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Vendor Profiles: Siren Silks and Forte Chocolates
Meet Two of Our New BFM Vendors!
Siren Silks
Owner: Joanna Lynam
Website: www.sirensilks.com (under construction)
What makes your product(s) unique, unusual, or special? I think what makes my scarves unusual is that I combine my love of the graphic arts (drawing, printmaking) with painting on silk. I focus largely on the natural world, with a large dose of the whimsical also.
What is one thing that people would be surprised to know about you or your business? I never imagined I would be working with color and fiber when I completed my art degree, where my main love was lithography on stone. I did no fiber coursework whatsoever. However,
here I am!
What's the best thing about being a crafter? I am only newly returned to this, at least professionally, after a break of eight years raising small children. I like the freedom of working for myself, on my own schedule and under my own direction. I also think it is a good role model for my children.
What's the worst? It's hard to make a big bang financially.
What do you like best about selling at the Bellingham Farmers Market? I enjoy talking with others, seeing old and new friends, and chatting with vendors. I also love being around all the plants and vegetables. I did the first year of the Bellingham Market in the 1990's and it is fun to be back.
When you were a kid, is this what you thought you'd be doing as a grown-up?
As a child, two things that deeply interested me were animals/nature and creating things. As an adult,
I would add children into that mix, and I still seem to be doing much the same with my life.
What is your favorite memory? One of my most treasured memories is of riding my horse across the fells of the Lake District in England, where I am from. There was myself, the horse, heather, tarns (small lakes) and sheep as far as the eye could see, and not much else.
Please give us a brief bio. Born in England and lived all over the world. Degrees in art and arboriculture (study of trees). Two lovely girls and one lovely husband. I have been a bit of a rolling stone in my life until I found Bellingham, which I love more than any other place I have lived, for the people as much as the landscape. Recently my family and I lived in Singapore for three years but are happy to be back.
What are your hobbies and how did you get started with them? We love to sail (for the sense
of wide-open horizons), cycle, hike and camp. The Northwest has it all -- mountains, woods, rivers, lakes and sea. We are also passionate about our mini homestead and raise as much food as we can.
In addition, we have as many pets as we can squeeze onto our property.
What word best describes you? Sanguine with a dose of melancholic.
Do you have a guilty pleasure? Yes.
Forte Chocolates
Owners: Karen & Chris Neugebauer
Website: www.fortechocolates.com
What makes your product special? Karen is a European-style chocolatier, specializing in handcrafted luxury chocolates and caramels. Forte Chocolates strives to bring out the flavors found naturally within fine chocolate. We believe that food should look as beautiful as it tastes and that you should be in bliss within just two bites! You will never find huge truffles or tasteless novelties here. Forte Chocolates also teaches classes so that everyone can learn how to make fresh artisan-quality chocolates!
What is one thing that people would be surprised to know about you or your business? Most people would be surprised to find out that we have both won national and international awards for our chocolates, including a Master Chocolatier award from the International Chocolate Salon and recently, a Silver at the prestigious Academy of Chocolate Awards in London.
What's the best thing about being a food processor? Connecting people through food. I am honored to be a part of someone's celebration or special moment.
What's the worst? Hmmmm... it's hard to think of one. I guess it would be that everyone is disappointed if I DON'T bring chocolate to a potluck or as a gift. The desire for fresh artisan chocolate never ceases to amaze me.
What do you like best about selling at the Bellingham Farmers Market? My favorite part is watching someone try our product for the first time and seeing how their faces change into a great
big smile of delight! I also love meeting people and getting to know everyone's stories.
When you were a kid, is what you thought you'd be doing as a grown-up? Not in the slightest!
I am an artist and I love the workings of business, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I fell in love with chocolate. It turns out that making chocolate allows me to do everything that I love and make others happy while doing it. Being a Chocolatier was never on my list, but I am sooo grateful that I
had the opportunity to stumble into it.
What's your favorite memory? The one I am making or sharing at the time. You never know when magic is going to happen, so I live life to the fullest and live in the moment.
Please give us a brief bio. I am 36 years old, married for 18 years, and
have five lovely children ranging in age from nine months to 17 years old. After earning three degrees from the University of Washington - marketing, accounting, and entrepreneurship - I still was not satisfied. I always wanted
to learn how to cook, so I went to pastry school at the Art Institute of Seattle.
Before I graduated, I started to compete and win local pastry competitions. When I entered an American Culinary Federation competition, I took home a bronze medal in chocolate sculpting and several pastry job offers, as well. It was the head judge who convinced me that I had the natural
skill and palate to become a Chocolatier - and Forte Chocolates was born not five months later.
Four years later, my reputation and business grew large enough that I was able to quit my day job
at Costco, after 11 years. Now I get to bring my kids to work with me and do what I love every day!
What are your hobbies and how did you get started with them? One of my favorite things to do
is to solve riddles or everyday problems, especially when I can make a jig out of Legos or other toys! Playing Mario Kart or board games with my family is right up there too. Other hobbies include art, cooking, reading, and playing with chocolate! There never is enough time to play...
What word best describes you? Mom. Not only do my husband and I have and enjoy our five children, I am naturally driven to teach and inspire others. Watching someone grow into their full potential is one of my greatest joys in life!
Do you have a guilty pleasure? Other than sleep? Fresh pasta and garlic bread! I can't keep away from the stuff...
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