Interview with Ribbons & Robots

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Ribbons & Robots is a locally based, on-line storefront for hand crafted toys. I may be all grown up, but my heart still melts for dollies and stuffed animals, especially if they are made by hand! Ribbons & Robots is run by a Hip, Digitally Savvy Business Mama with a passion for crafting. Thank you R&R for taking time out of your hectic mommy/crafting/awesome lady schedule! 

Here we go:

What's the inspiration behind Robots & Ribbons? 

"One of my biggest inspirations is my own little family. Since having our first son, I have really noticed and been frustrated by the lack of fun toys geared towards boys! When they're still too little for Legos or action figures of things with a zillion little pieces, there really isn't a ton of exciting (and affordable) toys on the shelf to choose from. I want to have a shop that carries a good balance of things boys AND girls will like, beyond the typical puppy/kitten choices....

And my parents always encouraged my sister & me to be creative. My mom is this really incredibly talented seamstress, so we grew up with a love of sewing and appreciation of handmade in our house."

Why do you love to craft?  
"One thing I love about crafting, especially creating toys, is the idea that something I have loved and found so much joy while creating could also bring a big smile to some kid's face. It could be something they treasure forever & I just think that is so exciting! For me, creating and crafting has just always been part of my everyday life. I also love that crafting is a way to take a break for myself. Even if it’s just for 5 minutes at a time!"

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Can you tell me a bit about Storenvy, the site that hosts your on-line shop?

"StorEnvy is a bit newer online marketplace. It is growing and gaining attention really quickly. It’s got a social networking vibe, which is neat. Instead of having collections curated by editors front & center, your StorEnvy Feed is more tailored to you. It's based on items you’ve “envied” or stores you’ve followed. Also, when you’re browsing on StorEnvy the products are listed by popularity in real time, so there are constant updates & new things you may not have found on your own just by searching tags! 

One really useful aspect of StorEnvy, for both shoppers and shop owners alike, is that when you “watch” a store, StorEnvy notifies you whenever that shop’s stock is updated! They send fun emails with products you might like based on things you’ve “envied”…I like to read them during nap time, when I take a little break, so I can really enjoy them!"

What's your favorite project?

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"I especially love making dolls. Rag dolls are so fun because the possibilities for giving each doll its own personality are endless. Right now I have some really fun mermaid dolls posted for sale, but I have plans for more boy-style dolls to come and I am really, really excited to get started on some of those! I also have some play sets that I have been getting started on; they have folk tale & fairy tale themes and I think are going to be super fun toys."

What's your best Richmond memory?

"One of my favorite memories is walking downtown with my sister and our mom. We would walk to the library and Mom would make sure we really got to make a day out of it. We played word games or I Spy on the way and would get to go to Readmore & the other stores on our way there & back. Stopping in to get ice cream at The Circus Shoppe was REALLY a treat because we got to eat it in that zoo cage at the back of the shop! Remember that? But the best part was, hands down, the fountains in the summer time. I was heartbroken when they tore out the promenade to extend Main Street."

What kind of unique Richmond memories is your family making today?

"My husband is a bicycling enthusiast so we try and get the boys out for rides on the Cardinal Greenway on cooler evenings (because I am a total wimp about being out in the heat!!). We try to take advantage of our parks. We love the library, and my three year old absolutely LOVES going to the Wayne County Historical Museum. And I am really looking forward to the park the city is building in the city lot at North A street."

Thank you again for sharing with us. I wish you every success in your business venture!
 

You can find Ribbons & Robots on-line at Storenvy.com. Follow Ribbons & Robots on Facebook to stay updated with new items and specials.

Ribbons & Robots is your source for quality, hand made stuffed toys & dolls for children of all ages. Looking for something specific? Ribbons & Robots takes custom orders! You can contact Ribbons & Robots via e-mail at ribbonsandrobots@gmail.com.

Seriously, darling! Check them out & support a local business!
That's right, on-line shoppers- you can still shop local :)

<3 the Local Gal

Local Lady Interview: Author Marissa Brim

Marissa Brim, Local Author

As providence should have it, I was recently reunited with an old acquaintance turned novel-writer, self-published author and all around go-getter, Marissa Brim. A friend loaned me a copy of her first book, Daughter of the Red Isle. I was intrigued by this new author's writing and her publishing process. Marissa agreed to a Local Lady Interview which is transcribed below. Thank you, thank you, Marissa!

Here we go:

What's your best Richmond/Indiana memories?

"When my mother first moved us to Richmond, her hometown, my grandparents helped to raise us and make us feel a part of the community.  They helped enroll us in Seton Elementary School in Richmond, and really gave us as much as they possibly could.

One memory in particular is of my grandfather, Leroy Atkins, taking me to Paulee's for breakfast, and then to the Farmer's Market next to the Depot, under 9th St. bridge.  It was great quality time with my grandfather.  He bought me a small cactus, which actually thrived for a few years, until my mother and I somehow managed to kill it.  Since then, I've been enchanted by the Depot district, and I'm so excited to see it coming back to life, as well as downtown."

How did you set off to become a writer?

"I can't say that one day I just woke up and said to myself "I'm going to be a writer now."  I can say I've always been a dreamer, and have read books & imagined stories that seemed to make my childhood more interesting.  I've always been an "in-my-head" type of person, as I'm not a great social speaker.  I can't formulate witty responses on the spur of a moment, but I can come up with a whole conversation if I'm left alone with a piece of paper, a pen and a situation.

Mostly, I decided to start writing again after elementary school because a story had started forming itself in my head, and it was taking up too much of my thoughts.  So, as a "cure," I decided to write it down, just to get it out of my head.  The initial outline was somewhere around ten thousand words.  I put it away for a while, until a tragedy in my family spurred me to finish the story."

Could you tell us a bit of what your book is about?

"Daughter of the Red Isle is a novel with two story lines: Lexi, a homeless young woman struggling to make it on her own and Leo, a wealthy businessman, learning life's lessons through tragedies.  While Daughter begins with tragedies, I think the main focus is on the characters surviving and learning to live through their hardships. Within the first chapter of the book, Lexi learns that her mother has finally succumbed to her addiction, dying from an apparent drug overdose.


Leo's story, on the other hand, is revealed much later.  He is the author of some "love letters" in the beginning of the book, and his tragedy hits closer to home with a lot of readers, myself included."

The Cover of Marissa's First Book

How did you go about publishing your book? You're a novel writer & self-published to boot! That's impressive!


"The publishing portion of the book was actually the easiest (once I decided I was going to go the Indie route, that is). I looked up several different options, including contacting one of the local printers in Richmond to print copies for me.  After all was said and done though, I started with an eBook, available only through Amazon Kindle.


After a few months, I decided to get a paper version as well, as people who either didn't have eBook access, or didn't have a Kindle, kept asking me for paper copies.  I used CreateSpace, a sub-company of Amazon, to publish the book.  It had multiple options, including a generate your own cover for the book feature, that really appealed to me."

Your book, although titled as somewhat of a romantic novel, touches on some big issues.
What inspired you to delve into things such as homelessness, drug abuse, etc.?

"For lack of a better explanation, personal (not me) experiences.  Substance abuse was a big player in my father's side of the family, mostly alcohol, but some drug use as well.  My grandmother had also a cousin who had lived on the streets of New York City for a time. He built his own business, and the last I heard, was a millionaire, living on the same island as Julio Iglesias.  

While they had some personal relation to me and my family, more people can relate to these issues.  Homelessness affects more people every year, and substance abuse seems to be within nearly every family.  They are tough issues, but people can survive and overcome them.   I have known for years that my father was an alcoholic, and knowing that, I was determined to never fall into that kind of addiction.  I have no desire to drink and drink and drink.  I'd rather spend that money on yarn for knitting!"

What's next on your agenda. I hear this may become a series?

"Yes, actually I'm somewhere around thirty thousand words on book 2 of The Isles series. The title is Son of the Emerald Isle, and focuses more on Lexi  finding "new" relatives, and it will explore further social issues. I'm working on the end of the book, and I have actually surprised myself with the end.  There's a lot going on. This installation in the series feels different than the first book. 

I'm also working on a few other things. Most notably an urban fantasy-type novel, which is published entirely on my blog, as I write, chapter by chapter.  The title is Death of a Fairy, a modern fairy tale, but it's not like any fairy tale I've ever read.  After it is finished, I will publish it on eBook and in paperback so others can read it as well."


Thank you again Marissa for your time and your company! I wish you much happiness and success in your writing career! May you sell many books and dream many more stories!

<3 the Local Gal

For more information: You can follow Marissa Brim, the author on Facebook Here.
Here Debut Novel is available at Two Sister's Books & More, as well as Richmond's local Hastings store.

Richmond Indiana's "Local Ladies"

A Local Lady Picture: Madonna of the Trail 

In my first reflective post on living in Richmond, Indiana, I included a photo of the Madonna of the Trail. The Madonna is a larger than life sculpture located at the entrance to Glen Miller Park. She is one of twelve "madonnas" in the United States. According to wikipedia, the sculpture was designed by August Leimbach and founded by the Daughters of the American Revolution in order to honor and remember the strength and courage of the women who traveled along the National Trails Old Road to establish their homes in the unfamilar terrain of the western United States.

Arlene B. Nichols Moss, chairwoman of the DAR committee in the 1920's was inspired to commission the Madonna of the Trail after seeing a sculpture in Portland, Oregon of Sacagawea, a Shoshone guide who aided Lewis and Clark in their famed expedition.

That inspirational sculpture (which you should click here to see (because it's beautiful!)) was designed by American sculptor Alice Cooper. She still stands in Washington Park, Portland. 

Leimbach wrote about his inspiration in designing the Madonna sculptures:

"When I was a schoolboy in the old country, the American History of the pioneer days made a deep impression on me. I thought often of those who had left the old home and all that was dear to them and had come to this country to find a field for their ambition...

When I came to America, I often saw these people of the pioneer type, strong and brave and always ready to protect themselves against any danger. Asked to make a sketch model for a monument of a woman of pioneer days, I was inspired by my own impression of these people I had met, and the Madonna of the Trail is the result."  (Source:Wikipedia)

Perhaps because Richmond's Madonna is part of a National series of sculptures and because of her location visible to Main Street traffic, she is the most well known sculptural representation of a woman in our city. Although women are often under represented in monuments on a large scale, there are more such sculptures right here in Richmond, Indiana. 

A Local Lady Picture: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is considered the patron saint of all American catholic schools. Elizabeth is  memorialized in front of Seton Catholic School on the west side of town.  Elizabeth was also a pioneer of sorts. She established the first free catholic school and the first congregation of religious sisters in the United States. At least six existing congregations in the United States trace their root's to Elizabeth's  Sister's of Charity. St. Elizabeth was also the first native born American to be canonized.

A Local Lady: Mary Dyer

Another of Richmond's Local Ladies is located on Earlham College Campus. Nestled in the cool shade of trees at the entrance to Stout Meetinghouse is a monument designed by Sylvia Shaw Judson. Mary Dyer lived in the early 1600's, before Elizabeth Seton (1774-1821), and well before pioneer women made their journey west. Mary Dyer was one of the Boston Martyrs to die for her belief in religious freedom, in particular for her belief that God could communicate with any individual not only the appointed clergy. This faith ran against what was accepted by the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay Colony as religious truth and law. Mary could have lived her life and chosen to remain silent, or at least to remain banished from her home in Massachusetts...

"but her conscience led her to return to Massachusetts in April 1660 to "desire the repeal of that wicked law against God's people and offer up her life there." 

Despite the pleas of her husband and family, she refused to repent, and was again convicted and sentenced to death" 

(Source:Wikipedia)

Mary Dyer's hanging marked the end of Puritan theocracy. Her brave death and refusal to recant was not in vain. 

The Dyer Sculpture is also a part of a series. Two others exist one in front of the Massachusetts States House and the other at the Friends Center in Philly. It is appropriate that Mary Dyer and Anne Hutchinson, her spiritual mentor are remembered by the existence of an herbal garden in Portsmouth, Rhode Island created by their shared descendant Michael Steven Ford.

I am happy to call Richmond, Indiana home, and I'm happy to share my home with three very model "local ladies". 

<3 Your Local Gal

Tempest II, Interview with the Composer John Bronston

Studio 10 Site

It's time for the second installment of the III part Local Lady series on Studio 10's production of the Tempest. It's my pleasure in introducing you to John Bronston, a talented composer, lyricist and musician who has been collaborating over the phone and through e-mail conquering distance with technology in order to bring an original sound accompaniment for Shakespeare's play the Tempest 

especially for Richmond Civic Theatre. 

Without further ado, the composer of the incidental score to the Tempest soon to play at Richmond Civic Theatre, John Bronston, here we go:

What are some of your best Richmond memories?

John Bronston, Talented Composer, Lyricist and Musician

"I have many Richmond memories tied to Richmond Civic Theatre and the theatre in general. I grew up there and had some of my happiest early performing experiences there in such productions as Fences (directed by Tempest cast member David Cobine) and the first RCT production of A Chorus Line. Even before becoming active at RCT, I had participated in Junior Players productions where I met the director of this production of the Tempest, Joshua Robinson, when we co-starred in The Ransom of Red Chief. I returned to Richmond for a brief period over ten years ago to work as a director and choreographer at Earlham College. I currently work as a writer, musical director, educator, and occasional performer and director all over the country. 


 In the last twelve months I have done shows in Manhattan, New Jersey (a production of Amahl and the Night Visitors that Joshua Robinson was the producer of and I musical directed), Colorado (with the designer of this production Andy Darr who designed lighting for the production of Hairspray that I directed and choreographed for Midtown Arts Center in Fort Collins), and upstate New York where I am currently. I am hoping to get to come back to Indiana in time to see this production of the Tempest."

What's it like to stretch your wings and then return home? 


"I have been back a number of times over the years, most recently I saw the fundraiser production of Rocky Horror Show that Andy Darr mounted a couple of years ago at RCT which was a blast. I love that theatre, it is one of the most remarkable spaces I have had the good fortune to perform in and audiences in Richmond are always willing to try something new. My career in the theatre has happened because I am willing to wear a number of different hats and that began for me in Richmond. While I was there, I performed, I directed (Shadows In the Theatre which was a benefit for the Richmond AIDS Task Force at Civic Hall in 1996 among others), I designed costumes, I played in pit bands, I did whatever I was aksed to do. That is the spirit that has seen me through and it all started in Richmond."

What kind of inspiration led to producing an original score for this particular play?

"The inspiration for creating an original score came from Joshua asking me to do it. Over the last ten years, we have formed a writing partnership that has seen our musicals performed all over Manhattan. Our original show "Fairy Tale" was originally produced by the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) in their reading series and then went on to be produced in a commercial run by (re:) Directions Theatre Company at the 14th Street Theatre in Manhattan. Our next show, "Confessions of A Reality TV Star" was produced in concert by New York Theatre Barn and we have had other developmental runs of projects that we have written together and separately." 


What can we expect to see in Studio 10's version of the Tempest? Any sneak peek or 

titillating tidbits you're willing to share?

"The sound of this show will definitely be something different for local audiences. It is an attempt to meld a neo-classical melodic line with a late nineties acoustic rock harmonic framework. I hope that people find it beautiful and intriguing and sensual and romantic and surprising. It isn't designed to shock the ears but to support the beauty of Shakespeare's language with a modern tone. On this particular project our collaboration has been taking place primarily on the phone and over email, although we did have a number of face to face meetings to discuss the tone before I was ready to put pen to paper."

How are you guys enjoying the collaborative work? 

"It is always a joy to return home and that is what I feel like I am doing whenever Joshua and I collaborate on a project."

Thank you so much for you responses, John. I hope you make it home in time for the show! 

<3 Your Local Gal

Tempest I Interview with the Lights, Andy Darr

Facebook Site

Studio 10 is a branch of Richmond Civic Theatre founded to provide our community with opportunities to experience "contemporary and classic-but-seldom-seen gems (that) are equally at home on Studio 10 stage." These productions are usually intended for a more mature audience. Their up and coming production is one such gem, The Tempest by William Shakespeare, 

a lesser known play of the famous bard that in some circles is considered to be one of his greatest of works. 

The Local-Lady blog is pleased to offer readers a special III part series of exclusive interviews leading up to the play which is to run June 7th and 8th at 8 pm at Richmond Civic Theatre.   

All three of our guest interviewees hail from the Richmond area and have a history of working together in the theatre. All three are returning and specially collaborating for this production. Andy Darr, behind the technical scenes & in charge of manning the lights is our first guest! Welcome home, Andy!

Here we go:

What are your best Richmond memories?

Portrait of Andy Darr Photo Credit: Jim Hair

"Most of my best Richmond Memories involve friends and family, really but every time I come back I make an effort to visit Glen Miller, and if there's time, a visit to local favorite eateries is always a treat." 

Tell us about your history of theater involvement/musical involvement in your hometown of Richmond at RCT or elsewhere?

"My first introduction to the theatre was in Richmond, at Richmond Civic Theatre. And you know, when you find something you just absolutely love, the drive to explore it can be almost unstoppable. 

I've designed (the scenery for) a handful of productions at RCT, a couple of favorites there being To Kill A Mockingbird and Picasso at the Lapin Agile. In Indianapolis, I designed the lighting for Cabaret Poe, and most recently I designed the settings for a stage adaptation of The Yellow Wall Paper by Charolette Perkins Gillman; ...served as a Technical Director at a small theatre in Nashville, Indiana."

What's it like to stretch your wings and fly and return home?

"Honestly, it's a little surreal, actually, to return home to produce a show. My partner and I usually come back for holidays with the fam and what have you. It's kinda exciting, really."

Tempest Light Focus

How do you see Richmond differently now? What's the same/What's different?

"I think a lot of people may not be the biggest fan of their small Midwestern Hometown when growing up in it, I know I wasn't. When I was younger it was all: "Golly it's small, there's nothing to do here, it's such a waste land", you know -- and it seems true. Though this trip back seems to have revealed that Richmond is beginning to tap into and embrace things that can make it pretty cool. The revitalization of the Depot District is a good example of that. There seems to be a shedding of the ambivalence, and more energy is being put toward making things better: embracing local history and recognizing some of the stunning architecture that's here. Don't get me wrong, I love urban decay, but it isn't always what one wants when embarking on H.M.S Revitalization."

What can we expect to see in Studio 10's version of the Tempest? Any sneak peek or titillating tidbits you're willing to share?

"People can expect to see some awesome theatre. I don't want to reveal too much but I can say that the awesomeness will begin with the audience being seated on stage, in the three-quarter round. "

How are you guys enjoying the collaborative work?

"For me, it's been great. I've been eager to work with Joshua again as it's been some years since our last project together. John and I recently worked together in Fort Collins, Colorado on a production of Hairspray."

Thank you so much for your time, Andy! Stay tuned Local Lady Readers for more exclusive interviews in the very near future!!

<3 Your Local Gal

Richmond Native Experiences South Korea: Interview with Steven Wilcox

It recently came to my attention that a fellow Richmond graduate has been living abroad and teaching in South Korea. I contacted Steven Wilcox to hear his adventure story and he was willing to share it with the Local-Lady audience! Here we go: 

Steven instructing a classroom of children in Seoul.

You spent some years in the Richmond area, what's your best Richmond memory?

Walking in the woods around the Arboretum and Glen Miller. I really miss forests.

You are in Seoul, capital of South Korea, which is the world's second largest metropolitan area, teaching English as a second language. How did this come about?

I've always been interested in Asian culture and after studying abroad in Japan thought it would be fun to try out another Asian country.

That's right! I believe you were one of Mr. Brook's Japanese language students at Richmond High School. So you have been a student of Asian culture for many years. 

What influenced you to take this life path? Although, I'm not surprised. I remember you pretty well from Richmond High School. You were a nice funny, smart guy and retroactively I can totally see you growing up to be one of those really cool memorable teachers! 


I studied Cultural Anthropology and Japanese in college and I've always been interested in living in another country and experiencing a different way of life. This was by far the easiest way to travel and get paid to do it.


Did you travel as part of a group or organization? 

No. Although there are plenty of groups such as JET (The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme) and EPIK (English Program in Korea), I came with my significant other and it was much easier to come through a recruiter than through an organization. It's incredibly easy to do what I'm doing. As long as you have a bachelors degree, enjoy traveling and you're open minded and flexible all you have to do is look around online.

Steven and his significant other in front of a Buddhist temple.

You had the opportunity to visit a temple and enjoy tea time with a monk! What was that like?

The temple stay was interesting, though it was a lot different than I had expected. We went with a group called WINK (When In Korea) that does different tours throughout Korea, so we were part of a large group of about 35 to 40 foreigners. The purpose of a temple stay is to live the way monks do for a day, but because we were part of a large group that needed a lot of instructions translated, things went slowly and there wasn't much time for personal reflection.

The tea time was interesting, but after staying the night at a jjimjilbang (basically a bath/sleep house) and traveling all day everyone was exhausted. We had tea for about an hour, but the Q&A with the monk was a little lackluster due to general fatigue and a lot of things getting lost in translation.

Overall it was fun, but it wasn't relaxing in the least and it wasn't much of a learning experience. I feel like I have a better understanding of the life of monks from reading books and articles online.

Do you ever plan on returning to the land of Hoosiers? 

Who knows? I will be returning to the USA on May 3rd, but I'll be living in Chicago.

Is there anything you have learned or experienced in Korea that you would like to share with people in Richmond, IN?

If someone doesn't speak the same language as you, getting angry and repeating yourself louder and louder isn't the answer. Next time you see someone from another country looking bewildered take a moment and try to put yourself in their shoes. Show some patience and be respectful.


That is excellent and timely advice. Richmond seems to be growing more and more diverse and I think with change and growth everyone could use a little more empathy. You have the experience through traveling of actually being the foreigner in an unfamiliar country, which I can only imagine being bewildering at times!

I can recall seeing instances in Richmond of persons being frustrated with, for example a Spanish speaker, and yelling never helps! Although I like to think that most Richmond residents have learned and moved past such actions, as I've not seen a scenario like that for many years, misunderstanding and impatience are always a problem. 

Steven Wilcox and his classroom pose for a photo.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions, Steven! I wish you both a safe journey on your way to the States! I am sure your students will miss you both!