The story so far
I mentioned in my last post that I quit my full-time job 3 years ago. You're probably wondering where the hell is the output from the last three years and beyond. 'Cause usually before someone quits their job, they've been building something for a while right... ah hah, yeaaaah, 'bout that.
I have always been creative, drawing and painting since I was a kid, dabbling in digital work in the early 00s, acrylic illustrations, photography and later custom tees, oil paintings and make-up. A jill of all trades, I just tried what excited me at the time.
But deciding to quit my job to make art kind of came out of the blue. While I still considered myself a creative person, it had fallen away. Art took a backseat to life. 10+ years in offices and I had resigned myself to a 'real' job as part of growing up. I wasn't happy but I was paid. I could help my Mum out. I could travel as and when annual leave allowed. It was a living.
However, in 2013 my family was devastated by the loss of my Grandad to lung Cancer. It sent me into a deep depression and when I finally emerged on the other side 2 years later, I realised that life was too short to be miserable. I spoke to my bosses, arranged my notice and ended 2015 with a plan to strike out on my own.
When I first left I thought I wanted to be the next Tunnel Vision. I wanted to run an online store to share my love of vintage, and the talents of my wonderful friends by featuring them as models. I wanted to included the odd hand-painted piece but it wasn't the focus.
I set up a shopify account on a £20 a month subscription. Roped two inspiring pals into modelling and asked if awesome photographer and human being Chris Murray would do the honours. I set up an instagram, I plugged, I promoted, I drowned in SEO and Google adwords bullshit and consistently failed to make money. Savings gone, I got a part-time job and this paid for the subscription and stock. I poured money in senselessly. The tax year ended and I was at a massive loss. Enthusiasm dulled, I became less enamoured with the vintage and more with making one of a kind pieces... I still failed to sell. I couldn't afford to keep paying shopify. I bid farewell to my beautiful branded but ultimately unsuccessful store.
I switched to Depop and Etsy and saw some Depop success but as it tailed off I lost all motivation for the sales process.
Kinda bullshit when you're trying to run a business right?
It's not all doom and gloom. Past failures are learning opportunities. My product offering is small and the price points are polar opposites, dirt cheap or stupid expensive. I have too few interesting repeatable products. I don't maximise the potential of the platforms I use. I have hidden too long in the making of things but now I'm pulling my head outta my arse and putting the work in.
Plus the time making wasn't wasted. Making shit developed my techniques and interests. Putting work out there aided in befriending creatives online. These people inspire me and have given me opportunities and encouragement.
As my interests and inspirations expanded, I realise not only do I want to just paint existing things but I want to sew from scratch...
So that's the grand plan, over the coming year I'm going to learn to sew.
I'll start with smaller projects that can become new product offerings. Repeatable and time efficient things that are still unusual and unique but don't require sinking months into making. I will fully utilise my skill set and make better use of my workbench, breaking out some leather pieces. By the end of this year, I will have gained sewing confidence. I will have made an outfit.
Shit. That's out there now. I'm going to have to hold myself accountable... Full of shit or full of motivation. I'll let you decide.
Check back here to see how I get on, or have a nose on instagram.
Either way, catch you soon.
Much love
Tiffany xo