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.

Favourite Etsy Shop Friday

Favourite Etsy Shop Feature

HARE and DRUM
www.HAREandDRUM.etsy.com

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hare And Drum is a mother-daughter duo: Agnieszka who thinks up the designs as well as creates items in wood, paint, and decoupage, and her mom Maria who does the beautiful hand embroidery.

2. What made you open your shop and why Etsy?
I started Hare and Drum in March 2008 as a decoupage shop, creating and selling items inspired by historical design. I opened the shop following a year as a stay at home mom during which I crafted for friends and family. My direct motivation to get started on Etsy was Rob White’s interview with Martha Stewart on her show.



3. Do you sell your items anywhere else?
Etsy is currently my only active venue.

4. How did you choose your shop name?
History inspired the shop’s name: my Hare and Drum logo comes from a 1210 manuscript and carries symbolism of dexterity and rejuvenation. I really needed to feel rejuvenated after leaving the academic world and becoming a stay at home mom, a fantastic new job, but admittedly a bit repetitive.


5. What are your favourite things to do?
Unlike many crafters, I love taking photos of my items for sale. That stems from my interest in photography in general, although I do not have fancy equipment. I’m a photographer of choice for family and friends’ casual events. My other fave is being in nature, especially in the forest. My parents’ house stands among pine trees on the edge of the forest and I’ve always been enamored with warm quiet beauty of the woods.

6. What inspires you?
Historical design was my original inspiration and still remains a favorite: many of my embroidery designs are based on or inspired by Art Nouveau museum finds. I decided, however, that my shop needed a clearer focus and now most of our creations are nature inspired. Color plays a big role in my design process: I usually start with a base or background color and match it with one or two more, not always in a predictable manner: purple and red or blue and green go really well together, in my opinion.


7. Of all the items you make for you shop, which do you enjoy making the most?
I have the most fun designing digital collages of vintage images. I find the images, clean them up digitally to give them new life, and then invent a story or a humorous concept when putting them together with other images. I later print them on greeting cards or use them in decoupage. My friends love those!

8. Which is the most popular item you sell?
My bestseller is definitely the business card case that doubles as card display. I am the only one on Etsy who carries this style. The item is versatile and available for personalization; it is also a potential “man” gift of the useful kind, and those are hard to come by on Etsy.



9. What handmade possession do you cherish?
I have a cable turtleneck sweater, knit by my Grandma some 15 years ago. She is now in the final stages of Alzheimer’s and no longer knits, recognizes family, or even talks cohesively. Every time I look at the sweater I remember how wonderful she used to be. I cherish her work so much I’m afraid to wear it!

10. Name 3 other Etsy shops you love to visit.
PeskyCatDesigns - Elisa, the creator behind the shop, is my Internet buddy. Her shop reflects her personality very well: warm, calm, steady. Her purses are such high quality!

I love looking at art by RestlessThings. The designs are so simple in the color schemes, so delicate. I really like her choice of backgrounds she works on: brown paper bags, book pages. It adds a whimsical aura to her work.

Finally, I keep returning to PudledukSoapCo for more and more yummy smelling, quality soap.


Thank you to Hare and Drum for being the Favourite Etsy Shop Feature this week. I am alway amazed at the embroidery work that is done in this shop. You have to see them all. I love how the fabric is a bold colour and all the stitch work is usually done in one colour. I think that affect is beautiful. I can see why the business card holders are such a hit. I think I need one for myself. But which one to choose? It would be a hard decision. Check out this wonderful Etsy shop and you will see why so many Etsy Treasuries feature their products.

No Feature Today But Admiration

I had a feature all lined up for today but things happen and sometimes you have to adjust so the feature that would have been this week will be featured on another Friday.

I dont want to leave you with nothing to read so I thought that I would give you some a list of knitting shops that I admire.

1. Little Cotton Rabbits www.LCRKnitted.etsy.com
Blog Little Cotton Rabbits
You need to take a look at these knitted toys. They are simply amazing. When you see them you will understand why when she sells them they are all gone in minutes. I drool every time I see them.

2. Lilibeth's Garden www.lilibethsgarden.etsy.com
Blog Lilibeth's Garden

These felted bags are what inspired me to start trying to make them myself. If you look in the sold section of her shop you will see amazing and beautiful bags. I love the colours, the embroidery and the style of her bags. She even helped me out when I first got started giving me all sorts of advice. I am very grateful.

3. Down In The Meadow www.downinthemeadow.etsy.com
Little Meadow Babies www.littlemeadowbabies.etsy.com
Blog Down In The Meadow

I love how natural all the knitted toys are in this shop even down to the stuffing. Victoria and I have spent some time gushing over all the little animals and which ones we would like to own. We especially love the gnomes. I am loving the new Little Meadow Babies shop. I have fallen in love with the drawstring bag. Can grown ups use that too?

4. Knitting Dream www.knittingdream.etsy.com

I just discovered this shop about a week ago and Im still in awe at these felted bags. You just have to see how amazing they are. You can buy the patterns or you can buy some of the bags. I would love to be able to make one but I dont know if Im feeling brave enough. Perhaps I would just have to buy a bag and admire it.

5. Fuzzy Mitten www.fuzzymitten.etsy.com
Blog Fuzzy Thoughts

I have two pattern from Fuzzy Mitten. They are easy to do and fun to make. I love the fact that you can make all these knitted clothes to go with them. Every time I look at her shop I want to buy more and more of her patterns. They are some of the cutest knitted toy patterns you can find out there.

6. Debi Birkin Designs www.DebiBirkinDesigns.etsy.com
Her patterns can be found right now at www.periwinklepark.etsy.com

I dont own any of these knitted toy patterns but I wish I did. I just drool every time I see them. I just want to get my hands on some of these patterns and start making some super cute stuff although I think once I started I wouldnt be able to stop hehe.

Well there wasnt a Favourite Etsy Shop Feature but I had fun showing you other knitters that I look up to. I hope you have maybe found some new knitters that you like as well.