Shop Talk Feature: The Vintage Byrd

As the seasons finally change I am extremely grateful that new and wonderful small businesses are budding as well (see what I did there)! A dear Instagram friend has recently opened her shop: The Vintage Byrd filled with gorgeous one of a kind clutches and bags. I'm already a sucker for a great pouch or bag that I can compartmentalize all of the toys, snacks, and other items I carry regularly - so I could not help but share this shop with you all. From the maker to the product, read all about the beginnings of this shop as well as the awesome discount on the several new items just put up! I hope you enjoy and support this wonderful maker and watch this shop take flight.

Q: Who is the maker behind The Vintage Byrd?  

A: I have been sewing and quilting for about 10ish years now. I started out teaching myself how to do most everything. When I've come across new friends who are talented and willing to teach me their ways, I soak up their teachings like a sponge. My dream has always been to open a shop of some sort and sell some of the creations that I make. Over the past few months my husband and I have gone through a devastating loss and to keep myself busy i just started sewing again-and didn't stop. I have found it's where I talk to the Lord and have found peace through this whole ordeal. I started sending pictures to my mom and sister in laws and their responses were an overwhelming unanimous 'start selling your stuff!!!' So here I am...with my passion of creating.

Q: What is your creative catalyst?

A: I like to be different. So I try to make up my own patterns and designs to make the fabric that I use more unique and fun. That's really all there is. I don't use patterns-they trip me up. So everything I make is in my head and just comes out in the form of what I'm making. I'm always dreaming up new bags or ideas of things to sew and sell, so check in with me frequently to see what's new! I'm always open to suggestions and custom orders because they open up new creative avenues to explore.

Q: What has been your biggest seller?

A: So far my best seller has been the Lil' Bre. My sister in law really wanted a clutch, but wanted a smaller version of the one I was carrying (the sideways Azzey). So I whipped one up and she's loving it!

Q: What is your advice for small business owners? (Top Three) 

A: My advice to other small business newbies: {to quote Nike} JUST DO IT. Get your support system and go. Even if it fails, you need to try.T here's no sense in living the 'what if' life---that's just a waste of the beautiful brain the Lord has blessed you with.

You can find The Vintage Byrd on etsy as well as Instagram! For you, the shop has given each reader a discount! Use code GRANDOPENING10 to receive 10% off of your order until April 17!

Shop Talk: Truly Sanctuary

The season is now upon this wonderful blog where I get to really share more and more about small businesses and their endeavors! Truly Sanctuary is a small business run by a husband and wife duo that have taken screen print shirt designs to another level. I have had the pleasure of following them through Instagram and they are hilarious. Not only do they run their business they have two beautiful girls who allow their lives outside of business to show. It's always amazing to watch how families navigate business and their own lives - they even share a bit about that too!

Currently they have an IndieGoGo Campaign going on to raise funds for their micro-boutique out in PDX! Check out their video and help them along their way. I know you won't regret it! 

Q: How is it managing family and small business? 

A: Juggling family and a business is awesome, easy, hard and weird. I love not having the additional burden of convincing my boss, switching a shift or loosing money, when something comes up and I have to take care of myself or my family members. Though sometimes it means a workday without breaks or pulling an all-niter to play catchup, having flexibility to be there for my family is huge. What gets hard is expecting your kids to get when it’s playtime and when it’s work time. It’s hard to get them on board with you getting things done that don’t include them, especially when they’re physically in the same room. It’s getting easier now that they’re in school. I have more uninterrupted time to get things done. They’re also realizing that most of their friend’s parents leave the home to work and we have some unique things to be thankful for.


Q: What has been your biggest seller?

A: As far as our most surprisingly biggest seller, I’d say “Take a Hike”. It was even featured in People magazine last year. It’s one of my favorite designs, so I didn’t assume people would hate it…it wasn’t surprising in that sense. I just sort of doodled it in like 5 minutes. I was living in florida at the time and really missing the Pacific Northwest. The Take a Hike Design was simply a reflection of what was on my heart and it came out naturally and simply. I just never imagined it meaning anything to anyone else really.

Q: What is your creative catalyst?

A: Our Creative Catalyst…Ourselves! We design things we would put on our bodies, or our children’s. Not designing for the masses is probably not going make us millionaires, but it does allow us to connect with most people who interact with our business. Finding connection with like-minded people makes this gig more fulfilling than other jobs I’ve had, for sure!

Q: What is your advice for small business owners? (Top Three) 

A: If you can see working for yourself as the payoff and not working for money as the payoff, I believe you can have a really fulfilled experience. Be self taught in as many things as you can. There is so much free information out there. Pay people whose strengths are your weaknesses, don’t pay people to do things you can do or learn to do. Oh and excellent photography sells. A beautiful high quality image will sell your stupidest product. It will get blogged, pinned and re-posted…IF…it doesn’t have a watermark. I think sometimes they look cool and I can tell a lot of care went into the creation of them. Watermarks do worse marketing wise than make you look legit or protect your work in my experience. The people you want sharing your products online find them detracting from the feel they’re creating on their blogs, Pinterest boards and Instagram feed. Unless the product your selling is the photography itself, I’d skip the watermarks/copyright.

You can connect with this shop right here!

Indiegogo Campaign: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/trulysanctuary-microboutique/x/826473

Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/trulysanctuary

Instagram: @trulysanctuary 

Twitter: @trulysanctuary

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrulySanctuary

Shop Talk Feature: Love Like Red

It has been quite some time since we've had a nice Shop Talk feature and I'm so happy that a shop I've been following since last year has not only done a major facelift, but has truly become all that I knew this shop could be! I stumbled upon Melissa on Instagram last year and fell in love with her unique art and style, though she was just really getting her bearings for Love Like Red, I new she was going to become something phenomenal. Time has taken its course and Melissa has not only debut her new shop, but is ready to share what she has been doing as well as her gift. From how to say thank you or just because, Love Like Red has exactly the card you're looking for! Please read, check out her site, and purchase some stunning stationary (with a great discount of course!).

Q: Share a little about yourself:

A: I work out of my home studio in Victoria, BC, Canada, having moved here a little over a year ago. Inspired by life’s soft and quirky nuances, starting a line of greeting cards seemed like a very natural progression in creativity. I prefer pen to paint but love the challenge in exploring new mediums which (in my humble opinion) has led to a really beautiful collection of work.

I've always been a crafty and creative kid, it seemed inevitable that I would pursue a life of making things although I took a lot of detours before arriving here today. And right alongside making art has been my insane love of making and giving cards to friends and family. What joy to be able to bring the two together! Of course, being able to translate my artwork and illustrations into accessible forms of art for others is what drives me to keep going.

Q: How did Love Like Red get started? 

A: It really just happened so naturally. When we moved to Victoria we bought a home with an extra room specifically for a studio space for me. Once I got in there and had the time and space to create, Love Like Red just poured out of me. Technically, LLR started August 2013 but officially it just opened this past week (Sept. 8, 2014). When Carmen first approached me last year to do this interview I agreed because I was excited but it turned out I had no idea what I was doing. I couldn’t answer these questions with
any certainty. Fast forward less than a year later and I have a plan! It’s been a lot [a lot] of trial and error but I never lost the belief that I was on the right path.

Q: What do you love most about running a handmade business?

A: That I’m my own boss. I left high school early : ) mostly because I have always struggled with doing things on other peoples schedule and being told how to do it. I love that the success of my business solely depends on me and that I get to decide on how to structure my days, how to offer my work to the world and that it is a chance to share a small piece of my own world with others. I’ve never really fit in to any one thing or group or ideal so having something that is completely my own to sculpt and craft feels good and natural.

Q: What has been your greatest small business achievement thus far? 

A: I don’t know if there is one thing in particular. I am proud of myself for having the courage to do something that still seems a bit crazy. The market seems to be saturated with small creative businesses especially in paper and stationery but it is so much a part of me that I have to do it. This whole process has been challenging and I think about quitting at least 6 times a week but that would be like thinking about quitting life and we all know that is not an option. In all honesty, there hasn’t been a lot of specific achievements but I carry on believing that it will all come in time and with a heck of a lot of hard work! I’m ready for it.

Q: What is your advice for small business owners? (Top Three) 

A: You are not the only one who has no idea what you’re doing — everybody is faking it til they make it. So do that.

Love Like Red is offering all of my readers a special discount starting today until next Wednesday!

Use PROMO CODE: blueswallow14 for 15% off any purchase over $25

Thank you so much Melissa for sharing not only your shop, but who you are! I hope that you all will visit her shop and share it with others! Have an amazing handmade day friends. If you would like to feature shoot me an email!

Shop Talk: Mercer + James

 

 Welcome back to Shop Talk, where not only do I have the opportunity of featuring new businesses, but also get to really discuss what has allowed them to thrive. Recently I was approached by an exquisite business, Mercer + James. This marriage duo has taken a refreshing perspective on timeless men's grooming and accessories. From quality to new trends, they seek the finest products for their clientele. Not only do they provide quality products, their website is also catered to how to get the best results with their products!

 

As Mike and I looked through their product line, he pretty much highlighted the whole thing as idea hints for future gifts (he doesn't drop subtle hints). It's my great pleasure to share that not only will Mercer + James be here on Shop Talk, they will also be helping me celebrate my upcoming three year anniversary next month with some fantastic posts! Please enjoy their simplistic sleek view.

 

 

 

Q: If you could give a brief overview of Mercer + James and how it began.

 

A: Mercer + James is a luxury line of men's grooming and accessories, but it really evolved out of my husband's search for a great shaving set.  The market seemed to be full of either low-quality products that would break quickly, or overpriced "high-end" brands. We decided that if we couldn't buy what we wanted, we'd design it for ourselves. Before we knew it, our home was filled with samples and drawings, and our kitchen was brimming with concoctions as we searched for just the right elements to represent what we think men's grooming should be. Designing is a fun thing that we can do together, and it's an added bonus that we get to share what we find with the world.

 

Q: What is your creative catalyst?

A: Many designers and stores want to redefine a person's look, or take over their whole routine. Our creative impulse is to enhance. Whether that's switching out a single grooming tool to make the morning shave more enjoyable, or adding a dapper hat to someone's normal outfit to elevate their natural style, it's all about making little enhancements that improve the daily experience.

 

 

Q: What makes Mercer + James so unique? (This could be from your creative perspective, how you engage your clientele, who your clientele is, etc)

 

A: While other shops and brands like to run after fads and create throw-away fashion, we are ultimately into simplicity.  We think that basics, when created with great precision and high quality, make for the best style. You'll never see products from us that run after a fad or are covered with embellishments; we'd rather create beautiful shaving sets, hats, and other items that will look fantastic for years to come. 

 

 

Q: How do decide what products to incorporate and what not to use?

 

A: Everything we make and sell are things that we ourselves use. Sometimes we designed them, and sometimes they were a great find from our travels together.  Either way, we let the collection be an extension of our own tastes - if we think a trilby hat can turn jeans and a t-shirt into something more, then we go about designing the best trilby hat possible. If we ourselves can't wait to use a product, we know it will be good for Mercer + James. 

 

 

Q: What are your inspirations for your line? (fashion, era, etc)

 

A: We don't want to get stuck in nostalgia, but there is certainly something magical about the style and objects from the Roaring 20's. Shaving tools especially were a wonder to behold - made with incredible care for both quality and design. In a modern world where everything is disposable, we like to draw inspiration from a time when each object was made like and heirloom piece. We also collect vintage shaving objects, which we sometimes showcase in the "Vintage LTD" section, and they provide huge inspiration for material and detail in the shaving sets we design.