Maker City KC

At a time when we could all use some, meet Breck Liston of Good Vibes Metal in this week’s 9 Questions with a Maker 

By Chris Haghirian

Good Vibes Metal is a small family, woman-owned business, founded in 2016. They hand-finish unique metal home decor that they cut with their CNC plasma cutter (Computer Numerical Control). They also powder coat and bake all of their items in-house. They are located at 10919 Johnson Drive Shawnee, KS 66203.

Recently we caught up with Breck and asked her to be part of our “9 Questions With A Maker” feature - have a look at her answers below!

1. What inspires you and your work?

Making my customers happy! I get so many beautiful notes/messages/reviews of appreciation after a customer receives their item. They will tell me they cried when opening it or tell me a story about how my art relates to them and means so much. It is the driving force in my designs. I listen to my customers and take their advice. Many of my pieces start as custom orders and then turn into a product that sells like crazy on Etsy. Also, my family inspires me on the daily. We come from a long line of entrepreneurs, artists and creative minds.

2. Are makers doers or dreamers?

A little bit of both. We have dreams of where our work will one day take us. We do, and do over, again and again to create a perfectly functional piece that can be used and or cherished for a lifetime.

3. What invention / product do you wish you would have created?

Vitamin C face serum, I can’t live without it!

4. What is the worst invention / product still embraced by modern society?

The clapper (the device that turns your lights on/off).

5. If you could sit down and have a drink with any person in your industry, who would it be and why?

The founder and creator of Etsy. Our business has grown (exploded I should say) and I owe it all to Etsy. We don’t do much marketing and are still working on our own website, so Etsy is our main source of sales and income. We owe a lot to Etsy.

6. What do you love most about the Maker Movement happening in Kansas City right now?

Kansas City is beyond supportive of the maker community. We first started out on Etsy. The owner of Chick Events, Aimee Jacobson, found me and reached out. She invited us to be a vendor at one of her pop-up events in Crown Center. We weren’t sure what these shows were all about so we checked it out. I purchased so many amazing things that day and knew we had to be involved in the next one. We booked our first event, the Spring Chick Event 2017 in Lee’s Summit. We sold out of everything we brought, it was amazing. I knew we were on to something. Fast forward two years later, I opened a boutique called I Heart Local where I could help support all the wonderful makers I had met at the events we were doing, and the response from our community has been overwhelming with support and love. A few quotes from customers... “I am so glad you are here,” “now I don’t have to drive all the way downtown to shop handmade,” “we absolutely love this store and we hope you stay for a long time,” “so many unique, handmade items,” and “great giftables.”

7. Who or what is another maker in Kansas City that you’re impressed and inspired by?

There are so many to name, but Kate Spade comes to mind. She was born and raised in Kansas City and turned her brand into a worldwide powerhouse. She inspires me everyday.



8. What Kansas City creation / icon best reflects our makers’ community?

The Chick Events. Made to support all of the wonderful makers in Kansas City, it is a place where makers can support each other, build each other up without feeling like it’s a competition, and sell to the supportive customers around KC. They pop up 5 times a year and put on amazing events. They really get shoppers in and I am so thankful Aimee Jacobson created The Chick Events.

9. If you could ask people to do just ONE thing to support the Maker Movement what would you ask or tell them?

If you can’t afford to purchase something, simply share, comment or give them a like on social media. Every small gesture counts and the support of the community is instrumental in your end success. Invest your money into your community, please don’t line the pockets of billionaires by shopping at a chain.

Keep up with Good Vibes Metal and I Heart Local online here:



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