This is going to be a great interview! I had the opportunity to meet Dawn in the Quiltsy team discussions. She is fair and generous, and easy to talk with. She has a wide range of items in her shop and also boasts a blog and a website. Yet, she still found the time to answer my questions. How fun to share her answers with you!
What originally gave you the idea to create such an
interesting Etsy shop?
When I first started Spring
Water Designs, I didn’t have a website, so Etsy was a great do-it-myself kind
of way for me to have a web presence and sell my items online. It’s an added benefit that people who
shop at Etsy really appreciate and respect handmade items.
Ideas are often so hard to implement—tell us a bit about how
you started and what were your first steps in creating your niche in the Etsy and
handmade community.
I started with crib quilts on
Etsy (that I also sell at a local children’s shop), and some of my original
patterns. Often I make multiple
quilts from my pattern designs, so I sell them on Etsy as well. I also enjoy taking part in challenges
at my guild and online, so sometimes those challenge projects end up in my Etsy
shop too.
Could you share some tips on how someone would go about
growing an Etsy shop or online presence?
Once I opened my Etsy shop, I
discovered their wonderful online community. Read, read, read! There is so much great information to
learn from others in the forums, and from Etsy tutorials about selling online,
and how to make your shop better.
The very best thing I did was join an Etsy Team. I still learn something
almost everyday about tweaking and marketing my shop from the postings of other
team members.
What is your main hurdle in running your Etsy site to date?
Trying to manage my time to work
the holiday seasons better. I also
do work for magazines, and I’m still trying to get used to working so far ahead
to have the projects finished for the proper season release.
What are some of the most interesting teams you’ve seen
develop on the Etsy site?
I’ve only joined the Quiltsy
Team so far, and that keeps me really focused, and they’re super supportive. I’ve been intrigued with the idea of
joining a local team to connect with Etsians close to home.
What is the structure behind the scenes—how many people do
you have working on your shop at the moment?
Right now Spring Water Designs
consists of me, my dog Butters, and cat Maddie (Butters and Maddie are mostly
moral support). I have two
daughter’s that were helping me with developing some product lines, and my
daughter Lisa has been sewing a line of Infinity Scarves that we’ve been
selling in the shop, but both of them have started working full time elsewhere
and starting their young families, so they’re not able to help out much for a
while. They give me great input though
and I am slowing implementing their product ideas J
How do you promote your business? Facebook, Twitter, blogging, or other?
All of the above as much as
possible. You can find me at random times at any of these places:
My favorite place is my blog, I
try to share a little of what I’m working on (when I’m allowed to share any
more ~ some magazine projects have to be kept hush-hush until their release), and I like to share about other cool blogs and sites
online. I’m planning to do more
fun stuff on my facebook page too.
Describe the process of creating one of your handmade
items.
Wow, my processes are all
different because I like to work with a lot of different styles, from
traditional handwork, to quick modern projects. I think working with a lot of styles and techniques keeps it
fresh for me…but it all starts with pulling the fabrics. I really love the process of laying out
and auditioning all the different fabric possibilities. I love to upcycle old un-wearable
sweaters and clothes too, so sometimes I’m cutting up sleeves…you just never
know J
 |
| This beauty is featured in Fons and Porter Magazine! Kudos! |
What do you love most about making your products?
Yep, I definitely love pulling
the colors and playing with the fabrics.
But I also enjoy soothing a day of just repetitive sewing like machine
blanket stitching, or curling up with hand appliqué in my recliner at night ~
it’s a fun job!
Fun Facts:
List 3 adjectives that describe you.
Caring, Dependable, with a touch
of Silly
What is your favorite food?
It’s a toss up between Pizza and
Chocolate Eclairs (the kind with custard inside, yummm)
If you were an animal, what animal would you be? Why?
I would have to say a cat, mostly
because my cat can sleep virtually anywhere. She also comes across as pretty wise, and only interjects
herself at the most opportune times (attributes that I’m striving for).
Conclusion:
I must say that I'm really
impressed by the fact that you do things for quilting magazines. I'd really love to do that too.... but I have no idea how to go about it. How exciting that you currently have a project in the Fons and Porter Magazine. (See the pink and brown quilt above.)
I also love diversity in the things that I make... otherwise I get bored and it seems more like work than a fulfilling hobby and a wonderful passion that lets my soul soar. So, I change things up too from quilts to baby quilts, from Schelp bags to knitting needle cases... anything to keep my mind engaged in the creative process.
I'm sure you're all dying to know where you can see Dawn's delightful products so that you can browse through them. Of course, she gave us links earlier... but here's her
Etsy site, her
blog, and her
website. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
She has been sewing for 50 years and quilting for over 20 years. She has a broad range of items available in her shop: art quilts, bed quilts, mug rugs, aprons, bags and purses of all sorts, and even some dolls. All of her items are superbly made which demonstrates her love of the craft. 
