We hope to introduce you to all the great Etsy sellers to be found right here in Toronto. Here at the T.E.S.T. blog, we plan to interview them all. This is the 41st in our series with Tracy of LoulouJamesCreative
Why PDF maternity patterns on Etsy?
When I was expecting my older son I started sewing a lot again. I was making and modifying clothing for maternity wear, decorating the nursery, and making baby items. I found it frustrating that there were hardly any maternity sewing patterns (let alone nursing wear) and the options for little boys' items in particular were limited. I would just drool over the lovely things on Etsy but there wasn't really anything for me to make, and I knew there were sure to be other crafty types out there with the same dilemma. So the entrepreneurial side of me decided to create and sell my own! I was used to buying traditional printed patterns, but I love the instant gratification of a downloadable PDF - when I want to make something I want to start now!
Tell us a bit about your fashion design background.
I have been making clothes for myself and others for as long as I can remember. I would use store-bought patterns and modify as I wanted. I moved to Toronto almost 20 years ago to study fashion design at Ryerson where I really enjoyed the patternmaking and draping classes - when you can take an idea and draft it up as you like it's quite rewarding as a designer.
In my 'day job' I work in a creative field, not designing clothes, but home fashions. The two industries are so linked today - we study the same trends, have the same inspirations. Working on Loulou James allows me to channel all my apparel ideas that I can't otherwise work into an item like a shower curtain or a soap dish!
What are the advantages of sewing your own maternity clothes?
The advantages are huge! There are certainly a lot more options out there now in maternity wear but the fit can be tough if you are taller, shorter, have longer legs, broader shoulders...we become loyal to brands and stores based on fit and style, but with maternity wear your options are so greatly reduced. When I'm designing a piece I also try to think about it's 'second life' - can it be used for nursing wear? Can it be modified for before and after maternity? I know that moms don't have a lot of time to spare sewing so getting another use out of a design is really helpful.
The presentation of your shop is wonderful. Did you do the illustrations yourself?
Thank you! Yes, these are my own illustrations, and I based them on the style of vintage sewing patterns. I love how the women always look so feminine - the way the hands and are feet are posed, the facial expressions and hair. I've always loved fashion illustration, and it's a great way to keep improving my Illustrator skills.
What is your most popular design to date?
The sleep sacks are all very popular, especially the "Stargaze" style. It's perfect for a new sewist, and best of all, I think, something you can make for a little boy. Having two little boys you realize how few patterns there are out there for them.
For women, it's the Celia wrap top - it's good for maternity and nursing, and so easy to make. You could even reuse pattern later by eliminating the camisole insert and just make a great wrap t-shirt. A lot of people are scared to sew with knits so this gives me hope that there are a lot of creative, confident sewists out there willing to experiment and perhaps challenge themselves!
Would you ever consider selling finished clothes on Etsy?
I've thought about it and had a few requests. I may in the future add a one-of-a-kind 'sample' section since I don't really need any more maternity clothes...
Where do you see your shop in 5 years?
I'd love to expand or set up a separate shop to feature more baby & toddler items, specifically for boys. I have a lot of experience in textile design so it would also be fun to do a few little limited-run collections of printed fabrics to accompany the patterns.
Check out the other items available from Tracy in her Etsy Shop! You can find more of her work on her blog, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
Interviewed by Darlene of BijouxBead in Toronto in January 2013.
We hope to introduce you to all the great Etsy sellers to be found right here in Toronto. Here at the T.E.S.T. blog, we plan to interview them all. This is the 33rd in our series with Tara of SewTara.
Tell me a bit about how SewTara started and why you opened an Etsy shop.
I started SewTara after the birth of our second son. I was feeling sort of lost in the role of Mommy and vaguely remembered I was once a crafty creative person. Despite having a 2 year old and a newborn at home, I decided to start my blog as an online creative journal for myself. Eventually things grew from there, the stuff I was making started piling up and I had this wacky idea to open an Etsy store to sell some of it.
When you aren’t creating items for your Etsy shop, do you go to a day job?
I'm a Special Education Teacher. I teach in a class with 3 other lovely ladies who are EAs. I have 10 students, the class is for grades 1-4.
I noticed in your profile and about page that you are a mom. What one piece of advice do you have to other parents trying to balance raising kids, Etsy and day jobs?
Just keep at it! It's tough to balance it all but you can have what you want. It might mean trading sleep for some extra time but I find I get energized from what I like to do so it's worth it.
Looking at items in your shop, especially the cup cozies, I see themes around pop culture and social media. Are there any other themes you incorporate into your work?
Mostly I just make what I think is funny. Since I'm a bit of a dork - zombie, horror movie, sci fi, comic book, geeky, word play lover, that tends to come out in my work. When I sew things that aren't cup cozies I use wild crazy fabrics and love cute Japanese prints.
In the age of information overload, how do you choose your designs to reflect the pop culture and social media themes most accurately? (In other words; how do you say no to one design but yes to another? Or do you have shelves of books filled with massive ‘to do’ lists!?)
Haha, I have several To Do lists and piles on the go! I usually have lots of ideas. I'm fairly new to pulling off the entire screen making process myself so I can print my designs, so sometimes that slows me down on getting a new idea 'out there'. But that's ok because it's more important to make something that I like and hopefully other people will like it too. I find if you try to make a product so it *will* sell and not because you're in love with it, it's just not going to work.
I love that you upcycle and are respectful of the environment in all your creations. Can you tell me a bit about this process?
Quite often the material used on the backs of the cup cozies is repurposed or scrap from another project. I rarely buy a pile of new buttons I just search through the stash I have from donations or scavenged off clothing. I've also started to keep every little scrap of fabric and I use them to make 1 inch magnets or fabric covered hair clips. I try not to create too much waste in my work.
Do you advertise your shop, or guest blog, or any other sort of promotion? And if so, what has worked for you and what hasn’t?
I have paid for ad spots for my blog on other blogs. I've also written guest posts and done giveaways. I find being active on social media is a great way to get yourself noticed and have your presence out there. Posting images and engaging your followers and likers is great too. It's good to show there's a real person behind that virtual store front.
Aside from advertising, what is the best thing you ever did to boost your Etsy shop?
Well the best thing that brought the most traffic to my shop was being linked on Gizmodo and Reddit. But I can't claim I had anything to do with that, I didn't even know it had happened. Taking great photos and having a nice product is a great step towards being in the Etsy newsletter or on the front page, which are also things I can't claim credit for but have boosted traffic to my shop.
Tea or coffee?
Tea!
Mornings or nights?
Nights :)
Books or movies?
Arghgh books are awesome but I can craft with a movie on . . . .
David Suzuki or Al Gore?
Suzuki
Terrible Twos or Teens?
Not at teens yet so I'll go with Twos
Facebook or twitter?
I'm starting to lean towards twitter more and more.
Mac or PC?
Mac. Mac. Mac.
Check out the other items available from Tara in her SewTara Etsy shop!
You can find more of her work on her blog and twitter
Interviewed by Carolyn of SproutsPressDesigns in November 2012, in Toronto.
