Q: How did you wind up in Los Angeles? Are you in showbiz?

A: I was born and raised in Bakersfield, California, which is a conservative oil town about an hour and a half North of L.A. I spent my early years hating it intensely and dreamed of moving to the big city one day. I originally moved to Los Angeles to be an actress when I was still just a kid, but I accidentally became a mother within the first year and, consequently, a decade passed like the wind. Regardless, I managed to work in and around Hollywood for most of that time.

Beyond a few-and-far-between acting roles, I also worked as an extra, a reader, and a production assistant. I wrote some screenplays that never really went anywhere and worked as an executive assistant at Natural Energy Lab, a popular music marketing firm, and at the WB's "What i Like About You". It was from my desk at the WB that I created and launched KOSHi. The wardrobe people there were always very supportive of whatever I was doing and helped get one of my first KOSHi Bags featured prominently on the arm of Jennie Garth for an episode of the show.

Q: Do you still make those illustrated KOSHi bags? Can I custom order one today?

A: I do still make KOSHi bags, but randomly and they don't usually make it onto KOSHi SHOP. If I can fit it into my schedule, I will sometimes do custom illustration on an item sent in by a customer. Email iluvkoshi@yahoo.com your custom request, a description and, hopefully, a photo of the item you would like customized (high quality leather and canvas is best), and I will send you a quote on the price and my current availability.

Q: I would like to hire you to illustrate something for my next project. How much would that cost, and how can I go about setting that up?

A: Again, email iluvkoshi@yahoo.com an idea of what the project entails and what you'd like me to contribute. I will happily send you a nice, reasonable quote and my availability.

Q: I love L.A. WOMAN : SONG BOOK ONE. Will you be doing L.A. WOMAN : SONG BOOK TWO any time soon? I am a singer-songwriter and have a CD that I'd like to submit.

A: I'd like to continue what was intended to be the L.A. WOMAN : SONG BOOK series. I just don't know when I'll find the time to make that happen. However, I'm always interested in new girl bands and performers, so don't be shy. Drop me a link & a line or two about what you do... iluvkoshi@yahoo.com. You never know... SONG BOOK TWO is not off the KOSHi radar yet.

Q: What happened to all the other indie designers you used to carry on KOSHi SHOP?

A: That was fun, and I enjoyed representing women I admire in such a public way. Ultimately, though, my cut wasn't meeting my overhead, despite the fact that running the shop was taking up most of my time. About a year into it, I realized that in trying to do the "right thing" (support women in biz for themselves), I had lost my original intention of making a living as an artist and, consequently, my joy. So, I backtracked and returned to selling KOSHi product exclusively. I then formed CULT OF GiRL to continue supporting women in biz for themselves while reaching out to and amusing as many like-minded females as possible.

Q: Can I pay to advertise my company in your CULT OF GiRL newsletter?

A: No, but if you are a cool female musician, designer, artist, or entrepreneur, I'd love to see what you do and may include you in an upcoming newsletter or blog. Send a link... iluvkoshi@yahoo.com.

Q: I still have questions...

A: If I failed to satisfy your curiosity here, feel free to probe further... iluvkoshi@yahoo.com

*READ MORE: KOSHi CHRONOLOGiCALLY... What has KOSHi done so far?
** Sign up for CULT OF GiRL & get 10% OFF each time you SHOP KOSHi SHOP.

*All KOSHi illustrations are the sole creation &
property of Joanna DeVoe © 2006

Q: What is KOSHi exactly? Is it fashion or art or something else all together?

A: KOSHi is an illustration-based company that features my words & drawings in various limited edition forms like fashion, books, art and music for you to enjoy. KOSHi SHOP is the online store that features KOSHi goods.

Q: What does the name "KOSHi" mean?

A: Oh boy- this is going to take a sec... Most people think it's an Asian thing, and coincidentally, in Japanese, "Koshi" does have a variety of meanings: the eye of the tiger, ancient paper, or a hip-twisting martial arts maneuver. There's also a pop star in Japan called Koshi and, along time ago, there was a King Koshi of Southern India. So apparently, on the other side of the world, it's a popular name. But that was all unbeknownst to me when I formed my lil' biz back in 2003.

For me, KOSHi is a silly, special made-up-word from my childhood. I had promised myself that I'd use it one day as the name of whatever my business was when I grew up.

It originally evolved from the word "cozy" one Christmas Eve when my closest cousin, April, and I were waiting for our Uncle to arrive (late AGAiN!) so that we could finally open presents. Once he showed up, we had to wait for him to (SLOWLY!) eat his dinner before we could get to it, and we could hardly stand the wait. I guess to kill time or maybe to burn off an excess of energy, we mashed both ourselves into this one poor armchair and squished our faces close together squealing "Get Cozy!"... "Get Cozy!"... As we got goofier and goofier and increasingly jacked up on candy and the impending present-opening, our voices cracked and regressed, transforming "Get Cozy" into "Get Koshi!"... "Get Koshi!"... which just stuck, for some reason, becoming an annual, well-documented family tradition.

Now, "Koshi", the word in general, has come to represent a giddy I'm-so-excited-my-head's-gonna-explode kind of feeling. And that's how I hope my creations make people feel, which is why I gift wrap every KOSHi SHOP order in girly, festive tissue & ribbon.

Q: How long have you been drawing? Did you go to school to be an illustrator?

A: I have no formal training as an artist, but I've been drawing since I can remember. As a child and teen, I liked to draw fashion, fantasy floor plans, and interior design, but cartoons of people and funny characters have always been my specialty. In fact, I was kind of like the family's alternative to Hallmark. They came to me for little home-made cards with rhymes and illustrations in the theme of whatever occasion, which is very similar to what I do today. I guess some things never change. Only now, in my adult years, I've come to realize that I really only care to draw girls.