I first came across Cindy’s fiber work, WKNDLA, at Consort Design and then again at Kit & Ace in Pasadena. She’s able to design inviting and beautiful pieces on a small, wearable scale while at the same time creating larger, installation pieces. Cindy’s studio sits behind her house in North Hollywood with a table dedicated to the smaller, more assembly work and a large wall reserved for the in-progress fine art pieces. She radiates kindness and I’m so excited to share her wisdom with you below. Be sure to keep up with her process and recent work @wkndla and @cindy.zell.
were you working elsewhere before leaving to start WKNDLA?
I left my job as the Senior Display Coordinator at Anthropologie in Santa Monica, California last March to pursue WKNDLA full time. My four years there were spent learning crazy new skills, traveling around the country prototyping and opening new stores, playing with different mediums, and meeting amazing and talented people along the way. It prepared me for a lot of the problem-solving and customer service skills I would need for my own business later on.
was your new path motivated by a particular creative need or personal goal?
I love working for myself in my own space, on my own terms. My mom was a single parent who has been running an online store for the last 15 years. It allowed her to work from home and support our family, which really inspired me to become an entrepreneur myself. I can’t help but make things, so it’s definitely been my dream to do it for a living.
did you receive any particular advice that stood out when starting your own business?
People have told me to be kind to myself, both emotionally and physically. Making art is very personal and when the success of a business is based on a piece of art connecting with other people, it’s easy to get discouraged or feel self-doubt. I sometimes catch myself comparing my worth to other people who seem to have it all together, who are making incredible work, and are moving forward so fast that I can’t catch up. I just try to remember that I’m going to be doing this for the rest of my life, so maybe it’s okay to slow down a little without burning myself out in the long run.
where do you gain fuel that inspires your creative endeavors?
When I get an idea in my mind I have to try to make it come to life! Sometimes it doesn’t amount to anything but other times it becomes the groundwork for a new series. I often work very organically, designs develop and change as I work on them. Every morning I just force myself to walk into the studio and something creative happens.
what was the most unexpected aspect of putting together your business?
It surprised me just how little of my time is spent in the studio making things. I think I had this idea that 90% of my day would be purely creative but almost half of running my business is operational. I spend a ton of time photographing my work, updating my website, packing product for shipment, bookkeeping, responding to emails, being active on social media, and shopping for supplies. It’s frustrating sometimes but I also take pride in being a one-woman business where I can do everything on my own.
what kind of vibe did you have in mind while designing your studio space?
I like my work space to be very clean and organized. It’s not always the case in my studio, but hidden storage has been so helpful in creating a calm environment! I hide all my small tools in a credenza and use linen curtains to cover the many clear plastic storage bins stacked on my shelf. My goal is to have a home for everything.
what are some of your work tools that you can’t live without?
I use an acetylene torch to solder my brass structures, a miter saw to cut wood, and a drill, which can do almost anything. Writing this out, I realize that before these machines were invented craftspeople used to heat metal in an oven to solder, and a hand saw to manually cut wood. I’m very grateful to live in a time where these things exist with easy access because I use these tools every day.
what are the top three things someone should consider before changing careers or starting their own business?
-
I took a 50% pay cut when I quit my job to do this full-time, but I knew that it would only take a couple of years hustling it out on my own to make more than I did before. Paychecks will not be steady, and that’s okay if you plan accordingly. January through March are very tough, and it’s important to take that into account during the holidays to create a financial cushion that will last through the slow months of the new year.
-
I didn’t realize how hard working for myself would be! I often go days without seeing anyone other than my husband and it can get very lonely. I take extra care to maintain my friendships and seek out other makers for advice and support.
-
Not every hobby needs to turn into a business. I like making beeswax candles and furniture, but I’m never going to sell them. It’s important to reserve some creative things just for fun because once they become a product you sell, it becomes work, no matter how much of a dream job it is.
what do you currently have playing on the studio’s turntable?
I love listening to podcasts while I’m working. My favorites are 99% Invisible, the Allusionist, First Time Last Time, The Heart, Memory Palace, Mortified, and Strangers. I also listen to audiobooks in the studio, the most recent ones I finished are Spark Joy by Marie Kondo and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. Amy Schumer and Anna Kendrick both have books coming out this summer that I’m looking forward to hearing!
•photography by lily glass for sfgirlbybay.