This Week's Featured Artist: Amanda of Amanda Sews!

1. What is your first name and where are you from?

Amanda, AZ


2. What type of art or craft do you create and how did you get started with it?

I sew. My business mostly started by accident. My mom liked sewing things for me when I was a child, and I learned to sew from her and some of her friends and family members.

As an adult, I’ve often sewn things for myself and even made a few things for friends. After I had my daughter, I started making things for her. I had people approach me about some of the things I’d made for her, so I decided to open an Etsy shop selling some of my creations.

Through local boutiques, I’ve had the opportunity to make some custom adult things too. There are always more projects than there is time for and I always seem to have at least half a dozen projects in various stages of completion (not counting the list of ideas I haven’t even started yet).


3. Where do you market your products? How long have you been selling your work?

I’ve been a seller on Etsy for just over 2 years. I also have shops on CosaVerde, Artfire, and ShopHandmade, as well as participating in local boutiques.



4. What is your dream for your products or artwork? Is it a mainly a hobby, or a main source of income (or would you like for it to become a main source of income)?

At the moment, it is mainly a hobby and I would love for it to grow to being a greater source of income.


5. How are your items different from the next guy’s? What is unique about your work?

I often design my own patterns, so you will not find the exact same item anywhere else. I work hard to make beautiful, well-crafted things, but also keep them affordable for the average person.



6. What is your favorite subject matter/medium/material (whichever applies to your art form)?

I’ve really gotten to love eco-friendly fabrics over the last few years. I especially love bamboo
fabrics. I just love the way they feel, as well as knowing that they’re from a sustainable source.


7. What is your favorite part of creating and selling your products or artwork? The part you like the least?

I love seeing the finished product (especially when it’s something new that I’m trying for the first time). I also really love seeing my things in action - I love it when my customers send me photos.

My least favorite part is when I run into problems – whether it’s problems with my machine or problems with my pattern, they can really make me grumpy. I also not fond of the shoulder/neck aches that I sometimes get when I’ve been working too hard.


8. Tell us a little bit about your family and how they feel about your business or your artwork.

My husband has always been very supportive. He never complains about my sewing area slowly taking over our master bedroom or when I order or come home with yet more fabric to add to my stash.

My mother has also been a great support – she’s always willing to help me brainstorm, give me feedback, and listen to me rant or gush about my projects.

I am a wife and mother first and a seamstress second, so I do most of my sewing while my daughter takes her daily nap (along with everything else we moms have to do during naps). When I get really busy, I also end up sewing at night after she’s gone to bed or on Saturdays when my husband is home.


You can find Amanda and her work at:

Etsy shop: http://www.amandasews.etsy.com

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-Sews/120165531334304

Online portfolio: http://picasaweb.google.com/amandasews



THANK YOU AMANDA!