Tag Archives: local business

Gifts for Mother’s Day from Bags of a Feather

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Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12, 2013.  If you are looking for a lovely, hand-crafted gift for Mom this year, check out Bags of a Feather on etsy  The shop is well-stocked with over 160 items, including kindle covers, cellphone pouches, and stand-up cosmetic pouches.

Antique bird print anti-tarnish jewelry pouch

Antique bird print anti-tarnish jewelry pouch

My anti-tarnish jewelry zipper pouches make a great, re-useable “package” to hold silver jewelry, and will help to keep tarnish from forming on necklaces, earrings, or bracelets. I am almost positive that Mom has better things to do than polish silver!

Pink Batik Anti-tarnish Jewelry Pouch

Pink Batik Anti-tarnish Jewelry Pouch

And don’t forget that May and June are also prime season for graduations and weddings!

Laurel Burch Hummingbird Kindle cover

Laurel Burch Hummingbird Kindle cover

There is also a sale going on for all my larger wristlets, tote bags, and purses, with prices marked down 30-40 % off.

Purple Poppies Shoulder Bag

Purple Poppies Shoulder Bag

Some Bright and Colorful New Bags From Bags of a Feather

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Maybe it is the long and drawn-out winter here in western Massachusetts, but I have been not seeing any color when I look out the window (other than brown, gray, and white). There are a few green bulb shoots coming up through the ground, but htere are also big piles of snow that are going to take forever to melt. Last year at this time, we had a very early spring and temperatures in the 80s by the end of March. Not this year- it is still very cold at night and has been in the 30s the last couple of days with a coating of fresh snow on the ground in the morning. I love New England, but I am ready for spring!

Big snow piles

Big snow piles

My latest sewing projects have involved some very bright and colorful fabrics from my fabric stash. Nothing subtle or understated here! I guess if Mother Nature wants to take her time showing some spring colors, I will have to create my own color in the sewing studio. Here are a few new things available in my Bags of a Feather etsy shop (click on the picture to see more pictures and a full description):

Pink Batik Anti-tarnish Jewelry Pouch

Pink Batik Anti-tarnish Jewelry Pouch

Bold Floral Anti-tarnish Jewelry Pouch

Bold Floral Anti-tarnish Jewelry Pouch

Lush Flower Garden Anti-tarnish Jewelry Pouch

Lush Flower Garden Anti-tarnish Jewelry Pouch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random Glimpses Into the Bags of a Feather Studio

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A pictorial glimpse into the inner workings at Bags of a Feather, including the mess created by cutting up pieces of fabric and sewing them back together. Most of the following pictures were taken a couple of years ago and sent to an online venue for approval as a “certified handmade artisan” designation. I passed with flying colors- they determined that I was not a factory that was mass-producing bags all day long and passing them off as handmade.

It is messy at times, but I usually know where everything is. Sewing supplies take up a lot of room, especially when you just cannot say no to a beautiful new piece of fabric or a length of unique ribbon!

Sewing a bag lining on the trusty Janome sewing machine

Sewing a bag lining on the trusty Janome sewing machine

 

Sewing thread and ribbon and cord storage

Sewing thread and ribbon and cord storage

 

Fabrics for a coaster set and ironing area

Fabrics for a coaster set and ironing area

 

Thread, bobbin holders, pinking shears and a big bag of zippers

Thread, bobbin holders, pinking shears and a big bag of zippers

 

 

 

 

Meet the Bags of a Feather Staff

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It is hard work to run a small business- you have to be head of marketing, chief financial officer, CEO, designer, shipper, and accountant all rolled into one! Bags of a Feather is no exception-it is truly a one-woman show. Well, it is a one-woman and four-bird show.

Although I have no human assistants, I have 4 parrots ranging in size from very small to very large. They have their own space downstairs, and I can hear them from all over the house. If I am working at home all day, I usually do some work on the computer for a while and then go uncover them and wake them up anywhere from 9 Am to 10:30 AM. They are definitely NOT early risers. I will often do a workout shortly after getting them up and fed and watered,.

Moe Green the moustached parakeet is the Workout Trainer and Assistant. His contribution is to imitate my huffing and puffing when lifting weights, which makes me laugh. He imitates my laugh perfectly, so it kind of turns into a laugh session instead of a workout.

Moe Green- Workout Trainer

Moe Green- Workout Trainer

 

Bambu the Senegal Parrot is the Chief Carrot Shredder (and Trouble- Maker). He will fly around wildly, attempt to land on top of the macaw, and scream with wild abandon. He absolutely loves carrots, and spends the first part of his morning shredding a piece of raw carrot into tiny little pieces. I find carrot shreds on the bottoms of my shoes, in the bathtub, and other strange places in the house. If i ask him for a “smacky kiss” he knows exactly what I mean and responds with a big kissy noise. He can also turn up the cuteness factor and likes to demonstrate the exact spot that needs a head scritch- NOW:

Bambu- Chief Carrot Shredder

Bambu- Chief Carrot Shredder

BeeGee the Blue & Gold Macaw is the Head Nutshell Flinger and Toothpick Maker of the household. She has the “Nut-bucket” on top of her large stainless steel cage, and heads up there first thing for a few walnuts, almonds or Brazil nuts. The preferred nut for flinging purposes is the walnut, which can roll great distances and hide under furniture. I do NOT walk around barefoot in the bird area! She will chew some wooden toys and make some toothpicks when she feels like it, but surprisingly, a big toy lasts her a very long time:

BeeGee and toy that Dad made

BeeGee and toy that Dad made

The final staff member is Boomer the blue and white lacewing budgie, who is the official Outdoor Bird Sentry. She will squawk when the wild birds feed outside in the winter, just in case nobody else is paying attention. She is very shy when it comes to the camera, and declined to sit still to have her picture taken. She is quite vocal about the flocks of wild turkeys that come to feed on the ground under the bird feeder outside. Bambu has a special alarm call he uses only for the turkeys and he thinks of them as “turkey monsters”:

Wild Turkeys

Wild Turkeys

 

The parrot flock keeps me entertained and are wonderful to have around. The “payroll” consists of a few apple slices or some nuts, they never complain about the hours or working condition, they nap every afternoon, and are the perfect “employees” for Bags of a Feather!

2012- The Year in Review for Bags of a Feather

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Red Parrot Macaw Zipper Pouch

Red Parrot Macaw Zipper Pouch

As the last few days of 2012 wind down, it is a good time to take stock of what I accomplished this past year, both professionally and personally.

2012 Business Wrap-up for Bags of a Feather

  1. Sales were all over the place- May and November were some of my best months ever. I also went a very long 54 days in June and July with ZERO sales. There were several periods during the year where I seriously considered shutting down the business for good, but decided to persevere instead.
  2. After 3 years, a lot of time and effort, and Twitter and Facebook promotion, I decided to close my ArtFire shop and concentrate on etsy. The traffic and sales on ArtFire were steadily dropping off, and I had a very long stretch of more than 5 months with no sales at all. I spent hours and hours re-writing my titles, descriptions, and putting captions on my product images, without any returns on my investment of time.  I had 2 buyers who first bought from me on ArtFire in November, and then signed up for etsy and bought a couple of very large orders from my etsy shop.
  3. Two of my local retail outlets did not work out. One very good location decided to close her storefront, but I later met with her at her new role as a gift shop manager at a local hospital gift shop, and she purchased some of my products to sell there. I did pick up another local consignment outlet which looks very promising.
  4. I only did one craft show all year, and it was not worth it. It was a show at the assisted-living place where my mother-in-law moved to in July. I made up some walker or wheelchair bags and did not sell a single one. This is the same place that wanted to pay me $3.00 to come in and hem a pair of pants for the residents if I offered sewing or seamstress services. The going rate at a dry cleaners or tailor shop is $12-14, so that did not work out.
  5. I came up with an original design for a jewelry pouch with an anti-tarnish inner pocket to store silver jewelry and keep it from tarnishing. I started offering this design in November and did quite well with it. I plan to tweak the design and offer more options in the coming weeks. Butterfly Jewels Anti-tarnish pouch
  6. I joined a great team on etsy, and the support and advice from the team members has been invaluable. Some really good advice on tags, and writing search-friendly descriptions, and how to promote effectively. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes makes a huge difference.

Other Events in 2012

  1. I signed up to be the Springfield Sewing Examiner for examiner.com, and wrote 56 articles from February to December of 2012. Most of the articles are either product reviews, local artisan profiles, fabric slideshows, and local quilt shop events and classes. This is a great opportunity to promote local fabric artisans and quilters.
  2. We moved my 94-year-old mother-in-law to an assisted living facility 20 minutes away from us. This involved a lot of travel, setting up new doctors, dentists, etc, and other arrangements. Since I am not working, I have become her primary assistant for laundry, shopping, appointments, etc.changed_priorities_sign-590x399
  3. I am still searching for a part-time job to fill in the financial gaps. My goal is to make enough from my business to pay for more than just the essentials, but that is still a long ways away (if ever).

Overall, it was a year of ups and downs, and adapting to the economic climate as well as family priorities. I think that it went pretty well, all things considered.

Made in America Holiday Challenge for 2012

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This is an idea near and dear to my heart. In today’s environment of mass-produced, cheaply made, poor quality goods, it is difficult to find holiday gifts that are made in the USA.

Take the Made in America Holiday Challenge, and support independent artisans and companies that give back to the local communities and support our economy.

Some interesting statistics from the Made in America Holiday Challenge blog post:

“The average American spends over $700 annually on holiday shopping. If just $64 of this was spent on gifts made in USA, the economic impact would equate to the creation of 200,000 American jobs. So I challenge you to spend $64 on American made gifts. The Holiday Guide will make the challenge easy and fun. Check back every week for a new giveaway of a made in USA holiday gift from some of the best American made companies. I hope you will join me in making this holiday season made in America!”

Check out the American made goods offered through the American Made Holiday Gift Guide 2012, and browse through categories such as Kids, Home, or Accessories.

Take the challenge and check back for reviews and giveaways throughout the holiday season.

A New Venture for Bags of a Feather

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Sewing and Alterations Business Card

This is a sample of my new business cards for my sewing and alterations business. I have been sewing for over 40 years and used to work as a professional seamstress. I have not focused on garment sewing or alterations since I discovered quilting in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but I have always enjoyed deconstructing something, fixing or altering it and then putting it back together. I guess that is what quilters do- cut up fabric into smaller pieces and then put it back together.

With my vintage SInger sewing machine from  the 1970s and my new Janome Memory Craft sewing machine, I feel confident I can tackle just about anything. The Janome can sew blind hems, overlock stitches, monograms, and 16 different buttonholes. It will even sew french knots and sew buttons on! The SInger is a workhorse- solid metal parts, and I sewed some heavy-duty things on it- like a fake-fur stuffed chair. I took a basic Singer sewing class when I was 14, and also took a Stretch and Sew course on sewing knits in the late 1970s.

In the next few weeks,  I will be soliciting business from local shops, retirement homes, and advertisements. I am meeting with a local assisted living facility for senior citizens to discuss becoming their seamstress. We will see how it goes.

I am amazed at how many people have no idea how to sew. I read a statistic somewhere that 94% of people in America do NOT know how to sew, and 6% DO know how to sew. Pretty amazing to me! I think of sewing as a very useful skill that everyone should have, even if it is simple stuff like sewing on a button or hemming a pair of pants.

Celebrate American Craft Week for 2012- October 5-14

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If you are a craftsman, artisan, or maker of American crafts, then it is time to spread the word! The third annual American Craft Week runs from October 5-14, 2012.  Become a sponsor, or participate in local activities designed to bring attention to the beauty and tradition of American crafts. If you are tired of trying to compete with the big-box discount stores and their racks of poor-quality merchandise, it is time to stand up and be heard.

The American craft industry creates local jobs and supports the small businesses and entrepreneurs in the United States. Join the celebration and share the message that American crafts are an important part of our daily lives and local economies.

For more information, visit the American Craft Week website for ways to become involved and spread the word:

“You are invited to join the celebration! Now in its third year, American Craft Week’s
message is stronger than ever. For those who make, sell and celebrate objects hand-made in this country, the passion is contagious.

  • It’s COOL to buy American!
  • The American Craft Movement is all about Tradition and the Future
  • Good design, high quality materials and excellent craftsmanship mean more than ever
  • Shop Small, Shop Local, Buy Handmade in America
  • The American Craft Movement supports small business and creates jobs
  • American Craft beautifies our homes, public spaces and every day life
  • American Craft enriches our communities and educates our children.
  • The more voices, the louder the message

Please join us this October. Take your place with others in this creative industry to gain the attention of leaders in government, business and education. Together we can send a loud message: It’s cool to buy American again!

Who can participate?

Everyone! Craft artists, retailers, wholesale shows, museums, schools, organizations, fairs, festivals, and individuals — if you create, sell, display, promote, collect or just plain love — American craft, we want you to be part of American Craft Week. The more voices, the louder the message.

What can we do?

The sky is the limit. You can become a sponsor and we will add your name to our web-site and all our materials. You can become a participating organization by promoting American Craft Week and scheduling activities. You can become a participant that week in countless ways. Here are a few good ideas.

Our goal is to publicize, explain and promote American Craft and all it contributes to our national aesthetic and economy. We want the general public to understand there are countless ways to use and enjoy American handcrafts in their daily lives.

Feel passionate about American Craft Week? Want to learn more about how you can participate and impact your business and community? Visit our Get Involved page for more information on becoming a participant. Please contact us with any questions, we welcome your participation”.

- from the American Craft Week website

Early Autumn Update From Bags of a Feather

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It is hard to believe, but the autumn season is upon us already. The maples are starting to turn colors a bit earlier, partially because of the very dry summer we had. In another month, the peak foliage season will be almost over, and then winter and the holidays are  right around the corner.

The summer of 2012 has been extremely slow in both my ArtFireand etsy shops. I had one sale in July and one sale in August, for a grand total of around $30.00. Summer is usually slow, but nothing like this one was. I have decided to focus my efforts on ArtFire instead of other venues for a number of reasons, including superior listing tools, phone customer support, and a thriving and helpful seller community. Another venue has decided to force sellers into using their in-house payment processor (somewhat like PayPal) and plan to roll out site-wide gift cards only for sellers that have the in-house payment checkout system. The fees on this site are already too high, and I resent the strong-arm tactics which result in more money in their pockets.

I have been using the summer “downtime” to stock up my shop, work on listing descriptions, and image captions for upcoming Google search changes. I have some new products already listed and more on the way. I have made up a few new laptop sleeves and lots of new kindle covers, and couldn’t resist buying some great new 100% organic cotton bird fabrics.

I am also participating in one craft show in December at an assisted-living facility for senior citizens, and plan to offer a few walker bags, since walkers are the preferred method of locomotion, and the bags are handy to carry mail, etc. I was a vendor there last year, and met some interesting older people with fascinating stories of their lives.

Here are just  a few of the new things that were recently listed in my ArtFire shop:

Laurel Burch Hummingbird Kindle Cover

 

Lantern Blooms Laptop Sleeve

 

Zipper Cosmetic Pouch in Goldfinch Print