Internet Artisan Interview - InStitches

I love finding new artisans when surfing the net. Angel has all one of a kind pieces in her Etsy shop, all centered around paper. They're so creative, I know you'll get a kick out of them. I'm think her shop will interest people with all kinds of tastes. And I marvel at the way she is organized - hope to use some of her techniques in my studio. Angel's also introduced me to a lot of different sites online, from handmade venues to photo storage and sharing. Ever heard of Twitpic? It's a new one to me!

What's the name of your business/shop?


In Stitches

Do you have a registered domain name and/or a blog?
http://cardsinstitches.etsy.com
I am in the process of acquiring institches.com since it is currently owned by someone else.

What type of handmade products do you sell?

Paper products. I incorporating collage and hand-stitching techniques (embroidery, beading, etc) to create art cards that function as postcards, bookmarks, gift cards, announcements, invites, even puzzles. They are small pieces of fine art that, even though each is one of a kind, as a collective they are bound by common elements which work great individually or collected as a set.

Show us a piece you recently finished
An oversized origami card with lots of functions. Gift-tag, Baby announcement, baby shower invitation, bridal shower invitation (girl), Wedding/Save the date announcement. This comes in boy/girl, boy/boy, girl/girl, at a very competitive price with quantity discounts and customization available.

What are you working on right now? Any sketches?
My latest venture is leather-bound journals. I have completed one and now I am waiting for more materials to arrive in order to start production. Here is my prototype, using kidskin. The stitching n all my products is done by hand.

If you have a website or blog, what do you use for advertising? What do your avatars look like?

I am a bit of a newbie at this. So far I have purchased showcase spots on etsy , joined a local crafters group , posted announcements on twitter , participated at a local Artists and Fleas Market , created, printed and distributed fliers myself.
Which online selling vendors do you use? What do you like best about each one?
So far I am only active on etsy, but I am in the process of setting up shop at Deviant art and Society 6

Are you involved in social networking? What's your favorite and why? If you're not involved, you must have a good reason!
I am very active on facebook and twitter . I prefer promoting my business on twitter because it reaches a lot more people than just the ones who know me, it has introduced me to like-minded individuals and made new connections and leads.

All of us can use a helpful business hint once a week. What's yours?
As a graphic designer by trade, I have learned that appearance of a shop whether virtual or physical is very important in order to communicate a product efficiently. Make sure what you are trying to sell is expressed amicably with your product and what sets you apart from the rest.

Do you have a "modus operandi" for computing the price of a handmade object? Tell us your formula?
Since each item I create goes through a lot of steps, I determine my price-point by the amount of work and detail I complete within a certain amount of time. Then I decide how much my time is worth and price accordingly. Obviously, the more man-hours the more a piece is worth.

We'd love to see your little corner of the world, where you create.







In case you were wondering how I make my collages in a one-bedroom NYC apartment, well...here's a glimpse of my work desk. It's literally the size of the cutting mat [it's hard to see Angel's desk, so I went back to twitpic and found a photo in her home, getting ready for a fair]

Where do you see your artwork in one year? Any plans in the works?
Ultimately, I would like my creations to be carried in novelty shops, or even better, do editorial pieces for online or printed publications. I currently have an indie bookstore in New York's Lower East Side interested in carrying digital reproductions of my work. I am in negotiations with the specifics. It's a good start and great exposure.

It's the storybeader's turn! My favorite items are her origami tags. The collars are so cute, and when you get up close, you can appreciate the time and effort that she puts into all her work.

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: storybeader
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