Virtual Reality: Clinks
These two sisters make a tasteful new take on Eeny, Meeny, Miny and Moe.
Posted by: Malika Ritchie on Jan 25, 2011 at 08:10AM
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Slideshow: Clinks crafters Leah (right) and Penny (left) of their beginnings: ‘We signed up for a school craft fair as a way to spend some creative time together and decided to make drink charms as our craft. That was the beginning of Clinks. The great response we got spurred us to explore other outlets and that’s when we decided to try Etsy.’
View Slideshow » Illustration:Made from real bottle caps, Clinks require a couple of special implements. ‘A sense of humor is definitely the most important tool we have,’ say the sisters. ‘Ever since we were little, we’ve always enjoyed making one another laugh, and that’s been a driving force behind what we do now. Aside from that, a really sharp needle is a must.’
View Slideshow » Illustration:Say Cheers! The gals say their customer base includes Australia, Singapore, and Norway. ‘A year ago we couldn’t have imagined that.’
View Slideshow » Illustration:Salmon Run Who will be the king and who will be the chum?
View Slideshow » Illustration:The Seattle Tourist set. Clinks typically come four-in-a-group and are priced at $17; the local destination set is $29 for eight. Custom work is welcomed. ‘We both have other full-time obligations (Penny is a mom of two small kids and Leah is an advertising copywriter), and feel like having a small business like this is part job, part grad school. We’re learning so much all the time, and we love the flexibility that Etsy offers us to try new things and see how they’re accepted.’
View Slideshow » Illustration:The gals make beer tags, too.
View Slideshow » Illustration:Clinks come packaged in a ready-to-give folded card with a vellum ribbon band and clear envelope.
Quick word association: We say ‘drink accessory’ … do you say, ‘little pink unbrella?’
Sisters Leah Richardson Idler and Penny Richardson Yriondo say, ‘Clinks.’ For their Etsy shop, Clinks, the crafters use bottle caps to make sets of drink charms for your parties. Pass them out and ensure that Guest A isn’t drinking Guest B’s beer and vice-versa.
Might even give A and B something to talk about, too. The Oklahoma natives, who now live in Duvall and Ballard, have created lots of sets and themes since their launch, but the Seattle-y ones are favorites.
‘Those are among our most popular sets,’ they say. ‘The ones that celebrate local things like specific neighborhoods, city sights, ski areas, and Washington state destinations. Having such good beverages around here is inspiring. There are so many amazing local beers, wines and coffees. They all need a Clink on them.’
Check out the slideshow to find out more about Clinking when you’re drinking.
Tags: Ballard, Etsy.com, Virtual Reality, Drinking Culture
