Favourite Etsy Shop Friday

Favourite Etsy Shop Feature

Beastlies
www.Beastlies.etsy.com

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hello, I'm Leslie. I live in LA, and I make the Beastlies. When I'm not sculpting, I work at a comic book store. I love comics almost as much as tiny monsters...

2. What made you open your shop and why Etsy?
Well, I first became a fan of Etsy as a buyer. And then a few years ago, I made some little figures and took them to a comic book convention to sell. I was really excited when people actually liked them and bought them, so I thought I'd give it a shot on Etsy. It just seemed like the natural place for little handmade critters.

3. Do you sell your Beastlies anywhere else?
I still love taking them to comic conventions, so I do three or four of those a year. Usually the San Diego Comic Con, the Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco, Stumptown in Portland, and later this month I'll be at Designer Con in Pasadena. I also bring some Beastlies into Meltdown, the comic shop where I work.

4. How did you choose the name for your little monsters?
At first I was just calling them Little Beasties, but I wanted a name that would be more unique, something that wasn't quite a normal word. So I combined beasties with my first name and liked how that sounded.


5. What are your favourite things to do?
Luckily for me, I really love to sculpt and create characters. I already mentioned that I love comics, both reading them and helping create them (I sculpt the weekly Atrox comics at theatrox.com). That sums up the majority of my waking hours, right there...

6. What inspires you?
I always love to see amazing character design, from the Muppets to vinyl toys. I also love to go to aquariums or just find photo books of strange or hilariously cute animals and take mental notes about the best features.


7. Which of the Beastlies is your favourite to make?
Anytime they look like they're yelling, or they look really especially dumb, those usually end up being my favorites.

8 How long does it take to create one of your Beastlies?
Usually in the neighborhood of an hour. Sometimes a little more or less, depending on the complexity.


9. How do you come up with the Beastlies names and their profiles?
The names come from anything I can think of, pretty much. For the profiles, I focus on their expressions and think of what this creature would be like if it was up for adoption at an animal shelter. I used to work at a rabbit rescue organization, and I'd write little descriptions of each bunny that was looking for a home. When you're doing that, you try to think of creative and interesting ways to convey if a rabbit is especially friendly or curious or shy. That's the basic idea of what I'm trying to do with the Beastlies descriptions. Sometimes it wanders from that a little, but that's what I start with.

10. Name 3 other Etsy shops you love to visit.
lauren m. wong
Melissa Sue
Miss Monster


Thank you to Leslie for being my favourite Etsy shop feature this week. How can you not love these little guys. They each have different personalities but all equally as cute. Whenever I look at this shop it makes me want to collect them all. Megan and I spent an afternoon once just giggling over them while reading their profiles. You really do have to check out the sold section as well to see all of the Beastlies that have been made in the past. I think every household needs at least one Beastlie in it.

A Fluffy Black Kitty

Here is a custom order I have been working on for the past week. Her name is Olive as was told to me by her new owners. She was to be black and fluffy with olive green eyes, a pale pink nose and cream whiskers. She was also to have an olive green colour. I asked if she should have rhinestones on her collar and it was said that she was a kitty who needed rhinestones. I really hope they like how she turned out.


They yarn that was used is Joann Sensations Beautiful. I hadnt used this yarn before but Megan and I have drooled over its complete softness so many times. I just knew I had to make this kitty in such a luxurious soft fluffy yarn. Every one in this house keeps harassing me on how fat this kitty turned out. I am trying to ignore the fact that she came out fatter than I thought she would. I have made this pattern before but in bunny form and he was much skinnier. I hadnt made this pattern in a long time and Im not sure if I adjusted the pattern when I had made it as this time I made it as was written. Gee I hope they dont mind that she is extra cuddly as I like to refer to it. Perhaps her super softness will make up the difference. Perhaps its just her fur that makes her look a little on the plump side.


I may end up making another one of these kitties soon as the customer hinted that they may just want one for themselves as well as the person they are giving this one too. Perhaps before they order I need to ask them do you want a sleek kitty or a plump kitty hehe.

Favourite Etsy Shop Friday

Favourite Etsy Shop Feature

Retrofied
www.retrofied.etsy.com

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m Rebecca, I’m the designer, seamstress, photographer, artist, model, admin, etc. behind retrofied. Currently I live and work on Saint Simons Island off the coast of Georgia. I graduated with a BA in Art and a BA in Psychology from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA. Starting retrofied was definitely bag therapy! Fall is my favorite time of year in Georgia and this is my first one after 5 years spent in the Midwest.

2. What made you open your shop and why Etsy?

In 2007, while visiting my Mother, I asked if she would teach me how to read a real live sewing pattern. She used to sew the most beautiful dresses for my sister and I to wear to Church when we were children.

Hooked on patterns I started buying vintage fabrics. On free weekends I would make a variety of bags using a couple different pre made bag patterns. After a bag or two I started changing the patterns up a bit.

My sister Anna found Etsy and told me the bags would be perfect for it. She took my original photos and even made my shop banner. I listed only a few bags the first 6 or 7 months and never even logged in to look at the shop. Had my first sale some time a few months later and have no idea how the customer even found the shop. Mostly I was making the bags because I was obsessed with the fabrics and almost did not want them to sell so I could keep them all.

The bag that made it all happen is the Large Reversible Hobo in Optic Linen/ Mustard Martini. I bought a half yard of the two fabrics and knew only two things - I wanted a large bag and I was stuck because I could not decide on which fabric should be the outside. So, a large reversible hobo was born and my first original bag pattern.

Every time I wore the bag people stopped me and asked where I got it from. Then a friend asked if I could make it with pockets to use as a diaper bag. The diaper bag pattern came about and the shop pretty much took off from there.

I think the first hobo was listed sometime in March or April 2008. My sales were doubling every month and I was in shock. By June 2008 I went full time with retrofied. Every day I wake up I can not believe how lucky I am.



3. Where else do you sell your bags?

Retrofied bags have been in about 10 different shops throughout the US and a couple in Canada, but the majority of my sales come directly from Etsy. Some of the retail shops are listed in the profile section at retrofied on Etsy. I am most proud of the bags at Light Years in North Carolina. They are a small chain of 3 stores and each store carries the bags. There is something fun about knowing you have bags in a chain of stores.

4. How did you choose your shop name?

Originally the shop was going to be called RetroGirl, but fortunately that was taken. My sister came up with retrofied after we tried to brain storm ideas with the word retro in them. It started with wanting the word retro because the shop with vinatge fabrics from the 1930's, 40's, and 50's.


5. What are you favourite things to do?

I like to ride my bike around on foggy days and wait to hear the Great Horned Owls hooting. It is a beautifully spooky noise that stops everyone in their tracks. Running, hitting flea markets with tons of good, cooking (and eating) and throwing pottery are a few more. Other than that I am a big nerd who loves to sit on the beach on a breezy day, drink coffee and read stacks of good books - usually biographies because people are fascinating.

6. What inspires you?

Just about everything inspires me, but most of all fabric themselves are inspirational. Some fabrics just know which bag they should be created into. I usually see a fabric and have a melting feeling - like ooh, that fabric must be this bag or else! Or else what I have no idea.

Every single piece of fabric looks like a bag to me. Even vintage clothes look ready to be deconstructed into a new bag. No fabric is safe.



7. Of all the different types of bags you make, which is your favourite one?

Currently that is the new reversible knitting bag. I just added this bag design. It is an alteration of the reversible diaper bag with slimmer pockets perfect for knitting needles, scissors, and notepads. It is perfect to carry art supplies like linoleum cutting tools and pads of paper to the beach so I can work outside.

8. Which is the most popular bag you sell?

The most popular bags are the Large reversible hobos and the Large reversible diaper bags. It is a tie between the two. In both bag styles the fabric combinations of Optic Linen and Mustard martini is the most popular hands down. People love that fabric combo. It is very vintage yet modern all at once.



9. What handmade possession do you cherish?

It is a large stoneware bowl my class made as a group at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago. Everyone contributed to it. Someone threw it, another trimmed it and so forth until completed. We were supposed to draw for it, but they all decided to give it to me while I was gone. It means a lot to me.

10. Name 3 other Etsy shops you love to visit.

Ok, this one is tough. I will admit to being an Etsy shop stalker! Hearting shops and items relentlessly is a passion. These are my favourite fabric shops:

For Japanese fabrics I love digging through ThisandThatFromJapan. The Japanese fabrics are so fun and happy and of course well made.

Scarlet Fig is one of my favourite hand made fabric shops. Just bought a piece of yellow fabric with amazing blue couches on it and it was worth every penny. I want to make about a million things with it.

Finally, for screen printed fabrics getting inspiration from FreshFabricAustralia is the best. I just finished the art work for retrofieds first fabric. I love love love the look of screened fabrics, so seeing work from others who love it as much and are so talented is very inspirational.



Thank you so much to retrofied for being my featured Etsy shop this week. This is a shop that I just discovered this week. I saw one of her bags on the front page of Etsy and had to investigate. I found myself drooling over every bag and knew that this had to be my favourite shop for this weeks interview. Every fabric, every design is just eye popping and drool worthy. I wouldnt know which to pick for my favourite one. I can imagine if you own one of these bags you would get stopped all the time and asked where it came from. I challenge you to take a look in this Etsy shop and pick just one favourite. I bet you can't do it.

Lily Has Arrived!

I am an Aunt again. We are so excited that Lily May arrived today at 7.23am being 7lbs 10oz and 19 inches long. Its so weird to think of my brother in law as a Dad hehe.

We are off to meet the newest member of the family tomorrow afternoon. I was asked a few months ago if I would be the babysitter when the baby's Mum goes back to work and happily agreed. I just found out yesterday that it wont be in January but most likely the end of November. It looks like things are going to get a little more interesting around here very soon.

Homecoming

Last week Megan had her first Homecoming dance. She was very excited about this dance. How do I know she was excited about this dance? Because she has been talking about it for a year hehe. Its not to often we see Megan in a dress so I definitely had to get photos. She picked her favourite colour at the moment, purple. I think she did a good job picking. She went with her friends dress shopping so I had no idea what she would come home with.


Then came the shoe shopping because sneakers and clogs just werent going to cut it hehe. I was a bit nervous about Megan wearing high heels. She has trouble not tripping with no shoes on let alone with high heels on. So off we went shopping for shoes. She got these silver heels that werent too high with a type of figure 8 that has sparklies on them. We figured silver was better than black. She got ready at her friend Brittany's house but I made sure she stopped home for some photos first before going off and dancing the night away. Apparently lots of fun was had and they are probably counting down the days until the next dance in January. Here's where having girls is going to get expensive.

Lots Of Finished Projects Last Week

I was on a mission to get things finished last week. Hopefully I can keep that momentum up this week. I finished this yellow baby blanket a couple of months ago but it had been waiting to be blocked since then. I finally got to it and blocked it last week. I dont know why but before every blocking I think its not going to do much and its a waste of time. Every time the blocking is done I think Im so glad I blocked it because it looks so much better. Perhaps its because blocking can be a long pinning process but its totally worth it in the end. I should of taken a before blocking picture. This blanket looked ok before blocking but it was kind of all squished up and you couldnt see the cables as well. Now its a nice big rectangle with the cables looking really pretty and for some reason it feels softer.


This blanket was knit with an italian yarn that is 52% Merino and 48% Acrylic so it has the softness of merino wool but it can be put in the wash. Great stuff and now very hard to find. I ended up with one ball of yellow left over from this project and made myself a pair of ankle socks. I have been living in them ever since.


Here is Victoria modeling the snowman hat that I made for the craft show in December. It is knit with yarn that I unravelled from a soft cotton Gap jumper. Joe helped me out with the snowman face as I was having trouble getting the right size for his carrot nose. Three noses later and here he is.


With more of the cotton yarn I made two panda hats. One hat was for the craft show and the other hat is for Megan. We had seen panda hats online last winter and I promised I would make her one. These panda hats are my own version. I found a free online program that turns any picture into a knitting design. I found a real panda photo uploaded it to this program and then printed out a sheet of knitting grid paper. I then tried out many different panda faces on the grid paper. It changed even while I was stitching it on until I finally got something I liked. He needed ears so I had to figure out how to make good panda ears. I knitted them in the round so I didnt have to seam them together. Its funny because as I was finishing up these panda hats Megan didnt know one was for her and she was begging to have one. Now of course Victoria has seen them and wants one too. I guess I am making another panda hat.


This week I am making a fluffy black cat for a custom order I received last week. He will be a modified version of the fuzzy bunny in my Etsy shop. This is going to be one fancy kitty with a rhinestone collar. I will have to post pictures when she is done.
I am also working on some knitted toys for another Etsy shop that approached me about selling wholesale. So I finished a baby monkey yesterday and Im now working on another Marcel Mouse with a fuzzy bunny and a lamb to follow. All this while trying to get more stuff made for the craft sale and to add to Knitted For Ewe. Things are looking very knitty busy around here.

The Slouch Hat Is Listed

I have been wanting and waiting to list this hat for about a month now. The hardest part was getting Megan at home when it was still daylight to take the pictures. Oh yeah and me putting off blocking it for so long hehe. Blocking it was definitely worth it though because it made it more slouchy and sit the way that I wanted it to.


Megan has no problem being my model. I think she feels a little bit famous when I put her in my shop.


This hat was made out of the hand spun hand dyed yarn that I got in a trade with the Etsy shop Lamb's Ears. I still have a little bit left and Im trying to think of what else to do with it because I dont want any of it wasted. This yarn is so soft and warm. It is made from 40% wool, 40% Mohair and 20% Angora. It is spun with black lambs fleece and dyed Violet, Purple, and Silver Mohair and Angora. I think its cool that they used black fleece instead of the usual white. I wish I got to use handspun yarn more often. What a luxury.