Hello and Welcome to the first post in my Meet Your Maker Series.
I am hoping for this to be a weekly post which will feature a different maker each week. It will consist of several questions that will be sent out to makers of all kinds. The idea is to get to know your favorite makers and hopefully spread the word about makers you might not have heard of. I want to feature all kinds of makers, not just crocheters and knitters, to bring the maker community together so we can support and spread the word about handmade items. #supporthandmade
Below is what I have come up with so far. I may alter the questions going forward depending on input from readers and makers.
Introduce yourself and your business:
I’m Bethany from
Knotty Gurl Crochet and I run an Esty shop that offers unique and one of a kind
handmade crochet and knitwear items. I am also a pattern designer and a faux
fur pom pom supplier.
How did you launch your business
& what made you want to start a small business?:
After I fell
in love with crochet, I started making things all the time and ended up with
way more hats and scarves then I could ever use so I decided to try my hand at
selling my items. My friend and co-worker at the time Claire, owner of Perfectly Knotted, had started an Esty shop and it seemed like a great platform
to get started on and so I opened my shop in 2017.
What are some struggles you had
starting your business and how did you over come them?:
The main
struggle I had especially in the beginning was actually putting time and effort
in haha. When I first started KGC I didn’t necessarily go into it thinking of
my self as starting a small business. It was simply a way to get rid of the
massive amount of crochet items I had accumulated. I posted a few items (with horrible
quality photos) and then didn’t touch my Esty or Instagram again for months. I eventually
had my first sale and after that first cha-ching that Esty makes when you sell
something and the rush of someone purchasing my work I was hooked. After that I really started to put effort into
both my Instagram and my Etsy page consistently.
Where do you draw inspiration from?:
I mostly
draw inspiration from other makers, Instagram, pinterest ect.
What motivates you as a maker?:
I love the
feeling I get when I complete a project. Especially if it is my own design. For
me the biggest motivator is seeing my completed work.
What is a goal you set for yourself
as a maker/artist and how did you achieve it?:
Taking
better photos!! I knew from the start that my photos were not the best quality
out there and I know compared to many people I still have a long way to go. I
do not use a fancy camera or anything, just my android phone, white Bristol board
and a tripod. I have been really trying to develop more of a consistent color
theme on my Instagram and have become more invested in trying
to learn about mobile photography and how to take better pictures. I will do a
more in-depth post later about my actual photo taking and editing process.
What is your favorite part of being a
maker?:
Being able
to say I made this! I am a very hands on kind of person so being able to create
something myself is so rewarding.
Do you have any tips for new makers/
small business owners?:
Don’t be afraid
to take time to figure out who you are as a brand. As they say Rome wasn’t built
in a day. It can take time to figure out what esthetic you want to have, who
your audience is and what your goals as a maker are. Also, as hard as it is,
try not to compare yourself to others in your maker community. You do you, it
sounds cliché but people really do respond to authenticity.
What are some hobbies or interests
you have outside of your small business?:
Reading, I’m
a huge YA fantasy lover. Also, very into crime/suspense novels. I also love to
bake (hate to cook though). I think it is because I enjoy sweets way more then
actual food lol.
Share a fun fact about yourself:
I LOVE
skulls. Like I’m obsessed with them. I think they are adorable and collect pretty
much anything that has a skull on it.
-KGC
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