I am a small time crafter with big time dreams. Currently I go to school at a small east coast college where I am part of the Student Programming board. I love working with people and most of all I love being creative. I've been cutting and gluing since I can remember and have a crochet hook near me at all times! I love being inspired by the latest fashions and am often quoted as saying "I can make that!" I have too much yarn for my own good and have pledged to not buy any more until it all runs out. (Hope it lasts!) I dig thrift stores and second hand shops. I love dying my hair and having it cut. I can't keep things the same for more than a minute and am always changing. Such is the life of creativity!
1. Where is your business located?
I am a student at a small east coast college. I do most of my crafting in that small college town or on park benches in my home city. Currently I am in the city, getting used to the hums all over again.
2. How long have you been in business?
I haven't been in business too long, about a year or so. I wouldn't even call it a business, I just love to craft. I would eventually like it to be my full time job! I basically decided "Hey, I can make that!" and started creating away
3. How long have you been crafting?
My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was about 7 or 8 years old. But I had been cutting and gluing ever since I got my hands on paper, scissors, and glue! My father is also a very creative person, I think I get it from him.
4. What type of products do you offer?
I started off only doing items in crochet. I love making hats and headbands, but I developed a love of beading my senior year of high school. I don't do too much of that because it is time consuming and I have too much in my head! I love fiber, so any jewelry I make has very little metal unless I specifically am inspired to make a chain of beads. I'd like to think I really could make anything as long as I can figure it out and have recently decided to do a line of tote bags.
I do cater to I think a younger crafting crowd and don't do "traditional" crochet, though I do draw on vintage for inspiration.
5. How did you decide on your company's name?
Well, I really didn't prefer my name shortly after I came up with it. I decide that since my items are made with love I would sign them how they were made, hence With Love, Crochet. But as my love for French developed (into what is now my minor at school) I decided I would have loved to have called myself Parapluie Designs. Parapluie is French for umbrella. I did shy away from that as I tried to open a jewelry line under that name, I just didn't have the passion for jewelry like I did crochet.
6. How did you get started in this business?
After seeing items on websites and being inspired by crafting shows, I thought if they can make it I can and if they can sell it I can sell it too! Three generations of crafters attended a craft fair in the small town my aunt lives in. We set up tent and had at it, but did not sell much. I chalk it up to the fact that I was younger then. I really had always had it in my mind when I started to make my own things that I could profit from my creations. I even remember asking my dad if he thought anyone would buy anything from me. I opened shop on etsy but had no time to promote it like I know I have to now. It was all about timing for me really, I knew I could do it this time around!
7. What made you sign up at WWCrafters.com?
I have been a member of the Craftster.org forums for a while and while browsing on posts one time I saw that this was a new site for all things crafty. Looking for a new venue I signed up, it was only later that I found out about the site's opening offer which is about the best thing since sliced bread! Since this isn't my "real job" I find it hard to afford to list and sell on other sites, I like the set up of this site and the advantage of this free period will help me be able to afford to list when my time runs out.
8. If you could start over what would you change
I'd have a better system of keeping track of things. Right now I really do it for fun and just to save up a few. But once I graduate I'd like to take it a step farther and develop my business better. I don't think I would change any steps that led to here. Its all been good.
9. What do you enjoy most about crafting?
Oh the end product! I really enjoy creation, to see something come of nothing is wonderful to me. I love to figure things out in my head also. Even at work, school, the dentist, I am always dissecting ideas and patterns in my head. I think about increases when I sleep, seams when I drive, colors while at a movie…it goes on and on. I also love getting inspired! Bright yellows, oranges, and deep pinks are inspiring me right now, along with wooden jewelry and that bohemian feel. You will rarely see me with out pen and paper. I try and keep a notebook but that always ends up somewhere I am not.
10. Where do you sell your items? (Website, Retail Store, Consignment Store, Etc.)
I have a website here and on etsy.com. www.withlovecrochet.etsy.com I haven't yet tried consignment as I am still figuring that out.
11. Which items are your best sellers?
Right now it seems that the Daisy Triple Strand Headbands are the hottest seller. I've had a few custom orders for them. And crocheted mesh hats are always a crowd pleaser when I wear them out.
12. How do you market your products?
I have a blog, a flicker account, I am a member of We Love Etsy and Indiepublic on Ning, and I pretty much use word of mouth and shameless plugs! My signature in any email is always my website with promotions I am doing, I have business cards, I talk about it all the time to strangers, coworkers, anyone who will listen. I drop cards everywhere too!
13. Do you have any advice for other crafters?
Create what you are in love with. Even if it seems you might not be able to sell it, find a different use or just advertise in the right place…someone is bound to share your interest. Oh! Try and recycle as much as you can! I am not big on recycling but I often use recycled yarns from thrift stores. I'll wash them and use them in my creations because they are there waiting for you, waiting to be made into something wonderful!! I find trinkets and whatnots in bags at thrift stores…use what already exists, please.
14. Is there anything else you would like us to know about you or your crafts?
A cup of love is guaranteed with every serving. And love doesn't have calories so go on and get two! I love making things. It really is my passion, and if I could do one thing over it would be to have gone to school for art and not have recently changed my major 3 times. I am doing what I love and I love what I do. I take inspiration from today's fashions and make them with love in my home and not for low wages and pollution.
