Chicago Style Crafters

At long last!
Our second interview is with Shanna Hensler-McDonald, who's behind BigCityfuzz & BigCitysuds.

What's your business name, and tell us a bit about what you create?

Hi my name is Shanna Henlser-McDonald and I have two small craft shops on Etsy. One is called BigCityfuzz the other is BigCitysuds. BigCityfuzz is where I sell my wearable and hand held goods which are made from recycled fibers. BigCitysuds is my newest shops were I will be offering fragrant cold process soaps and lip balms.

You can find me on the net @

http://BigCityfuzz.etsy.com
http://BigCitysuds.etsy.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shannaukarch/
http://bigcityfuzz.blogspot.com/

Why did you go into this as an artist/artisan/crafter/designer?

I graduated with a degree in Architecture so I have always been into design and craftiness, but after landing a full time architecture job, I found that I needed more independent hands on creativity. I took up knitting and sewing and later soap making to satisfy my need creative spirit.

Why did you turn it into a business?

After moving to Chicago from Philadelphia, I found that Chicago has a wonderful crafting community offering oodles of opportunities for small craft based business. I figured why not give it a try.

What do you think is the best part of what you do?

I love the there is no end to what can be created, between my sewing and my soap making I am always thinking of new ideas. I also love that I am able to be home with my son while trying to running my small business.

The worst?

Time management is a hard one for me, there is always a long list of things I want to get done but it always takes me longer then I originally planned. Lately I have also been struggling with the branding of my business, creating a label and a unique look for BigCityfuzz and suds is something I am working on.

How do you get the word out about your business?

I mostly promote my business through word of mouth and the internet. I post my latest endeavors on facebook to tell my friends and family what I have been up to. I also upload pictures of my new products on my flickr page, while trying to update my blog here and there.

How do you feel about selling online, & what do you think is/are the biggest challenge/s there?

I am still pretty new to selling on line, I have had a shop for a while although I have not had many customers. I think the hardest part is getting shoppers into my store and getting them to take the plunge. I tend to do much better when they can try on the hat or smell the soap.

What do you like about your online presence (ie, your shop, you pictures, your copy)?

I am not sure if I have much of an on line presence, but I do like my name. No one else seams to be using Bigcityfuzz or BigCitysuds and that uniqueness makes me happy.

What don't you like, and what do you want to do to improve it?

I struggle with my photographs. Still photography has never held much interest for me. I have always been a people photographer. Getting consistent praiseworthy shots is something I am working on.

If there was one art/craft you could try, all expenses paid, what would that be?

Spinning my own yarn is something I would love try, but the cost of a spinning wheel is out of my reach right now.

Whose work are you digging right now?

Stitchindye. Her color combinations and craftsmanship are amazing.

What are you currently reading, online or off?

on line:

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/
http://girlscantell.typepad.com/
http://soapaholicsanonymous.blogspot.com/

off line:

The Soapmakers Companion
The Vein of Gold: A Journey to your Creative Heart
I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids: Reinventing Modern Motherhood

Currently listening to online or off?

http://thestory.org/
Pandora

Any advice or words of wisdom you'd like to impart upon fellow creative types?

Make sure you truly enjoy what you are creating and make things you really like. Try not to be intimidated by other out there, instead try and learn as much as you can from those who have had success in your craft.
Lastly never be afraid to try something new.

We're introducing a new written feature here called CSC Q&A!, an interview series that will firstly focus on team members, and as time progresses, other indiepreneurs in the community - Because after all, this is about Chicago Style Crafters! So without further ado, here is our first interview of the series, with Donovan Beeson.

What's your business name, and tell us a bit about what you create?

I run my own etsy shop under my name: Donovan Beeson and I co-run 16 Sparrows and the Letter Writers Alliance, a stationery company/letter writing club with my friend Kathy Zadrozny. I make paper goods such as stationery and books and letter-writing accouterments.

Why did you go into this as an artist/artisan/crafter/designer?

I like to be busy, and with a degree in arts but a job in "real-life", I needed an outlet. When I moved to Chicago, Kathy was my roommate and she was already into the whole DIY crafting thing and I feel under the spell of paper and paper crafting rather quickly.

Why did you turn it into a business?

When Kathy took off for grad school, she needed someone to handle the reins of 16 Sparrows. My stuff is a little different from the feel of the products at 16 Sparrows; so I began an Etsy shop to handle my personal line of handmade goods.

What do you think is the best part of what you do?

Meeting other people who have the same odd fascinations and quirks that I do. Nowhere else can I find people who get as excited about office supplies or a bunch of old library cards as the people I've met through crafting.

The worst?

Logistics. It's a pain trying to get from place to place with all my stuff without a car. I have to rely of the kindness of my friends more often than I'd like to.

How do you get the word out about your business?

I've had enormous luck with The Sampler, and 16 Sparrows was a Daily Candy feature which was a crazy propeller.

How do you feel about selling online, & what do you think is/are the biggest challenge/s there?

Getting your name out is the hardest thing and maintaining that is the next hardest. You've got to stay on top of everything if you want to stay in business.

What do you like about your online presence (ie, your shop, you pictures, your copy)?

I love my pictures. I'm constantly surprised by the quality I can get with just natural light and a regular old Nikon. And this isn't my online presence per se, but I really enjoy doing my packaging and I often receive compliments on it.

What don't you like, and what do you want to do to improve it?

I don't like that I'm constantly referred to as Mr. Donovan Beeson. But I try to correct that whenever I see it. It's the curse of the gender-ambiguous name.

If there was one art/craft you could try, all expenses paid, what would that be?

Silk screening and Weaving. And I may get around to both sooner or later.

Whose work are you digging right now?

I love the shirts at Dyslexic Press and just got one of the Obama buck prints from there.

What are you currently reading, online or off?

System of the World
by Neal Stephenson

Chicago Public Radio,
Around Comics pod cast,
Comic Geek Speak pod cast,
The Moth pod cast, and an audio book by Neil Gaiman
.

Any advice or words of wisdom you'd like to impart upon fellow creative types?

Do something every day. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as you stay in the habit.

We are now on twitter!
http://twitter.com/CSCrafters

i couldn't fit ChicagoStyleCrafters, so we had to settle for this one! :)
let's follow each other! do i send the password, etc. to...???
let me know!
marsha

Good, or at least, less bad news for crafters who make baby/child items [excluding jewelry]. The Consumerist reports:
"The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) has been delayed for one year for crafters, children’s garment manufacturers and toy makers by the CPSC. Instead of just giving specific exemption for like libraries and Etsy peeps, the CPSC decided to kick the can down the road. At least, however, the lead paint ban and lead in children's jewelry standards will still go into effect."

More Info: http://blogs.consumerreports.org/money/2009/01/cpsc-votes-for-oneyear-cp...

Hey Kids!
I'm trying to put together a database on everyone. Could you please send the following information to thebluewoman [at] juno [dot] com:

1. Name
2. Shop Name
3. Neighborhood in Chicago
4. Email
5. Phone number [if you want to give it]

This will hopefully allow us to send out email reminders and plan meetings out better to try and vary neighborhoods between members. Down the road, it may help with carpooling or planning major CSC events. You never know!

Hey all you chicagoland sewers - May I suggest you head on down to my neck of the woods for a pretty spectacular sale?

The Textile Studio of Danada is going out of buisness, so there is a big sale now through the end of April. Huge bolts of textile fabric are 60% off (all of them appeared to be $5/yard), there are large cuts going for $2/yard, and then there are "bundles" and "pillow squares" for $1 each.

Not to mention endless tassles, trims, fringes, ribbons, fancy buttons, etc etc, all starting at 50 cents a pop.

So if you make purses, or plush toys, or anything that needs an awesome heavier fabric, I'd say c'mon down and check it out. There are lighter fabrics with nice prints too, and some silks.

And what did I buy? Well, ...

I'm into quilting you know, so I had to pick up a stack of these sample books! I mean, c'mon! That's ~waverly~ we're talking about. Lots and lots of good stuff for future quilts, I'm soooo excited about it.

Sample books are $5 each, or 5 for $20. Woo!

Textile Studio
257 Rice Lake Sq, Wheaton, IL 60187-2137
630-510-2900

Hi All,

We are working on this site and would like to get some feedback on what our main layout should look like. We have narrowed it down to 4 options. We will be able to customize colors and images at a later date. So you are looking more at the layout of the page and where things are on the page in making your choice.

The candidates are:

http://themegarden.org/drupal50/?q=node&theme=vertigo
http://themegarden.org/drupal50/?q=node&theme=surface
http://themegarden.org/drupal50/?q=node&theme=foliage
http://themegarden.org/drupal50/?q=node&theme=marinelli

Please vote in the poll below. You will need to log into your account
to vote. If you don't already have an account, just request one :)

UPDATE (from shawn): I just enabled voting for non-contributors, so
you just need to sign up for an account to vote. once again, if you'd
like to post more than comments and votes, contact admin [at]
chicagostylecrafters.com

Voting is open until 2/12/08.

everyone that has signed up for an account for this site up until right now is an approved poster. please post something you are doing or did, or a little about yourself or link to your etsy shop in the member announcement category, or post a review of your experience of a craft show in the craft show info/reviews category.

if you signed up after this post, contact admin [at] chicagostylecrafters.com and let us know who you are if you'd like to be a contributor.

I firmly believe that a commitment to a strong graphic identity can greatly impact a crafter’s success. From business card to website to packaging, if everything you do is branded in a professional manner, then the public perception of your product will be positively impacted. I saw some really great crafter's with excellent attention to graphic identity at Renegade and I’d like to share my favorites. {Please click the photo above to link to flickr for notes on how to access the websites for these wonderful design-oriented people.} My two absolute favorites were from Craftpaca and Erica Weiner. ]

come to sacred art at 2040 w. roscoe between 6 and 9 for the opening reception for the "back to school: art for kids" show featuring liesl lavery, zoe asta, christina olson and me! shawn & i will probably be there between 7 & 8 so stop by and say hi, check out the fun art and meet sarah, the oh-so-fabulous owner...

xo,

shana