Sit down. Let me tell you about Thea Starr. She is quite a woman. She owns an incredible business Thea Starr . She started a roller derby league. She runs a kick ass mom's group online and has 4 gorgeous kids and a hot-pants husband! Her products are top of the line and she is committed to community. Lots to love here! Oh, and she's smokin.
Thea let me ask her these questions today, so check out the craftastic goodness.....
How long have you been "in business" and how long have you been crafting?
i've
been in business since 2003 and i've been crafting since i was a wee
one. my mom actually wrote in my baby book about a couple of my early
crafty projects. i think the first one was fake lee press on nails i
made for myself out of red electrical tape.
you have so much in your life, like the brood and roller derby, and 4
kids...how do you find time? does your family help out? do you
have
employees?
i
like being busy! i set goals for myself & i give myself deadlines
so that is a big motivator for me. i also limit the time i spend on the
computer and watching tv (although i often knit or rip apart
kimono when i watch movies) so i do multi-task like any other mom on the
planet. my eldest daughter jina (12) does help out and is crafty in her
own right. my husband also helps with sending off packages. no
employees though- i have four kids they're like instant employees
right? i kid, sorta... ^_^ i worked for my dad as a kid so i think its
a natural thing to have my family involved in what i do.
what made you decide to start selling your wares?
i
was working a "normal office job" and sewing has always been my hobby.
i had made a summer dress with a matching shoulder sling bag (hobo
style) and i got a lot of compliments and i was asked by a couple
ladies if i could make one just like it for them. and i did for free.
it just sorta took off from there. which was awesome because after i
had my fourth child i decided to become primarily a stay at home mom,
so it gave me something to do at home.
did you build your own website?
unfortunately, yes. i'm looking to give it a facelift though once i find the right web designer.
craft fairs....love them or hate them? discuss..........
I
LOVE THEM! i participate in seattle's monthly craft event I Heart
Rummage. its become like another family for me. i love seeing my fellow
vendors and friends i've made through the local craft scene. i feel
proud to pimp there wares too. we also have our annual mega craft event
Urban Craft Uprising that is one of the best crafty events on the
planet. craft fairs are a lot of work and i often come home and just
crash but its such a fun experience to be apart of it and talk to the
folks who buy your wares in person.
what do you like about having your own crafty business? dislike?
i
like having my own creative freedom and make things come to life from
my imagination as cheesy as that sounds. i love being a part of the
indie craft movement. i love that more and more people are taking an
interesting in handmade goods and even trying things for themselves. i
dislike that there are only 24 hours in a day. sometimes i can't get to
sleep because i'm thinking about stuff too much. ^_^
you mostly make beautiful bags and kanzashi, but i saw you are now
selling kick-ass resin jewelry. what made you want to branch out?
i
love my vintage kimono fabric, don't get me wrong. but i do like to try
new things. i actually resinated some kimono fabric in a bracelet and
that's what got me going.
tell everyone about kanzashi.
kanzashi
are japanese hair ornaments. they come in different styles and
maiko/geisha are famous for wearing large elaborate ones. they are also
worn by the everyday woman & young girls for important events. i
learned to make them myself by wanting to wear some for my own wedding
a million years ago but was unable to find the exact colours i wanted.
so i purchased an old damaged one and tore it apart to figure out how
to make one myself, along with a little research.
You have been talking a little lately about traveling to craft shows.
You are in a pretty hip area (Seattle), why travel?
seattle
is pretty rad if i do say so. but i have made so many great crafty
contacts through things like the home of the sampler in particular that
i'd love to meet up with some of these crafty folks at something we all
shine at-craft fairs. plus i love to travel and see how the craft scene
is in other places :)
You also have a background in accounting, do you recommend crafters
brush up on their accounting skills? in other words, how important is
this knowledge and how has it helped?
i
think if you are going at it solo it definitely helps to have some
knowledge about running a small business. it helps keep you tidy and
organized on the paperwork end of things so you can focus on your
crafting. it has definitely been a benefit to me having worked in the
accounting field beforehand. i know exactly what paperwork to file for
my taxes, how to do profit & loss sheets to see if i'm "in the red
or black" and how much inventory i have. i think this where a lot of
small business folks get overwhelmed. but there are great accounting
programs/resources out there to help folks like us out too.
What are your plans for Thea
Starr?
well
i will continue to do my local crafty events and hopefully get to do a
couple abroad. and i am branching out into making new items again this
year. i will be creating veils & custom keepsake bouquets for
weddings.
Any advice to people starting out on their own?
set
yourself small goals at first when you accomplish those set a few more
than you did the last time around. and carry a little notebook with you
everywhere. to write down ideas and things to research. my notebooks
have been my lifesavers!