CheapTweet Blog

This week we talked to Suzanne (@sisterandme),a handbag designer from North Carolina.

Suzanne was raised a northern city girl, and is now living with her family (a husband, four daughters, two dogs and one fish) in a town of 700 north of Charlotte, NC.  She is a trained teacher and during the school year works as a Title One Teacher in her local public school. She has a shop on Etsy called Sister and Me. You can also find her on Twitter.

How did you get started making handbags?

I am lucky enough to have been raised by parents who believed in letting me try my hand at machine sewing at an early age, somewhere around 9 or 10.  Mom always told me to try anything.  If it didn’t work out and it couldn’t be fixed, just throw it away—this is an idea I still use today.  The first thing I remember sewing was a crazy quilt, which I sewed on an old pump sewing machine that had been left in our attic by the previous owners.  I loved that machine–in my child’s mind that machine and I could fashion anything!  As I grew the machine was replaced first by borrowing my mom’s machine and later inheriting my grandmother’s sturdy Singer.  With four girls there is always stitching to be done, costumes and clothing to be made.

When my daughter Katie had a birthday, I started making my bags because of a simple birthday wish, a secret whispered into my ear: “Mama, Katie really wants this bag for her birthday.”  You see the 16th birthday of my oldest was upon us and everyone wanted to make it special.  The girls were on high alert to figure out the perfect gift.  I was elated to know exactly what she wanted, but sorely disappointed when I saw the bag in the boutique, placed on a shelf full of the same pricey bag.  Not only was the price too high, but I also wanted to give her something incredibly unique for  this special occasion.  I had been involved with making quilts for the local hospice house, so I had upholstery material in my workshop which I used to design and make a bag.  My daughters and I pieced the messenger bag together for Katie; the first Sister and Me bag thus emerged, and the birthday wish came true. Each subsequent purse and bag has its beginnings with a similar wish and story.

Tell us a little bit about your bags and purses. What sorts of pieces do you specialize in?

First, I would love to tell you about the fabrics I am lucky enough to work with. Our area of North Carolina has its share of fabric and furniture factories that supply upholstered furniture to the likes of Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, and even Earl Spenser’s line of furniture.  The fabrics I acquire from the factories and outlets here are the “end bolts,” the leftovers, which means it’s enough fabric to make a bag, but not nearly enough to cover a chair.  The gorgeous fabrics I am able to obtain would otherwise end up in the landfill.  This being said, all the materials I use are up to date and first run fabrics.

I specialize in using upholstery fabrics to make sturdy bags of all sizes.  I have fashioned 7 different styles and continue to create new designs as their popularity surges or wanes.  My most popular bag today remains the Katie Messenger Bag, which now comes in 3 sizes.  I believe it remains so popular because it is so versatile.  I have girls of all ages carry it to school, new moms use it as a diaper bag, busy moms as a tote and travelers as a carry on item.  I also have a small evening bag first requested by girlfriend Laura, and a popular Natalie Tote, which I fondly refer to as my “library lady” bag (it works super well for carrying books).  These are my most popular.

Where do you get your inspiration?

The inspiration for the styles of bags and purses I make comes straight from my girls and girlfriends. I listen to what they are after and then spend some time coming up with the pattern for the bag. Sometimes it clicks right away and sometimes it takes a try or two.  I also let the girls test drive the new bag style to see if it really is a keeper. If it passes the tests for comfort and durability I name the style after them. It’s fun for us all that way!  As for the colors and weights of fabrics that I use, I let the seasons dictate that. Recently I enjoyed a week at the beach, and I made bags with ocean blues and seaweed greens for weeks!

How do you market or promote your work?

Locally my marketing is word of mouth.  I must say the absolute best marketing a person can do comes from the mouths of happy customers. When I have a new market open I’ll give a bag to a local charity or school raising funds with sales, auctions or giveaways. I also work off the web with postcards, craft fairs, and school fall festivals. Online I’ll spend time on the Etsy site, in chatrooms, forums, etc. I’ll let my Facebook friends and Twitter followers know when I have something special to offer.

How do you use Twitter to help with your craft and your business?

Twitter is just a blast!  I love following interesting people and learning more about their part of the world.  I love the fact that you communicate in 140 characters; it certainly makes my writing more succinct!  For me twitter is all about presenting yourself in a way that creates a positive community for your followers and those you choose to follow.  I twitter about the new bags I post, the shows I will be participating in and the new ideas I am working with.

Do you have any tips or advice for someone just getting started selling her/his own work?

Have fun with what you do, create things you love, things that you would purchase.  Never try to sell something you wouldn’t purchase yourself.  Creating something you don’t like, trying to sell it to people you don’t relate to is just too much work. I see people try to do it all the time, thinking they are on the way to fast money. Ask questions, surround yourself with positive people and work hard.

At CheapTweet, we’re always interested in interviewing creative folks who sell their own work and independent and local retailers. If you’d like to be featured in a future post, send us an email!