We had the good fortune of connecting with Sylvia Hogan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sylvia, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
The main habit that has helped me has been my persistence. I think many people would say the same. You have to be willing to keep at it when there may not be immediate success and to keep asking when sometimes the answer is no. If you believe in your product, idea, passion, whatever it may be, you will be persistent in getting it out there.

Another habit behind any success that I have had is to be organized in some way. That would seem to be intuitive, but may not be for some creative people. My organization may not be exactly the same as some else’s but it works for me!. Being organized would apply not only to items- like supplies one uses for creating, but also to having a plan and a schedule for accomplishing daily tasks as well as long term goals. Time management is essential to accomplishing my goals. Especially in today’s environment, where there is so much competition for public attention, you have to have a plan. Most creative people love what they create, but if you spend all your time creating, you may not get the other essentials accomplished.

Maybe not so much a habit as an attitude is the ability to go outside my comfort zone. Not everyone is comfortable “putting herself out there”, but it can pay off in success sometimes and great learning opportunities at other times. I have definitely had to psych myself up a few times to present my ideas and work to other businesses/people to grow my business. That part never seems to get any easier.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is a very old technique called Tatting. Many have never heard of it and only seeing the word, you might think of tattoos! Tatting is a method of making handmade lace and trim that has been around for just a few centuries. There is certainly a community of people who practice this art, but not so many that it is widely known. At least half of my customers say they have never seen or heard of tatting. This is one of the factors that adds to my success – tatting is something new and different to many people. Those who do know about the art of tatting are always appreciative that I am keeping it alive by practicing the art and offering to the public. Most of these people call tatting “a lost art”. In my case, I use the results of my creative efforts to make jewelry that is colorful, unique and lightweight.

I am often asked about how long it takes to create my pieces and I have to say it varies. People also want to know how I learned the art. I have to say it was not easy and this is where my habit of being persistent came into play. I had to work and spend some time in research to find a way to learn this “lost art”. In the past, I would have had to find a hands on teacher, but today – Yay You Tube! I was able to learn enough from watching videos to learn how to tat. I must say that I watched many times though before I became comfortable and it takes practice just like any other skill.

One of the reasons that I continue to practice this art is that I love the history behind it, I love that it is an old way of creating. I enjoy being able to introduce new generations to what you can do with just a few simple tools. I hope to help others appreciate the simplicity of times gone by and to realize that there is real value in being able to create beauty from just one ingredient – cotton thread. The way tatting is done – whether with a shuttle or a needle – there is really no way to mass produce. Tatted lace is a truly handmade product. That is what makes it special.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The DFW Metroplex is full of many sights and sounds to be experienced. I would definitely recommend trying some Texas BBQ – maybe at Lockhart’s or Pecan Lodge or one of the many other fine restaurants in the area. I would take my friend to the shops in Bishop Arts area and Deep Ellum area. So much variety in the offerings in both places with everything from art galleries to all kinds of funky little shops.

A place to spend at least an afternoon would be the Dallas Arboretum for some nature time to enjoy whatever the seasonal blooms are as well as views of White Rock Lake. I would drive the neighborhood areas that surround White Rock to see some of what I consider to be historic homes there. Another neighborhood drive to the Kessler Park area would be in order as well.

A visit to Dallas would not be complete without seeing Dealey Plaza and the “Grassy Knoll” area even if the history associated with those areas may not be happy.

I would consider taking the train that runs between Dallas and Fort Worth and visit some of the iconic sights/sites in “Cowtown” such as Sundance Square for more fun shops and restaurants and a side trip to the Stockyards. In between Dallas and Fort Worth, I would want to show off Grapevine’s Main Street area – again for lots of unique shops. You don’t have to buy everything – it’s fun just to look.

Somewhere along the way, maybe even more than once, there would be Tex-Mex dining. It would be hard to pick just one place for Tex-Mex. You can pretty much depend on all of it being good!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would have to give credit to the women in my family, especially my mom, for being thoughtful, creative people who displayed their talent and taught me to appreciate different types of ability and talent. As I work to sell my creations, I have many people who share their own experiences and family member’s stories. I love that! That is one of the things that makes my endeavors enjoyable – that experience of sharing with others our stories, our creativity, the things and the people that we are about. I am also grateful to my community of creators who support and encourage me as I do them. We all “have each other’s back”.

Website: yellowroselace.etsy.com

Instagram: @yellowroselace

Facebook: Yellow Rose Lace

Other: goimagine.com/shop/yellowroselace

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.