Bags in general are hard to resist and Mink Hebert, maker of the lovely
Acajou collection, does not help matters!
I love her modern take on patchwork and the subtle details she adds to each one her goodies. I think what I love most about them, is that they're feminine and cutesy, but not in an overly girly-pinky kind of way. I'm a new fan!
“I wish there were nine of me to accomplish everything I'd like to do and make- travel, research, paint, design, sew, learn how to cook, etc. I am a nightbird and work until early morning when I usually get a flood of ideas.”
1. What do you call yourself? (e.g., Independent designer, crafter, maker, artist) Sometimes I call myself an artist or designer though mostly I say that I "make things". That phrase seems to sum it up!
2. What inspires you? How do you get past crafter's block? I design things that I would have loved as a child. There is a seamless connection between what I create now and stuff I made when I was young. There is so much that inspires me... ocean life, children's books, the animal kingdom, anatomy, friends, origami, music, visual culture, and often the textiles themselves spark something! I keep sketchbooks that are filled with a collection of scraps and images of color and textural combinations that clarifies my overall concept for Acajou.
“ I wanted to construct bags that were beautiful and strong and unique in response to the city and people I met.”
“Music is always the background soundtrack to my work and keeps me energized.”
I don't suffer much from crafter's block. On the contrary- I wish there were nine of me to accomplish everything I'd like to do and make- travel, research, paint, design, sew, learn how to cook, etc. I am a nightbird and work until early morning when I usually get a flood of ideas. I narrow them down, and then push those ideas. I try and work a design to the point where construction becomes effortless. When I am stuck, I find it is helpful to either go inside- meditate, or go out in the world and absorb... visual stimulation can be found everywhere.
3. What tool(s) can't you live without? My necessary tools include, a sweet beast of a sewing machine, my laptop, camera, and mountains of fabric. Music is always the background soundtrack to my work and keeps me energized.
4. Who is your idol, current craft-crush? My idols include anyone who makes things on their own terms. Etsy is great for discovering crushes. Here are three that I just love...
stiksel, for wallets and things,
modofly, for etched moleskin notebooks,
fluxproductions for screenprinted clothing.
5. How long have you been doing this? I started making bags when I lived in San Francisco a few years ago. I worked at a fabric store where I would dream about things to make while being surrounded by a forest of towering bolts of fabric. I wanted to construct bags that were beautiful and strong and unique in response to the city and people I met.
6. Where did you learn your craft? My mother is an artist and she taught me how to sew at a very young age. She made elaborate, complex clothing for herself and my siblings and I, so being around sewing and artmaking was very much a part of my early life. Later on, when I lived in San Francisco, I picked up tips, knowledge, and enthusiasm from fashion students I worked with as well as from local designers. I am still refining my craft and I learn something new with each bag that I make.
7. Do you do this full-time? If not, what pays the bills? I am looking into wholesale options for my bags. In the meantime I work as an editor part-time and I watch children.
8. How would you describe your style? Bold and defined yet soft. Childlike while being sophisticated. Functional and playful with French, Scandinavian, and Japanese influences.
9. Can you share any of your favorite sources for supplies? My most favorite supply source that I have found is an obscure place in San Francisco that I can't disclose because it is a guarded secret! It had a lot of remnants and cast-offs from the design district. Once I was able to buy an entire bolt of fabric for $3.
1. Name one thing that completely took you by surprise when you first started treehouse - something that neither biz how-to books or any "SCORE" workshop prepared you for.
2. Owning a shop means constantly wearing different hats. Here's how Rebecca and Siri spend their time:
- 15% Marketing & Promo
- 20% Production & Operations:website, hang-tags, display
- 20% Customer Service: including emails and communication
- 5% Fulfillment/Shipping
- 20% Accounting, billing & finances
- 5% Other- everything else that falls into our lap
Everything! treehouse is a full time, 24 hour occupation. It's our life, so we're working on it 24/7. Whatever the tasks of the day (or the next day) are, whether it's a craft fair, or remerchandising the shop, or new designers for the rack. It's not worrying so much as it is planning. Oh, and Rebecca's 7 month old.... he keeps her up quite a lot!
4. I once heard someone say "A business that doesn't grow eventually dies..." How has treehouse evolved since you first opened your doors back in 2006?
Our designers have grown from 15 to almost 50. We've expanded our presence in the neighborhood- more craft fairs, participation in community events, raffles, etc. We offer more products and types of things to buy (we're expanding our home goods and paper goods section as we speak...) We now offer an ever changing variety of craft classes... And constantly brainstorming how to make treehouse better...
5. If Oprah decided to give you $10,000 tax free for your business, but you had to spend it in one week, what would you do with it?
Donate $ to our designers so they can make more amazing things for treehouse, travel near and far seeking treasures for treehouse, buy a new computer (it's our command center!), more books for the reference library, sewing machines for classes, of course stock the shelves and racks with new goodies, oh and spruce up the actual shelves and upgrade our fixtures, buy our landlady Mary something amazing for her 80th birthday, expand the store to include a workshop (there's a back room that needs a lot of fixin' someday)....but most of all continue to make our treehouse a bigger and better tree-home for all to enjoy!
>> A rock solid partnership
6. Some say that the best business partners complement each other's strengths and weaknesses. Let's see how these gals balance each other out...
>> Do you think your goods are perfect for treehouse Brooklyn?...
7. Do most of the other designers you carry approach you, or do you actively seek out new designers/crafters? If so, where?
We started with a core group of designers , maybe 15 and have grown to more than 40. It's about 60/40. 60% approach us, 40% we find. We encourage new designers to contact us with their creations. Just please email with lo-res images or call first 718.482.TREE (8733) for an appointment.
We choose pieces that fit into the treehouse aesthetic. It has to be either handmade, one of a kind, or few of a kind - no mass production please. Organic & sustainable materials, recycled materials, great craftsmanship, creativity and unique-ness all stand out.
>> Rebecca and Siri are both designers and have been successfully setting themselves apart at craft fairs. Lots of you are preparing for your very first Craft Renegade fair - here are some tips from the pros...
1. DO: have enough change to make change for the customers. At least $50, but preferably $100. The more change you have the more money you make somehow.
2. DO: have levels in your display. If everything is on the same flat level people can't see the product. Lots of height and interesting display make your creations look 100 times better.
3. DO: promote at your table. Bring business cards, flyers, candies, free things for special people, a mailing list....get the word out that you are there..so people remember you after they go home.
4. DO: make as much as you can and prepare early! The more pieces you have to sell, the more you will sell. You want everyone to see you at your best, so take the time to prepare..way ahead of time. Months even (not that we don't excel in procrastination, but we always dream of having more time to do more so...).
5. DO: team up with designers and friends who complement you and your work. It's great to have a buddy sharing your space. It makes your table look interesting and lets you take a bathroom break and breeze around the fair once in a while.
6. DON'T: wait until the last minute to organize. (see #4.)
7. DON'T: forget sunscreen (if you are outside ), water, pens, a calculator and receipt books.
8. DON'T ignore anyone! Say hi to everybody who steps into your space. It makes them feel wanted and happy.
9. DON'T: get there too late! Allow plenty of time to set up your booth because you'll probably be doing it right up until the opening bell.
10. DON'T: limit your creativity. If you want to try out new products, a craft fair is a great place to test the waters. Have fun making lots of things and see what sells. Represent yourself!
2. Sirius Zodiac necklaces...$36 (Scorpio available on Etsy)
3. Becky Lee butterfly and gemstone earrings...$25
4. Wolf-e jaguar tee for tots...$28
5. Screech Owl animal postcard box set...$14
6. Los Monitos "love from brooklyn" handmade card...$6
7. Sirius bamboo jersey coral kimono tie dress...$138
8. Bells one of a kind handmade tie top...$78
9. treehouse* pin pack...$4
10. Feral Childe polka dot tulle empanada skirt...$143
>> LINKS:
treehousebrooklyn.com
treehousebrooklyn.blogspot.com
treehousebrooklyn.etsy.com
myspace.com/treehousebrooklyn
renegadecraft.com
In the area? or coming for a visit?
Stop by and say hello to Rebecca and Siri:
430 Graham Avenue, Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY
Open Wednesday - Sunday 1pm - 8pm (and sometimes later!)
(take the L train to the graham ave stop. walk 5 blocks towards the BQE.
treehouse is on the right hand side between Frost and Withers.)
Thanks Rebecca & Siri!!