Feature Friday–Spirrel Monkey

Where are you from and tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Lorna, I’m 28 and I come from a town called Stevenage back in England. My husband and I moved to the USA last August because his job got relocated. So we are busy getting use to living in a ton of snow (we’re in upstate New York) and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Why did you start your Etsy shop?
Back home I was making bags and purses to sell at craft fairs in my spare time. So when I came here I started making again, since I couldn’t work for the first few months until I got my work pemit, plus it kept me occupied while at home all day. I found Etsy and thought that it was such a good idea and a great place to sell that I decided to make the leap and sell online.

How did you come up with your Etsy shop name?
Back in college whilst in the art studio a few friends and I were coming up with names for hybrid animals and mine was Spirrel Monkey, the combination of a Flying Squirrel and a Spider Monkey.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
My Dexter Doggy Bags. They are dog mess bag holders, I made one for my dog Dexter because I was fed up with forgetting the roll of bags when I changed jackets, or my husband would take him out and not put the bags back in my jacket pocket. So this holder just stays on his lead by the door all the time. Saves a lot of time and we are always prepared and I love anything that is practical yet stylish.

Do any of your pieces have a memorable story behind them?
All my pieces are made because I had a need for them. A lot of things I make came out of the fact we didn’t have any money when we first set up home, so I made cushions, I made coasters, I made shopping bags or I had someone’s birthday coming up.

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?
Buy handmade. You can buy such beautiful items and works of art from talented and practical people. Just because it hasn’t come out of a designer store doesn’t mean it isn’t good quality, in fact it has better quality, because it hasn’t been mass produced. Be unique and support.

How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?
I’ve always been a textile person and I have loved sewing ever since I was a little girl. It was my favourite subject at school, more than art. I just found it interesting how clothes and other items were constructed, it was like a puzzle. I was just always drawn to sewing and fabrics.

If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?
I think it would be Jewelery making, I had some friends do this at university and it fascinated me. Plus I’m a magpie, love my shiny things.

Why should people buy handmade?
We live in such a throw away society and we should learn to value things more. It also means you are supporting locally made products and small businesses, which can only be a good thing.

Any advice on selling things handmade?
Make things because you love to make, not because you think it’s a good way to make a quick buck. People will be able to see that in you product. Show friends and family and give them a few freebies to actually use. The number of times I get people asking my sister or my friends “oh where did you buy your…” that way they are sending customers your way. It’s a really good way to advertise.

Apart from creating beautiful pieces, what else do you do?
Right now I’m a stay at home wife and mother to a four legged baby. But when I have worked it was always in the charity sector.

Do you have plans for expansion?
Not right now, it’s still early days! But hopefully in the future.

Anything else you would like us to know?
I also have a blog called Spirrel Monkey as well, where I write about the personal experiences, design, and How To Guides, which are step by step instructions on how to make certain items in my shop. I think it’s important to share, techniques since it would be a shame for them to be lost and not passed onto the next generation.