Craftivism and the Coronavirus

Some of the masks made by Adrienne of refluff for donation. (See here)

How are you doing? We hope you are healthy, sheltering in place, and practising physical distancing if you have to go out. Many of you might have a lot on your plate right now with extra worries and perhaps extra childcare or new remote working or job loss to figure out. Doing your part to stay home to keep you and your families safe is enough. Some of you are able to keep handmaking during the lockdown and we're proud to see TEST folks putting their skills to work for the greater good.

Many of our community are sewists and who jumped at the chance to do something to help the community at large at this time of crisis. Michael Garron Hospital (formerly Toronto East General Hospital) has put out a call for hand-sewn masks:

"Calling all sewists! Do you sew or know someone who does? To keep our community healthy and safe, Michael Garron Hospital is issuing a challenge to all east end sewists to collectively make 1,000 masks a week. We want to see all east enders wearing a fabric mask when they need to be within six feet of other people, especially vulnerable populations and the elderly. Find out how you can help:
https://www.mghf.ca/mgh1000masks"

 If you're able to help you can download simple instructions here or here and you can find answers from MGH at this link.

Makers using their skills, precious time and fabric stashes to help out: we see you and thank you. A smattering of posts from our local handmakers:

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I'll be forever grateful to the midwives that looked after my pregnancies and births of my children. They were one of the first to come to mind when thinking about who I can extend a call to during this time. The midwives are still on call 24/7 and though the appointments have been reduced to lessen the risk of exposure, some patients still have to have their in-person checkups. Again, the handmade masks are only in place as a last resort measure and won't fully stop any viruses from spreading without proper use but it does help save the mandated surgical masks for frontline healthcare workers. These will be donated to my local midwifery clinic for the admin and staff so that the valuable resources can be saved for the midwives when they need to have direct contact with their clients. . . . . . #handmade #handmademasks #masks #facemasks #covid19 #healthcareworkers #midwives #torontomidwives #stayhome #makermovement #makesomething

A post shared by TANYA (@snap_and_tumble) on Apr 3, 2020 at 11:37am PDT

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8 masks for TTC workers in carbon colour. . 2 adult and 2 kid masks for my friends Claire and David. Who doesn’t love sloths and koalas!

A post shared by Lindsay Martin (@knittylittlesecret) on Apr 2, 2020 at 10:09am PDT

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These were the masks I delivered to Michael Garron hospital last week. 48 masks delivered, 2 dropped to an immuno deficient friend and 1 mailed to a nurse upon request for her commute. (I cheated and brought 5 home to family as well, whonknow what we will need?). Hopefully these will contribute to the MGH callout for 1000 masks a week for patients, visitors and others who need some protection. #washyourhands #flattenthecurve #covid19masks #maskmaker #sewingarmy #thesewingarmy💪💪💪#staysafe

A post shared by Blissful Sew (@blissful_sew) on Mar 31, 2020 at 8:45am PDT

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Hi all! Secret Planet is making cloth face masks to donate to Michael Garron Hospital! Since they are a Covid-19 testing centre, they have estimated that they will need the community to make and donate 1000 masks a week! And guess who has a sewing machine and two hands and kind of knows how to sew?! THIS GIRL. I have a lofty goal of making 50 masks this week, but I will run out of materials soon. If you have some extra/old CLEAN cotton pillow cases, Tshirts, dresses, bedsheets, thin curtains, etc, I am accepting drop off donations at the shop! Get in touch if you want to donate! Stay safe everyone! Also if you like Dragon's Den you should check out a show on Netflix called Million Pound Menu. It rules. Ok bye!

A post shared by Secret Planet Print Shop (@secretplanetprintshop) on Mar 30, 2020 at 12:54pm PDT

And making masks is not the only thing makers are doing to help the larger community! Are you offering free tutorials for those suddenly trying to homeschool their kids or grown-ups for cabin fever? Sharing recipes for those who are stress baking? Sharing your art to help people decompress a bit? Let us know below and we would be happy to share!

Take care everyone!

Partnering with Fridays off

We're exactly 3 weeks away from this years Etsy: Made in Canada show. The preparations are endless and the vendors are all working away in their studios! We hope you're all as excited as we are!

We have one more sponsor to introduce you to. Fridays Off online fabric store.

Fridays Off Fabric Shop is one of a small group of online fabric shops in Canada offering good quality, modern designer, 100% cotton fabric for your quilting, home dec and other sewing projects. The shop also boasts the largest fabric subscription club in Canada where subscribers receive carefully curated bundles of fabric every month. Le Club is a monthly fabric subscription program (and the only one in Canada) where subscribers receive one carefully curated bundle of six (half stash) or twelve (full stash) fat quarters every month. The bundles are curated by colour, designer, pattern, collection etc. and are 100% cotton quilting weight fabrics that are also available in the shop. 

Alanna started the business for many of the same reasons other creative entrepreneurs do. She noticed a serious shortage of Canadian-based online fabric shops and was looking for a career change, so hung up her public relations hat and opened her very own online shop. And I'm sure many, many Canadian fabric lovers are happy she did!

UPDATE: The Lennie Project Sewing Bee Details, January 24

Thanks for all the great feedback! We've finalized our plans for the joint TEST/416Hustlers Sewing Bee for The Lennie Project. You're all invited to join us:

Saturday, January 24th, 12:30 - 5:30 pm at Eastminster Church basement, 310 Danforth Ave, Toronto

The Eastminster Church is at Danforth and Jackman Ave, one block west of Chester subway station. Please feel welcome to participate for any amount of time and any way you can. Fabric donations are welcome (cozy knits and polar fleece in dark neutral colours). We're thrilled that some members with serious sewing skills and machines can take part, but all skill levels are welcome. You can also help us tidy up at the end, if you prefer.

Specific questions about sewing machines and fabric donations should be directed to Nathalie-Roze.  See you soon!

Call for volunteers: The Toronto Clothing Repairathon

The Toronto Clothing Repairathon is looking for volunteers. We are a group of volunteers who love sewing and host free clothing repair events across the city. We need your help! Volunteers of all skills levels are welcome. We do repairs by hand and by machine. 

Our next will be later this summer and we are planning one at the  St. Lawrence Farmer’s Market. 

For more information visit repairathon.com

T.E.S.T. Interview: Sew It Was

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 63^rd in our series with Judy of SewItWasByJudy.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your shop.

I am a mom to 4 adult children, a gramma to 6 kids, and married to a very wonderful guy!
When I was a little girl my grandmother made my dresses. She inspired me to want to learn how to do this, so when I was 13 I took a Singer sewing course. I completed a lovely linen A-line dress with lace sleeves but when ironing it I pressed a full iron imprint into it! Clearly I had a lot to learn!
That was, however, the beginning of my lifelong passion for taking a flat piece of fabric and constructing it into something you could actually wear!
In 2012 I lost my job with TDSB [Toronto District School Board] to budget cutbacks. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, the next few months of sewing and selling at craft fairs was the start of what would become my new venture, Sew it Was.

How did you get the idea for your unique creations like turning shirts into pants and shirts into aprons?

With lots of time on my hands I wanted to make some things for my grandkids, but this time I wanted to make something different. I was ready for a new challenge so I searched the Internet and came across the world of upcycling! This really intrigued me and decided to get it a try. My first attempt was to make a pair of toddler pants from the sleeves of a shirt. I thought they looked kind of cute and my husband said “you should call those Shants” so, that’s what I did!! Very quickly I discovered I loved taking something that once was and reconstructing it into something completely new and wearable. I kept searching and found there were lots of ways to refashion a man’s shirt, pillowcases, silk ties, and vintage linens. Friends and family members offered suggestions and some I came up with on my own.

You say many of your creations come from thrift store finds. Are there any “hidden gem” thrift stores in Toronto you’d recommend checking out?

Ha ha, I wish I did have a “hidden gem” but the truth is I do most of my thrifting at the Sally Ann. I can’t look at a man’s shirt now without seeing shants, skirts, aprons, baby shoes and even earrings! Whenever we do travel the first thing I like to do is check out the local thrift shop. I once found a pillowcase with a large Rocking Horse starting on the front and continuing on the back – it made the cutest little dress!

Where do you sell other than Etsy?

A friend suggested I check out the Arts Market. After I was juried and accepted I needed a business name. I sent out an email to my family (I am the oldest of 10) asking for suggestions. After 3 days I had 101 entries, I chose my top 7, sent it out again and Sew it Was came out on top! I loved it from the moment I said it out loud and it totally encompasses what I do. Many thanks goes out to my brother-in-law Gord.
The Arts Market is in Leslieville at 1114 Queen St. E.
I also have some Shants at Kid Culture, 3124 Dundas St. W.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy Upcylers out there, or folks looking to take the leap into something new when it comes to sewing/crafting, etc. in their lives like you did?

One tip I can pass on is something that has proved very useful to me. When I deconstruct an item I now cut a scrap and tape it into a notebook and write pertinent info beside it like fabric care and content. Then when I am adding a new item on Etsy a quick look in my book will give me my listing information. This has saved some much time!
For those that are thinking about taking the leap – just do it! You will never know unless you try. It’s a lot of work to get started on Etsy, I almost gave up but someone said just do a bit each day and eventually you will open.
I love the global aspect of Etsy, being part of this and talking to people all over the world is fascinating and “sew” much fun!

Check out the other items available from Judy in her Etsy shop! You can find more of her work on Facebook.

Interviewed by Tanya of TanyaHarrisonPhoto in November 2013 in Toronto.

T.E.S.T. Interview: Loulou James Creative Studio

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 41^st 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.

T.E.S.T. Interview: Heart's Haven

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 37^th in our series with Katie of YourHeartsHaven.

So I read that you are originally from Halifax! How long did you live out East and what brought you to Toronto?




I was born in Hali and lived there until I was 19. I did one year at the art college (NSCAD) in Halifax, and then I switch to U of T. I think I was just craving something different, something bigger. Much to my mom’s chagrin, it was time for me to move to the big city. And I’ve been here ever since.

Besides the fact that there isn't the ocean here, what's the biggest difference you notice between Halifax and Toronto?




Halifax definitely operates at a different pace. “Rush hour” in Halifax means it takes you ten minutes longer to get to your destination. Also, everyone’s up for small talk, all the time. Or strangers will smile at you on the street. Sometimes I like the anonymity in Toronto, which is virtually impossible to have in Halifax.

How did you learn to sew?




My wonderful mother Peggy taught me. She’s a great seamstress and quilter, much more meticulous than I am. She taught me the basics when I was very young, then I started sewing again more frequently when I was about 20.

What was the first thing you sewed and what inspired it?



 

Such a great question! I wish I had more of an exciting answer, but the thing with sewing is that you make a lot of mistakes in the beginning. A lot. And the first thing you lean is pretty much how to sew a straight line. But, I do remember my mom setting me up with an embroidery hoop, a needle and thread, and some buttons when I was about four, and letting me go to town. Maybe she still has some of my early handiwork stashed away.

The first thing I sewed specifically for Heart's Haven was a broken heart coffee cozy. I've always been drawn to heart and broken heart motifs.
 
Do you sell your items full time? Do you have another job as well?


I have a full time job at an animal hospital that I just love. I’m so lucky to have a job that I enjoy so much.

I see that you are going to be at a lot of craft shows and sales, is that mostly how you sell your items? 

Yes it is. When I first decided to start Heart’s Haven, I figured I would just get myself out there locally as much as possible. I’ve applied to literally every vendor call that’s come my way. It was intimidating at first, since I was just getting started and at bigger shows like the Beaches Arts and Crafts Show, the other vendors had so much more experience than I did. But doing so many shows has been a great experience for me.

Selling online vs. selling in person - which do you prefer and why?



Selling in person. 100%. I find it very inspiring and fulfilling. It gives me such a great feeling when people are excited by what I’m making. Even when not every visitor to your booth is buying, you still see great reactions to your work, and people taking business cards, which is something I think you miss out on when selling online. You don’t get to see if a customer's eyes light up, or how they smile when looking at your work. For me that’s the best part. Also, you get to meet so many interesting and creative people (shoppers and other vendors), which is always a positive thing. 

Where do you source your materials for upcycling?

I started by using my own old clothes, and now I scour Value Village and other vintage shops for great finds. I love perusing the racks for interesting sweaters. And it’s amazing what high quality stuff you can find.

Have you ever found anything really special to use?



My grandfather had this sweater with two alpacas on it that he wore for pretty much my entire life. When he died two years ago I knew I would have to find something special to do with it. I used part of it to make and art piece for the Awol Gallery's 10th Annual Original Square Foot Show and the rest I’m going to make into a scarf for myself.

Is there anything else you would love to make or learn how to make?




Everything! I did a tiny bit of screen printing a few years back and I’d love to refresh those skills. I’m also interested in woodworking but that kind of intimidates me.


Your items are perfect for the fall/winter season, what do you have planned for the holidays?

Thanks! Right now I’m making many, many sweater scarves for my upcoming holiday shows. I’ve gotten great response so far, so hopefully they sell like hotcakes! I think they can be great for both guys and girls, and make a pretty nice gift.

And just for fun, tell me about your cat and dog. What are their names?

Like all animal owners, I love talking about my creatures! I got my cat Chyna when she was two, and she’s six now. She’s quite the character, always up to no good. My dog, Venice, is a retired racing Greyhound. He raced until he was three, then I adopted him last year. He’s my first dog, and has been one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Check out the other items available from Katie in her Etsy Shop! You can find more of her work on her Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Interviewed by Kate of NailKandy in November 2012 in Toronto. 

T.E.S.T. Interview: SewTara

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 33^rd 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.

T.E.S.T. interview: BLISSFULpatterns

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 29^th in our series with Shannon of BLISSFULsew and BLISSFULpatterns.


Tell me a little bit about yourself

I am a happily married mom of two boys; 4 years and 6 months. I turned 40 last week and am actually pretty pleased with where I am at in my life so I feel very lucky. I grew up mainly in a small town a couple of hours north of Toronto and in Toronto and have always loved city life but possibly because I have the benefit of getting away to the quiet of my parents home regularly which keeps me a bit sane.

When and Why did you start your business?

I have always loved fabric, bought too much fabric, and have all sorts of ideas of sewing fabric, putting fabric color combinations together, dreaming of sewing and cutting and making new things with fabric, ... get the idea? I LOVE fabric; mainly cottons. So I have always mended and fixed clothes and other things for my friends, neighbors etc and about 4 years ago I started making lots of custom shower gifts for my friends who were having babies and becoming moms. Then I discovered Etsy and it became a bit more formalized.

What prompted you to open an etsy shop?

My BFF told me about Etsy 2½ years ago and I remember staying up all night, surfing through these amazing shops, seeing gorgeous fabrics I had never seen before and drooling at all the wonderful things people had made. I could not believe there was such a place to make the things I wanted to make and possibly pay for my hobby. I've never really been super net savvy or screen happy so I am sure there were tons of other places I could have looked at before that but honestly it just did not really occur to me. So I ended up opening up my first etsy shop BlissfulSew and listed and started selling things I made. I have to admit, I have since kind of abandoned it as I have branched off in too many other directions.

Besides your Etsy shop, what other selling, websites or shows etc do you do?

I opened a second Etsy shop called BlissfulPatterns about 2 years ago where I make PDF sewing patterns for all the ideas swirling around in my head. My second shop makes me very happy as I get to create and improve on all these projects and then provide a pattern for someone else to do it also. I am constantly amazed when my customers send me photos of what they made with my patterns and I see these amazing creations that are now out in this huge world of ours and have started with a little idea in my head. I know it sounds silly but it really constantly blows me away. My patterns are listed on 3 wholesalers outside of Etsy in the US and Australia. I also go to craft and artisan shows with my sewing to try to make a little money. (to buy more fabric of course!)

What is your source for inspiration?

For my sewing, I am always trying to improve on the things I sew and use every day; particularly mommy and baby things as that has been my main life the past few years. For example, I put snaps on my bibs instead of scratchy velcro, add little details on my bags and organize things in my house into fabric baskets, new blinds and curtains, pillow cases, etc. Just like most crafters, I am always working on about 6 different projects at a time (usually half for us and half for friends and family which usually pays for my little personal projects. I am inspired everyday when I am out and about walking as so many things are made of fabric of some sort and I am constantly looking at everything with an eye as to how to make it. I bought an iphone two years ago and it changed my life because now I take photos all over the place of things I like that I want to make or usually make and change somehow. For example, my new Criss Cross Bag pattern stems from a bag hanging off the sun umbrella next to us in the Dominican in January on our family trip. Its a little weird how I look at things as I deconstruct them in my head to see how they were put together and which order the layers were sewn and the various steps it takes to finish something. Its kind of like engineer sewing I guess! That is what led to my patterns shop.

Do you have a bread and butter or day job?

Not anymore, I lost my job in a restructuring in the financial industry last year while I was pregnant with baby number 2. I was a sales associate for an investment firm and mainly did stock trading and I did not realize how stressful it was till I didn't do it every day. I still miss the stock market a lot, and the steady pay cheque of course but not the hectic pace. I absolutely love being at home with my boys.

What is your best marketing/selling/entrepreneurial tip for other craft artisans?

Ask everyone who does something similar to you about their best tips, shows, websites, materials, shops, and write it down. I have learned so much from so many other successful artisans at shows the past couple of years by just asking what they suggest. However, make sure you recognize that we all have different standards and make different things. I made the mistake of doing a couple of shows recommended by people doing something totally different to me, with a different target market. It was a total waste of my time and vendor fees.

Your pattern feedback is outstanding, do you have a creative process to put these together? How do you decide what instructions/tips/photographs to include?

Thank you for the kind words, I value my feedback and customers comments a lot, I feel like it does reflect on me personally as a business owner and on my products. I have a standard template that I created that I use for all of my patterns now and I try to incorporate as many photos as I can cram in as I am a visible person myself. I include the sewing tips and suggestions I have figured out over many years of sewing and I make myself available by email if someone has any problems. I have incorporated several suggestions from customers into my revised patterns. I also always offer a free pattern of their choice to the first 2-3 people who buy a brand new pattern if they will critique the new one and give any suggestions. After looking at them and proofing them for so long myself, I think another set of eyes is great.

You have both a pattern shop and a handmade shop - is one easier to maintain than the other?

The pattern shop takes more regular work as I renew and email out orders throughout the day, but its less time overall as I am not packaging and going to the post office. However, mainly its less work because I have been ignoring my handmade shop to get the pattern shop going. [Editor's note: While Shannon has been focused on her pattern shop, there are still handmade items available in her sewing shop, so be sure to have a look at both.]

You can find more of Shannon's work in her Etsy shops BLISSFULsew and BLISSFULpatterns, and you can 'like' her BLISSFULSew Facebook Page.

Interviewed by Steph of stuffbysteph77 in May, 2012.

T.E.S.T. interview: Zippster/kltrocks

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 third in our series, an interview with Zippster, also known as kltrocks.

Tell us a little about you and your shops:
About 3 years ago I decided to turn my sewing hobby into a small business. I opened my first Etsy shop (kltrocks) about 2 ½ years ago, focusing on clothes and accessories for Blythe dolls. As I became involved in other crafts, I decided to open a second shop (Zippster) for non-Blythe items – this shop has a little bit of everything: purses, pouches, pins, magnets, cards, vintage sewing supplies. My other hobbies, such as photography and fabric design, influence what I make.

What do you do as your "day job"?:
During the day I work as a librarian in downtown Toronto, which I find very rewarding but can be mentally demanding. Having a creative hobby helps with the life-work balance.

How did you get started sewing/making buttons/making magnets?:
While I’ve always been involved in something creative, I became more serious with sewing about 3 years ago after I bought my first Blythe doll and I realized I really enjoyed making clothes and accessories for these unique dolls. From that I branched out onto other sewing projects, inspired by both of my grandmothers’ fabric stashes. I really enjoy making small accessories, such as the coin purses and zippered pouches. As a librarian, I also have an interest in printmaking, so after taking a printmaking course I became involved in paper crafts. That then led to the button making. There are so many things I am interested in learning how to do (crochet has been on my list for a while), that it’s a challenge sometimes to stay focused.

How do you choose your imagery?:
Many of my button designs are taken from or inspired by vintage reproductions from books, newspapers and magazines. Some of the designs are born out of necessity, such as the food-themed buttons (No Gluten, No Nuts, etc.). I myself have a severe food allergy, so these buttons are fun but also practical.

As for sewing projects, I really love retro fabric prints: two of my favourite fabric sources are Repro Depot Fabrics and a Toronto company called Tonic Living – they both specialize in vintage and retro reproductions. It’s so easy to get inspired when you have such amazing fabrics to work with!

My greeting cards make use of my own photography, linocut prints or silk screen prints. We’re very lucky in Toronto, to be part of a vibrant city but to also have access to large green spaces, such as High Park and Edwards Gardens, where many of my photos are taken.

How do you promote yourself?:
As an introvert, self-promotion is not something that comes easily to me, but I do make use of all the online options, such as Flickr, Facebook, a blog, and message boards. I’m actually in the process of setting up a website, which will bring all the pieces together in one spot.

Do you have any upcoming craft shows or other events you'd like to tell us about?:
For the last 2 years I’ve been fortunate enough to participate as a vendor at quite a few craft shows. This spring and summer I’ve decided to focus more on wholesale.

Any advice for new sellers on Etsy?:
Patience: it may take weeks or even months to start getting regular sales. There may even be weeks or months in between sales. Don’t take it personally, it’s not something you have control over.

Inform yourself: read Etsy’s DOs and DON’Ts, read the FAQs, read the Storque articles, read the forums, learn everything you can about how Etsy works so are fully prepared and your shop is properly set-up (including filling out your shop policies – do this! Please!).

Have some sort of a plan: Decide how much time you want to spend on promotion, and where (Google Analytics helps with this). Make sure you have packaging and shipping supplies and familiarize yourself with postal rates and services. Keep on top of upcoming international holidays, seasonal trends and other special days (have a sale or create special items).

Oh, and have fun creating!

Check out more of Karen's work at Zippster, kltrocks, on her blog 'librarian karen', and in her flickr photostream.

Karen also wrote the wonderful, thorough, and extremely useful Tips for Indoor Craftshows article for the T.E.S.T. blog in November.

Interviewed by SoRad, January 27th, 2010.