Make It

M.I.A.

Yikes, I've let two weeks slip by without a blog post, sorry for being missing in action so long! Blogging's hard when you have to work. I don't know how I did it pre-internship when I was posting twice a day like a madwoman! Things are crazy busy at Mod Green Pod and I've gotten to participate in some fun decision making about our new designs. Also maybe my absence from blogging is excused by the fact that I have some real-life writing pieces coming out this month. One here and one here. More details on that as they get closer. (Though, truth be told, I wrote both of those months ago.)

Meanwhile, in rifferaff land, the experimentation continues. I have so many ideas and not much follow through. For me, it's all about putting myself on a routine, establishing habits such as when to sew, when to print, when to cut. I'm still in the habit-forming phase. I went crazy with the pattern I showed you in my last post and printed it in several color combos. Then I attempted to make some bags, these are all in various stages of construction (note the unfinished hems). Take a look and let me know if  you  have a preference in terms of colors or bag shapes:

I've been obsessed with bag construction lately, obsessing over things like handles. Handles inside or outside? Use webbing or make my own? Matching handles in linen or in contrasting canvas? Hardware or none? Plus there's the issue of the actual construction of the bag. How to make a square bottom bag? What to use for lining? Slouchy or interfaced? I think I've let the overwhelming number of options drag me down, as I've been considering so many different styles, that I have yet to perfect one. It's great to have so much excitement and enthusiasm for a project, but frustrating to only have 3 unfinished bags at the end of a weekend of sewing. I think I've decided to try to perfect a tote and a slouchy/hobo type shape. I'm not sure if I'll get to them this weekend (this should be a stamping weekend) but at least I have a goal in mind.

Bags Bags Bags

Hi all, I'm posting a little late today because I had to watch Betz on Martha Stewart's show (how cool is that!!) and then I got sucked into watching more daytime tv, but I'm done with that now, ready to do some more productive things. So remember the butterfly fabric I showed you last week? Well, I really wanted to turn it into a bag, and even though I've never successfully  completed any of the bags I've attempted, I had a very specific idea in mind and I was determined to make it a reality. And you know what, it didn't turn out too bad:




I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out for a first try. I even made my own pattern for this, using another bag I own for inspiration. There is alot of room for improvement but I felt such a great feeling of satisfaction completing this project. The printed fabric is modgreenpod (where I intern) cotton canvas and the lining is linen. A surprising bonus is that the bag is actually fully reversible. I had no idea this would be the case when I made it but I was happy to discover that. I think I want to master one or two bag shapes and then put my stamped images all over them and play with color combos. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, trying to master both the block printing process and the sewing side of things. But seeing a final product like this and knowing I made it totally from scratch is so satisfying and a great motivator to continue to learn.

Speaking of stamped images, I think I've found a solution that will work to make inks washer-safe. I put a few test pieces in the dryer last week then put them in the washer afterwards and there seemed to be minimal to no washout. I dried the test swatches with a load of wet laundry so that may have affected how hot they were able to get. I would hope that with no wet clothes, the heat could really penetrate and make things consistently colorfast. I also had a really helpful email exchange with Stacy from 1boy1girl who makes adorable block printed tshirts (I purchased one at Boston Bazaar Bizaare) in which we shared some of our own personal experiences working in this medium. There's not alot of info available about this technique so it was good to talk to someone else with experience. I bought 6 yards of linen and 3 yards of canvas from the fabric store yesterday which I'm planning to prewash today and do some stamping over the weekend. Check back next week to see the results!

Where to Find Purseframes

Make It reader Pat has a question, can any of you help? Leave suggestions in the comments section.

Hi, I am trying stubbornly and patiently to search the Internet for purseframes in quantities less then 300 and more than 3, in nickel plated and various sizes. Having had no luck so far, I implore you to advise me where to look!!!

Thanks in anticipation, Pat

Wholesale pricing offered here: http://www.baglady.com/
This place has a good array of cheap (under $10) frames: http://www.tallpoppycraft.com/
It's not clear what the pricing is or how to order from this company (proceed with caution) but they seem to have the best selection of frames: http://www.geocities.com/ahkwoksupplies/fr-p1.html
I mentioned this company last week: http://www.u-handbag.com

Other recommendations?

Attention All Handbag Makers

I've found a great resource for you in the form of U-Handbag.com.

U-Handbag.com sells bagmaking supplies like handles, purseframes and fabric but I say the real value of the site lies in it's accompanying blog. The U-Handblog has loads of good info including a tutorial on using metal purse frames (which I happen to own and hadn't yet figured out how to use myself), many other picture-heavy tutes and several posts on how to sell your handbags, which would be useful even for non-handbag makers.

I Ain't Mad at Ya

Purchasing a handbag from Mad Imports is not only good for the environment (they use renewable materials), it's also good for the African artists who created them.

Mad Imports invests in several sustainable development efforts. Currently, we fund the education of the children of our weaver partners and work closely with the Akany Avoko orphanage to provide educational materials, operational funding and support for special projects. Further, we developed a partnership with a community of women in Kenya, supporting their micro-enterprise and funding community development projects. We continue to work closely with our artisan partners to generate sustainable economic development, provide a venue for artistic expression and to stimulate cross-cultural exchange.

More information at: http://madimports.org/

Crafter Interview - Sheila D.

This week's Crafter Interview is handbag maker Sheila D. As a web designer by trade, Sheila has a couple of great tips for free programs you  can use to manage your website. Additionally, check out her recommendations fror how to make your product stand out if you've got alot of competition, like handbags.

Info: Sheila Djiwatampu, Handbag Designer, www.sheilad.com

How long have you been in business? Almost 2 years

How did you get your start?
I always wanted to have a store selling knick knacks. When I confided this to my close friend Marlo, he said that he thought selling stuff in a bazaar would be good practice for me. Without any warning, he registered for a booth right away, and left me panicking and trying to decide what to sell within a week's time. I decided to make and sell tote bags. I owned a tote bag that had a cute pattern on the outside and a nice solid pale blue color inside. For my own creation, I thought that if I used a quality fabric with more heft to it for the inside, then people could use both sides. I immediately thought corduroy would be a good choice for that. One side solid color in corduroy, and the other side patterned in cotton. My friends loved them, each bought a few and left me with only several bags before the bazaar started. After this positive reinforcement, I naturally thought that selling them on the web would be a good idea. Etsy was in beta at that time, so I started putting bags on there. Selling totes on Etsy helped me realize that the larger world would be interested in my creations and also opened my eyes to the huge crafter community on the internet.

Do you have formal training?
I graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, majoring in Graphic Design.

Do you think you've "made it?"
No, not yet.

What would it take for you to think you've "made it"?
When I have stable production and sales (income). In essence that means when I can fully support myself by selling these bags, and I can delegate part of my work by having people working for me. (Not only that I can afford to support myself, but also I can afford to pay others). Also when my brand is well known and people trust my brand, my product.

Is selling your handmade items supporting you financially?
Partially.

If not, what is your day job?
I also do freelance graphic design/web design (online portfolio).

What's the best part of having your own business?
You work within your own time frame. You design something (work) because you choose to, not because your boss tells you to do so. You are your own boss. And it is such a great reward when you succeed in it. It gives me pride in my own achievements.

What surprised you about having your own business?
It is not something that I planned to have. It just happened gradually, because of people's interest and demand. I started making bags for fun, a close circle of friends and family liked them and bought them, and then other people began to appreciate them. Then I made more bags because people were buying them, and eventually made a website to sell them. Soon enough people started to feature my bags in their blogs and magazines, then stores and wholesalers were interested. The next thing I know I have a business running! It's great!! I am still surprised that doing what you enjoy doing can turn into something big, into a business simply because others love what you are making. It is the best feeling.

What resources do you take advantage of?
Discovering beautiful, affordable, designer fabrics on a visit to my hometown in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Advice for someone trying to make it in your field:
There are so many people selling bags out there -- it might make you think there isn't room for another one. The most important thing is have your own original and unique style. Once you have a stable production, promote and update your products regularly to magazines, blogs, stores, and wholesalers. Give samples to press. Out of the many places you approach, one or two will be interested, and that's where it counts, so don't get discouraged if promising avenues end up going nowhere.

Advice for someone trying to build their own business (in any field):
Growing a business doesn't happen in an instant. It is a long process, and it takes time to get to a turning point, and you have to be patient. The key to doing your own business is you have to enjoy what you're doing, and that's what keeps me going.

How and where do you advertise your product?
I printed a bunch of cards and dropped them in cafes, and even handed them out to people I would talk to to in cafes, streets, and friends of course. One serendipitous event was when Rena Tom from Rare Device picked up one of my cards in Parco, a friendly coffee shop in Park Slope, Brooklyn. She was just starting the shop and asked if she could carry my bags, and this ended up becoming my first wholesale experience. It's nice when your first wholesale experience can be with someone as friendly and understanding as Rena. She included me on the designer list on her website, and to this day it's a consistent source of traffic to my website and has led to some important press attention that catapulted me to a higher level. I haven't tried any formal advertising yet, but I'm currently working on a blog, because it's obvious that making a blog about your business is a very effective way to promote your products. It engages people to have interest in your products as well as what you're doing. Your loyal customers will have fresh information on new items or any updates you want to share. Your insight makes it more personal, and helps create a special relationship (bond) with your customers.
My future goals for advertising are to try some discount promotions with various blogs and websites, but it's a little complicated, because my current shopping cart from PayPal is somewhat limited in functionality.

What are your future goals for your business?
Since my textiles are all limited, end-run fabrics, it's an ongoing process for me to come up with new color combinations.  I recently introduced pouches as a way to make use of fabric pieces that were too small to use for totes. I have so many ideas for future products, including new bag collections, and I hope to eventually move in the direction of home interior decoration products. Before I can do that, I need to make my website dynamic (database-based), so that I can more easily maintain it, and beyond that I want to move to a more flexible shopping cart. PayPal is cheap and easy to use, but that ease-of-use comes at a price.

Can you speak anymore on the following topics:

-approaching store owners
-crafts fairs
-trade shows
I don't have much to offer in this realm -- they're all things I plan to focus on in the coming year. Most of my wholesale contacts so far have been garnered from online press.

-starting and maintaining a website
An attractive website is very important (that's what keeps them browsing on your shop), simple navigation, clear engaging pictures, and downloading time is key! If your website is slow because you have graphics/images that are too big, people will leave instantly. Customers don't like to wait. That means you lose a customer. Right now my website is primarily static HTML, which takes forever to maintain. Luckily I am a web/graphic designer by trade, and a decent photographer, so I can create all of my own images. We're currently working on making the site database-based, which will free up a lot of time and make product introduction much more flexible. I use Google Analytics, a free service, which gives me a fine-grained view of web traffic and helps me decide how to change my content based on what people are searching for or how they're clicking on my site. Another free service from Google is Sitemaps, which you use to create an XML "map" of your website and upload to Google. This helps the Google search engine robot know what pages it should crawl and index on your website. Along those lines is search engine optimization, something I've learned a lot about over the past year, but it's probably a little too much to go into in this interview.

-your branding and packaging
Good branding and packaging suggests reliability. It's more believable. Notice yourself when you shop, most likely you will pick products that look engaging, look nicer (And that's when the branding and packaging talks. Packaging does matter!) I have a consistent look from my website to my Etsy shop to my stationery. I'm very detail-oriented, and I think that my customers like that.

Crafter Interview - Teeter Sperber of 31 Corn Lane

This Crafter Interview is really exciting for me because if you recall, I posted about 31 Corn Lane as a featured crafter a few weeks ago. Turns out the girls found out about it and emailed me (cool!) Then they sent me a really great token of their appreciation which I love (very cool!). Then they responded to a few business-y type questions I sent them (extra cool!). So I'm really excited to present to you those answers. Teeter Sperber, the youngest of the 31CL gang, responded on behalf of the sisters. I have not altered her answers in anyway because they are pretty amazing as is. Besides having an amazing and infectious personality that comes across even via email, 31 Corn Lane is enjoying alot of success, so Teeter knows what she's talking about. Behold, the wisdom of Teeter:

Name: Teeter Sperber, 31 Corn Lane, www.31cornlane.com
Business: Handbags and accessories 

I just received my gift and the craftsmanship is amazing. When you first started out, were your bags of the same quality that they are now or was your craftsmanship more "amateur?"

Oh my gosh, our earliest bags were a world apart from the tote that yr rockin' around town today! We started 31CL in a micro apartment on Bleecker Street in New York City in 1998. We would sew and screen the bags ourselves {First line was all about skull-n-crossbonez!}. I still remember rows of totes hanging all over the house to dry. Girls would buy them at this one punk rock record shop in homestown Dirty Jerz that carried our line - and then they would call us and say - "Dang, I love my tote so bad but I stuffed it full with my school books and now the handles are tearing. I'm so sad! Can you help?'

So then we continued to hand sew but were careful to double reinforce all of our handles all the time. Eventually we decided to manufacture so that girls could stuff as many school books in their bags as possible. I mean really, learning is so important!

Our quality now is ah-mazing. We are super lucky.

Do you recommend crafters trying to build a small business hone their skills first and then start selling, or launch with their skillset at a certain level and hone them as their business grows?

We are all about hitting the ground running and learning as you go. It's hands down the best way. Love yr small biz with all yr gutz and take baby steps to build it every day. You'll absorb like a sponge just by throwing yourself in there because you have no other option! As long as you're doing the very best you can in terms of making your product durable, and as long as you're willing to accomodate customers who might have return issues with a smile and a wink - then you'll be more than ok as you grow. You'd be surprised - customers love watching little companies spread their wings. We get so many nice e-mails from cute ladies saying that they've followed our work since the beginning and they feel like we've done a great job building our brand. It's so awesome, the ladies watch from afar and totally grow with you!

How did you go from creating sewing projects with your sisters to starting a business? Did it evolve slowly over time, or did you make a decision one day to get a business license, write a business plan and go for it full steam ahead. Which route would you recommend?

In 1998 we were desperately trying to get into this artist subsidized housing community {where a 4 bedroom loft would have only been 700 bucks a month! That's crazy cheap for New York City.} In order to apply, you needed to show that you were a working artist. We pow-wowed one nite and decided it would be best to say that we designed bags. We mocked a few fakers up and included them with our application. Believe it or not, 31CL started off as a sheisty teen hoax! (ha! I love this. - rifferaff) None of us expected it to grow like it did when were scheming that evening. We didn't get serious about it, in terms of incorporating and working out a biz plan until many years later. That said, we still recommend diving in head first as soon as you get the wild hair to start a business, but be patient with yourself as you move along. And ask for help at every step!

As 31 Corn Lane grows, how involved are you in the day-to-day operations?

Well, us 4 sisters {eek! is that gramatically incorrect??} are the only ones who work for the 31CL mini-empire - so everything that gets done gets done by one of us. Everyone has their different specialty, but at the same time, we all stick our busybody noses in each others work. Sis Aim has really taken the reigns on things while Teeters been out-n-about on her kick-butt Solo Sally travel adventures - but as long as 31CL exists, we'll be the ones at the forefront of everything. It's a piece of all of our insides!

What are your goals for 31CL 5 - 10 years down the road?

We've always collectively agreed that in our fantasy Sperber Sister dreamscape we would have a cozy little storefront in downtown Manhattan. We would bring all of our 20 out of control mini-dogs and they would snooze under the racks and snuggle customers. We'd have a workspace in the back where we'd come up with new designs, snack a lot, and battle too cause that's what we do best! We'd don't need to rule the world necessarily, but we'd love to be able to live off of our work so that we could spoil Aunt Lonnie -N- Mom-N-Dad.  For Defs!

How did your relationship with Fred Flare come about?

31CL has, for some reason, always been really really fortunate in that we get a lot of press coverage that we never ask for. Years ago Keith and Chris, the spicey masterminds behind Fred Flare, read some sassy
story about us in a magazine. They got in touch and asked if we would do an interview for the site. All sisters cruised over to the FF secret warehouse where we just had the funnest time chit chatting and hanging out. We've all been besties ever since! Fred Flare has been one of the biggest 31CL supporters of all time and if companies could get legally married we would all be on our honeymoon at Sandals Resort in Jamaica by now.

For those of us who aspire to build our crafty businesses to the level you have attained with 31 Corn Lane, tell us, is it as great a job as it seems like it is? Any downsides?

Oh man, it's the coolest thing we've ever done ever ever {ever ever}! It's a lot of work and certain small things, like a delivery of 1,000 bags with faulty zippers, can be mildly heartbreaking, but over all IT FULLY RULES. We've met so many ah-mazing people {Whattup Austin Craft Mafia!} and have had so much fun, it's way hard to imagine life without it. The most rewarding feeling in the world is to get a call from one of yr besties saying that they just saw a gaggle of girls in San Francisco wearing yr fashions or to see a super cutie on the subway platform rocking one with pride and sass. Calling all crafty ladies: start a bizness ASAP! It'll change yr life! In summing up, we luv yr gutz.

Most Kindest Regardz,
Teeter Alex Sperber

Featured Crafter - 31 Corn Lane

Artist: The Sperber sisters, www.31cornlane.com/

Craft: Handbags, Accessories

31 Corn Lane is the handbag company operated by four sisters from New Jersey. The name of their company is their childhood address and their childhood experiences greatly influence their design process. When I look at their website and pictures of the girls, like the one below, their energy just explodes off the page. They are living their dream making accessories and playing in a rock band- The Boxes- and having so much fun doing so that it's contagious.

                           

I didn't find any info about the company on their webpage (maybe I overlooked it?), but here are two interviews about their business.

http://www.fredflare.com/diary/31cornlane.php
http://electricsweatshirt.com/2006/04/rad-times-with-amy-sperber-from-31.html

                        

What advise would you give our readers who want to start their own companies or bands?

      A giant pearl of wisdom that we have learned from starting our own company is: IF YOU MAKE IT, SOMEONE WILL BUY IT! And maybe even send you a nice e-mail about how much they like it and how they went to your grade school, even though they never once talked to you then! So don't be afraid or lazy fer another hot second cause time moves too fast and you've got goals to attain and choice items to sell, girl! It doesn't take much. Just start small, think in total baby steps and know in your giant heart that if you keep jamming it out you won't have to have a hovering boss over you each and every day!!  [Source]

You can also check out the sisters at their MySpace page.

[Pictures via: Source, Source, Source, Source]

Crafter Interview - April Fool Handmade

I read so many crafty blogs that I honestly can't remember how I found Melissa Stajda's work. I can remember that once I found her, I was blown away. Her polymer clay pendants are true works of art. When most people, including me, think of polymer clay jewelry, it conjures up images of rainbow colored beads that are more appropriate for an 8 year old than a crafty fashionista such as myself. But Melissa somehow manages to make polymer clay look cool and, dare I say it, elegant. Besides jewelry, Melissa (who is also a blogger) dabbles in all different types of crafts, but I simply can't get enough of her pendants. I saved the posting of this crafter interview until today because today is the launch of the first issue of Melissa's online arts and crafts zine, What You Make It. Go there right now (well, immediately after reading the crafter interview) to read the first issue. Another interview with Melissa can be found here.

Artist: Melissa Stajda, April Fool Handmade
Craft: Jewelry, totes, general craftiness

How long have you been in business?
August actually marks the 2 year anniversary of April Fool Handmade! Crazy!

How did you get your start?
Well, I got my start when I was invited to share a booth with a friend at a neighborhood art and music fair in Detroit. I had very little inventory, and sold most of it, and got such great feedback from everyone. It cemented the idea in my mind that I should go public with my crafts!

Do you have formal training?
I do have formal training in the fine arts. I was lucky enough to go to a high school that allowed me to study fine arts in depth, and to basically prepare myself for art school. I then went onto college earning upwards of 200 credit hours in various fields in interests... but never "graduated". I found that running a business and making a living off of my talent was what I always wanted, and I didn't need to get my hands on a piece of paper (degree) to accomplish that. So I left school in the fall of 2005 to run my business full time.

Do you think you've "made it?"
I really don't think I'll ever feel that I've "made it". No way! There are always new goals to achieve, and new ideas to be explored. I'm always moving and working, and building upon what I've already accomplished.

Honestly, the phrase "made it" makes me think of finishing a race, or reaching a destination. It makes me think of resting or completion, and those thing sound bad to me. I want to constantly be on the move, and doing new things.

Is selling your handmade items supporting you financially?
Running April Fool Handmade is my full time job, and it does support me financially. Truthfully, I don't make as much money as I'd like to
though. I feel that I put in a lot more than I get in return sometimes.
But I believe that all my hard work will pay off someday soon, and things only get better everyday. So I'm in it for the long haul.

What's the best part of having your own business?
The best part of having my own business is that I get to work from my
home, I get to work the hours I want, and I get to devote all of my
energy and talent into something that is mine. It gives me a sense of
empowerment as a woman, to be working solely for myself and my
family... and not a corporation. When I was younger I worked in factories, and worked under some pretty unhealthy conditions, so that's always in the back of my mind. I constantly remind myself where I came from, and that keeps me appreciative of what I have now.

What surprised you about having your own business?
What surprises me still is the realization that people know who I am! I recently attended a local craft show, and was so shocked when everyone was walking up and saying "Oh, I go to your site everyday!" and things of the sort. People know me, and appreciate my work, and talk to me like we're old friends. It's the neatest thing in the world, when someone recognizes you for your work!

What resources do you take advantage of?
The biggest resource I take advantage of is "word of mouth"! Honestly, I've found it to be the best advertising. I've never paid for advertising of any sort, but rely on my customers. Alot of my orders
are the result of returning customers, and customers getting their friends hooked on my goods. You really have to aim for the highest quality, and set yourself apart in this gigantic market of handmade
products, and people will come to you.

Advice for someone trying to make it in your field:
My advice is that you have to be prepared to work your butt off! If you want to build a career based on your talents, it's tiresome and constant work. But if you stick with it, and really take advantage of
what you know and can do, then it'll pay off someday. Be patient, most businesses fail in the first 3 years, and people give up. So when I started, I told myself "The first 3 years will suck. You'll make no
profit. You'll want to give it up. DON'T!".

Advice for someone trying to build their own business (in any field):
The best advice for someone wanting to build their own business, is to seek out advice and help from people who are already making it. Look for folks who are doing what you want to do, and who are successful, and ask for their guidance. That's what I did before I even decided to start my business. People who've been doing this for a while know the good and bad, and they'll be honest with you. It's good reality check!

How and where did/do you advertise your product (especially when you
were first starting out)?
Honestly, I never really advertised my items when I first started. I really have no idea how people found me. I didn't know anything about making a website or selling things on the internet. My husband and I
used HTML to upload images of my products to a horrible little site. And then about 2 weeks later i was selling my handbags for $55 each! It was insane really. SInce then, about the only forms of advertising I've made use of are placing my products in consignment shops, and exchanging links with other shops.

What are your future goals for your business?
My future goals aren't huge or anything. I mainly just want the business to continue supporting itself, so that I can keep doing this as long as I enjoy it! I have a rule that I'll never allow anyone to help me produce my items, and that everything will always be produced "in-house". And since I'm only one woman, I can only make so much! So this fact will probably always keep my business pretty small, which is what I want. I never want to mass produce anything, or let my ideas leave my hands. Of course I always set my income goals higher, as the quality or my works improves, and my projects become more involved timewise. Being paid well for you hard work is always a huge goal.

(P.S. Now that you're done with the interview, visit What You Make It.)

Blogging as Branding

Freddy & Ma is a handbags line that also has their own blog. Typepad recently interviewed one of the owners, with a focus on how the blog has helped business.

What inspired you to start a blog for F&M? Had you blogged before?

Before the F&M blog, neither my sister nor I had ever blogged. We thought the blog would be a great way to help communicate with our customers. It has served as our official website (it took 8 months to get www.freddyandma.com up and running, the TypePad blog took 5 minutes), the company diary, photo album, message board and scrapbook. My goal was that in two years, someone would "discover" our brand, poke around on the blog for a bit and by scrolling through the posts, get a sense of how our company started, where its been and where its going. I can't think of a better way to communicate your brand to a new customer.

Read more here.