Website: www.jnadesigns.com
Astrological Sign: Aquarius, Taurus rising!
Chinese Astrological: Monkey
Trade:  A little of this, a little of that…
Year Your Business Was Founded:  1999, website since 2003.
Education Background:  Plenty of schoolin’ 
Other Diy affiliations:  Stylelicious (DIY Network), Babes in Business, Austin Mamas, HerDomain
Myspace URL: www.myspace.com/jnadesigns
Favorite Accessory in your collection: My all-purpose blue vinyl airline/diaperbag/laptop shoulder bag. I need more pockets!
Favorite Large Scale Sculpture Studio on Austin’s East Side: Blue Genie Art of course!

How did you get started?
I was working in custom leather, blacksmithing and bartending and I needed a purse that could survive my lifestyle and still look fresh. Vinyl repels beer, sweat, and baby puke.

Biggest hurdle you encountered?
Staying focused and time management -- Finding enough hours in the day to balance family and work! 

Lessons learned the hard way?
Do it right the first time. Measure twice, cut once.

Most bizarre encounter with a customer?
Where to even start… one of many reasons I stopped doing custom leatherwork.

Any Advice for a beginner wanting to build her own website?
#1: Decide the purpose of your site. Learn HTML to start with, and learn from other designers. Accept that your site will be a work in progress. Once your tastes develop and refine you will want to redo it anyway.

Future Projects?
Yup.

Favorite indie business(es):
My fellow ACM’ers, of course. I am also partial these days to Felt Up by Jen and co-ops like Parts and Labor and Moxie & the Compound.

Personal Motto?
Making a memory from paper helps clear your head so you remember to breathe.

Sage advice?
The business stuff is not as fun as designing, but you gotta stay on top of it.

Best thing about:
Running your own business: Flexibility - I can work any 14 hours of the day that I want to
Knowing how to sew: Turning my ideas into handmade things that bring other people joy.
Having the cutest baby this side of the Mississippi: I thank my lucky stars every day. He is such a good baby!
Living in Austin: Being near friends and family.

Worst thing about:
Running your own business: Long hours!
Knowing how to sew: Perfectionism
Having the biggest dog this side of the Mississippi: She thinks she’s a lap dog
Living in Austin: It’s easy to forget other places are not like this
 
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