TDIPT Presents........

Susan Burd of Country Crocks

We asked Susan:

Where do you live?
I live in the beautiful and historic town of Lititz, PA

Can you tell us a little about your family?
I am married to Geoff, my best friend. We have no children, but do have one fur baby named Jake – a big, handsome yellow lab.

Do you work outside the home?
I worked for 23 years as an office manager for a CPA firm, and now I am self employed as a folk artist

Do you have any hobbies/what do you like to do when you're not creating?
I love to go antiquing; I love to read; I love to redecorate the house; and I enjoy going out to dinner and being with friends.

What are some of your favorite things?
I love antiques – especially old crocks, handmade penny rugs and stitcheries. In fact I love all fabric art – probably because I paint!

Do you collect anything in particular?
Nothing in particular – just whatever I think will look nice in my home.

How did you get your start in your creative business? When?
I always loved any types of crafts and did lots of them when I was growing up. I became interested in painting and took a few classes in 1995. I then read and learned everything I could about painting and eventually became confident enough to design my own patterns.

Tell us how you got your business name?
The Country Crocks name came from the fact that I live in the country and my main product was painting on crocks! My new business which will feature all of my prints and things I make from my prints is called Burd In Hand Designs. I thank my friend Nancy Malay for suggesting that name for me!

Is it in the genes......does anyone in your family, now or generations before create?
My Dad was a carpenter and could make anything. He was a truly talented gentleman.

How do you keep ideas coming?
That’s a difficult one! There are times when the ideas come flooding in – and that’s usually in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep! I need to remember to keep a pad next to me so I can jot down these ideas so I don’t forget them. I think I am mainly inspired by all of the beautiful scenery that surrounds me here in Lancaster County as well as my love of antiques and the past.

Who/what inspires you?
Warren Kimble (the father of folk art painting in my opinion), Donna Atkins, John Sliney (to name a few). Also, my TDIPT sisters who I believe are the most creative group of people I have ever met!

Do you have a studio or do you work in different parts of your home?
My basement, and I must say that it isn’t pretty!! Painting tends to be very messy so I wouldn’t want it all over my home. I would love to have a light and bright studio for myself – hopefully in the near future!

How do you organize your supplies?
Well I’m not the most organized painter, but I do know where everything is!

Do you like to listen to music while you work, if so what ?
I do love music – especially instrumentals such as Jim Brickman. Because I love to read and get so little time to actually sit down with a book, I’ve become addicted to audio books. It’s a great way to “read” while I’m painting!

Do you have a favorite piece of art that you've created?
That is kind of hard to say. I tend to “tire” of a certain piece after awhile and am always eager to move onto new designs. I guess I would have to say the piece that I most enjoyed was a design that I created for our town of Lititz’ 250th birthday in 2006. It was a small village featuring the most famous and historical buildings in our town.

What have you learned about marketing
Well I love getting out and meeting my customers or conversing with them on the telephone or via e-mail. I try to be very fair with my prices and always make every piece that I create special. I don’t ever want to sell something that I wouldn’t want to display in my own home.

What keeps you motivated?
Again, that is a bit difficult because I do go through periods where I am not motivated at all. Normally when I have an upcoming show or orders that need to get done, I am highly motivated! Also, when I have created a new design in my head, I am motivated to get it painted.

Do you sell you work in any shops, or will you be in any upcoming shows?
I used to sell in shops several years ago and then stopped that for awhile. I am now getting back to that because of my prints. I am going to sell at a shop in my town of Lititz called Days Gone by Creations – I am actually doing a signing there on September 11 at one of our Second Friday events here in Lititz. Also, my new website will feature a wholesale area where shops may order my prints. I am participating in a show called the Lititz Artisans’ Porchwalk which will be held at 5 locations here in Lititz on October 9 and 10.

Has your work been published in any magazines? Have you received any type of awards/recognition for your work?

I have been regularly published in the magazine, Create & Decorate since 2005. I’m happy to say that I will be continuing that in 2010 also. I have also licensed my designs to a company called Capitol Earth Rugs. They produce fabulous braided rugs. I have new designs that have just been introduced to the market, and more to come in 2010 when I will be featured in their 30th Anniversary catalog! I am extremely excited about that.

Do you have any tips you would like to share?

Just to do what you love and what makes you happy. I find painting is such therapy for me. It really soothes my soul.

Tell us something about yourself that may surprise us?
I am a 9 year survivor of breast cancer. I am thankful for each day that I am given and was very lucky that it was caught in an early and treatable stage. I am also a bit shy and I don’t feel comfortable being the center of attention. I would rather be on the sidelines cheering other people on!

Susan and her late Mother

Thanks for letting us put you in the TDIPT Spotlight Susan!