These beautiful cards are not only a special way to send a message, they are works of art perfect for framing. Anh and Aaron Furuseth are the owners of Iconic Quilling, where they create stunning keepsakes using the intricate technique of paper quilling. After discovering the art form on a trip to visit Anh's hometown in Vietnam, the couple started their business quilling iconic images inspired by their home in Minnesota.
Who are you and what do you do?
Anh works at the business full time and has for the last 5 years. She is the driving creative force behind the cards and everything starts out in her head and then is a drawing before it is quilled. Aaron still maintains a 9-5 job as a distribution manager. The goal for us is to make the business full time for both of us! This would allow us to go to art shows that are further away and bring out products (and the smiles that they bring) to a wider audience!
How did you get started in your business?
We got our start buy finding some quilled greeting cards in a book store in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Anh is originally from there and when we had just met each other, we traveled there together to meet her family and experience her home town. Initially, we were trying to import the cards and run the business that way, but it quickly became apparent that it would not work. The cards were 6"x6" which made them difficult to mail and display for retail and also tough to find frames for. Additionally, the art work was aimed more at the Asian market. Anh sat down and started designing cards based on our experience camping and hiking and fishing in Minnesota. We changed the size to 5"x7" so that the cards could be used as works of art to hang on the wall and not just standard greeting cards to be thrown away.
Where did your business name come from? Is there an interesting story behind it?
We have actually named the business 3 different times! This most recent one and the one that we will most likely stick with as long as we have it, reflects the iconic nature of our images. Often, the most difficult part of quilling is to convey the sense of an animal or a flower using the medium of rolled paper. Since we have a limit on how many strips we can use (in most cases, 50 strips) we need to be creative in how we present the images. It is both difficult and rewarding and the name Iconic Quilling is simple to understand and really reflects the design choices we make when creating our images.
What do you love most about craft show vending?
Our favorite thing about exhibiting at craft shows is the smiles that we see when people realize what they are looking at! Quilling is not a very well-known art form in the states. Those that do know it often had a grandma or aunt that used to do it and are even more excited when they see our work. We always wanted a business that made people smile and we really couldn't have done better than picking quilling to be that business. It even makes us happy to look at the colorful and intricate images! Sharing our work with people and seeing how it connects with them is very rewarding.
Will you be featuring any special holiday items?
We create cards for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas and New Years. Christmas is by far our biggest seller. We have a ton of new designs coming out this year for the holidays. We are very excited to showcase them and give people not only the opportunity to send a unique card to someone but to give them a gift that can help decorate their home for the holidays!
Check out more of Anh and Aaron's work online, and be sure to stop by their booth at the Minneapolis Gift & Art Expo, November 2-4, 2018 at the Minneapolis Convention Center!
www.iconicquilling.com