Well, you don’t have to imagine that happening, and you don’t have to wonder about how much you can learn from them. You can just start learning!

Every Tuesday night at 9pm Eastern you can join me and some of my favorite business women for The Summer Biz Sessions! And if you can’t make a live session, don’t worry. I’m recording the calls and you will be able to listen online, as well as download the Mp3 of each of call.

Some of our guest speakers include:

• Jenny Hart, founder of Sublime Stitching
• Jennifer Perkins, founder of Naughty Secretary Club and host of Craft Lab and co-host of Stylelicious
• Sue Daly, co-founder of Renegade Craft Fair
• Claudine Hellmuth, founder of Collage Artist
• Amy Schroeder, founder of Venus Zine
• Casie Metcalf, owner of IndiePublic.com

You can learn more and register by clicking here!

• How to take and edit professional looking photos of your craft products tutorial
• Ways to create buzz about your craft products on the big Craft Websites
• Crafting Heroes interview with Alicia Paulson of Posie gets cozy
• 10 things you’ll need to start selling your crafts online
• Crafting Heroes interview with Amanda Soule of Soule Mama
• Starting up your craft business – Feel the fear and do it anyway
• What to do when people say your handcraft is too expensive
• Ways to market yourself & your craft (on the cheap)
• Hellooo I’m Here!!!! Ways to market yourself and your craft (for free)
• Copyright – ways to protect your content from being stolen
• Crafting Heroes interview with Amy Butler
• Crafting Heroes interview with Amy Karol of Angry Chicken
• Fabulous links and books for your craft business

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I couldn’t think of suitable pic to go with this post so I thought this one would do as a close 2nd . Yummy

This time the I’m interviewing the lovely Alicia Paulson. Lots of you will already be regular visitors of Posie gets Cozy; her truly cosy corner of the blogosphere where you ‘ll find luscious photography, thoughtful and sensitive observations, yummy recipes and hand craft. In our interview Alicia shares with us her experiences of starting up and running her Craft Business.

I hope you enjoy her interview

Here’s Alicia! Alicia lives in Portland Oregon with husband Andy, 2 cats, and a cute woofer called Clover Meadow
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CraftBoom!: How long have you been in craft business?
Alicia: I started Posie in 2000, and have been doing it full-time ever since.

CraftBoom!: Where/how do you sell your items, and do you work from home?
Alicia: I sell my handmade items exclusively through my web shop (rosylittlethings.com). I do sell my crochet patterns wholesale to a few yarn stores in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia, but I’ve never had time to properly market those. And yes, I have a studio in my home and I make everything there.

One of Alica’s crochet patterns; the Snowbunny Hat. Too cute!

CraftBoom!: What made/inspired you to go into craft business, and what were you doing before?
Alicia: Before I started Posie, I went to graduate school in creative writing and was working as a book editor when I was in a serious pedestrian/auto accident and needed several surgeries over many months to repair my foot. I spent most of the next year in bed, recovering from surgery and learning to walk again. Through it all I continued to work part-time as an editor, but my injury left me permanently disabled, and my life had changed dramatically. I knew that I wanted to find work that would accommodate my new reality by giving me, among other things, flexibility, as well as a sense of control again. So Posie was a direct result of my efforts to recover from that terrible time. It was my silver lining, and it still is that. I never forget that.

CraftBoom!: How did you finance the start-up of your business?
Alicia: My husband was changing careers at that time, as well, and I don’t really remember how we did it. That time is kind of a blur. We didn’t think of it as “financing”; I think we just thought we were living, and doing whatever it took to get by until he was out of school, and until I was able to contribute financially to the household. Mostly we just felt we were regaining control of our lives, and doing whatever we had to do to make that happen. That’s always felt more important than the money. The money we’ve sort of . . . slapped together, however we could.

Absolutely darling Country Girl Clothespin Doll making kits.

CraftBoom!: How do you decide what you are going to sell?
Alicia: My products have always evolved out of whatever I am making for myself, whatever I am crazy about at the time. It seems to work in only that way for me — in order to make a thing, I have to love it, and so my work is almost always inspired by something personal. The inspiration behind something is a huge part of that something, for me. Some memory or experience will inspire me and I’ll get an idea of how to manifest that inspiration, and the two — the inspiration and the literal translation of it into craft — sort of push each other forward until the craft takes on its own life. I’m always very excited to see what the “thing” is going to turn out to be. That feeling of not-knowing exactly what it’s going to be motivates me consistently. When someone else likes what I’ve made, I’m always so pleasantly surprised, since I’m almost always just trying to please myself, and translate something personal.

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Alicia’s newest bag; the Tanglewood. Yum yum! A future kit perhaps?

CraftBoom!: When did you realise that your craft business had real potential?
Alicia: Oh goodness. I don’t really think that way. As I said, I started my business entirely because my life demanded it, not because I thought I had a good idea. I have plenty of days where I wish I was getting a real paycheck, believe me, but they are fewer and farther between. For the most part, I am just doing what I love, and hoping for the best. I don’t think I can really do anything else, so I just keep my fingers crossed! When I started Posie, it was just a coincidence that a crafting renaissance was happening concurrent with my own personal changes — I had no idea, for the most part, that there was a new crafty movement taking place out there in the big world. So that was a happy concurrence, and the timing of things has proven to be a great asset. But I would have done it anyway. Making things is part of my genetic make-up. Everyone in my family does this, and has done for as long as I can remember. There was never a time in my family when someone wasn’t selling something mailorder, starting a new side gig, selling homemade cakes, or designing business cards. It’s sort of just what the Leronemos do.

CraftBoom!: What things do you do to market your business?
Alicia: To be honest, the only thing I try to do is do good work, and take good photos, and stay on top of the day to day maintenance of my web sites. I’ve been very lucky to have received some really generous editorial coverage, and when editors call I try, as much as I can, to respond quickly and efficiently. But mostly I just try to be exactly who I am, and do the best work I can, and know that the work is what matters, and if it’s good, the interest will follow. I truly believe that. The work is the most important thing. If you can be confident in what you’re offering, then I think the marketing kind of takes care of itself. I just try to put the best quality work I can do out into the world, and I’m grateful any time anytime pays it some attention. I can’t stand it when things don’t live up to their hype. My goal is to always deliver more than anyone expects.

A lovely embroidered tea cloth like this should make doing the dishes slightly more bearable. Make your own with this fab Dishcloth Tutorial.

CraftBoom!: What things do you know now that you wish you knew from the beginning?
Alicia: Gosh, I don’t even know. Everything is so organic, I can’t separate my not-great self-employment experiences from the lessons they’ve brought into my life, however painful at the time — and some have been really painful! Though I’ve made a thousand mistakes, I can’t see how any of it could’ve happened any other way. I think self-employment is all about learning by doing — to a large extent it’s an exercise in volleying at the net. But at the end of each game, or set, or match you really do feel like you’ve earned your knowledge. If anything, I wish that I had not invested in a brick-and-mortar store. It was never my passion, and it definitely set me back financially in a way that has taken a while to recover from. So I learned that, if you’re going to do it, you have to love it. If you feel like you might not love the day-to-day, prosaic details of whatever it is you think you’re going to try, you probably won’t, and . . . well, I try to see into the future in that way now. One of the benefits of self-employment is getting to have control over these things, the way you might not when you are working for someone else. So what I don’t make financially, I try to make up for in sheer enjoyment. If I’m not enjoying myself, then it’s sort of miserable, and who needs that.

Beautifully embroidered head scarf.

CraftBoom!: What do you love most about running your own craft business, and what do you like least?
Alicia: Well, I love being able to truly turn my ideas for products into a fairly immediate reality. I think that is very cool. Because my business is so small, it is incredibly flexible — I have a capricious nature, so being able to change things up all the time really suits my character. That said, I’m trying to get a bit of a longer life out of the really good ideas — doing finished products, as well as patterns, and kits — something for everyone, all born of the same basic idea, since developing an idea well takes a significant commitment. You want to get some mileage out of it. And if it’s good, it will hold up to the deconstruction, I think.

What I like least is trying to juggle everything myself, all the time. I hate being the only one who knows what’s going on. If I have a problem, or if there is a something stressful or complicated, I really miss being part of a team that can work together to get something solved — or at the very least, offer commiseration! I wind up telling my husband EVERYTHING, and luckily he is a great listener. But generally, he isn’t available until the end of the day, and sometimes I really miss just having someone THERE to talk to, in the moment. Working alone can be lonely sometimes. Generally, being the loner I am, I love it, but some days — agggh. I just have to get out.

Here is Alicia’s up and coming book Stitched in Time (available Nov 08)

CraftBoom!: What advice would you give to newbies who want to start their own craft business?
Alicia: What seem true to me now are really cliches: Follow your heart. Stay true to your own vision. Observe the Golden Rule. Trust your instincts, no matter what “advice” anyone is giving you. Go slow and stay steady. Don’t worry what other people are doing. Do your work with sincerity and passion, and know that the experience of doing it is its own reward. When the money’s not there, make sure you are getting paid in happiness.

CraftBoom!: Are you satisfied with the income that your craft business brings?
Alicia: Well . . . alas . . . some days, it’s all just payment in happiness, baby.

CraftBoom!: What are your plans for future growth?
Alicia: I’d like to do more books and more patterns and kits. I’m always conflicted about taking things to the next level with bigger production, or licensing — I don’t know if that is the right thing for me, but it may be a possibility. When I have time I love to play with fabric designs, so that’s sort of a dream of mine, to do a fabric line. But mostly, in 2008, I want to have a balanced life: good friends, good food, good books, good work, and some extra time for doing nothing much. That’s my idea of success. You need a year like that every once in a while, and 2008 is mine for that, I think. . . .

Aw!! Hello woofer! What gorgeous eyes you have and the crochet ripple blanket is rather nice too.

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Thank you so much for your thoughtful interview Alicia. Keep up the good work with your gorgeous craft, I hope you continue to love what you do, and I hope your upcoming book is a great success and the first of many. Best of luck with everything you do.

This time the I’m featuring the lovely Amy Butler. I think it would be fair to say that for most all of you this amazing lady needs no introduction, but just in case there are one of two of you who do; Amy is an incredibly talented fabric and pattern designer and she also is the author of several hugely popular craft and design titles. Known for her friendly and clear pattern writing, Amy has helped make sewing hip and accessible to a whole new generation of sewists and her gorgeous fabric designs have a huge and loyal fan base. However, for all of her all talent and success Amy remains very warm, helpful, and generous to work with. Amy lives and works Ohio with her husband David, and her two beloved cats Pete & Birdie. In our interview Amy shares with us her experiences of starting up and running her own Craft Business.

I hope you enjoy the interview. The picture captions are all Amy’s words.

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“I’m sporting a vintage find from my favorite clothing store “Foot Loose” here in Granville. The color is delicious. “

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CraftBoom!: How long have you been in craft business?
Amy: 8 years.

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CraftBoom!: Where/how do you sell your items, and do you work from home?
Amy: I have a wonderful group of retailers and distributors who sell my fabric and sewing patterns as well as my paper crafts with K & CO.

My pattern business has grown and grown! We’ve literally run out of space in the lower level of my house. It was getting a bit tricky reaching over the cat boxes to secure batting for a quilt project! Everyone was patient, but we finally found the perfect home for Amy Butler Design. We rent a beautiful 1850s greek revival house in the heart of our village. It’s a 10 minute walk or 5 minute bike ride from my home. We moved my business in July and it’s been a terrific change for all of us. I still keep my home studio as does Dave. It provides me the time to concentrate on designing and stay focused.

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CraftBoom!: What made/inspired you to go into craft business, and what were you doing before?
Amy: I’ve crafted all my life, it’s something I’ve always loved doing for myself and I’ve always enjoyed making things for my friends and family. My business in craft started through my efforts as a contributing editor for Country Living magazine. I had designed and manufactured 2 sewing patterns and sold them through the magazine for a couple of years to accompany the ” how to ” stories I produced using my fabric collection. At that point I didn’t realize that I would turn the patterns into a business, I thought my sewing patterns would be a side project to compliment my illustration career. ( little did I know! )

After a couple of years, the magazine ended their fulfillment service and I was left with a strong demand for my patterns but no way to get them to customers. I researched avenues for marketing and selling my patterns. I asked several quilt shops and fabric stores where they would go to purchase patterns and similar products and they suggested I exhibit at the International Quilt Market. I rented my first 10 ‘ x 10 ‘ booth and ever since then everything has fallen into place.

“The Birdie Sling is a great beginner project.” New pattern available soon

David and I have had our Art of the Midwest studio since 1992. Our business started out of necessity because we wanted to move back to Ohio to be with our families. Prior to our move home I was a creative director at Hallmark Cards for their paper entertaining products and Dave was an art director at River City Studios. When we moved home and started our studio we each did a lot of different jobs to make ends meet. Dave did freelance graphic work and I picked apples and painted surface designs that I sold through an ex- Hallmark friend.We had one vehicle and Dave needed that to get into the city while the only job I could get in walking distance in the country was at the local orchard! At night I painted and sewed.

Over time Dave wrangled me into doing drawings / illustrations for his projects and we ended up doing a lot of fine art exhibits together and my confidence in illustration grew. Through the years that followed we built up a graphic design and product development business where we built product collections and the marketing support for various brands. All the while both Dave and I had secured a national illustration rep and I began to do illustration full time. We began buying and renovating homes and getting heavily into gardening. That’s about the time we met Country Living and we started producing freelance lifestyle stories for them around 1997.

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“The customisable Laptop Case is very simple and super functional. I love using mine. The audiophile in me had to have an mp3 case too.” New pattern available soon.

Every life and working experience has led me to each step that I needed to take to find the career piece that truly makes me happy. For me, my road started 20 years ago in art school and I’ve been in graduate school ever since! I always encourage everyone to respect and appreciate all of your experiences. You begin to learn more about yourself and how to make yourself happy. You learn to trust your instincts and follow your passions confidently.

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CraftBoom!: How did you finance the start-up of your business?
Amy: We started with the money in our pockets when we moved from Kansas City back to Ohio. I believe we had $ 1,000. We squeaked by month by month for a couple of years as we slowly built up our resources. There was one instance when we had to borrow money from Dave’s Mom Vert. We were strapped and didn’t have the $400 to fill the propane tank! She loaned us $ 4,000 to help us cover our bills for 2 months and we paid her back $ 5,ooo a year later! We’ve always been a cash business and we used our sweat equity and talents to continually reinvest in the studio. A greater percentage of all the money we made and still make goes back into the business. It’s always served us well.

“This is the cover for my NEW sewing book ” Little Stitches for Little Ones “with Chronicle! The little fella on the cover is sporting the kimono style PJs project. Little Stitches will be available in September 08. It’s chocked full of fun projects for Mom and baby 0-12 mos.”

“Cheeky Monkey Laundry / or Diaper keeper. Cute- cute!”

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“This is a wonderful dress and cute bottoms set. Super easy to make!”

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CraftBoom!: What things do you do to market your business?
Amy: The avenues for marketing my business have evolved over time. One element never changes and that’s our drive for putting ourselves out there. Dave helps me with all of my promotional materials. He does my photography and designs my collateral. We’re a great design duo. I love making every piece of my business sing. Every detail matters, especially how I share my products with others.

The internet had been a huge component in the growth of my business. The web site is an incredible tool for me. It’s a great platform for sharing my brand story and my products as they develop. It’s most important because it’s an incredible vehicle for inspiring others and making a connection with folks who enjoy craft as much as I do. Another huge component in marketing my business has been exhibiting at an industry trade show. The international quilt market has been pivotal in the making connections with my retailers and their customers. It’s been a very powerful vehicle for promotion. There’s nothing better than meeting your retailers and getting the opportunity to share my products with them. No one promotes you, better than YOU!

I’ve had some incredible press opportunities that have helped me find my audience and have helped me get to know my community. From the get go, I’ve tried my best to be helpful and work alongside editors in both trade and consumer magazines. My experiences over the years have given me a few advantages in terms of working with magazines an editors. It’s that one thing leads to the next scenario again! Staying in the flow of things and paying attention to opportunities that are a fit is key.

“These images are from my new promotional pieces for my fabric and pattern launches. Dave and I worked on these together for Quilt Market initially and we’ll be able to incorporate them on our web site soon. Midwest Modern is my new quilting weight fabric and August Fields is my new home dec collection (Jul 08). I’m also super excited about releasing my ‘ solids’ lines for both home dec and quilting fabric!”

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CraftBoom!: What things do you know now that you wish you knew from the beginning?
Amy: I don’t really have anything that I’d change. I think my experiences have all been positive whether they be challenging or not. I’ve needed to go through them in order to grow and learn. You have to experience everything first hand to make the best, most educated decisions. Sometimes you hit the mark and sometimes you don’t. That’s part of doing business and it keeps things interesting! I’ve made plenty of mistakes, but I feel they happen for a reason so that I can learn to make better decisions in the future and become a better person. Struggles help define who you are, build character and help you appreciate your life. Through the process, though, I have learned that it is important to let go and not take things too seriously or stretch yourself too thin. Save time for yourself to nurture your creativity. If you fulfill yourself, you’ll have lots more to give to everyone else… giving is the best part!

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CraftBoom!: What do you love most about running your own craft business, and what do you like least?
Amy: As far as my studio and business goes, I love the creative freedom I have in both working for myself and working on products that allow me to explore my passions and share them with others. The most challenging aspect for me has been balancing creative time with business.

“A promotional piece for my fabric and pattern launches.”

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CraftBoom!: What advice would you give to newbies who want to start their own craft business?
Amy: The first step is to focus in on one or two projects / products that you feel strongly about, projects that you feel you have a passion for. Often these jewels are right in your lap, just look around your studio and pay attention to what you spend most of your time on. Then make up actual samples or prototypes and share them with friends and family to get their feedback, take it a step further and show your product to local shops. There are blogs like U-Handbag’s blog that support creative communities where you can share your projects with other like minded folks, swap ideas and build a network.

Try starting out by creating a simple on line shop like an etsy or ebay store. This is a great way get an immediate response and to start to establish a strong customer base. If you are interested in selling your products wholesale, it would be helpful to research wholesale trade shows and find a market that fits your products, search for a sales rep or set up a booth yourself. I found that exhibiting at a major wholesale show made all the difference in the world as far as getting exposure and meeting retailers and distributors who would potentially sell my patterns. You also receive the most bang for your buck in terms of expense. Trade shows are an investment, but truly the best way to get the most exposure for the minimum cost. These shows also expose you to loads of resources and it’s a great way to meet peers in your industry whom you can swap ideas with.

Everyone has their own unique way of approaching their business. However, know that whatever you decide to do is just right for you and that’s the most important thing to remember. There is no black and white way for sure, so much of how I have built my business is by trial and error and trusting my instincts. I think that every experience you have is valuable and you learn so much as you go. Being true to yourself will naturally establish your unique voice. That’s the biggest piece of advice I can give you. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Everything will fall into place and evolve naturally. Be consistent from how your products look and feel all the way to your web site, advertising and marketing material. Everything you do should feel consistent in every way.

Set about your goal, don’t worry about set backs, focus on only the things you can control, don’t worry about people who dissuade you or don’t understand you…move on to the next! Be honest in EVERYTHING you do and you’ll never have to worry about yourself or your business. And if it stops being fun, do something else, even if it’s for a short respite. With your passion and creativity, you can make anything happen. It’s really true. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you lack passion, confidence and drive
the road to a fulfilling creative life is short. It’s all about loving what you do.

“This is my window at the Mikasa showroom on Madison Avenue in NYC! I just launched my first tableware collection with Mikasa two weeks ago during the Tabletop market. It was an incredible experience! The entire line will be available this fall.”

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CraftBoom!: Are you satisfied with the income that your craft business brings?
Amy: Yes, it’s been incredible to watch our business grow! For David and I our focus has always been about creating and the cash has followed. We’ve always known that we’d be ok and all the funds we need will be in place. With this in mind we’ve tried to make sound financial decisions and respect our resources, not take them for granted. From the get go we always believed in what we were doing and our faith and responsibility has never failed us. Seriously, if you build it, they will come. It’s that sincere affirmation and conscientious decision making that will always support you.

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CraftBoom!: What are your plans for future growth?
Amy: I don’t have any long term goals in what I want to achieve specifically. I want to grow conscientiously while I’m building relationships with other companies to crossover into other design and product categories. I’d love to see this grow as well as my core business focus, my patterns and fabrics with Rowan . I want to keep designing, enjoying and sharing the process, and along the way continue to evolve sustainability in the products I make or work with.

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Thank you so much for your interesting and informative interview Amy. It’s so obvious that put a lot of love into what you do and that has been a big factor in making your business grow. Best of luck with everything that you do. We’re very much looking forward to your August visit to Twisted Thread in the UK. Woo! Amy’s visiting the UK la la la!

This time the I’m featuring the lovely Kristin Link. Lots of you will already know and love Kristin as the owner of the fabulous Sew Mama Sew! fabric shop. Not only does SMS stock gorgeous fabric and essential sewing kit, her blog is amazingly inspiring and wonderful in bringing the sewing community together online. In our interview Kristin shares with us her experiences of starting up and running her own Craft Business.

Here’s Kristin with her daughter – what a really lovely picture!

CraftBoom!: How long have you been in craft business?

Kristin: Five years in some form or another.

CraftBoom!: Where/how do you sell your items, and do you work from home?

Kristin: fabric store is online only. Someday I’d like to have a brick and mortar shop–maybe when my children are older.

Fabric from Sew Mama Sew: I’m sorry, but this gorgeous fabric stack is just more than I can handle…I need to go and lie down..

CraftBoom!: What made/inspired you to go into craft business, and what were you doing before?

Kristin: long story!

I was a secondary education teacher, then I left that and became an instructional designer in a software company. I developed our company’s first distance learning program. It was a job I loved, but once my daughter was born, that was it. I had no desire to go back to a full-time office career.

Like so many other moms, I started sewing and selling bibs and blankets and other baby things just to try to earn a little money to help bridge the financial gap that appeared when I left my job. I started with a few things on ebay, but quickly decided to open my own online store. Etsy hadn’t started yet, so it was either ebay or your own site, and I chose my own site. That business was called Go,Goose,Go! (GGG) I was lucky enough to grow it to the point where I had some product reps around the country and we were mostly selling wholesale.While I was designing for that business, I was frustrated by my experience sourcing fabric. Everything was still so quilting-oriented. I felt like finding cool fabrics was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I’d scroll through hundreds of pages online before I’d find something that caught my eye, and the local fabric stores were the same. Thousands of prints, but only a few I really loved. Amy Butler was becoming popular and that was very exciting, but still, I wanted a go-to place to find everything that I loved. I started considering opening my own online store, catering to all the small manufacturers like myself who wanted something a little more modern and hip. I eventually opened Sew, Mama, Sew! with just a few collections and ran that parallel to GGG for about a year.

CraftBoom!: How did you finance the start-up of your business?

Kristin: had to give, so I sold GGG. I was able to use some of that money to expand the SMS inventory.

CraftBoom!: How do you decide what you are going to sell?

Kristin: After a few years of doing this, I can tell pretty quickly what I can and can’t sell on the SMS site. The fabric reps know me to be a very quick decision-maker. Out of 10 or more collections they show me, I might buy one.

It’s good to know your product well if you are going to sell it. Kristin is herself very handy with needle and thread! Heat Therapy collection.

CraftBoom!: When did you realize that your craft business had real potential?

Kristin: I worked with SCORE (a group of volunteer entrepreneurs that help small business owners) to write a formal business plan, complete with different financial scenarios. I had a rough 3-year plan, so I knew what I was getting into. That is something that I didn’t do with my first business, but I wish that I had. I recommend that everyone serious about starting a business, no matter how small, a) get help and b) write a business plan.

CraftBoom!: What things do you do to market your business?

Kristin: I do some magazine advertising, some online advertising, and a lot of work on the blog. (The blog is where most of my marketing money is spent.) (The things that Kristin’s incredible blog does to promote sewing leave me in awe! – Lisa)

CraftBoom!: What things do you know now that you wish you knew from the beginning?

Kristin: that you should hire people! Hiring Beth and Lauren were the two best things I have done for my business and my sanity. I hung on way too long with the baby business, trying to do everything myself and I burned out big time. Working with people who share your vision, but are full of their own ideas is wonderful.

CraftBoom!: What do you love most about running your own craft business and what do you like least?

Kristin: I love my job so much, it is hard to narrow it down. I love picking out fabric and patterns. I love the customer service aspect of the business. (Really, you couldn’t ask for a nicer customer base than ours.) I love seeing all the inspiration and participation on the blog. I don’t love accounting.

CraftBoom!: What advice would you give to newbies who want to start their own craft business?

Kristin: Don’t sell yourself short! Literally, I see so many people underpricing their products on Etsy and other places, it makes me sad. If you want a long-term sustainable business, you need to write a business plan and you need to include the realistic cost of your labor into the price of your work.

Some very cute embroidery on linen by Kristin.

CraftBoom!: Are you satisfied with the income that your craft business brings?

Kristin: Luckily, my husband works too, and has insurance and all that. Right now I work part-time, as do Lauren and Beth, so for the time spent, the income is fine.

CraftBoom!: What are your plans for future growth?

Kristin: My biggest plan at the moment is to grow my family first. I am pregnant and due in June! As for the business, we’d like to move out of our current space so we can expand the inventory a little. As I mentioned, I’d like to eventually have a retail space.

Quilt blocks by Kristin.

Thank you so much for your interesting and informative interview Kristin. Keep up the good work with your lovely fabric store and your AMAZING blog. I hope you get your wish to become ‘bricks & mortar’. Best of luck with your family and everything you do.

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This time the I’m featuring the lovely Jenny Hart. Lots of you will already know and love Jenny from her deliciously different embroidery. Not only is she deft with her own needle, she also provides tuition, embroidery supplies, and inspiration through her wonderful books and her one-stop embroidery shop. Read Jenny’s impressive bio here (woo, she works hard!). In our interview Jenny shares with us her experiences of starting up and running her own Craft Business.

You can also find Jenny here:

www.sublimestitching.com – her design company
www.jennyhart.net – her fabulous artwork
http://venuszine.com/users/JennyHart – her craft business advice column

Here’s Jenny with her magic needle at work.

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CraftBoom! : How long have you been in craft business?

Jenny: I founded Sublime Stitching in late 2001, about a year after I took up embroidery.

CraftBoom! : Where/how do you sell your items, and do you work from home?

Jenny: I sell primarily online, although our wholesale accounts have grown enormously in the last couple of years. I work from a home office and studio, along with a staff of three. There’s also an extended staff of advisors and consultants (a financial advisor, a couple of attorneys, a literary agent) who are instrumental in making all I try to do actually happen.

Want to stitch on your T-shirt? This stuff will prevent a lot of swearing and make it whole lot easier by preventing the fabric stretching as you sew.

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CraftBoom! : What made/inspired you to go into craft business, and what were you doing before?

Jenny: When I first took up embroidery, I had never tried it before and once I did, I became completely addicted to it. This was in the summer of 2000, and the handmade movement was just really starting up, with a heavy focus on knitting. No one was really doing anything with embroidery or decorative needlework of any kind, and there were no new resources for it. I was so taken with embroidery, and wanted to turn other crafters on to it as well, but knew they’d need updated patterns, starter kits and instructions that didn’t assume anything. None of those resources were available. My mission as a company was to change the way people looked at and learned embroidery.

Before doing Sublime Stitching full time, I was working in an art museum, archiving works on paper. I got to work with very old prints and drawings (17th and 18th century) and even had a sketch of Rembrandt’s on my desk once. I was responsible for the proper archiving, transport and display of works on paper for the museum’s collection. I did this work for five years, for two museums (The Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas, The Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas).

Jenny’s latest project with Chronicle Books; Craft Pad which is full of groovy iron on embroidery transfers – available in March.

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CraftBoom!: How did you finance the start-up of your business?

Jenny: With a very modest but generous loan of $1,000.00 from my parents. I had to outline an entire budget to my father and account for every dime, which I did. It covered my first manufacturing costs, shipping, packaging and my first print ad. They asked that I pay back half once I turned a profit which I did six months later. I never borrowed money again until five years into running the company. I have been very careful about the kind of debt I’ve acquired and have avoided costly loans or over-use of credit cards.

CraftBoom! : How do you decide what you are going to sell?

Jenny: I’d had the idea to do hip, updated embroidery patterns for several years before I actually did it. I love to draw, and that seemed like a logical way for me to support myself doing something I loved to do. I also couldn’t believe that contemporary designs for embroidery weren’t available. Everything was stuck in a time warp with bunnies and teddy bears- I felt the outdated look of the designs was contributing to the decline in interest. So, I decided I’d start my own design company offering the kinds of patterns, tools and kits you couldn’t buy anywhere that I wished were available when I was learning.

You get get your mitts on cute designs like this and all of your embroidery needs in Jenny’s fab shop.

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CraftBoom! : When did you realise that your craft business had real potential?

Jenny: I knew it immediately from the response I got, which was overwhelming. People were starved for new designs, and those who’d wanted to try embroidery but couldn’t find anything they liked in terms of patterns, or instructions they could follow started visiting my site in droves. I also started to get national and international press which increased the demand greatly. I’ve continually faced the challenge of keeping up with the demand!

CraftBoom! : What things do you do to market your business?

Jenny: I do a lot of print advertising, trade shows, markets and always carry promo cards with me to tack up in coffee shops. I still do this! I keep business cards on me, and hand them out whenever someone asks what I do.

CraftBoom! : What things do you know now that you wish you knew from the beginning?

Jenny: Nothing. That’s what has made it all so rewarding- the learning process. I also think if I knew too much ahead of time, I never would have started! You get involved, get to the next step and then the next…and whoops! You’re in to deep to quit now! If I’d known too much in advance I might have said “Forget it! It’ll be too much work!” and it is an *enormous* amount of work. But I love it. It keeps me busy and the customers and fans keep me going.

Yep, Jenny does work hard to forward the craft movement, she was a featured speaker at the last Maker Faire at which she also had booth. Her booth was surrounded by a wire fence which turned out to be just perfect for doing a spot of feather stitch. Contributing to the crafting movement like this is wonderful for craft in general and it also raises your profile.

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CraftBoom! : What do you love most about running your own craft business, and what do you like least?

Jenny: I love being creative and doing what I want to do instead of working for someone else’s approval or having to change my ideas according to what someone over my head thinks is best. I get to put my work out there as I see it. The hardest part is: getting your work out there as you see it! I’m constantly overwhelmed with ideas and lacking the resources to realize them.

The thing I like the least is administrative work. At the beginning, it’s so necessary that you do these things yourself, to at least understand how they work and affect your business. As you grow, you can bring in people you trust to take on those responsibilities for you (doing the books, handling customer emails, tax paperwork and other tasks that feel like chores for you).

CraftBoom! : What advice would you give to newbies who want to start their own craft business?

Jenny: This is the question I least like being asked, because there’s no easy answer! Educate yourself. Do it. Be realistic about your goals and stop if you don’t enjoy doing it any more. If your goal is to make money fast, don’t do it. If your goal is to be independent and see arises from something you’re passionate about, go for it. You might be surprised. My goal is, and always has been, simply to maintain my independence as an artist, a designer…a human being. I’m thrilled to be able to support myself financially, but I’m hardly rich in the conventional sense. I am however, rich with independence and freedom. That’s all I ever wanted. I want to do work that makes me happy and fulfilled and want to be sure those working for me feel the same way.

One of Jenny’s WIPs, isn’t it just beautiful! Woman with brown hair.

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CraftBoom! : Are you satisfied with the income that your craft business brings?

Jenny: Yes, because I’m now paying myself a liveable wage through the company alone (which wasn’t the case up until a year ago). While I’ve been able to support myself full-time for five years doing Sublime Stitching, it’s been very up-and-down, with tax surprises and lean times. Which, I think any small business goes through. As a company, we are currently stabilizing our costs and income. But, I’m still underpaid (aren’t we all!), and so is my staff. We all know this, and also feel the likelihood that it will continue to change and grow is worth the work effort. But in order for the company to grow, we need to increase our income. That’s always on the table, for any business. We are still an independently owned and operated company who relies entirely on the support of our customers. And, they’re the best, they really are.

CraftBoom! : What are your plans for future growth?

Jenny: This might sound funny, but I actually want to increase our growth by reducing our manufacturing. I’d like to be able to offer more downloadable (for pay) goods via the website that prevent the need for using resources to create them (to lessen the impact on the environment for one thing), and continuing to focus on what we’ve always offered: information and resources for others’ creativity. While we’ll always offer tangible end-products, I’m very proud that our main product is re-usable, inexpensive and 100% recyclable!

Check out this kit. The Ultimate Embroidery Kit is a complete starter kit that you can customize online with your choice of patterns (from 40 themes) and project (pillowcase, teatowel, apron, etc). Most embroidery kits only have the supplies needed for the project shown on the cover, and there weren’t any kits that offered all the tools in one place to get you started. This is that kit! It will make hundreds of projects.

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Thank you so much for your inspirational and informative interview Jenny; keep up the good work with your wonderful embroidery shop, your book writing, and all of the work that you do to promote the craft movement. Best of luck with everything you do.

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This time the I’m featuring the lovely Carrie Sommer. Lots of you will already know and love Carrie from her delicious handmade bags and accessories that she sell through her shop Sommer Designs. Not only is she a whizz at the sewing machine, she is great at marketing herself too and this has really really helped in getting her business out there (in various magazines and such!) Rather than me giving you Carrie’s bio; Carrie has written an amusing one of her own: “My husband and I have been married for almost 19 years, but we dated for 8 and were friends for 4 before that. So, I’ve known him more than half my life! We have 3 boys – twins that are 15 and a 12 y.o. My twins just got their drivers permits and I’m scared to death! I am afraid of heights, but have climbed to the top of Mount Baldy, Mount San Jacinto & Mount Whitney. I have two silly doggies that keep me company all day in my studio. Lately, I’m really info refashioning, and it’s keeping me sane by allowing me a a much needed creative outlet from my creative business.” In our interview Carrie shares with us her experiences of starting up and running her Craft Business.

Carrie with one her yummy aprons and bags. How does she manage to craft like crazy AND have lovely looking hair??
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CraftBoom!; How long have you been in craft business?

Carrie: I’ve been in the craft business for 4 years now.

CraftBoom! Where/how do you sell your items, and do you work from home?

Carrie: I do work from home. After my production line took over the formal dining room and started to encroach on the living room, we did a soft conversion of our 3-car garage. I love the wide open space, and I can cut out fabric in the middle of the night. Not that I do, but I could.

My products are sold on my website (www.sommerdesigns.com) and at local outdoor craft fairs and shows. I never thought I would enjoy the shows, but it’s become very gratifying to interact with my customers, and it’s expanded my customer base tremendously.

Carrie’s booth looks great; it’s very professional and inviting.

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CraftBoom!: What made/inspired you to go into craft business, and what were you doing before?

Carrie: I have a degree in Political Science from UCLA, and I later became a paralegal. I always knew I wanted to stay home once I had children, but after my third son was born I started to get a little fidgety. I started freelance writing, which morphed into desktop publishing (this was 1996!) and finally website design. I started my business in 1999 as a web design studio. That was fun for a while, but when things slowed down a bit in 2003, I started thinking about my next creative venture. At this same time, a friend was pregnant, and I made a diaper bag for her. I hadn’t sewn in years, but somehow, I started receiving requests for more bags and the proverbial light bulb went off!

CraftBoom!: How did you finance the start-up of your business?

Carrie: When I started my business in 1999, it was service-based, and everything pretty much went right back into it. So I already had a small cushion with which to work. Everything I made in the beginning was reinvested, and that allowed my business to grow organically as opposed to financing it through loans. I’ve definitely bootstrapped this to the hilt!

CraftBoom!: How do you decide what you are going to sell?

Carrie: I have a set collection – 5 handbag styles, 1 apron style & my lavender drawer liners. The collection stays the same, but I change the fabric seasonally, or just when it strikes me to do so! There’s so much cool fabric out there, I sometimes can’t stop myself! (”Yeah tell me about it!” – Lisa)

One of Carrie’s bag designs in scrummy fabric.

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CraftBoom!: When did you realise that your craft business had real potential?

Carrie: After I made that first diaper bag, I got a few requests for bags from friends and family. Then I put some up for sale on eBay (this was before Etsy!), and those sold well also. After about a month or two, I realized it was silly to be paying eBay fees when I already had a website. At that point, I transitioned from service-based web design to a shopping-based site. It was very easy for me to do.

CraftBoom!: What things do you do to market your business?

Carrie: What don’t I do?! I have to say that marketing is almost as much work as creating! And since I can’t afford to hire a PR firm (or I’m too stubborn and cheap), I’ve tried to be as creative as possible. I maintain a blog (www.sommerdesigns.typepad.com) and have tried to establish and maintain a online presence, not just on my website & blog, but also online communities, forums like The Switchboards (www.theswitchboards.com), places like Flickr, Facebook, etc. It all trickles back down, and I routinely get traffic & sales from these places. ["I agree this kind of marketing is so important and it's well worth the time & effort." - Lisa]

One of Carrie’s aprons. Professional looking photos really do add value to your products.

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CraftBoom!: What things do you know now that you wish you knew from the beginning?

Carrie: Focus! Focus! Focus! There are so many ideas I’ve had over the years that I’ve tried to incorporate into the business, and they’ve actually taken time and money away from the core concept.

CraftBoom!: What do you love most about running your own craft business, and what do you like least?

Carrie: Well, I love that I make all the decisions, and can go where I want to go with my business. As I mentioned, I’ve done a lot of other things during this whole ride, and I love the flexibility that being an entrepreneur allows me. I’m home for my kids and family, and they support me 100%. This is so important because I have to count on them a lot as well when I’m busy.

The thing I like the least is that it’s me 100%! Everything pretty much falls on my shoulders and I’m responsible. I don’t mean that in a legally responsible way (even thought that’s the case also), I mean that I am designing, cutting, sewing, pressing, photographing, editing, writing, updating the website, keeping up with inventory and orders, shipping, PR, press submissions – everything, it’s all me, and it can be all consuming.

It’s hard to close the door on it at the end of the day.

This is where the magic happens: in Carrie’s big garage.

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CraftBoom!: What advice would you give to newbies who want to start their own craft business?

Carrie: I’d say go for it! If you have an idea, just put yourself out there and see what happens. Don’t let anybody tell you it’s dumb, or you can’t do it. Step out of your comfort zone, and surround yourself with people who believe in you. Join networking groups, both online and off, with other inspiring and creative women. If you don’t think you have a business mind, check out the multitude of free business resources, like SCORE, The Small Business Administration and The Small Business Development Center. Also the local Chamber of Commerce has a lot of resources.

Try to create a little niche, even with something tried and true. When I launched my handbag line, I named the styles after little pocket neighbourhoods in my community. This has been very successful for me locally, especially when I do shows. The whole community aspect is very important to me, both online and off.

If you are selling something, make yourself legal! Don’t assume that nobody cares about your little craft endeavour! You must always put on a professional face – get a business license, open a business checking account (do not comingle funds!); get your resale permit; order professional business cards (they’re cheap!). Make it official!

Appearances are everything!

When you pack your goodies with love and care you increase the chances of repeat custom and it also shows pride in your products.

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CraftBoom! Are you satisfied with the income that your craft business brings?

Carrie: Yes, I am. I love mapping my progress over the years to see the growth.

This is especially rewarding because it’s everything I’ve put into it, and my business is still growing. I always look at it cumulatively at the end of the year and think, “Now, how am I going to top that?”

CraftBoom! What are your plans for future growth?

Carrie: I really don’t know! I know I won’t be doing this forever…that’s my MO. I kind of go where life leads me. That’s what it’s all about…for me, at least…the flexibility of my own business and the direction of my whims.

A trio of Valmonte Bags, perfect for smart Moms on the go.

Thank you so much for your open and informative interview Carrie; keep up the good work with lovely accessories, fabulous marketing efforts and your shop (I love your homepage!). Best of luck with everything you do.

This time the I’m featuring the lovely Georgia Hadley. Lots of you will already know and love Georgia as a co-writer of the FLIPPING AMAZING Craft Revolution – a site that supports and informs indie craft makers and shoppers alike. I have big respect for Craft Revolution because it was so informative in helping me start up my own craft business. Georgia also makes the most beautiful bags and tasteful jewelry in her pretty shop August Lately. On browsing her shop it’s evident that she applies much of the sound business advice that she shares on Craft Revolution to her own business practices. Georgia lives in Vermont, with Husband and 2 boys. In our interview Georgia shares with us her experiences of starting up and running her Craft Business.

Georgia – one of the original founders of the brilliant Craft Revolution, and owner of the yummy shop August Lately.

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CraftBoom!: How long have you been in craft business?

Georgia: I have been in the craft business since 2003.

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CraftBoom!: Where/how do you sell your items, and do you work from home?

Georgia: We live in an old farmhouse in Vermont, and my studio is located in the biggest, brightest room in the house. I sell my work primarily online and through retail stores. I have done some shows, but it’s just not my thing.

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CraftBoom!: What made/inspired you to go into craft business, and what were you doing before?

Georgia: When my youngest son was born, I quickly realized that my life was too hectic trying to juggle my work schedule with the schedules of a school-age child and a newborn, so I decided to stay home and try to find a way to earn an income from home. I began designing and selling jewelry at that time, and branched out to sewing handbags and accessories in 2005. Before my decision to stay home, I worked first as a counsellor and then as an assistant manager at a private home for the mentally ill for seven years. The staff and residents there were guests at my wedding, and I am still very close to them all.


One of Georgia’s lovely bags; I love the professional looking photography.

CraftBoom!: How did you finance the start-up of your business?

Georgia: My husband had just changed fields at the time, and I wasn’t working, so things were very tight at first. I already had supplies from designing as a hobby, so I budgeted a very small amount of our personal money for start-up that included necessary office items and a website program. (There was no etsy when I started!) Over time, I invested more money into supplies and some marketing. You could say I took the slow and steady approach.

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CraftBoom!: How do you decide what you are going to sell?

Georgia: As far as designing goes, I make what appeals to my own personal style. Since I offer design-your-own items, I have to be able to replicate a bag’s shape with a high level of consistency. I normally don’t add a product to my line until I’ve gotten to where I know it well, and can put it together in a reasonable amount of time.

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CraftBoom! When did you realise that your craft business had real potential?

Georgia: When I started to get wholesale inquiries from people that wanted to sell my products in their own stores, I knew that I had reached an important crossroads in my business. I could grow my business as quickly or as slowly as I wanted to. I no longer had to wonder if there would be enough demand for my products, and I had control over how much or how little my business grew. This gave me a tremendous sense of security and allowed me to feel much freer on the creative side of things.

Autumn Hues Cluster Earrings – if I could make jewelry like this I would be able to sell it, I’d have to keep it all!

CraftBoom!: What things do you do to market your business?

Georgia: In the beginning, I submitted my website to as many directories as I could find. I also worked to set up link exchanges with other websites whose visitors might be interested in my work. Now, when I have a special promotion or a new product, I make sure to submit to blogs. I also purchase ads, both online and in print. Now that my youngest son is in preschool (and will be in kindergarten next year) I have stepped-up my marketing plan to include submitting to magazines.

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CraftBoom!: What things do you know now that you wish you knew from the beginning?

Georgia: I’m basically self-taught in every aspect of this business, so there are many, many things that I wish I had known starting out! However, I would have to say that a very big problem I had in the beginning is that I was so enamoured with owning my own craft business that I could justify almost any purchase because it was “for the business”. I sunk a lot of money into custom printed packaging and other things that were not really necessary, and didn’t contribute to my business’ growth. Now, when I contemplate any major purchase for my business, I spend a lot of time thinking about how it will benefit my bottom line, and if there is a better way the money could be spent.

CraftBoom!: What do you love most about running your own craft business, and what do you like least?

Georgia: I absolutely love being my own boss. Maybe it’s because I’m a first-born, maybe it’s because I’m a Leo, I don’t know! But I definitely know that I am not good at being told what to do. I also love that my income is not limited by what someone else thinks I’m worth, or how many hours I can spend working for them. The worst part, I’d have to say, is all of the hours I spend alone with my sewing machine. I’m a social person and it does feel lonely at times. It’s also difficult to have my studio in my house, because it is very tempting to go work on a looming order when I’m really supposed to be spending the evening with my husband and two boys.

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CraftBoom!: What advice would you give to newbies who want to start their own craft business?

Georgia: The first thing I would say is, unless you have a large source of funding that you can afford to lose, start slow. Don’t quit a steady, full-time job with benefits to start a craft business. Spend some time getting to really experience what crafting as a business really is like, because I promise, it isn’t always fun! Then take small steps toward full time, if that’s what you desire. Some people find that part time is really all they want out of their business, so that it can stay fun and not feel too much like “real work”. Success is what you define, and it means different things for different people.

The second thing I would say is not to expect success to come over night. Yes, some designers do happen to hit on a design that people go crazy for and instantly find themselves on every blog out there, but that is by no means the norm. Most of us spend years slowly growing our businesses before we begin to see any real profit or notoriety, and that’s okay! We have to remember that even though we are doing what we love, it is still a business, and all businesses need time to establish themselves before they become truly successful.

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CraftBoom!: Are you satisfied with the income that your craft business brings?

Georgia: I am very satisfied with it! I have always felt that if I was going to sell my work, I needed to be making a fair wage. I structure my pricing so that the item is within fair market value and allows me to make a decent amount of money from it. If I can’t meet those two conditions, I don’t sell the item.

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CraftBoom!: What are your plans for future growth?

Georgia: Like a true entrepreneur, I’m one of those people that are always dreaming, and always have at least a couple of irons in the fire. As far as my business goes, I’m kicking wholesale into high gear by adding a sales rep and I’ve also hired a fabric cutter and hope to find some sewers to help meet the increased demand. I’m also working on a book and considering publishing some of my own sewing patterns.

Design your own Mini Messenger Bag in your own choice of fabrics.

Thank you so much for your open and informative interview Georgia, keep up the good work with your August Lately (well done for doing the wholesale thing and hiring more folks, hopefully that will free up more time for you and your family!), and inspiring people to shop and make indie with Craft Revolution. Best of luck with everything you do.

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This time the I’m featuring the lovely Amy Karol. Lots of you will already know and love Amy from her incredibly popular blog which is chock-full of crafty finds, beautiful photography, aprons, family goings on, and her own stitchery genius. In fact Amy shares her stitchery genius, sense of fun, and sound sewing advice in her much-loved book ‘Bend the Rules Sewing’. Amy lives in Portland, with Husband and 3 Little Ladies. In our interview Amy shares with us her experiences of starting up and running her Craft Business.

Here’s Amy at her recent book signing at Bolt, more pics of the signing here.

Here’s the groovy blog badge that Amy made to let readers know about the signing (it made me grin).

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CraftBoom!: How long have you been in craft business?

Amy:I was trying to answer this and realized the first order I got (custom airbrushed t-shirts for my high school tennis team-ha!) I was 16-so I guess it’s been awhile. I have been making art/craft ever since I remember and selling things since high-school, but the product type has changed often. Clothes, jewelery, hand bound books, artwork, and then baby clothes, quilts, handmade body products, sewing patterns, needlework patterns. Pretty much whatever I am into at the time I have sold.

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CraftBoom!: Where/how do you sell your items, and do you work from home?

Amy:I sell my items on my website and a bit in shops, although very few. I love selling in retail shops so I always try to make sure my pricing can go wholesale and still make a profit. Having said that, being in shops takes work (reorders, etc) and it’s sometimes easier to just sell direct just to keep track of things-which is key for me. I do work at home, and I am a mom to 3 girls, 5, 3, and 4 months, so that is what I do 90% of the time.

One of Amy’s beautiful quilts.

CraftBoom!: What made/inspired you to go into craft business, and what were you doing before?

Amy:I was always selling things on the side-I have always had more than one job-so it seemed natural when I realized I was going to stay home with my kids. I have a very long podcast interview about all this (craftsanity episode #27, the link is on my blog)-it sums up my whole history after college up to now pretty much. Before I had kids, I was an interior architect.

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CraftBoom!: How did you finance the start-up of your business?

Amy: Hmm, I didn’t really. I just tried to break even. I think the key for me is to use what I have (like my husband is a software developer, so we can do our own websites) and try to live within our means. Then, when I do make a profit, it is a bonus. I know this sounds bleak-but it’s much better for my creative process if I don’t focus on money and the profit side of things. I will say things have been good the last 3 years. I am thrilled I have been able to contribute to our income, but again, I try not to focus on that too much and just try to cover my expenses.



CraftBoom!: How do you decide what you are going to sell?

Amy: I never know what I will sell-which is why Mailorder came about. It’s my club with all sorts of patterns, recipes, and paper projects-a brain dump really. I realized I am happiest trying new designs and new things so I just made a product that I personally would most want and crossed my fingers. I also sell my designs and writing (like in my book Bend-the-Rules Sewing) so now I have publishing experience as well, which is amazing and wonderful.

Amy’s well loved ‘Bend the Rules Sewing’. See what folks have been making from her book here.

CraftBoom!: When did you realize that your craft business had real potential?

Amy: When I did taxes last year. It was horrible. I owed so much money-I feel just sick about it even now. It was a huge mistake not figuring it out before I did, thank god I had money saved. But at the same time, it was exciting I had made so much. But-it’s not always like that, it ebbs and flows. I don’t expect to make money every year.

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CraftBoom!: What things do you do to market your business?

Amy: I don’t consciously market really. It’s inherently built into the blog and the community I have become a part of, which means so much to me– and if I think about marketing too much it freaks me out and feels icky. That’s just me. I really have much more fun doing my own thing and just hoping the interest will come. It’s worked for me so far, but I realize this is probably the worst business advice ever. Marketing seems to take care of itself if you just make real friends and are a good person, I think. Especially in the blog world. I think if people are too pushy, it’s a turn off.

Aw this is sooooo lovely…I WANT!! Amy’s textile art is full of whimsy and charm.

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CraftBoom!: What things do you know now that you wish you knew from the beginning?

Amy: I don’t really regret anything I have done (um, maybe the taxes thing) I think because it’s all been so organic. I never had a business plan and never took out a small business loan. I just am trying to be creative and happy while I raise my 3 girls-so this has been all amazing really. But at the same time-I work my bootie off, you know? There are goals I have always had that I have achieved (like writing a book) so it’s not like it just “happened” to me. I would have never guessed in a million years that I would be happier and truer to my goals and dreams by quitting my job and being a stay at home mom (which I realize now is only a part of what I do). I think working in a job that made me unhappy was so hard that when I quit and decided to stay home, it freed up my brain in ways I could have never imagined while I was working in a firm. I’m not sure this answers the question. . . but it’s what came out.

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CraftBoom!: What do you love most about running your own craft business and what do you like least?

Amy: What I love the most? Being my own boss. I can’t really imagine implementing another person’s designs. I love working with other designers–collaboration is one of the best things ever–but I can’t imagine working for anyone else. I think it’s in my blood; my whole family seems to be wired this way.
On the down side–I wish I had more time and some help. I am seriously considering printing Mailorder out-of-house now because it’s gotten too big-as sad as I would be to see the red envelopes go, if I am going to keep doing it, I think I need to get it professionally printed, bound, and mailed by a 3rd party. So, it’s hard–I am still trying to figure it all out.

Amy’s ‘Mail Order’ which is a groovy quarterly craft club.

CraftBoom!: What advice would you give to newbies who want to start their own craft business?

Amy: I have no clue. Really. I can’t really say what I do is a business really, but I know it is. . . . so. . . .I think just to be true to yourself and to be nice to people. Oh, and be sincere. I get e-mails from people who genuinely like what I do and it means the world to me-but I also get emails from people who are going too fast and marketing too hard and get me confused with other bloggers, get my name wrong, ask me about my boys (I only have girls) and try to use the friendly platform of the blog world to get free marketing/advice from me or something. . . . . and it just makes me feel so uncomfortable and sort of sad. You can tell when someone has a real connection with you and when it’s just a marketing reach, so I’d advise crafters to be careful about what vibe they put out there. Things have changed a lot in the last 3 years I have been bogging and now that money can be made, it’s made some people with business goals a bit more aggressive. That’s just my 2-cents.

The Key by Amy. See more of her beautiful artwork here.

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CraftBoom!: Are you satisfied with the income that your craft business brings?

Amy: Yes, for sure, it’s been wonderful. But my expectations are really low-anything above breaking even is a huge success to me. Again, I know this might sound depressing, but if I don’t think that way I will never take chances and try new stuff.

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CraftBoom!: What are your plans for future growth?

Amy: I just have to see what comes. I am all over the place. I really have to be careful about saying yes to anything because with 3 kids-you never know what will happen on any given day so I get nervous about agreeing to deadlines that I don’t 100% control. I just have to do what works best for me and my family right now–which is awesome, really. It makes decisions very easy.

This is such a adorable dress; I think it’s very Amy, and anyone who knows a bit about her will know what I mean…:)

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Thank you so much for your warm and friendly interview Amy, keep up the good work with your wonderful artwork, textile art, enjoying your family, and your inspirational blog (I just love your banners!). Best of luck with everything you do.

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This time the I’m featuring the lovely Amanda Soule. Lots of you will already be avid readers of her eye candy of a blog which is chock-full of beautiful photography, a squillion different crafts and is heavily focused upon her happy looking family In fact her love of craft and the family spurred Amanda to write her upcoming book ‘The Creative Family’. In our interview Amanda shares with us her experiences of starting up and running her Craft Business.

Amanda Soule in one of her cute hats. Besides being very skilled quilter she is pretty handy with knitting needles too!

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CraftBoom!: How long have you been in craft business?
Amanda: One of my grandmothers taught me to sew as a child, and the other taught me the fine art of thrifting (most definitely, it is an art!). I’ve been making things always, but it wasn’t until the birth of my first child that crafting became such an important and essential part of my life and my everyday. That was in 2001.

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CraftBoom!: Where/how do you sell your items, and do you work from home?
Amanda: I sell the craft items I make through Etsy, as well as at a local Portland, Maine shop Edith & Edna. Though there is less money in selling wholesale, it’s really important to me to have a presence in my local art and craft community. And there’s such tremendous satisfaction to walking into a shop and seeing things you’ve made!

One of Amanda’s delicious quilts which will be part of a gallery show in Spring at Edith & Edna’s.

I have a studio in my home which is where I make things, as well as where my writing happens. It makes sense for me to keep my work at home. My children come in from time to time to ‘help’ me make things, which is such fun. Though, there are also times that I crave the solitude of working in a quiet studio, and we do our best to make that happen as well. I work in my studio 2.5 days a week, which I couldn’t do without the tremendous support from my husband, and my own sweet Mom, who hangs with my littles while I work sometimes.

Amanda’s lovely studio. Sooo jealous of her fabric stash! See more pics of her studio here.

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CraftBoom! What made/inspired you to go into craft business, and what were you doing before?
Amanda: Like so many other artists and crafters, I’m sure – I just really love making things, and just as much – I love sharing the things I make. Once I had covered everyone around me in handmade (!) and I STILL couldn’t stop making things, it made sense to put it out into the world, so to speak. How wonderful to get paid for doing something I love!
What I was doing ‘before’ is also what I do now. I’m a Mama. I stay at home and we home school our three young children. Before that, I worked in an advertising agency as an online editor.

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CraftBoom!: How did you finance the start-up of your business?
Amanda: Many of my materials are thrifted, and therefore rather inexpensive. I use a lot of repurposed materials in my crafts because it’s important to me. When I do buy things – I buy high quality fabrics and tools. It makes sewing much more fun when things run smoothly, and I enjoy what I’m working with. And then there are the tools – my digital SLR camera, Bernina sewing machine, the computer, building a website. Ack. Okay, more expenses than I like to think about!

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CraftBoom!: How do you decide upon what products you are going to sell?
Amanda: Right now I’m moving in a direction of making more one-of-a-kind projects that will vary greatly with each shop update. My last round of shop items included some linen hand embroidered quilts, which I adored making. There will be more of those to come. I’m moving away from the things I’ve made in the past – smocks, birthday crowns, handbags. Those were lots of fun at the time, but I’m ready for some new things. So I guess my strategy for deciding what to sell is really just to only make the things I love to make and am excited about at the time. Even if that means the shop looks entirely different from month to month, my hope is that my style carries through.

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CraftBoom!: When did you realise that your craft business had real potential?.
Amanda: In early 2006, it suddenly clicked for me when I realized there were so many other parents out there looking for ways to include more creativity into their families lives, too, and that there was something I could perhaps do to help that. That’s the week I was contacted by a publisher to write my first book. It’s also the very same week in which a local shop first asked me to carry my things there. A big week, yes!

Amanda’s soon to be available book. Crafting has to be one of the most enriching ways to connect with your little ones. In fact I used to work as a play therapist so I can attest to the wondrous powers of craft to turn a room of hyper kids into ‘tongue sticking out with concentration’ potato print artistes

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CraftBoom!: What things do you do to market your business?
Amanda: I let people know about my shop updates through my blog and Flickr. I also just had a website created – www.amandasoule.com - as an umbrella for all that I’m doing – the blog, the book, the shop. That was the biggest expense I’ve had to date through all of this, but I’m so happy with how it came out, and I think it will serve as a way to let people know what I’ve got coming up.

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CraftBoom! What things do you know now, that you wish you knew from the beginning?
Amanda: Perhaps I would have had more confidence to price the things I make a bit more realistically. I think as crafters we are often far too humble and hesitant to price our products for what they’re really worth. Paying ourselves appropriately and fairly for our time is something a lot of crafters struggle with! We all want to make things accessible and affordable to everyone, but making things by hand to sell has cost in both materials and time. I think we could all use a little shift in our thinking about how we value that – and honestly, I think that’s beginning to happen.

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CraftBoom!: What do you love most about running your own craft business, and what do you like least?
Amanda: The knowledge that I can truly do what I want and is important to me – it’s very freeing and inspiring. I do miss working with other people on developing projects from the idea stage to completion. But that said, my family is my work team now. The kids are my inspiration and collaborators, and Steve – my husband – is my partner in vision and guidance. It’s wonderful to have my work such a part of my life.
The downside is also what I love about it – work IS such a part of my life! Sometimes it would be nice to close the door on my ‘work’ for the day, but that really isn’t possible when it’s so intertwined. That line can get a little murky if I’m not mindful of it.

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CraftBoom!: What advice would you give to newbies who want to start their own craft business?
Amanda: I think it’s really important to keep the balance of passion and planning. It’s most important that you make things that you love and are truly from your heart – motivated by YOU. Be careful of paying too much attention to everyone else – your fellow crafters, your audience, your customers. But with that comes the more down-to-earth reality of planning, research, and staying on task. I think checking in with yourself about where you are on that balance is important.

Another little piece that I need to constantly keep in mind is to not take any of it too seriously. As people who work for ourselves and are passionate about what we do, it’s easy to get a little bit of tunnel vision. Don’t take yourself or your work too seriously. Laugh often. Play a lot. And don’t lose sight of the initial joy that making things brings you.

One of Amanda’s yummy linen embroidered quilts (I want!) sold in her shop. Isn’t the photography lovely?

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CraftBoom!: Are you satisfied with the income that your craft business brings?
Amanda: I’m satisfied with it for where it’s at right now. At the moment, I’m able to be the Mama I want to be, while also having this fun little thing of my own going on too. It generates a little bit of extra income to our family, which allows my husband to be home a little bit more, and for us as a family to be together a bit more. So yes, that brings me great satisfaction.

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CraftBoom! What are your plans for future growth?
Amanda: My first book, The Creative Family will be released in April, which I am very excited about. I hope to do a bit of travelling and talking to families about the ideas in that book. Also in April, I’ll have my first gallery showing of my small quilts at Edith & Edna in Portland, Maine. I’ll continue to do shop updates from time to time, and share all the daily little bits on the blog as I’ve done for the past few years. I’m also working on my second book – a craft book – to be released in 2009. And we have plans for some family collaborations coming up too. Lots of exciting stuff! And I’m having so much fun.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful interview Amanda, keep up the good work with your gorgeous quilts, your 2nd book, being a Mama to your little ones, and your inspirational blog. Best of luck with everything you do.

This time the spotlight is on the talented (and very busy!) Meg McElwee. Lots of you will already know who Meg is from her fantastic blog which is chock-full of crafty inspiration and help and advice on how to use Montessori techniques to teach children (her little students are sooo cute!). Meg has started her own Craft Business selling her own line of very pretty and very useful sewing patterns. You might like to know the Meg has also written a wonderful post on how to go about publishing your own patterns (the link was sent to me by Melissa of Fehrtrade). In this interview Meg shares with us her experiences of starting up and running her Craft Business.

The lovely Meg McElwee who (in her own words is): a “Montessori teacher, fiber artist, pattern designer, wife, and servant to two cats.”

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CraftBoom! : How long have you been in craft business?

Meg: I officially began selling my patterns in August, after many months of pondering the idea. I’m such a newcomer to this whole craft business thing! It has been a wonderfully positive experience so far.

Megs’ Reading pillow pattern makes reading easier (by freeing your hands so you can eat choccy for example) and more comfy.

Meg’s Baby Carrier Pattern. It’s so pretty and so functional, perfect for moms on the go, and it would make a great Xmas pressie.

CraftBoom!: Where/how do you sell your items, and do you work from home?

Meg: Two of my patterns, the Reading Pillow and the Mei Tai Baby Carrier, are available for purchase at my website, www.montessoribyhand.net or at my Etsy store – www.montessoribyhand.etsy.com. In addition, they will soon be available at Sew, Mama, Sew and many other online and independent sewing stores throughout the United States.

I make almost all my sales through PayPal. At first, I was selling electronic versions of my patterns through a service called PayLoadz, but I am excited to be transitioning to printed patterns.

Even though I live in rural Mexico, which prevents me from packaging and sending off orders myself, I am fortunate to have the help of my parents who live in California. Until my husband and I move back to the United States this coming summer, my dear dad, a recent retiree, is acting as my stock boy! All of my orders will be packaged and shipped off by this ex-geotechnical engineer, with my mom providing the quality control on the bow tying, etc.

CraftBoom!: What made/inspired you to go into craft business, and what were you doing before?

Meg: Oh boy. I like that “what were you doing before?” line, which implies that I gracefully waved adieu to my previous career in order to focus on my pattern designs. Ha! In reality, I juggle two jobs – by day I’m a full-time Montessori teacher in a one-room school house in Creel, Chihuahua, Mexico. By night I’m a crazy (and very tired) pattern designer, craft enthusiast, and above all, servant to two very demanding felines – one of which sometimes helps me model my Mei Tai Baby Carrier, given that I don’t yet have any babies of the human variety.

Awwwwww! Mei Tai Baby Carrier as modeled by mum and a very comfy pet cat. Have you noticed how many crafters seem to have cute pets as well?

In reality, this is a blissful and symbiotic mix. My patterns represent a melding of two of my passions: child-led, discovery-based education and sewing. It is my desire to provide sewing patterns that offer unique ways to enrich the lives of children and their families.

A big motivation for selling my patterns is the hope that I will be able to earn enough money from my sales so that I can stay at home once we have a baby, even though my husband will be bringing in those big-time bucks as a grad student!

CraftBoom!: How did you finance the start-up of your business?

Meg: I began by selling three of my patterns as e-patterns, PDF files that my customers could download directly to their computers. This worked out quite well for me, as I was able to use these earnings to pay for the (somewhat substantial) cost of having my patterns professionally printed and sold in sewing stores as real, full-sized products. I highly recommend selling your patterns as downloadable files first. It allows you to get a sense of what will sell, what instructions might need tweaking, and most importantly, it can help you set aside start-up funds so you don’t have to empty your savings account to start up your small business. In order to sell online files, I recommend using the services of Payloadz or E-junkie, which work with PayPal to safely store and deliver the files once a purchase is made.

Megs’ Reading Pillow in action.

CraftBoom!: How do you decide what you are going to sell?

Meg: I get a really good sense about what might make a good pattern by the response I receive at my blog when I post a picture of the product. For example, my reading pillow was an instant hit among my readers, as well as on Flickr groups. I knew that this would be a successful product!

CraftBoom!: When did you realize that your craft business had real potential?

Meg: I remember the morning well – I contacted Kristin of Sew, Mama, Sew about the possibility of carrying my patterns in her store. She responded with an encouraging “yes!” and my vision from that moment on grew substantially broader. It was then that I decided to have the patterns printed professionally and offer them to interested sewing retailers.

CraftBoom!: What things do you do to market your business?

Meg: Although my blog didn’t start off with any of this “pattern business” in mind, it has turned out to be a lovely way to get the word out about my patterns. I have a mailing list associated with the blog that I’ve put together (I use www.ymlp.com as my provider.) I’m also on Flickr, where I post my pics to various groups. Another positive tool has been my participation in various Yahoo groups and sewing forums, including my own , where many crafty mamas hang out and share advice. I’ve also written tutorials and articles for Whip Up, where I link to my website. And last, but not least, I have complied a mondo email list of quilting/sewing stores with the help of my friend, Google. This is the list that receives my promotional emails and information on how to order my products.

CraftBoom! What things do you know now that you wish you knew from the beginning?

Meg: I wish I knew how helpful all of my fellow craft entrepreneurs were! After getting over my nervousness, I went ahead and contacted them and, guess what? They responded right away and provided excellent tips and advice.

CraftBoom!: What do you love most about running your own craft business, and what do you like least?

Meg: I love getting paid for my need to create, but most of all, I love knowing that my pattern designs have the potential to make the life of family a little brighter. On the downside, I dislike dealing with certain “techy” details such as web maintenance, etc. Thankfully, my wonderful husband, Patrick, is super helpful in this arena. I couldn’t do it without him!

CraftBoom!: What advice would you give to newbies who want to start their own craft business?

Meg:

1.) Jump in, and don’t hesitate to contact other entrepreneurs if you have questions!

2.) If you want to publish your own patterns, consider familiarizing yourself with a professional layout program such as Adobe InDesign. It pays to sit down and go through the tutorial once or twice.

3.) Decide how much time you are willing to put into your business from the get-go. Time can either be your best ally or your worst enemy. If you stick to your parameters, you will be able to produce more in less time, and you will be able to maintain a balance in your life. Remember to set aside fun crafting time for yourself when you create things that have nothing to do with your business! Crafting should never become a chore.

CraftBoom!: Are you satisfied with the income that your craft business brings?

Meg: I haven’t yet reached my goal, but then again, I’m just starting. As of right now, business is looking quite good.

CraftBoom!: What are your plans for future growth?

Meg: I currently have a number of ideas up my sleeve. Sometime in early 2008, I plan to make available the next two patterns in the Montessori By Hand line – a Child’s Apron and a Child’s Painting Smock and Art Apron. So many ideas, so little time!

How cute is this Painting Smock? One of Meg’s arty students modeling the upcoming smock, just the thing to make your classmates a bit envious!

All of this depends on my plans for a future growth (ahem, I mean baby) in my belly! Hopefully the pattern sales will go really well, and the most important “growth” phase can begin!

Thank you so much for the interview Meg, keep up the good work with your yummy patterns and inspirational blog. Best of luck with everything you do. Can’t wait to see pics of your up coming little one

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Marcia Crookes is a UK textile artist extraordinaire; she crafts the most amazing wall hangings, textile sculptures, vessels, and sublime bags. When Marcia isn’t experimenting with fabrics, she teaches, exhibits, and sells her work PHEW! Each piece that Marcia makes is handmade and a one-off. I have known of her work for quite a while, and I have been in awe ever since…

The artistic Marcia Crookes of Seedstitch, read more about Marcia here.

CraftBoom!: How long have you been in craft business?
Marcia: You could say I have been in the business since 1993 when I lived in France and made and sold quilts over there. However, it was not until I qualified in patchwork & quilting (City & Guilds) in 1998 and got a teaching qualification, that I started teaching textile based workshops free-lance all over the north of England. These workshops included ‘hot texture’ handbags.

Close up view of some Hot Texture…yep, I have to agree that is indeed HOT!

CraftBoom!: Where/how do you sell your items, and do you work from home?
Marcia: I do work from home when I make items, but travel to workshops to teach. I have my own ground floor work rooms – one to do the sewing and the other (which was the garage) to do all the dyeing and printing. Just now I sell my items from a few galleries/shops that are easier for me to get to and replace anything that sells! However, I am hoping to get my bags into more outlets in other cities and towns in 2008.
I have a website/blog (www.seedstitch.com) where I also sell my bags which is better for me financially because I don’t lose 40% commission to galleries/shops. Having said this, galleries/shops are great because they get your work seen ‘in the flesh’ and people can try them before buying.
I exhibit both solo, with my calligrapher/artist husband (www.rcrux.com) and with the textile group I am in called ‘Textilia III’. I also participate in a yearly ‘open studio’ for artists in North Yorkshire, which is great for selling and through this, galleries have asked me to provide items to them.

CraftBoom!: What made/inspired you to go into craft business, and what were you doing before?
Marcia: I have always loved creating things and went to art college in Leeds between 1979-1982 doing 3D/ theatre set design. I did some voluntary work for Leeds playhouse (painting scenery), then got a paying job at Virgin records for 10 years! I met my husband there, who is an artist and he persuaded me to get back into doing my art. We both moved to France and I started making and selling quilts over there – this was my first financial craft adventure!

CraftBoom!: How did you finance the start-up of your business?
Marcia: I decided not to pay to advertise because I already had many contacts through teaching and knew I had some outlets for my work any time I wanted it. I decided to focus on bags and gave myself about a year to make as many as I could, whilst still teaching workshops to finance me.
The biggest cost has been buying items such as fasteners, zips, wadding, interfacing etc. I also designed a label, which my husband made look wonderful with his computer skills and then had this made into fabric labels to stitch into my bags and card labels to hang on the outside.

Cat face bag. Very striking and fun!

CraftBoom!: How do you decide what you are going to sell?
Marcia: I make lots of different things such as vessels and wall hangings/quilts, but I focused on bags because they can be used every day to carry those essential or special items. As I trained in 3D design, bags are a natural progression for me and I can sell more bags than I can wall hangings!

CraftBoom!: When did you realise that your craft business had real potential?
Marcia: Whilst I was doing my City & Guilds, people were asking me “how have you done that?” This made me decide to do a teaching qualification so that I could actually show people how to do things properly and with confidence and at the same time make a living out of sharing my ideas.

Hand dyed and stitched bucket bag

CraftBoom!: What things do you do to market your business?
Marcia: I’m naughty because I don’t do as much as I know I should! I have had leaflets made in the past to promote my workshops, but 2008 will see me advertising in certain magazines and approaching more galleries/shops for my bags.

CraftBoom!: What things do you know now that you wish you knew from the beginning?
Marcia: I’m still learning, but I think you should get your prices right at the beginning and sell items for what you KNOW they are worth. It is no good slaving away and selling things cheap, because then you are working a lot harder for less.
It is better to do higher quality work for more money. I have had to put my prices up because I was too cheap and then I felt guilty and was worried customers would see the large increases and not come back.

Faux Chenille bags

CraftBoom!: What do you love most about running your own craft business and what do you like least?
Marcia: I love working from home and having the freedom to make a mess! I always have great music playing and enjoy most things I do. What I like least about having my own business is promoting my work (I’m a natural maker, rather than seller) and doing my accounts!

CraftBoom!: What advice would you give to newbies who want to start their own craft business?
Marcia: Do market research into what is ‘in/out’, but then make what YOU want to, rather than what you THINK others want you to do! I find the items I actually like myself sell well and the ones I have done because I thought the colours/patterns might be popular, have not sold.

Detail shot of dyed and stitched satin flowers on a bag.

CraftBoom!: Are you satisfied with the income that your craft business brings?
Marcia: I am satisfied with my income from the teaching, but would like to earn more from the bags in the future.

CraftBoom!: What are your plans for future growth?
Marcia: I do think I will always be a small business because I like to do everything myself! I should do more to advertise my products on the net and in the real world – so I think I have a lot of hard work ahead of me yet.

One of Marcia’s incredible wall hangings.
Thanks for the interview Marcia , as usual I am blown away by your work, and you make me look lazy! I wish you the best of luck in all you do.

Today I am going to start a series of interviews with Crafting Heroes. I’ll be asking them questions about their craft business and showing you pics of the yummy things that they make. I hope you enjoy them, and you get as inspired and learn some brill craft business tips from reading the interviews as I have

To kick off our Crafting Heroes Interviews I asked the talented Lisa Billings of PinkLemonade Boutique to answer some craft business questions for me. She’s definitely a bag making hero for me, and I know that a lot of you will already know who she is. Lisa makes bag and purses to die for. Her style is gorgeous, unique and distinctive, and I would consider eating my left foot just to have sewing and quilting skills like hers!

The talented Lisa Billings of PinkLemonade Boutique. She looks like she’s dreaming up another lovely bag design Lisa lives in the US, outside of Providence RI, with her husband Jeff, and her 6 year old daughter Olivia, and cat Violet.

CraftBoom!: How long have you been in craft business?

Lisa: Since 2001

CraftBoom!: Where/how do you sell your craft items, and do you work from home?

Lisa: I’ve been selling on eBay since 2001, and Etsy since last July. I did my first craft show last month and have done home parties on occasion. I work from my home studio. I had a website, but found it hard to maintain it all the time, and update it, so I made it just informative with links to all things Pinklemonadeboutique.

CraftBoom!: What made/inspired you to go into craft business, and what were you doing before?

Lisa: I was working as a teller for a large bank, but then when I had my daughter, I decided to be a stay at home Mom. We had to make sacrifices for that, but then found that I could earn money by turning what I always have loved to do, and that is to craft and sew into a little business.

CraftBoom!: How did you finance the start-up of your business?

Lisa: Well I started off pretty small and simple so it didn’t cost too much, I already had a sewing machine, so I just started buying small amounts of fabric.

CraftBoom!: How do you decide what you are going to sell?

Lisa: Well, I started making bags, because they were fairly simple, I didn’t use any patterns, they were quick, and didn’t need a lot of fabric. Pretty much instant gratification! I could sew one up and in a couple of hours have it listed on eBay!

CraftBoom!: When did you realize that your craft business had real potential?

Lisa: I got so many compliments from friends and family, and of course the sales on eBay started really getting pretty good, and I had a lot of repeat customers. That really told me that the product was decent.

CraftBoom!: What things do you know now that you wish you knew from the beginning?

Lisa: That there are great resources out there, (like your blogs!) which are so helpful with practical advice. Especially when it comes to the business and money aspect. I wish I were more business oriented and more responsible in that way. Sometimes a little debt is unavoidable I suppose, like when your sewing machine breaks and you need to buy a new one, but just to buy yards and yards of fabric when you already have a lot and haven’t used yet, not a good idea! And that there are ups and downs as far as the pace of selling, don’t let it discourage you.

CraftBoom!:What things do you do to market your business?

Lisa: Well, first I’d have to say, that i consider this to be one of my weak points. I think that there probably is more that I could do, in that regard. But currently, I’ve been blogging, and posting my pics on Flickr groups. I’m working on getting a mailing list up and running also.

CraftBoom!: What do you love most about running your own craft business and what do you like least?

Lisa: I love the creative freedom! And the validation you get when people actually plunk down the money for something you’ve made from scratch with your own 2 hands, it’s so satisfying, and what keeps me going. I would say the least thing I like is the self-discipline you have to have to be successful. Because although it’s fun, you have to have some sort of a schedule and sometimes you have customs and sewing when you don’t feel like it. If you want to have happy customers, you have to get things out in a timely manner. Also for me, I don’t like making anything twice. But you can’t always do fun things, you have to discipline yourself to do production mode things sometimes.

CraftBoom!: What advice would you give to newbies who want to start their own craft business?

Lisa: My advice generally deals with the product and the process mostly. And it is this:

1. You hear it all the time but it is so true: Do what you love. Because to be successful, you have to do it, and do it again, and again. If you really don’t like it, it’ll be misery.
2. Put your heart into it. Really be engaged with the creative process, loosen up, and let your instincts take over. I don’t create with my mind, I let my emotions rule. I know that sounds kooky, but it works for me. I do what I personally love, like styles and fabric combos. And sometimes it’s really unconventional. But I think, hey if I like it, maybe someone else will too. Do what is authentic to you personally. What I mean by that is, don’t do what you think will be popular, or what other people might like, do what you like. And it’ll come across. Also, find inspiration from other designers, but don’t copy.
3. Strive for impeccable craftsmanship, both in the actual construction and in the design. If you wouldn’t use it, don’t put it out there. If you know deep down, that the product isn’t your best work, you’ll feel crappy about it, knowing you’ve sent an inferior product out there to someone who is trusting that you’ve done your best. Start over, or scrap it. Also, no matter how cool a particular design looks, if it doesn’t work well in actual life, it’s no good. With purses, I try to use a new design myself, to see how it operates, holds up to wear and tear etc. I put firm bottoms on totes, pins are removable for laundering, bag straps are reinforced.
4. Always be open to new ideas and a better way to do things. I’ve recently had an epiphany about fusible interfacing myself. I’m always trying to better my product. Also, there’s always more than 1 way to do something. Experiment, and find out what works best for you.

CraftBoom!:Are you satisfied with the income that your craft business brings?

Lisa: I think I’m satisfied in the sense that I really can’t produce much more all by myself, and the time I have is limited being a Mom and the other stuff we all have to do. So the time I spend, and the income I have is satisfactory at this point.

CraftBoom!: What are your plans for future growth?

Lisa: I really would like to write a book, or the very least publish my patterns.

Woo! Thanks Lisa, that was really interesting and inspiring! I have a sudden urge to drop everything and go SEW! Best of luck in everything you do