Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Inga and Evija . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Inga and , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Our favorite part of being full time artists is that we can be our own bosses and that we have full control over the decisions, operations and direction of our creative work. Being own bosses offers us greater flexibility in terms of work hours and location. We can create a schedule that suits our personal preferences and lifestyle. But of course with great power comes great responsibilities. We are responsible for every aspect of our creative business ,including finances , operations, management, marketing and more . This can be rewarding and challenging. We love the freedom to innovate and bring our own creative ideas to life. Working without a boss means we need to be disciplined and motivated to manage our time and tasks effectively. While we have more control over our schedule , it can also blur the boundaries between work and personal life. Finding the right balance is crucial.

Inga and , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

We are two of the kind designers/ fabric artists, Inga and Evija. We began our journey in the summer of 2000. We put our backpacks and only $100 and no English left behind our studies in Sport University, family and our small Eastern Europen country Latvia in search of American dream. We started out our journey in sunny Florida working as housekeepers and waitresses in local motels and dinner shows. Slowly our English started to improve and little by little our hearts become more and more attached to this beautiful country and all the opportunities it has to offer. One faithful day in summer of 2003 while venturing to Tampa Florida we met our artist friend Pam who inspired us with her creativity and introduced us to Art and Atlanta city, changing our lives forever. We moved to Atlanta in 2004 and our passion for Art was born. We began to look at the world in a whole new way and developed a passion for designing and repurposing. In our small apartment we started our artistic venture. Our days were filled with cutting, sewing, painting and experimenting with different clothes and fabrics from our closets and different techniques. We turned our passion into business, our lifestyle and purpose. Being able to live our dream of being mindful artists, creating beauty and meaning in the world is an inspiration. Creative career is very important to us because we can express ourselves to the fullest. We can be who we are. We can show our personalities through our designs and artistic lifestyle. We can create from our hearts. It’s so much fun to upcycle/recycle/repurpose different types of fabrics and clothing, giving a new life to already used fabrics and on top of that we love to add different photography, designs, images and words on our items for originality , expression and conversation piece. Our product includes wallets, handbags, tote bags, pouches, luggage tags, fanny packs and more. Our pieces are unique artsy funky cool. When we create our items we make sure we put positive energy into each piece, its very important to us to do so because we understand everything is energy that’s why its important to create from our hearts and put much love into our creations. We love to entertain ourselves and others through our creative career. Our purpose is to spread the power of positivity energy around the world through our product . Respect, uplift, and treat all human beings with honesty, fairness and equality. Touch lives to as many people as possible , put smiles on people’s faces. Help raise vibration on the planet. Respect Mother Earth. Inspire people to be unique , always follow your passion and experience the wonder of life. Being full time fabric artists is not without its ups and downs. Especially in the beginning , it wasn’t always easy. We have faced challenges and uncertainty from financial struggles to self doubt. But we remained steadfast in our belief that our art has the power to touch hearts and enrich lives which keeps us moving forward and not give up. We have learned to focus on progress not perfection. We have learned that secret of happiness is enjoyment in the journey and being grateful for each little or big accomplishment. We have traveled all around USA showcasing our art , so many hours on the road, so many sleepless nights, heavy liftings setting up booths and temporary shops from music festivals to art festivals to the biggest holiday markets in the country. There is so much going on into running a creative business, it’s not just that we only design and create products, there is so much work needs to be done behind the scenes in order to run successful art business.
Our most proud accomplishments to this day are that our product is showcased in Art Institute of Chicago and High Museum gift shops. We have had our temporary shops in the biggest holiday markets in NYC in Union sq and Bryant park and Chicago One of a Kind holiday show. We have had an opportunity to see almost all states of the USA while traveling with our art. On our journey , we have met so many wonderful people, some of them have become our lifelong friends. We are currently in the process of writing a book about our story and art journey. We also started to work together with Amani women’s center where they have sewing program where refugee women participate in.
Community is important to us. Sometimes our art loft transforms into a hub of creativity and kindness for friends to come over help us paint, cut fabrics, dance, laugh and be a tiny part of our unique piece of art.
Through the threads of our art , we have woven a tapestry of success , resilience, and boundless creativity. We dare to chase our dreams with patience, persistence and a little bit of magic, anything is possible.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Our vision is to spread the power of positive energy around the world. Respect, uplift, and treat all human beings with honesty, fairness and equality. Create a movement of up lifters. Touch lives to as many people as possible, put smile on people’s faces. Raise higher vibration on the planet. Respect the Mother Earth. Inspire people to be unique, always follow your passion and experience the wonder of life”

We are dedicated to providing remarkable product and customer service, that everyone who interacts with us and our product feel uplifted and satisfied. We offer unique, trendy, eye catching, artistic, raw, original, uplifting, inspiring, recycled, upcycled, eco friendly, creative with cutting edge fashion accessories like wallets, fanny packs, pouches, luggage tags and handbags.”

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Supporting artists and creatives is essential for fostering cultural and artistic diversity, encouraging innovation, and maintaining a vibrant and dynamic society. We think that funding the Arts is important. Perhaps increasing public funding for the arts through grants, subsidies, and cultural programs. This financial support can help artists sustain their work and reach a broader audience.
Also encouraging Art Education is necessary, promote art education in schools to nurture young talent and ensure that children have the opportunity to explore their creative potential. Don’t try to advertise especially for young children that you will be ‘starving artist’ if you pursue art you will not be successful instead encourage them.
Creating Art Spaces is a must, develop and maintain accessible art venues, galleries, and cultural centers where artists can showcase their work and interact with the public.
Organize and promote cultural events, festivals, and exhibitions to celebrate and highlight the work of artists in the community. We are very much grateful for all the artist market organizers which is giving us a lot of opportunity to showcase our art for years.
Encourage collaborations between artists and businesses to create mutually beneficial partnerships, such as commissioning artwork for public spaces or product designs.
Affordable housing and studio spaces can help artists thrive without the burden of high living costs, fostering creative communities.
Encourage individuals to become art patrons, supporting artists financially through commissions, purchasing their work, or making donations to art organizations, buying from local artists.
We believe that society can benefit immensely from a thriving arts and creative community, and these actions can help ensure that artists have the support and resources they need to continue their important work.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.IngaAndEvija.com
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/IngaAndEvija
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/IngaAndEvija