We were lucky to catch up with Dallas Ochoa recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dallas, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I do wish I’d started my creative career sooner, but honestly I’m glad I waited.
If I had started sooner, I probably would have gone more into graphic or visual design, instead of something with crafts which I enjoy more. I probably would have been happier with my career overall, but would have had a harder time with career growth.

I probably also wouldn’t have found my way into the tech industry. When I graduated with my computer science degree, I was working in design at a video game company but decided to go into coding for more earning potential. It’s because of that I eventually found my way to a steady corporate job that helped give me security to try my creative ventures. It gave me time to prototype some ideas, try a couple different iterations of products or format before finding something that worked for me without having to stress over it being life sustaining at first.

But corporate life was pretty draining and while I did enjoy most of my work, it wasn’t my true passion. It would have been interesting to see how my personality and mood may have developed differently if I had done a creative venture sooner.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve always been a artsy craftsy person. I made jewelry and greeting cards at a young age participating in my first market in high school. Since then I loved learning new crafts and skills, collecting hobbies constantly.

When the pandemic hit, I started really considering what it would mean to have a craft related business. At the time I had a few sticker designs and was in pottery classes, but figured I could start with enamel pins. It was a way to turn my designs into a more profitable manufactured good and was really popular at the time. Then later added my handmade ceramics as a way to showcase my craft.

After a couple years of having a product based business I started to do a few classes to give myself a more sustainable method of business while also sharing my love of crafting. I teach leather working classes around town and even at AIGA’s Design Ranch.

My brand and my designs are all about whimsy. I love fairies, fantasy, and renaissance festivals. I use that as inspiration for my designs. I have a series of fairies and matching mushroom house enamel pins. Once I started improving in my pottery skills, I started translating those same mushroom house designs into jars, luminaries, and incense burners. I want to provide fun items for your home that give the vibe of a hobbit home. So many commercial items are clean and modern, but I provide unique cozy ceramics you can’t find in a traditional store.

I’ve found a lot of success participating in local markets around town as it’s really hard to get visibility and traction online. I’m not the best as marketing and social media, but local markets are a great way to showcase my products and connect with those looking for handmade goods. Shout out to the Austin Witches Market. They have curated an amazing community of vendors and attendees who love fantastical products. I’ve always had a great connection with customers at their markets.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Shop local or small whenever possible! Before buying something with a big brand store, check out a local market, a boutique that carries local artists works, or directly with your local artistans. Follow them on social media so they are easier to find later. And be prepared to pay a bit more money for something knowing that will boost your local economy and support those in your community.

Creativity breeds creativity. The more artists are supported, the more they are able to create and achieve. Art is what makes life worth living.

And for other creatives – know your worth and charge for it! Whether it’s materials, labor, or time, it’s important that we all charge enough to make a living. And it’s important for the community as a whole to represent a united front, that creative or handmade goods need to sustain the artists behind them.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

When I first started making enamel pins I paid for a course on how to make them from a local maker (Becky Helms). As a part of her course she also included tips on product photography, social media posts and scheduling, and other helpful tips. It was amazing to learn from an expert to accelerate my own knowledge.

The most valuable part of the course was she had started a discord server for everyone who signed up for the course to chat with each other. It was amazing to have access to a community of small business owners like me all trying to figure it out and grow. They were a wealth of knowledge, you could always hop in to ask a question and 2-3 people would be there to assist.

As for philosophy, I really identify with the practice of core values. Picking out 2-3 key words that define your brand, goal, or mission as a business or as a person. It’s a great reminder and a rubric to help make your decisions against. For example, mine are creativity and independence. It reminds me that I like creating and making, so that’s has to be the key component. And that any decisions I make toward my business should ensure I’m maintaining my independence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://craftalong.me/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftalong