Meet Julia Gomelsky | Artist

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

Hi Julia, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Being a web/graphic designer by trade and an artist by nature, I’m always inspired to create. After a trip to Ojai in 2016 with my sister, I was inspired to start making custom dreamcatchers. The pieces I create are quite different than the typical ones you see because my interpretation of them is to help catch your dreams, hopes and wishes (rather than actual dreams or keeping nightmares away). I make dreamcatchers as unique as the buyer with gemstones such as lapis lazuli, rose quartz, amazonite and more that I source from Tucson, AZ. When they’re done, the final step is to sage and set each one with intentions.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I made a career as a visual artist and graphic designer in Los Angeles. I began my career in the visual arts in 2000, after graduating from San Francisco State University with a degree in Industrial Design. True to my eclectic nature, I took on a number of creative roles over the ensuing decades, including web designer, illustrator, artist, photographer, doll enthusiast (another story!) and most recently, a maker of dreamcatchers. In 2013, I took a leap of faith and started my own own freelance web and graphic design business. I love design in any form and am drawn to projects that allow me to use a range of mediums, from photography to Photoshop. In 2016, shortly after returning home from a trip to Ojai, Calif., I was inspired to make my first dreamcatcher and Dream Catch Repeat was founded shortly thereafter. My specialty is making custom dreamcatchers by hand. I also sell ready-made dreamcatchers. I make them in four sizes (from XS, 4″ to Large, 14″) using materials sourced from craft shops (including feathers, beads, and faux suede cord). I pick out the perfect gemstones on my trips to the annual gem shows in Tucson, Ariz., including amazonite, lapis lazuli, agate, rose quartz, jasper and anything else that catches my eye. I find the wooden sticks locally on hikes through LA’s canyons and parks. At home, I wash, dry and whittle them thoroughly before saging them and adding them to the dreamcatchers (though not all dreamcatchers have sticks). Lastly, I set intentions for each piece and sage it again, so it’s ready for its new home. I am most proud of creating pieces as unique as each buyer. People often tell me they’ve never seen anything like my dreamcatchers and that puts a smile on my face.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d start with oysters at Blue Plate Oysterette in Santa Monica, which is my favorite place for oysters in Los Angeles. Then take a drive along PCH and grab fish tacos at Neptunes Net. I love Mexican food, so since my bf is here for a whole week, we can check out my favorites: Lares on Pico Blvd in Santa Monica, El Compadre in Hollywood and Paco’s Tacos in the Del Rey neighborhood. I love happy hour and catching the sunset in Marina Del Rey: SALT restaurant and bar doesn’t disappoint. Now that we’ve eaten well, I’ll take my friend on my favorite hiking trail in Mandeville Canyon. It has the best views of Santa Monica, downtown, and the valley. After some hiking, I love pampering myself with an infrared sauna. My go to is Skintuition in Woodland Hills. And of course, we can’t forget about shopping at Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica where there are tons of shops and other fun things to see like street performances.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My twin sister, Victoria Gomelsky is always my biggest source of support, love and encouragement. She was with me when I decided to start making dreamcatchers and helped with the name and every other important decision with my business, promotion as well as being by my side for events and pop ups. I can’t thank her enough for the never-ending love support and encouragement.

Website: https://www.dreamcatchrepeat.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamcatchrepeat/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliagomelsky/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julia.gomelsky/

Image Credits
Bio image credit: James Sullivan, http://www.jamesssullivan.com/