Vancouver Island Etsy Shop Feature - Roxanne Rose-Bouchard

'Qualicum Clothworks' on Etsy

• Tell us about who you are and how you got started doing what you do. Did you gain formal training? Where?  If not, how did you develop your art?  

My name is Roxanne Rose-Bouchard. I got my start about 25 years ago, making costumes and stagewear back on the mainland. I went to Kwantlen College in Richmond, BC where I studied the fashion arts and clothing technology for 3 years.  We moved to Vancouver Island in 1992. It is here I developed my own line of clothing. I use natural fibers that I dye and hand print myself. I used to wholesale to small boutiques across Canada and one catalogue company, with the help of an agent in the FX Fashion Centre in Vancouver.

• Tell us about your studio. Do you have a room or workshop especially dedicated to your art? Or is it the kitchen table or a corner in your child's playroom?

I have a studio/workshop beside my house where I design and create.  I also have a retail area where customers can come in and browse.

Roxanne's philosophy...  "A messy workshop is a busy workshop!!"

• Tell us about your processes. How do you work? Do you listen to music or need quiet?  Is it sporadic or do you dedicate set hours to work?

I love to listen to music while I work! I used to have dedicated work hours, but now I have a full time job working on a boat, as well as working on my craft. I would like to go back to my art full time as soon as my husband recovers from his illness.

• What are the toughest challenges you find in keeping consistent hours?  What other challenges do you face in your work and what ways have you been able to address them?
I don’t find it difficult to keep consistent hours as I love to work as much as possible. I do find it difficult to find enough computer time, however.  Hours disappear so fast!

• What types of materials do you use and why?
I like to use natural fibers because I (and many others) love the way they feel and the way they perform. I am able to use greener methods of dyeing, painting, and printing.

• Where else do you sell your work?  

I sell my work out of my shop, Etsy and at craft fairs. I also sell my work at Oceanside Village Artist’s Gallery on Resort Drive in Parksville, and at Nancy Durham’s in Saskatchewan.

• Where else are you on the web? 
Qualicum Clothworks on Facebook 
Roxanne Bouchard on Pinterest

• Why do you think people should buy handmade?
Handmade items are much more special and unique than mass-produced items.  Quality is usually better. Buying handmade helps to support local people rather than large corporations.

• What goals do you have?
My goals are to be able to make a living doing what I love to do. I want women to feel beautiful in my clothing and love the garments as much as I do.

• What are some of the items you sell in your shop?

•  Have you been in the news or featured elsewhere? 
Over the years I have been in the newspaper a number of times. I was just featured in the current issue of “Oasis” magazine that is put out by the Parksville Qualicum News. 

You may also find Roxanne in the Vancouver Island Lighthouse Country  business directory.

Qualicum Clothworks on Facebook 
Roxanne Bouchard on Pinterest

Vancouver Island Etsy Shop Feature - Iona Turner

'Bramble Lane Paperie' on Etsy

• Tell us about who you are and how you got started doing what you do. Did you gain formal training? Where?  If not, how did you develop your art?

I have always had an affinity for art.  I have no formal art training other than high school, and my creativity had been dormant for many years when I started card-making.  My daughter and I took a couple of classes together in 2005 or 2006, and I was hooked.  For the first several years I was just creating cards to give to family and friends, but more and more, I felt that I wanted to branch out and was being encouraged to do so.  I began selling and donating my work in the fall of 2013.

• Tell us about your studio. Do you have a room or workshop especially dedicated to your art? Or is it the kitchen table or a corner in your child's playroom?

Our basement has an in-law suite and I use the kitchen/dining area.  I can easily spend all day down there.  It’s cool in the summer and, in the winter, a woodstove keeps me warm.  I have my music, a sink to clean my inky hands, a kettle, lots of counter and cupboard space, and a 6 foot table.

• Tell us about your processes. How do you work? Do you listen to music or need quiet?  Is it sporadic or do you dedicate set hours to work?

I do not have set hours, as I work at a “day job” which has irregular hours.  But I try to do some every day.  I like to listen to gentle music and CBC. 

• What are the toughest challenges you find in keeping consistent hours?  What other challenges do you face in your work and what ways have you been able to address them (if you have)?

Sometimes the creativity is just not flowing because I’m tired or out of sorts.  For those times I keep a list of “non-thinking” jobs that I can just pull out and do.

• What types of materials do you use and why?

I work with paper, ribbon, and bling.  I like a soft, romantic feel, so I go for papers that are flowery and gentle, or with a country feel such as sunflowers or chickens.   I recently purchased a package of paper with a Mother Goose theme – I hesitated twice because it’s not really my style, but finally decided that, since it was on sale, I would take a chance.  Once I started working with it, I loved it!

• Where else do you sell your work?  

I sell at Buckshot Books (1254 Fair Road in Errington, BC) and I keep a small selection of cards at Womyn’sPath of Healing in Campbell River - (by appt.)  I also take orders through my facebook page.  I have a line of kitten birthday cards which I donate to the Campbell River SPCA, and in February, I donate Valentine’s cards to the Campbell River Head Injury Society who, in turn, sell them to raise funds and awareness.

• Why do you think people should buy handmade?

It’s important to support local small businesses, not just in the craft and gift world, but also in the food we buy and the coffee shops we frequent.  Shopping locally keeps the money here on the island and supports our island economy.  And giving a card or gift that’s been handmade, is so much more special than something bought at a big-box store.  

• What goals do you have? 

I want to learn new tricks and try new things.  I recently took a 2 day course in using alcohol markers, which is a whole different concept and effect from what people expect when they think of markers. I am looking forward to some experimentation.   I also just bought a compressor and will be playing with air-brush techniques.  I guess I could say that my goal is to keep learning and having fun with it.

What are three items in your shop that you are particularly proud of? 

1.  Mother Goose Card Set 

2.  Gentle Fall Card Set

3.  Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving Card Set

• Will you be at any art/craft fairs this year?  Any other place you will be (or have been) that you would like us to know about?

I will be at the CampbellRiver Judo Club Christmas Craft Market on November 15 and 16.  I will also be selling my work at the Artisan’s Christmas Market at the Campbell River Art Gallery from November 13 to December 24, 2014.

BRAMBLE LANE PAPERIE

Etsy Shop:  https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/BrambleLanePaperie

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BrambleLanePaperie

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/ionat 

Vancouver Island Etsy Shop Feature - Sue Pope

'SeamsSimplebySue' on Etsy

Sue Pope - Creator of the 'Yoga Saki'

Tell us about who you are and how you got started doing what you're doing.

I’ve always dabbled in one thing or another but my journey with SeamsSimplebySue all started about 10 years ago.  Riding transit was part of my daily routine and I found myself realizing that people, especially women, were trying to balance briefcases, bags, kids and yoga mats all while trying to keep hold of the overhead handle. This is where I realized the need for the “Yoga Saki”.   My spouse and my nieces helped me come up with the catchy name for the bag and the business.  From that time on, I’ve been affectionately named by some as the “Bag Lady”.  I kind of like it.

Tell us more about your product.  What type of materials do you use & why?

There may be mass-produced commercial yoga bags but, I feel proud to say, none quite like the “Yoga Saki”.  I currently have two sizes available.  Each has a front pocket, an adjustable carrying strap and a pull-type closure that is adorned with an assortment of beads.  Using a combination of new and re-purposed materials allows for personality and uniqueness. Obtaining fabrics from every possible resource allows for less impact on the environment as well – less waste is going into the landfill!

Tell us about your studio. Do you have a room or workshop especially dedicated to your art? Or is it the kitchen table or a corner in your child's playroom?                         
I do work full time and I find that designing and sewing allows the creative side of me to shine.  I work out of a room in our house that is set up with all the tools of the trade – sewing machine, serger, iron, needles, thread and of course….a huge trunk that holds fabrics and materials all colours and designs.  I think that it really is like an artist putting paint to canvas and realizing that something special can come out of putting together different colours and fabrics.  

Tell us about your processes. How do you work? Do you listen to music or need quiet? Is it sporadic or do you dedicate set hours to work?

I really sew when the mood hits – that way there is no real pressure.  I think this helps with the creativity aspect as well, as does listening to music.

  

Having said that, part of my business includes creating custom orders and, for someone to make a request with certain colours or materials in mind, well, I just love that challenge as well!  Custom orders can make such a wonderful, personal gift!

Are there any new items coming out soon in your shop that we should know about?

I have created three different sizes of cell phone and iphone bags.  Each of them has a dividing pocket and a long shoulder strap.  These versatile bags can be used for other reasons as well; for example, when a person wants to go for a walk without a purse, but still needs to take along their money and keys.   Besides being attractive and multi-functional, designing these little bags creates an opportunity for me to avoid wasting any odds and sods and scraps of material.  These bags will be added to my online Etsy Shop very shortly.

Are there any other places you sell your work? 

I currently have my bags for sale in a variety of yoga studios and galleries across Vancouver Island; among them being the Comox Valley Art Gallery and the Campbell River ArtGallery.  My website allows people to view bags that I have created and sold in the past.

'Yoga Saki' by Sue Pope on Vancouver Island

Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/ca/shop/SeamsSimplebySue

Website: www.yogasaki.com