Member Feature: SSFDesigns

Contributor post by Michelle of EviesToolEmporium

Please join us in welcoming Susan of SSFDesigns, our featured member!

SSFDesigns

Tell us about yourself.       

I live in a small town in Washington at the foothills to the mountains in a very beautiful place .

I live with my husband , and  the last of our 3 children has just moved out yippee.

I am a florist for my day job, but my passion is my Etsy shop!

In my spare time (ha ha) we like to go birding and on nature walks. I enjoy reading, cooking and spending time with my family

When did you open your business and what make you decide to do so?

I have had my Etsy shop for a long time ,but when I first started I was selling purses and flowers pins.

Then one day I finally decided that I was going to design dresses and costumes, I have always wanted to do this and have made my own clothing for me and my family .I started to do design cosplay costume for my daughter and her friends. So I got ever book I could get my hands on and started to design and saw like mad.

Then I started to post them in my shop. When my son left for collage I turned his room into my studio.

Tell us a bit about your products.           

I design and create vintage style clothing , I love the looks of the past and try to recreate them ,I use vintage buttons and fabrics when I can and sometimes draft my own patterns but when I don’t I use vintage patterns.

I also like to add a touch of whimsical to my products by mixing colors and adding little details and embellishments, flowers, beads, tulle and ribbons.

What inspires your work?           

There is so much that inspires me . Nature and all it beauty, one day I was looking at a bird the Flicker is has wonderful colored red, white and black polka dots so I made a skirt in those colors, or a nothing time a friend showed me this wonderful painting she had done with lots of bold colors and I had to make a dress.

For years I was carrying these flour sacks around with me so I decided to make a dress my flour sack dress.

Don’t get me stared I can go on and on so many wonderful ideas pop into my head. I wake up with visions of dresses dancing in my head!

What are your future goals for the business this year? What is your dream for this business?         

My future goal is to be able to spend more time on my Etsy shop and less time as a florist.

Obviously I would love for my shop and my clothing to take off and become my full time job.

I really would like to design more vintage style wedding dresses . But I also love the challenge of creating the perfect costume too.

I just want my shop to grow more ever year I don’t want to get rich but what to feel like I have accomplished

My dream and have people enjoy wearing my clothing.

What makes your business stand out from businesses that sell similar products?

Its one of a kind clothing I have never made the very same thing twice . Each has little touches and details that set them apart. It’s clothing from the past with a twist whether its from the design, color combo or just in the details.

 

Tell us a bit about your work space. Do you have a separate studio?

I have a studio in my home . I have three sawing machines a large table for cutting. I am about to expand to another room also. I would love to turn my shop and studio into a place that people can come to and order custom clothing.

What have you learned since opening your business that you wish you had known before hand?

So much! To make it a real business you have to treat it like a business and not just a hobby.

Any advice for those thinking about selling on Etsy?

Be patient very patient , most shops are not a success overnight. It takes a lot of work and don’t do it for the money but for the love of your craft and you will be happy.

When you’re not working, what do you like to do to unwind and have fun? Do you have any hobbies?

I laugh!

What is your favorite quote?

Carpe diem!   Sieze the day!

Where can people find out more about your business?  

SSFDesigns

 ________

If you would like to be featured, please go to the CIJ Etsy Forum and fill out the questionnaire. Please note you must be a member of the CIJ Etsy team to be featured.