Meet Rosalie & Douglas Gale of Ugly Baby Shower Art, our featured designers for May What inspired the designing of shower art? I (Rosalie) was in the shower probably bored. When I got out I told Doug that there should be some way to hang art in the shower so you can have something to look at. The idea would have died there (like many of my other great and not-so-great ideas) but Doug actually did some research and figured out how we could make Shower Art.

Please tell us who the masterminds behind Ugly Baby are and where the company name comes from.
We are Rosalie & Douglas Gale and we co-invented Ugly Baby Shower Art.

The origin of the name: Ugly Baby: When I went to New Hampshire to meet Doug’s parents for the first time, they pulled out the baby pictures and such. Now, it was shocking. Really. He was a really, really, really, really UGLY baby. Smooshed face. Gimpy hand. Squinty eye. Really ugly. And they had all of the wallet sized pictures still in the folder. One was even cut out like they tried to give it to someone and they gave it back. And anytime we brought it up to other family members they all said the exact same thing. “That was a rough day for your mother.” As though they’ve been through some sort of crisis communications regarding the ugliness of Doug as a child.

Luckily, he became handsome later and now we use his ugly baby picture as our logo and mascot.

What's your background and have you always been creative?  Are there other artistic endeavors you're involved in?
I (Rosalie) have always been creative. I studied theatre and now do stand up comedy. I've knitted for years and love making things in general. Doug does stand up as well (that's how we met) and learned to knit a few years ago and started making morse code scarves that say things in morse code (his says "scarf" but others have said much more horrible things).

Your shower art shows a clear sense of humor and wit. How do you come up with all the funny sayings? What is your favorite? What one just didn’t work out like you planned?
Gosh. I think we both approach it really differently. Doug plans his out more and carefully traces and places things inside. I kind of do a slap dash of whatever I have in my brain at the time. As a result, his make much more sense, and mine are kind of confusing.

The funny sayings just sort of happen. I can’t explain where they come from. We have one – “Don’t Sass the Cat” that Doug happened upon when he was putting some word magnets together – and it’s gold baby, gold.

As far as Shower Arts that didn’t work out like we planned…well….we have a few boxes of those. It’s not so bad if they’re just ugly or the design doesn’t work out, but when you put a picture or a suction cup upside-down on an otherwise perfectly good Shower Art, well, that sucks.

Please explain your design process and what type of equipment is used?
Um… All I can tell you is that they’re made out of rubber. Otherwise I’d have to kill you.

Do you have a studio or do you work from home?
We have a studio under the viaduct in Pioneer Square. 216 Alaskan Way S (between Main and Washington). We’re open on First Thursdays from 5-10 and then whenever we happen to be there.  

What other types of mediums have you worked in?
We tried resin when we first started making them but switched to rubber because resin is so hard and brittle.

What was the most difficult thing about starting your own line? And how did you get over that hurdle?
GETTING THE SUCTION CUP TO STAY ON! We tried 20-30 million different ways to put the suction cup on and after about a year and a half – we finally found one that works ALL THE TIME!

Whose work do you admire?
I’m in love with everyone from our Seattle Etsy street team, Etsy Rain. We all get together and do fun stuff and help each other out and tell each other about shows and stuff. They all rule.

Love www.gaiaconceptions.etsy.com
Bought these: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=8222695
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=8222696

Love: www.fluxproductions.etsy.com
Bought this: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11125416

Love: www.ameliapmorris.etsy.com
Bought this: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7632852

Love: www.timberps.etsy.com
Bought this: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7404232

Love: www.harveyandeileen.etsy.com
Bought this: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10075431

Love: www.foldedpigs.etsy.com
Bought these: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7189097
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=6803263

Love: www.strangemonster.etsy.com
Bought this: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7242678

Love: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5163580
Bought this: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5884943

Where do you find your inspiration?
From our brains mainly. And from looking and pictures and then making fun of the pictures. That’s pretty much it. Sarcasm and pettiness.

What advice would you offer new designers entering the market?
Find something you love to make. That way it won’t matter if no one ever buys it. You’ll still be doing something that you love.

Aside from that, don’t be afraid to self promote and tell people about what you make. It’s not like you’re selling Amway. No offense to anyone who sells Amway. Oh wait, I take that back. Go ahead and be offended. I doubt you’re the target market for Shower Art anyway.

What is your vision for your business and where would you like to be in five years?
I’d love to be making and selling Shower Art as my job. But then I really like my actual job so ….maybe right where we are now. A low-stress, really fun hobby that pays for itself and for a fun studio where we can go and play.
 
Any other area of fashion you'd like to delve into?
Never. I can barely even be convinced to wear clothes.

What current trend would you like to see go away?
Showing buttcrack. And not being able to buy jeans that DON’T show buttcrack. Where have all the non-buttcrack showing jeans gone?

If you could have one item, new or vintage, what would it be?
A Gocco. I have one. It’s just about the best thing ever invented. Second only to Shower Art.

What was your favorite fashion item growing up?
Well, my mom bought all my clothes at garage sales. Garage sales in our neighborhood. So I guess my favorite fashion items were the ones that didn’t elicit a bunch of people saying – hey, that was mine. You got that at our garage sale! And I seem to have a hazy memory of a brown one-piece pantsuit with a big rainbow going down the leg. That was cool.

Anything else you'd like to share?
Visit my Etsy store Ugly Baby at http://www.uglybaby.etsy.com, where you can find Shower
Art - waterproof art you can hang in your shower with a suction cup. Or on a window. Or where ever. I'm no dictator.

Or visit my experiment in trading for art and odd objects, bARTer Sauce at http://www.bartersauce.com. I trade with people and ask that they submit a story about the item that they trade. Then I trade it for something else and keep their story locked up and documented on my website. You'll love it.

Check out Ugly Baby's Etsy store to pick up some art for your shower!

Archive of Past Featured Designers:
Miyuki Ott - August 2007
Seed Clothing - September 2007
Moxie & Oliver - October 2007
MishMash - November 2007
Tarah Prater Designs - December 2007
Effie's Heart - January 2008
Organik - February 2008
Red Delicious - March 2008
Marlo M Jewelry - April 2008