Spotlight on Southpaw Art: Leatherworking

Today we are going to hear a little bit about Middle Tennessee artisan and owner of Southpaw Art about his creations and his treade, Leatherworking. You can browse his handmade wares here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthPawArt

Hand Tooled Purse made in Hendersonville:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/70316219/western-tooled-leather-clutch-purse

"Hi, I am Draper and I live in Hendersonville, Tn about 20 minutes north of Nashville,Tn I run and few online shops under the name "SouthpawArt". I make and sell handmade leather goods and some chainmaille jewelry with a rocker or biker style to them, that doesn't mean I have left anyone out that might be looking for a western or simple flower designs, etc.
I started my leather craft style with a lot of western flowers and things. I didn't have many sales, so started doing more my style and my designs with skulls and flames and found that sale picked up a little. I plan on creating more designs based around this idea in the coming year.

Coin Purse made by Southpaw Art

I was introduced to leather work by a neighbor who has been doing it for twenty plus years but has mostly stopped do to his age as his eyes sight is not what it used to be and arthritis is bad in his hands. So he hasn't been able to show me a lot always but he has good advice on different parts of the craft. Some of what I have learned about leather work has come from the internet and reading and studying different peoples work. There are a few websites out there that can help you along the way one of the best is leatherworker.net it has a good forum for asking questions and pointing you in the right direction.

Close up of detailed skull on Wallet:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/75021285/custom-carved-skull-flames-leather

It is always tough to give new carvers honest feedback most don't understand that it takes a lot of practice to get good. You can also take a few starter classes at Tandy Leather in Nashville and get a feel as to is this craft or art for you. But the bulk of your learning must be hands on, through doing it and making mistakes. The only way to learn the feel of the knife and the wetness of the leather is to do it and that is only one step in the process. The art or craft of leather work can take many years to learn and a life time to master. It is a craft that has many different areas of learning for different people.

Original Flames Design by Southpaw Art

Most of my focus over the last few years has been on the art of tooling leather sometimes called carving. The first part of carving or tooling a design in to leather starts with a design or a pattern. Once you have decided on a design be it a yours or one from the past or even a craftaid. Typical you will lay a piece of tracing film over the printed outline drawing and take a marker and trace the outline. This is will be used to transfer the design to the wet leather and the base for your cutting. Once the cutting is done you will take different tools and a rawhide mallet and add patterns and textures to the leather, giving the leather a raised and lowered look. This is a very simplified version of what happens, then the work begins, changing it in to a finished product so you can see there must be a plan even before the carving begins.

Most of my designs are geared toward men but i'm always looking and open for ideas that might work for those bad girls out there. I try to keep designs in my shop for both but you can always email me and ask about having something custom made for you or a friend. I also don't mind helping out others starting in the art of leatherworking."

Thank you very much for your time, Draper! We look forward to seeing what new items you are creating. Here is a link to Tandy Leather, located in Nashville- this looks like a great local business to buy supplies from: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/home.aspx

Selling Your Crafts Online: 10 Tips for Business

Today's blog post is for the sellers out there who want to earn some extra cash selling handmade goods online. It is a list of a few easy tips to improve your chances of making a sale. Most of them apply to offline sales as well.


1) Sell something original like this mixed-media piece from Smyrna artist dandedesign:


http://www.etsy.com/listing/75355583/original-collage-time


In the crafts world, you will find a lot of competition selling the same thing that you might be making. Whether is is lavender soap, knit hats, or cupcake toppers, you will have more success if your product is different. Shake things up a bit by adding one-of-a-kind designs to your offerings that only you make. If you paint, getting your prints on T-shirts and pendants could give you an edge over other sellers offering pieces designed from mass produced parts. Reuse and recycle found objects to truly make your pieces unique.


2) When You Find Your Best Design, Offer It In Various Colors, Styles, and Sizes:

For all that is said about originality and making your own unique and original designs, when you happen to hit a grand slam, don't stop there. Look at these cute leg warmers. This seller has many styles and colors of these handmade leg warmers in stock. Reproduce your most popular items in different version. If you make clothing or jewelry, consider adding plus-size options. You can also make seasonal versions of the same product to match the weather.


3) Offer Similar Items At Different Price Points: 


Sure, your piece made with pure metals and authentic gemstones look gorgeous and is worth every penny, but not all shoppers can afford that. Try making a few high-end luxury items to draw shoppers in and get the oooohs and ahhhhs, but offer a lower price alternative, perhaps a necklace made with glass beads instead of gemstones or a scarf knit with acrylic rather than a premium wool yarn.

4) Promote Your Newest Products: 


So, you have some amazing new items, but no one knows about them or how great they are. How do you get people interested? If you sell on etsy, join a team and add your items to the daily promotion threads; all teams should have one. Post some pictures of your new items on a crafts discussion board. There is also Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and more. Just make sure that you don't bombard your customers with constant ads or promotions to buy your products, or it will seem spammy. Keep it fun. Consider sending out samples of new products to existing customers, if you sell something like soap or handmade chocolates. If you make jewelry or clothing, wear it!


This necklace is available here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/65127814/enchanted-woodland-cluster-bib-necklace


5) Carry Business Cards Everywhere:

Once you start talking about your crafts, you'll be surprised how many people really are interested! Imagine that you are wearing your new crochet hat and meeting some friends for a few drinks. Inevitably, you will hear someone say, "I love your hat!". That is your cue to tell them that you made it. If the person seems interested, offer them a business card. Try to get high quality business cards with an interesting design. 


Moo business cards and stickers are a bit of an investment, but everyone loves them and they are so nice that people can't bear to throw them away. Having a great card makes a good first impression and implies your items are high quality. These cards are printed on ultra-thick cardstock and can be personalized with your images. Look here to buy Moo cards: http://us.moo.com/en/?gclid=CLuc8_HE_6oCFdgS2godZ2k90Q


Other alternatives are to design your own or hire a graphic designer to help you get just the right look. Include your card with sold orders, have a stack handy for people to pick up if you are selling at a local craft fair, and post them on community bulletin boards.


6) Packaging Matters:


This morning, I made and listed this new soap for sale online and I made sure to mention and include a picture of how it would be packaged. This is very important to consumers, especially for edible goods or products that go on the skin. They need to be labeled so that a full ingredient list is visible. If you sell jewelry, pottery, apparel, or other goods, you should mention how it is packaged to prevent breakage and if it will arrive ready for gift giving.


You can find this soap and more here, in my shop, Mylana: http://www.etsy.com/listing/80981997/banana-berry-smoothie-soap


7) A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words:

Cliche, I know it, but there is a lot of truth in that saying. Susan Christensen, local Tennessee photographer has some stunning images for sale in her shop, like these feathers, but you don't need to be a professional to improve the quality of your online photos. Only use clear images on plain backgrounds to make your items "pop". Take your product photos outside or in a lightbox. Try using images taken at interesting angles and include close-ups and images of the entire object. Consider showing the back side of paintings or the underside of a vase.  Consider changing your online photos to match the current seasons or holidays.


Read more about Susan and her photography here:
http://www.etsy.com/people/ChicksPhotoGraphics?ref=ls_profile






8) Don't Forget The Men!!!!!

Crafts and shopping, too often we think of this as being a "woman's market", but there are plenty of male craftsmen and consumers. For example, Draper, the creative mind behind SouthPawArt, has outstanding leather designs for men, women, and unisex products. He has hand tooled leather featuring gears, skulls, and wildlife for the traditional "manly man" alongside tulips and finely detailed roses for the ladies. Check out this Hendersonville artisan's shop here for more handmade leather and chain mail:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthPawArt


If you can offer a product tailored to the male market, do so and you will increase your sales. Consider using a male model for your handmade apparel using unisex images that might appeal to both men and women. Beer, bicycles, skulls, and the outdoors are all hot now.


9) Have Seasonal Sales and Promotions:


Having a slow month? Try offering a sale coupon code or free shipping. Make sure you are not losing money though


10) Reward Your Loyal Customers


Offer samples, discount codes, or an occasional free gift to your returning customers.

Mary Thomas, A Multi-talented Crafter from NE Tennessee

Thank you, Mary Thomas, of WickdCreation for taking the time to answer some questions about your items and the great things to see and do in Tennessee. Mary operates http://www.etsy.com/shop/WickdCreation, where the selection is always interesting, varied, and colorful. I purchased some wooden flower basket magnets from here that were adorable and well made. She often has Tennessee themed items, like Jack Daniel's whiskey shotglass candles, made in Lynchburg, TN. 

1) Where in TN do you live? What is the nearest major city? What is the geography like and are there any unusual landmarks or historical places?

I live in Duff, TN. That's about 20 minutes from the Kentucky border in the northeastern part of the state and just under an hour from Knoxville. It is very beautiful here, especially up on the mountain I live at the very top of. Our most historical place in this area would have to be the Civil War Trails in the next town over, Lafollette, TN.

2) What are your favorite places in TN for shopping, dining, and outdoor fun? What destination would you recommend near your city for tourists? 

For four years I lived in Johnson City, TN. Aside from the wonderful college, ETSU, it is also a great place to shop, eat, go dancing, whatever strikes your fancy. Knoxville has two great malls, hundreds of restaurants and of course anyone stopping in from out of town has to see the Sun Sphere, which was built for the 1982 World's Fair.

3) Tell us a bit about your crafts. What do you make and how did you learn to make these things?

I am a Soaper, Candlemaker, Jewelrymaker and Papercrafter. I am self taught and I have a great love for all of them. I have worked with paper the longest. I became a scrapbooker in high school but that quickly evolved to cardmaking, collages, etc. I haven't purchased a greeting card in 5 years, not even Christmas cards. I make them all myself. I also learned to make Candles in high school with my best friend. I decided last year to try making glycerin soaps, learned very quickly that I had knack for it and that I was in love with mixing the fragrances and colors to achieve the perfect result. I just took up jewelry making in March of this year, but I have built up quite a large collection of beads, findings and other supplies. My only issue with jewelrymaking has been wanting to keep everything I make.

4) What are your future plans for your handmade items? 

In the near future, I want to learn to make Hot and Cold process soaps as well as expanding my jewelrymaking beyond earrings and the occasional bracelet. My dream would be to open a boutique where I, and other local sellers, could sell a varitey of handmade beauty products and jewelry. We don't have many opportunities to really experience a handmade market in this particular area and I would love to be able to change that.

5) So, you are also the captain of April's Army team on etsy? Please tell us about that team and the money they raise for charity.

Yes, April's Army. We are one of the largest teams on Etsy, and in my opinion, we are also one of the very best. We work directly with April Winchell, the creator of the humor site, Regretsy, to raise money for other Etsy sellers in need. Our wonderfully dedicated team members donate handmade and vintage items to a collective shop right here on Etsy and all the proceeds go to our chosen recipient of the month. Our shop is only open the last week of the month, so that the members have time to create new items and our wonderful buyers have time to re-fill their wallets. During that week, Regretsy and April's Army also promotes the charity recipients Etsy shop in hopes of selling out their current stock and greatly increasing the money raised for their particular cause. So far we have helped a young lady whose fiance needed money for cancer treatment, a lady who lost everything in a fire and a family who needed help with their massive debt after the father's long battle with cancer. Between the April's Army shop and the shops of the recipients we have raised nearly $20,000 in just 3 months. 

6) Can you describe some of the items you have donated to their charity shop and tell us about how we can buy from it?

Well, in the spirit of Regretsy, I have donated cupcake scented Mustache on a Stick soaps and 4 sets of my super special Zombie BFF clay pendants. 
As I stated above, we are only open the last week of each month, but there are plenty of items, lots of variety and something in every price range. During the last week of each month, just check out www.aprilsarmy.etsy.com and know that any purchase you make will go directly towards helping another seller improve their life. 

7) Is your shop having any sales or promotions right now?

Yes, code: FRIENDS20 will get you 20% off any purchase from my shop.