Bonspiel Product Line Expanding into Clothing

Many of my friends, as well as I, have been dealing with end-of-winter blues. Everyone seems surprised by this phenomenon, because the days are getting longer, there are cute flowers popping up all over (here on west coast Canada, anyways) and there’s No Reason to Feel Unhappy. But I’m also just getting over a long bout of influenza (hence lack of posts here) and feel much more frustrated with the last minor sniffles than I was when I was flat on my back with a fever. I guess being annoyed takes energy. Those last cold, rainy days that can trail on for months get us down. They are like the sniffles of the season (are you getting my analogy?)

For me, added to this feeling of annoyed impatience and resentment at myself for feeling this way is the slowdown in my sales since the new year started. I’m still getting by, but I am feeling a lack of “flow” with money–if it’s not flowing in, it can’t flow out. Argh!

But I’ve surprised myself again by responding to the situation by revamping/expanding my product line. After a fruitful and inspiring conversation with my very creative friend Vanessa, who says “People are going to get sick of cheap, stretchy handmade tee shirty things–I want to make beautiful tailored clothing with proper fit and sewing techniques” (sorry if I misquote you, V, but that’s approx. what I remember you said), I am going for it with clothing. For starters, beautiful fabric is a must. No cheap, synthetic stuff that is going to pill or bag out. I have been exploring silk crepe de chine, which I have been hand dyeing. I made this dress and a couple of these tops, using all French seams and no serging at all. It was a pleasant, if intense process, I must say, and also an esthetically satisfying experience to touch all that silk. However the pieces are priced accordingly, at 180.00 for the dress and 114.00 for the top (us dollars). I think that’s still pretty modest pricing for silk handmade, hand dyed, unique clothing. But really it’s up to the market to decide.

I have also made some skirts from a cotton/linen blend, which I dyed a soft green, and the fabric is so amazing, with that bouncy drape that linen has, but less crinkly and a bit lighter (due to the cotton). I haven’t photographed them yet, but I will and they will be in my etsy shop by mid-next week. The skirts are a-line, with a pair of side pleats that sort of wrap around the back. I’m putting a print of a cardinal, and one of a little teacup bird (bird I stole from a teacup) on the back of the skirt down beside one pleat. They are super cute, I’m really excited about them.

Prints. I”m getting sick of my in your face, literal cute animal images. I think they still work on my little leather changepurses, but I don’t want a squirrel on my skirt, do you? (well, maybe sometimes…maybe I could make Velcro patch squirrels). So I’m lifting new images from some vintage china that I have. They are lovely without being too adorable. It’s so hard for me not to be cute!

One of the reasons I’m moving toward clothing and away somewhat from leather goods is that I don’t know anybody who wants to sew leather, so I have to make it all myself and it makes it impossible for me to meet the desires of wholesale customers, not to mention expanding my empire. But if I can have some friends sew up clothing for me, I will be able to expand. I have very experienced and talented friends, whom I have absolute trust in as far as quality goes. I would love to pay them well so their work is a joy to them, because I know firsthand what it feels like to dislike what you’re making because you feel taken advantage of. I want to create a cottage fashion utopia!

If you reading this are in Victoria, come check out the new skirts, tops and the dress (there is only one of the dress!) at the T’winkle market, on Saturday April 19, details here.

Bonspiel Product Line Expanding into Clothing