She Sews Ponchos, 

But What Does He Sew?

THE POTTI TEAM BLOG

A special love for fabrics unites three of our Potti Team shops, as well as a willingness to deal with custom orders.  The shop items they sell vary.  In riddle form, they look like this: she sews ponchos, but what does he sew?

Actually, there are two "she's" who sell  ponchos. And capes, and pretty much whatever you can throw over your head or shoulders!  They are versatile, and fun and diverse - even from each other.  That diversity is accomplished through careful planning, because these two shop owners collaborate on basic shop operations, promotions, and direction, as well as discussing the items either or

 both will add. 
  

It is difficult to know who came first, Joyce
of PaisleyPurveyorToo, or Donna of DonnasDesignsSC.  I do not mean this in the traditional chicken or egg manner - since they are a mother-daughter duo - I know the answer to that one. I merely mean that glancing through their shops does not address the question.  A look at the dates given on their Etsy profiles establishes Donna as the first to arrive at Etsy, by several years, though she is the traditional egg - I mean, uh, she is the daughter.  

Donna, a full-time administrative assistant at Clemson University, was making tied fleece blankets, and she says "at a certain point, I realized I needed an outlet for my creativity as it was piling up around us! I love to work with fleece and started there with one of my favorite garments, the tied poncho."  She also has a great tongue-in-cheek slogan: Fleece-ing the World…One Poncho at a Time!

"Since then," she shares, "I've branched out a bit as my sewing skills improve and I experiment with new fabrics and styles." 

It is her comments on fabrics that best explain her ponchos.  "I always try to find special material, that feels really good, with a beautiful drape, and/or unique pattern. It has to be “touchy-feely,” absolutely a requirement for my ponchos and capes."  Of  those she says, "Once you’ve wrapped yourself up in one of my ponchos, you aren’t going to want to take it off! Not only do my ponchos look good and feel good, they make you feel gorgeous or handsome too!" 

                                   "My husband and I also enjoy attending Renaissance Festivals and have fun dressing up for the events, so my cape designs are an attempt to try and tap into that garb market. Customers have started to come to my shop looking for their costuming needs and it’s great. I have done several pieces for medieval & historical events and some really fun Princess Leia ponchos for Star Wars fans. Recently, I’ve added a Michonne cape from a character in the TV show Walking Dead," Donna shares.  "It’s really fun when a customer requests a piece and I can make them something they love."  These photos show some of her favorite custom orders (they are not linked to listings in her shop - other photos are linked).

While ponchos may not seem quite the wear for hot weather, Donna even features a selection of beach cover ups!

 ❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀..❀.❀.

Donna's mother, Joyce, is not a chicken in a
traditional, theoretical, or literal sense!  She is an achiever, and is surely one of the influences that shaped her daughter.

When the automotive industry plummeted in the fall of 2001, Joyce, who was a secretary in this business, lost her job as well.  She relates, "I wandered into a fabric shop with my last paycheck and felt very comforted holding the fleece remnant I dragged home."

The next leg of her journey sounds remarkably like

that of her daughter:"Fabrics were now all different and new to me [than when she made her own clothes, and her young family's]. I bought some fleece and started to tie blankets. I found this activity to be very enjoyable and soon was overproducing. A pattern to make ponchos headed me towards making garments but still not sewing. When I tried sewing on these new different fabrics, my vintage machine did not do well. I bought a wonderful stretch stitch sewer and began sewing blankets and ponchos."   

Joyce had established an Etsy shop for her vintage finds, PaisleyPurveyor, so the creation of a shop for her fleece and sewn items,  PaisleyPurveyorToo, followed.  She explains, "I absolutely love the lines and patterns of paisley and even have flower beds in their classic shapes."

Of her shop items, she shares, "They are sewn of fabulous, luxurious fabrics not usually used for the purpose I have chosen…You might easily find the fabric of a listed poncho making up a teddy bear in the toy department but not something to wear. My fabrics are chosen mainly because they are so touchable…I strive to make a garment that will wear well and last long with easy care."

Her custom orders often lead her to try different styles, as can be  seen by even a casual perusal of her delightful shop!❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀.❀..❀.❀.

Linda and JR of JRsPillowsandBags have had their shop on Etsy since June of 2011 selling high quality pillow covers and tote bags.  Linda carefully selects coordinating fabrics and trims.  She says, "I love color and really go crazy buying fabric. I have more fun doing that than I would on a shopping spree for myself. I love seeing my ideas turn into pillows, bags or [Christmas] stockings."  

JR does the sewing because, as he has often quipped at craft shows,  "I am color blind, and she can't sew!"

Linda was formerly employed as a Customer Service Manager, and excels at running their Etsy shop, promoting it via social media, and interacting with customers.  JR formerly worked on commercial sewing machines, and therefore knows how to use one.  Sewing pillows began as a hobby for him, and his initial announcement to Linda that he was going to make a pillow met with some doubt on her part.  She says that he amazed her!

JRs pillows went from a hobby to a business when he and Linda began selling at craft shows.  Eventually they were involved in more shows than their health would permit.  Along the way, however, customers had been telling them about a wonderful website where one could sell handmade items (or two could sell handmade items, as Linda and JR so aptly demonstrate), and so they found Etsy.

Because their pillow covers are so well made - enough to even satisfy Linda's perfectionism - I was surprised to discover that JR has Parkinson's Disease.  It was diagnosed seven years ago, and he thought at that time that his ability to work was gone.  He gets joy from this unexpected hobby turned job, and Linda obviously derives much pleasure from her role(s) in the business as well. 

Sew there you have it - she sews ponchos, and 
he sews pillows. 

And tote bags.
  
And Christmas stockings 
...in season.

Michele Davidson