things on this kid. Apparently I'm still not pregnant enough for people to immediately notice I'm "with child" and understand the decaf thing. I get it, uppity male barista, I too was once behind that counter slinging artisan 'spro, just give me my decaf crack and let me be.

Top + Jacket (both old) : c/o Modcloth | Jeans : Motherhood Maternity | Shoes : c/o Seychelles
Necklaces : c/o Tribe Jewelry | Shades + Hat : vintage
photos by Dan

Liz Morrow 9/9/16 Liz Morrow 9/9/16

Goodbye

Sunday morning, as I was rustling awake, my grampa slipped quietly away. Just shy of 95, his life was something rare, simple, and beautiful. Born in a tiny Alaskan fishing village on the Bering sea, he mushed dogs hundreds of miles, mined and trapped, and was a commercial fisherman from the days of open sailboats through till the days of modern powerboats--most of his life. He fell dearly in love with a powerhouse of a lady, and they lived out their days, crafting a home and family, on the shores of Southeast Alaska. He loved deeply and showed it. Every time we parted ways in the past few years, his eyes were dewy with tears, knowing it could be our last embrace. This past May it was. But I got to share the news in person with him and my grandma that they were great grandparents and show him an ultrasound picture of the baby that was growing inside me, his bloodline flowing through me into the future. He so wanted to make it to his 95th birthday and hold my baby, whose birthday is due to be just a few days after his. But I hope that in lieu of that moment, he's sharing that in-between space with my tiny one, the unborn and newly passed on, crossing paths like ships through the ether. He always called me his WeeBit, and I think that little name will find its way to my babe, carrying his loving spirit with it.

I miss you grampa. Thank you for giving me an adventurous and creative spirit, for your unending love, for your stories, and for this family you created. You will never be forgotten.

Your WeeBit

Liz Morrow 9/8/16 Liz Morrow 9/8/16

Maternity Style // Week 16

This entire outfit is something that I kept during our pre-move purge because I knew it'd last me through my entire pregnancy. The top has a peplum-esque bottom to it that is perfect for a growing mid-section, and the skirt, which I used to wear at my natural waist, now fits just right with the waist band above my bump. I'm tempted to re-style this outfit when I'm well-into my 3rd trimester and see how it works with a big ol' bump. The peplum top pretty well camouflaged my bump at 16 weeks. Until I was at least 20 weeks I wasn't really showing all that much and felt weird "rocking the bump," as they say, since it mostly just looked like I ate way too many tacos.

It's kind of funny realizing things about pregnancy. I remember seeing pregnancy outfit posts on other people's blogs and thinking their bumps looking cutely styled and, really I'm only just now (I'm 27 weeks when this post gets published) actually showing that much, which means I only have 1 trimester of actual baby bump maternity style. Kind of funny! I've heard lots of people say that with your first kid your bump is much smaller and starts getting big much later than with subsequent pregnancies, so who knows, maybe if I end up going through this again someday later, I'll have more weeks of large-bump outfits. I actually have enjoyed being more incognito with this pregnancy. I'll tell you, it helps when you go into the liquor store to buy your husband a 6 pack (but I still feel like I'm going to get "caught," even though I'm SO of-age and also not drinking it myself). Not sure how many more weeks I have of liquor store shopping without dirty looks though... and really, going in there is cruel anyway. I miss wine #realtalktho.

Top (thrifted) + Necklace : Free People | Skirt : c/o Modcloth | Shoes : c/o Moorea Seal
photos by Dan

Hi, I’m Liz

I'm an artist, writer, designer, DIY renovator, and … well basically I like to do all the things. If it’s creative I’m probably doing it. I’ve spent over 30 years voraciously pursuing a life steeped in creativity and I wholeheartedly believe creativity and joy are inextricably linked.
Read more…

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Featured

Women's Work Wayzgoose 2026 Steamroller Print

$350.00

Lino relief print created during the 2026 Wayzgoose Steamroller Print event in Tacoma. Each print was pressed using a 1.5 ton steamroller. See the entire process here!

The Wayzgoose theme this year was Tacoma Works, a celebration of the labor history of Tacoma, labor solidarity, Tacoma industry, and what work in Tacoma looks like.

As I thought about the theme, I realized I wanted to highlight the unpaid labor that women do, all the work that doesn't get acknowledged as “real work" and goes uncompensated but quietly forms the backbone of society. Care work, cooking and cleaning, household management, pregnancy and child rearing, carrying the emotional and mental load, etc.

I wanted to use the imagery of a quilt because this devaluing of "women's work" has extended into the art world by deeming mediums historically associated with women as merely "craft" - lots of fiber art, quilting, embroidery: highly skilled and artistically incredible work that wasn't considered "fine art."

Women's work is the thread that stitches everything together. It's the thread that goes unnoticed and under appreciated, but without it, everything would fall apart.

When I say “women’s work” I don’t mean that only women engage in these types of work, but historically these types of unpaid labor have fallen vastly upon women. I also don’t mean that women don’t or haven’t engaged in paid labor and industry throughout Tacoma’s history, they obviously have. To me, “women’s work” is the phrase that embodies how we devalue certain types of labor typically associated with women, and can extend into forms of paid labor— why is it that teachers are so underpaid in our society? Could it have anything to do with teaching having been a workforce of primarily women historically?

So when we talk about women’s work we’re talking about things like care work, elder care, feeding a family, procuring groceries, household management, keeping a home clean and stocked, rearing children, pregnancy, birthing and breastfeeding, emotional labor, mental load, community building and organizing. Without these forms of “women’s work” our society would unravel.

Women's work is work. The labor and industry history in Tacoma could not have happened without the women in the background supporting it all with the work they did that wasn't considered real work.

Tacoma Works because Women Work.

—

Due to the nature of printing outdoors, on the ground, with a steam roller, there are variations and slight imperfections from print to print.

Prints ship rolled in a cardboard tube.
Local pickup is in Central Tacoma.

Paper size: 30.5 x 44 in
Print size: 24 x 36 in

Sold out

Mutual Relief Print

$65.00

Hand-pressed original linoleum block print.

When we live mutually we support one another, live in community, love one another.

—

✸ Handprinted on an etching press with archival inks
✸ Linoleum Relief Print
✸ 12×18"
✸ Signed, edition of 15
✸ Ships flat

Due to the handmade nature of these prints, there is some slight variation between each individual print.

Sold out

Talix̂tas Relief Print

$70.00

Hand-pressed original linoleum block print.

Unangax̂ dancing has seen a beautiful revitalization in the past few decades, and this piece is dedicated to the dancers who spent their lives reawakening Unangax̂ dancing, and to the dancers in the coming generations who will carry it forward.

50% of the proceeds of this print go towards disaster relief for the devastation Western Alaska is experiencing from the impact of typhoon Halong.

—

✸ Handprinted on an etching press with archival inks on Arnhem Warm White 245gsm (100% Cotton Rag, Acid Free)
✸ Linoleum Relief Print
✸ 14×20"
✸ Signed, edition of 50
✸ Ships flat

Due to the handmade nature of these prints, there is some slight variation between each individual print.

Sold out

Flock Together Relief Print

$70.00

Hand-pressed original linoleum block print.

On the last day of my artist residency in Sitka, my kiddo’s homesickness hit its peak. We’d been away from home for almost a month and they didn’t want me to leave that morning to go to the museum. So I invited them to come with me and told them I’d draw them a goose— sometimes I call them “goose” which I think was initially a shortening of “silly goose” but now I just use Goose.

This print came out of that drawing. Two hugging geese— mom and child, lovers, friends. For me, this is a depiction of me and Jack, but for you? Who is your goose who needs a hug that feels like home?

—

✸ Handprinted on an etching press with archival inks
✸ Linoleum Relief Print
✸ 12×18"
✸ Signed, edition of 25
✸ Ships flat

Due to the handmade nature of these prints, there is some slight variation between each individual print.

Sold out

Fucus Distichus Relief Print

$30.00

Hand pressed original linoleum block print.

Inspired by the beautiful seaweed teeming on the shores of Sitka Sound.

✸ Handprinted on a lever press with archival inks on Arnhem Stonehenge Warm White 245gsm (100% Cotton Rag, Acid Free)
✸ Linoleum Relief Print
✸ 6×8"
✸ Signed, edition of 50
✸ Ships flat

Due to the handmade nature of these prints, there is some slight variation between each individual print.

Sold out

Kith Relief Print

$65.00

Hand-pressed original linoleum block print.

We are not separate from nature, we are a part of it, despite the capitalist and religious values that have convinced many that we are set on earth to dominate, extract, and conquer her. We are one part of the circle.

—

✸ Handprinted on an etching press with archival inks on Arnhem Warm White 245gsm (100% Cotton Rag, Acid Free)
✸ Linoleum Relief Print
✸ 16×16"
✸ Signed, edition of 20
✸ Ships flat

Due to the handmade nature of these prints, there is some slight variation between each individual print.

Sold out

Sea Kin Giclée Print

from $17.00

Giclée print reproduction of the original linoleum relief print. This is not an original relief print. Because size and pricing can be prohibitive on a larger print such as the original print, I wanted to offer a reproduction giclée version in a couple sizes slightly smaller than the original.

You can see the original steamroller print here.

—

This print was inspired by a dream I had shortly before leaving for Sitka. In the dream I swam all the way from Tacoma to Sitka, then upon arriving in Sitka I was out on a spit of land across the water from town and a huge tsunami wave tossed me into the sea. I was tumbling underwater, the ocean was opaque from the wave kicking up silt, and I realized I couldn’t tell up from down to find the surface and was going to drown, alone beneath the waves. I woke up in a start— it was one of those almost-too-real dreams that had you wake with your heart racing. Later that day I was ruminating on the dream and realized that while I felt alone underwater because I couldn’t see anything, I wasn’t actually alone. I was surrounded by kin: Salmon guiding me to the headwaters of a stream, kelp growing towards upwards to guide me to the surface, seals who could pull me along.

I spent the first week of my residency carving the linoleum, then we got our steamroller rental delivered and printed! The steamroller was a little smaller than the ones we use for Wayzgoose so I wasn’t sure if it would be heavy enough, but it worked perfectly and we ended up with nine prints. So many people came out to watch and it was such a blast getting to do another steamroller print!

—

Prints ship rolled in a cardboard tube.

Sizes available:

12×18 and 16x24 in.

What is a giclée print?

Giclée printing (pronounced zhee-clay) is a type of inkjet printing, but not all inkjet prints are giclée prints. The intention of giclée printing is to produce a product at a higher quality and with a longer lifespan than a standard desktop inkjet printer. For a giclée print, the paper must be of archival quality. The biggest difference between a standard inkjet print and a giclee print is that giclées are printed using pigment-based inks rather than dye-based inks that are found in lower-cost inkjets. Pigment-based inks have a longer lifespan: they can last anywhere from 100 - 200 years without significant fading.

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Sitka Swirls Relief Print

$45.00

Hand pressed original linoleum block print.

Inspired by the beautiful kelp teeming in the waters of Sitka Sound.

✸ Handprinted on a lever press with archival inks on Arnhem Stonehenge Warm White 245gsm (100% Cotton Rag, Acid Free)
✸ Linoleum Relief Print
✸ 8×10"
✸ Signed, edition of 100
✸ Ships flat

Due to the handmade nature of these prints, there is some slight variation between each individual print.

Sold out

Haanux̂ Lessons Relief Print

$55.00

Hand-pressed original linoleum block print.

The sockeye salmon—Haanux̂—is the ubiquitous presence in the Alaska Native subsistence life. My family has spent generations harvesting haanux̂ from the icy waters of Bristol Bay, and wrote this poem while reflecting on the wisdom of a salmon’s instincts. A salmon lesson.

I know when to swim
upstream
pushing through
the current
called by an invisible
siren
home

and I know
when to let my body
be carried by the waves
weightless
and effortlessly
gliding

—

✸ Handprinted on an etching press with archival inks on Legion Stonehenge White 250gsm (100% Cotton Rag, Acid Free)
✸ Linoleum Relief Print
✸ 11×14"
✸ Signed, open edition
✸ Ships flat

Due to the handmade nature of these prints, there is some slight variation between each individual print.

Sold out

Qanglaaĝix̂ Relief Print

$55.00

Hand-pressed original linoleum block print.

The raven is a creature of myth and magic, mischief and majesty. These talkative and playful corvids punctuate my time spent in Alaska, croaking to one another as I pad through moss-filled ancient forests. This print connects the Raven to her habitat— Kelp strewn on rocky southeast beaches, salmonberries and ferns tangled beneath pines, and the punctuation of bright fuchsia fireweed against grey skies. They talk to me and I talk back. Qanglaaĝix̂— Raven.

✸ Handprinted on an etching press with archival inks on Legion Stonehenge White 250gsm (100% Cotton Rag, Acid Free)
✸ Linoleum Relief Print
✸ 11×14"
✸ Signed, open edition
✸ Ships flat

Due to the handmade nature of these prints, there is some slight variation between each individual print.

Sold out

Raven Sticker

$4.00

Matte Die Cut Sticker

Dimensions: 2.2" x 3"

Vinyl stickers are the OG multipurpose sticker. This material is strong, reliable, and versatile, perfect for indoor or outdoor use. Stickers made on our vinyl material will withstand any kind of weather, will hang on through the dishwasher, and are UV protected so they will stay shiny and vibrant for up to 4 years.

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Home Sweet Tacoma Relief Print- Small Version

$55.00

Hand pressed original linoleum block print.

This ode to the salty and sweet city we call home is a small version of my 2024 Wayzgoose steamroller print, which will be pressed live on May 4th at the Wayzgoose event at Moore Library here in Tacoma! Grab this small version, and come check out the 2ft x 3ft version get printed with a steamroller at the event!

Want a sticker version? Grab a sticker too!

✸ Handprinted on an etching press with archival inks on Legion Stonehenge White 250gsm (100% Cotton Rag, Acid Free)
✸ Linoleum Relief Print
✸ 11×14"
✸ Signed, open edition
✸ Ships flat

Due to the handmade nature of these prints, there is some slight variation between each individual print.

Sold out

LIMITED EDITION: Halfway Somewhere Screen Print

$40.00

6 color hand pulled original screen print, including shimmery gold ink on the sun which catches the light beautifully.

Size:
11 1/4 x 14 in

Sold out

ORIGINAL You'll Like Tacoma Wayzgoose 2025 Steamroller Print

$300.00

Lino relief print created during the 2025 Wayzgoose Steamroller Print event in Tacoma. Each print was pressed using a 1.5 ton steamroller. See the entire process here!

The Wayzgoose theme this year was Make Some Noise, a celebration of the music of Tacoma, bands from Tacoma, songs about Tacoma, and music venues in Tacoma. It was so fun seeing all the different interpretations of the theme. Here’s mine:

“Where’s that confounded bridge?” Led Zeppelin’s The Crunge’s final lyrics ask. What is a song’s bridge? A musical change of pace, intended to provide contrast to the rest of the composition. Here in the Northwest we’re the bridge. We’re not the fancy metropolitan city of Seattle, we’re not a densely wooded small town or coastal hamlet, and we aren’t rolling fields of agricultural land. We’re something different. Something gritty and creative. We’ve got a little bit of funk to us, and I’m not just talking about the aroma. We strut to the beat of our own rhythm. Blue collar, grunge, and art all steeped together under the watchful eye of our namesake peak.

And then there’s the bridge, or should I say bridges. We’re perched on our peninsula jutting out into the Puget sound, anchored on west and east by bridges— Tacoma Narrows, Murray Morgan, and the E 21st St bridge.

In this piece I wanted to share a poem about the music of Tacoma, it’s people, it’s land, the interweaving of everything we hear when we close our eyes in the middle of the city. Tacoma has birthed many amazing artists, some nationally known, like Neko Case, some with cult Tacoma followings, like Girl Trouble— but I like to think we are all a part of the song of Tacoma, being sung throughout the ages as we build our lives between bridges in this little gritty city, “a dusty old jewel on the south Puget Sound.”

—

Due to the nature of printing outdoors, on the ground, with a steam roller, there are variations and slight imperfections from print to print.

Prints ship rolled in a cardboard tube.
Local pickup is in Central Tacoma.

Paper size: 30.5 x 44 in
Print size: 24 x 36 in

Sold out

ORIGINAL Home Sweet Tacoma Wayzgoose 2024 Steamroller Print

from $275.00

Lino relief prints created during the 2024 Wayzgoose Steamroller Print event in Tacoma. Each print was pressed using a 1.5 ton steamroller. See the entire process here!

The Wayzgoose theme this year was Sweet and Salty. There are so many ways in which Tacoma is both Sweet and Salty. Her people are the salt of the earth. She's nestled within the salty waters of the Puget Sound. Folks here feel a little salty about Tacoma changing— "Keep Tacoma Feared" is the refrain to maintain a Tacoma that’s an underdog, a sweet secret that only her residents could truly appreciate.

For those of us who call Tacoma "home," it's a sweet place filled with a vibrant creative community, balanced against the contrast of a salt-of-the-earth blue collar community often symbolized by our bustling seaport.

That's what this piece represents. Gritty Tacoma, sweet and salty, arts and labor, a little rough around the edges, but a sweet treasure we call home.

—

Due to the nature of printing outdoors, on the ground, with a steam roller, there are variations and slight imperfections from print to print. Prints 2 and 3 have some slight smudging (shown in the images).

Prints ship rolled in a cardboard tube.

Paper size: 30.5 x 44 in
Print size: 24 x 36 in

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