Featured Crafter: Rebecca George of purpleandlime

Tropical Flowers Wristlet

Please welcome Rebecca George of purpleandlime on Etsy, this week's featured crafter. Huzzah for bacon!

How do you find out about craft fairs in your area? Do you belong to a crafter's alliance?

I find out about craft shows in the area through word-of-mouth, Facebook, and Twitter (and sometimes I hear about a show at another show!). I'm a member of the Chicago Style Crafters Etsy group and we have regular meetings in the city. I do all of my own research for my fashion inspiration. I do not sell exclusively online; my jewelry and accessories are sold at two shops here in Chicago (Wolfbait and B-Girls, and Paper Boy) along with various craft shows.

Raven pin

What was the impulse to start your business?

The impulse to start my own business has been there since I was a child and wanted to be a fashion designer- I knew I would have to start my own line to express myself through fashion. After many office jobs that didn't make me happy, I figured it was now or never to use my fashion degree I had worked so hard to get in London, England.

What is your niche? Why did you choose that niche?

My niche is catering to women who love fun and color. I have heard from many of my customers that my work has a sense of humor, and that makes sense as I value humor in regular life (I love comedy, esp. British shows like Ab Fab, etc).

Froggie necklace

Which colors interest you the most right now? What is inspiring you, creatively?

Right now I am very fascinated by flowers and bold spring colors like yellow, orange, kelly green, and shades of blue. I always love to work with jersey and wool, as well as recycled eco-felt because it is so versatile and can be used on clothing and in accessories. My current collection is entitled "Houses"- inspired by dollhouses, attics, and garden flowers.

Banana and chimp earrings

What piece of advice do you wish you had, when starting your business?

The advice I wish I had when I started was to not be afraid to ask other artists and business owners for advice! The amount I have learned from others has been so valuable and taught me so much. Pass that advice along!

What question would you like to ask our readers?

I would like to ask your readers what their favorite color is because I am fascinated with color. My boyfriend is color-blind and I always wish I could see how he sees for a day.

Bacon! Mini purse!

Are you obsessed with bacon?

LOL! I am obsessed with images and art with bacon themes, despite being a vegetarian since age 16, a big animal lover, and part Jewish. I make bacon and other breakfast items because I love iconographic, bold pop-art (like Warhol), and find it very humorous. My paternal grandfather worked for a national hot-dog and sausage company, so packaged meat was always around as a kid.

Where can we find you online?

My Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/purpleandlime

Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/purpleandlimefashion

Twitter: www.twitter.com/purpleandlime

Tumblr Blog: purpleandlime.tumblr.com

Thanks for the interview, Rebecca! Readers, what say you? I say, "More bacon!"

Featured Crafter: Alison Franson of Beatrice Holiday

Alison Franson of Denver, Colorado is today's featured crafter. Her business, Beatrice Holiday, recently won the Eco-Conscious Entrepreneur Award from Leading Ladies of Denver. Way to go, Alison! Her focus is on cruiser bike culture--using reclaimed fabrics to create bags and seat covers for your cruiser; and reclaimed inner tubes to create jewelry.

Alison donates a portion of the proceeds from sales to Derailer Bicycle Collective, a non-profit, collectively-run community bike shop in Denver. Her vintage fabric sense paired with a rubber-punk feel makes Beatrice Holiday a business to watch.


Did you start out with the intent to be in business, or did it happen organically?

Beatrice Holiday sort of just manifested on its own. I made a handlebar bag for my crusier bike and received a great response. I was encouraged to make more of them in different styles.

What are your favorite materials? Why? What do you want to work with?

Vintage fabrics for sure. I love reincarnating vintage upholstery fabrics that were once used to resurface old couches in the "olden days." Giving a fabric a new life and giving cruisers a way to pimp their ride definitely makes it all worth while. I also love working with the bike itself.
As a crafter, what have you always wanted to learn?

I want to learn from my customers. I always have an open ear to suggestions and encourage critique to make my products better. I received lots of requests to make my handlebar bags multi-purposed, so I added the shoulder strap. This way when you take the handlebar bag off your cruiser bike you just SNAP on the leather shoulder strap and tote your bag with you. This deters vintage-loving thieves from stealing your goods and your handlebar bag!

What have you learned about being in business for yourself, that you would like to share with us?

That doing what you love and loving what you do is the only way to operate a business!



Please visit Beatrice Holiday: FUNky and FUNktional cruiser bike accessories - Handlebar Bags, Seat Covers, Basket Liners made out of vintage upholstery fabrics and vinyl.

Our giveaway for this post? Recycled innertube earrings! Thanks, Alison!

Giveaway rules:

1. Post a comment about Alison's products. Make sure there is some way I can contact you (via your blog profile or your email) in the comment.

2. On Friday, March 19, 2010, at midnight, the comments will be closed.

3. On Saturday morning sometime, I'll get my arse up and use a random number generator to find a winner.

4. I will email and post the winner. The winner will have 24 hours to get back to me. If the winner does not get back to me within 24 hours, another random winner will be chosen.

5. I will hook up the winner with Alison, who will figure out together how to get the goods delivered. Done and done.