Today's feature is about a blogger friend of mine, Duni, who writes her Lovely Purses blog. She always has new pictures of bags she is working on and designing. Duni lives in Germany and sells her purses online on Dawanda. Duni has been enamored with vintage fabrics since 8 years of age when she acquired her first piece. As you can figure, this little piece led to quite an extensive collection of fabrics in which she features in her pieces. To combat creative road blocks, Duni dons her sketchpad and turns to the fashion media for inspiration. She also finds inspiration watching romantic comedies, keeping all her designs and ideas in sketchbooks in various places in her home.
Peace Bag
Dunibagz
Duni has watched her products evolve as fashion evolves and newly designed materials become available. Her bags have even found newer shapes in place of the more traditional shapes of purses. While working her wonders at the sewing machine, Duni prefers to hear silence to minimize distractions, save for the occasional bird singing by her window. On an alternate craft-medium, someday if time permits, she would really love to develop scrapbooking skills. Duni truly admires those with artistic scrapbooking skills using papers and embellishments. Perhaps someday she will design little pocketbook scrapbooks to sell along with her purses!
Vintage Red
Duni prefers to keep her sales on the internet. According to a recent poll in Germany, the incident of internet sales are on the rise. Duni likes how simple and easy it is to conduct transactions online for both sellers and buyers. In reflecting on her most memorable moments in her business, Duni feels that working with difficult fabrics would fit the bill. I don't know about you, but I have had a few bad brushes with difficult fabrics in the past (whew!), so I totally respect artisans who can work with them easily. As far as obstacles in her business, Duni identifies time as being her biggest nemesis. She recognizes that one has to get a lot of exposure to grow their business and she is working on a website as well as promoting her site with her blog, business cards and on Dawanda itself. However, she is a freelance translator and tutor during the school terms (she speaks fluent English and German) and this prevents her to produce the amount of bags she would love to produce. Perhaps over time, Duni will be able to meet her goal. She is a very motivated, disciplined individual and I have no doubt she will excel!
Sleepmask Millifluer
I asked Duni if she had any advice for new business owners and this is what she had to say:
"Stay focused, be determined, be dedicated to your chosen craft, follow your passion!" Duni, I couldn't have said it any better myself!
Now, mosey on over to Duni's shop and drop a comment on what you think about her sweet bags!
"Stay focused, be determined, be dedicated to your chosen craft, follow your passion!" Duni, I couldn't have said it any better myself!
Now, mosey on over to Duni's shop and drop a comment on what you think about her sweet bags!
