Today we are chatting with Featured Artist..
Ojami. Amy of Souix Falls, SD is a Stationery Artist and Bento Fan running both
Avlor's Imprints and
Ojami out of her home studio. I asked Amy 5 questions about her crafty business and inspirations...
1. Tell us about the Japanese Ojami game from your shop? How did Japan become such an important inspiration in your work?
Japan has been an obsession for me for quite a few years now. Going there is one of my life goals - preferably on a walking tour from Kyoto to Tokyo. The customs, the written language, the focus on community rather than individuals, the use of color, the prevalence of "cute" - wow it all fascinates me. So I think Japanese based design is only natural for me.
Otedama is a traditional Japanese bean bag game. I've know of two versions: 1. the juggling version that was specifically played in Japan and 2. the jacks version that was played in Hawaii by children of Japanese decent. The game isn't competitive. It's played socially, kind of like the hand-clapping games little kids play here. Do you remember Zig Zig Zig or Cee Cee oh Playmate? We played them just to be together. Literally translated it is "hand bag". The balls are known as ojami and it's synonymous with bean bag or cushion. They are normally stuffed with beans or rice. One of the most popular shapes is the one I make - the little do-nut shape made from 4 fabric rectangles and pinched together in the middle.
Unfortunately the game isn't well known anymore. It's high point was World War II and I think just post war. It's said that parents could sneak food to their children in the beanbags. I like to help preserve traditions that are fading. (I started spinning and naalbinding because I wanted to bring back the crafts. Learning about Otedama is the same type of thing.) It's good for gross motor skills and for increasing hand and eye coordination. The more you play, the better you get - and it's quite addictive! If you'd like to know more, the best book on the game that I've been able to find on the game in English is Otedama: Traditional Japanese Juggling Toys and Games.
2. I'm also big fibers and textile lover.. What do you love most about fabrics? Do you do any of your own dying and use any different fiber techniques in your work?
Oooh - textiles! Since I started spinning 13 years ago - I've become a fiber and textile fanatic. I've done some tie-dye with my family and friends - and one of those shirts has been recycled into a bag. (Is it odd that I can't wait for more of our tie-dyed shirts to end up as bags?) My latest bags are made of fulled (felted down) wool fabric. My grandmother grew up in the depression and she did her best to make sure nothing went to waste. Reusing items is becoming more and more important to me. I've recycled some materials in my items. But I hope to experiment more this year with other upcycled textiles - perhaps felted sweaters, coats, dress shirts, and what ever else I can find!
3. Between your Avlor's Imprints Shop & your Ojami Shop, what has been your best selling item? What do you think has made this a successful item?
The biggest seller for me has been my upcycled sew-in labels. I make labels in small quantities. Usually label makers want you to invest in at least 100 tags. That ends up being a lot of money for small stores like we have here on Etsy. My labels came out of the need for my Ojami shop items to have tags for CPSIA compliance. They also needed to last through the washer and dryer. These do!
In my Ojami shop it's been the bento bags. Obento (Japanese box lunches) is really starting to take off here in the US and I'm ecstatic! About a year ago, I started packing healthy, balanced "Americanized" bentos (not just sandwiches) that I could easily put together in about 10 minutes. My bento bags were designed out of the need for my son's lunches, since we have a lunch box, ice pack and sometimes a drink or chopsticks. I wanted a reusable bag that wouldn't take up much space and I couldn't find one I liked in the stores. After some experimenting we found a design we liked.
4. Your Ojami shop is fairly new (June 2009), Has having 2 shops been a challenge? Do you separate the businesses completely or do you bring them together on your blog and through the branding, packaging and marketing of your items?
A challenge? Yes and no. My Japanese inspired items were getting buried in my Avlor's Imprints shop before I separated the items into two shops. The big pro about having two very different shops is the variety of work. I don't feel burnout on product types as quickly. I work on 1 or two things for Ojami then I work on a few for Avlor's Imprints. My Ojami shop has had more attention to it's items because it's a more focused and cohesive shop. It's growing more quickly than my first shop did. The two shops bring traffic for each other from my shop header and profile. Also each shop spawns ideas and products for the other. Take my sew-in labels. I have to have them for Ojami and I figured I could make them for other people too. So I sell them in my other shop. Branding ideas are similar for both shops, for the sake of my sanity. And yes, I blog, tweet and post to Facebook about them both.
On the other hand, the cons - I can't put new products in each shop as often as I used to with one shop. Work on new products for one store gets set aside when custom orders for the other shop come in. I'm not going to knock myself out, unless I'm trying to stock up for Christmas.
It's a trade off.
5. Having been part of Etsy since 2007 and having two shops.. Do you have any tips or advice for crafty businesses?
(Giggling.) It seems a little odd to be asked today. I remember I started my shop with no direction and out of a challenge from a couple friends. Eventually I did buy a clue and make a plan... Next month I'll have had my shop for 2 years. Crazy!
Take it one step at a time. There are so many things new shop owners can do (blogs, twitter, facebook, ads, the Etsy forums, etc etc etc). I've seen quite a few people overwhelmed. Make a list. If a task looks big - break it down into smaller steps. Pick something off the list and do it. Work on products. There's no handmade business with out products. Then go back to the list. Sometimes 2 lists work for people - a right now and a later list. But keep it simple. I'mnot where I want to be yet either. But with a plan, and doing one or two things here and there we'll get there. Every once in a while look back on what you have done and pat yourself on the back. You've worked hard and you deserve it! Take time to enjoy the ride along the way.
Be sure to check out this new item in the Ojami Shop.. a great gift for the holidays!
Amy's quest to create absolutely unique items gave rise to a line of Minature Ojami Pendants. Just a tad larger than a quarter - they're just the right size! The Yuki - Snow on Red Otedama pendant is great for showing off your holiday spirit!
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