Tuesday, May 17, 2011

A One-Woman Factory

matryoshkas sachets
28...and counting...matryoshkas, each one sewn by hand

The thing about preparing for a big craft fair is that I'm busier than ever but there is a lot of repetition and all of it has to be saved up for the day of the fair so I feel a bit guilty as I've had nothing new and shiny to add to my etsy shop lately. Instead of making just a handful of each item and moving on to the next thing like I usually do, I'm making 20, 30, even 40 of each item for this festival and am beginning to feel like a one-woman factory of sorts! While the pace and repetition of the work is amplified, it is incredibly satisfying to see just how much one person can create with their own two hands in a relatively short amount of time and even though my fingers might ache, it is the kind of ache that reassures me I am doing something worthwhile (well that and the heavy drugs help dull the pain...i keed i keed!).

Much of the work is done on my machine but some, like these matryoshka sachets, is all done by hand. Perhaps I am a bit old-fashioned, but I think there is something so frank and honest about hand-stitched items that can't be replicated. I can't always justify spending the time doing it for larger items in my shop but, for these little guys, I can and I do because it's lends a simple but valuable charm that is such a rare and beautiful commodity in the world we live in. Is it strange to be really excited about finally interracting with customers face to face and seeing them hold these in their own hands?

matryoshka sachets stacked
matryoshkas sachets waiting to be pressed and filled with lavender

I feel pretty good about my progress so far, especially because I've also been balancing several shoe orders and a wholesale order...phew! I can't wait to share some of the items in the shop as well though after the fair—expect to see some new pillow designs and a new embroidery pattern (it's the "Off to College" theme!) that will be available shortly before or after, depending on how much of my hair I have already pulled out...there are drugs for that too right?

7 comments:

Meeling said...

Lol...you've been busy!!!

They look cool all stacked up together like that. I wish you the best of luck at the craft fair...I'm sure you'll do great!!

considerthelillies said...

good work, Kat! I hope you sell every one of them Russian cuties!

Angela said...

WOW! You ARE a factory! Keep up the great work and I hope you knock them dead with your booth :)

Christina said...

Wow! And they look so purty all next to each other like that. Good luck with all your awesome prep work!

DK said...

Awesome, that's a lot of work right there but it will be completely worth it!

Unknown said...

Wowzers! It looks like a little army! They all looks so cute lined up like that - I hope you sell every darn one of them!

The Creative Miss W said...

Hi Kat, i found your blog through the sew mama sew give away and became a follower. I really like these matroshka sachets your're making and I completly agree hand stitches is so nice if its possible. I do it all the time cuddled up on the sofa next to my fiancee. The advantage being that I'm not chained to the machine. I have to say though that's a lot of sachets well done!