M.I.C.E. logo by Jill N. Hamilton-Krawczyk

M.I.C.E mini with Barrel Of Monkeys's
Jill N. Hamilton-Krawczyk.

For many of you who do know and some who may not. Jill and I have been friends for almost four years now. I met Jill when we both worked at Michael's craft store. I was always amazed at her drive! She was going to school at the time and very determined to become a Graphic Designer. It seemed like over night she not only earned her BA in Graphic Design from Madonna University in July of 2008, but now she works for Madonna University as the schools graphic designer! She is one of the most successful M.I.C.E members on etsy with 4,727 sales and counting. She is talented, funny and extremely gifted when it comes to her artistic flair and her savvy business sense!

I asked Jill three questions:
1. What is your favorite item of yours?
2. What is your inspiration?
3.Where do you see your shop in 5 years?
Here is what Jill had to say:

1. What is your favorite item of yours?
My favorite item usually tends to be the button I just finished designing! But I do have some consistent favorites including:
Halo & Horns - my silly martians from outer space
and my Cute Little Owl button (which was a design I originally created for my niece and then made it into a button)
I'm also digging my new retro Dear Deer square button necklace
but I have created so many that it's hard to pick only one or two.
2. What is your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from lots of different sources - color combinations I happen to see, phrases, shapes, what happens to be "in" at the time, experiences - the good and annoying (that's where the sarcastic ones come from). A lot of times my customer's custom requests turn into buttons designs offered in my shop. And then a lot of the really GREAT ideas come from my very good friend Scottie who is very clever and witty!
3.Where do you see your shop in 5 years?
Continually growing... more designs, more products. I'm addicted to buttons! Currently I offer 1.25 inch round, 2.25 inch round and 1.5 inch square items. Maybe in the future I will another button machine or two of different sizes to my arsenal... we shall see. But one thing is for sure - my shop will always be evolving.