When my first daughter was about 6 months old she started wearing hair bows and I was hooked! I started making them shortly after and have expanded to hair accessories, boys bow ties, neck ties, children's clothing, and fabric pennant banners.
Describe your work process to us. Every night after the girls go to bed I set up my "studio" in my living room and work on orders and my show stock (items I bring to craft fairs). I usually have "bow nights" and "sewing nights" so that I can accomplish more in the long run by only setting up my work area for one thing or the other. If it is a sewing night I try and have my fabric ironed and cut during the day when I can find the time between play dates, naps, and meal times with my kids. On bow nights I bring all of my invoices to the dining room and gather all of the ribbon I will be using and load it onto a carrier that my husband made for me. I bring it all to the living room and cut, tie, sew, and hot glue my ribbons to make some pretty fabulous bows.
What do you like best about what you do?
I love that I am able to be home with my girls and am able to work from home most of the time. I do attend a lot of craft shows and markets that keep me away from home on some weekend days, but for the most part all of my work is done at home.
What do you find most challenging about your work?
Paperwork! The business end of owning a handmade business is definitely the most tedious part. I love crafting and the instant gratification of making something beautiful to admire, but that's probably only about half of the work that goes into the business. Listing items on Etsy, posting to my Facebook page, taking and editing photos, booking and working craft shows, ordering and shopping for supplies, answering emails, packing and shipping orders, and keeping keeping all of my customers happy are just some of the other things that I have to do while 2 little girls are demanding my attention as well.
What inspires you? How are your inspirations expressed in your work?
My daughters are absolutely my inspiration. My oldest daughter gives me so much confidence because she really thinks I can make anything. I also just really love vibrant colors. I enjoy mixing and matching colors and fabrics to come up with my signature creations. I believe over these last 3 years I have developed a recognizable style and that inspires me to keep going.
What are your 3 favorite things in your studio or workspace?
1) My sewing machine!! It's actually my Mom's machine that I bought for her as a present and then borrowed for a project. I became so obsessed with sewing that she has been so gracious to let me hang on to it just a little while longer.
2) My glue gun. What problem can't be solved with a glue gun?
3) My favorite pair of scissors! There's just a cheap pair, but I like them so much better than the pricier ones.
Tell us 3 things that no one would ever guess about you.
1) I have been a vegetarian for 17 years
2) If you've never met or seen me before, and all you know of me is my work, I would say that it would surprise people that I have a lot of tattoos.
3)I actually LOVE my minivan. It was a hard sell for me at first, but I really needed something bigger than my tiny car for the amount of craft shows I do. Once I got it I was HOOKED!
Where can we see your work?
My Etsy site: http://www.etsy.com/shop/livvylousboutique
My Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/LivvyLousBoutique
My Events : https://www.facebook.com/LivvyLousBoutique/events
My Group: https://www.facebook.com/StudioSynergyNE
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| Jessica Ross of Livvy Lous Boutique |
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| A banner and romper from Livvy Lous Boutique |
Thank you for featuring me, great article!
ReplyDeletei didn't know Jess was a vegetarian- fun article!
ReplyDelete