The Renegade Seamstress

Anyone who enjoys sewing and views each day as a blank canvas that she can’t wait to paint a picture on is OK in my book!

Please welcome LaKesha Rhodes.

And head over to her Etsy shop, OutTheBox Creations!

It’s always fun to get to know the energetic, creative people behind the shops so here is my recent interview with LaKesha:

Tell us about your Etsy shop:

One of my best friends has been buying from Etsy for a while and was
always telling me about how I should open a shop to sell the things I made.
It wasn’t until last year that I finally decided to. After browsing around
the different shops on the site, I was a bit stumped as to what I should
name mine. Many of the shops are centered around a particular art or craft,
and I didn’t want to pigeonhole myself because I knew I wasn’t going to be
able to focus on making just one type of craft. That’s how I decided on
OuttheBox Creations. My mind is always going a million miles a minute,
thinking of what I can make next before I’ve even finished my current
project. Even with current projects, I always look for a way to improve or
improvise them to make something new. There are a lot of baby items in my
shop (mainly because I can make them quicker–I’m also so eager to see the
finished project :), but I am working on more non-baby items.

What has been the most fun about having an Etsy shop?

-The best thing about having my Etsy shop is having the freedom to make
whatever I’d like to sell. Also, I’ve had customers from all over the U.S,
so I think it’s pretty cool that my creations have made it to states like
Utah, California, and Vermont when I’m here in Georgia.

Any advice for someone just opening an Etsy shop?

-It’ll be a year in July since I’ve had my Etsy shop, so I would say I’m
still fairly “new”. However, my advice would be 1) to make sure you
photograph your items well and 2) be patient. Patience is key. I opened my
shop in July, but I don’t think I had my first sale until September. It was
only about a month and a half, but I was on Etsy every day checking stats
and wondering what I was doing wrong. I assumed once I posted, that the
sales would just come rolling in. Even now, there’ll be high moments when
I get a lot of sales in a short period of time and then there’ll be weeks
with no sales. So, patience is definitely key with having a shop.

How would your best friend describe you?

I think my best friend would describe me as a busy, resourceful insomniac.
I’m constantly on the move, both literally and figuratively, juggling
several jobs and several projects all the time. Because I can never get my
brain to slow down, and I find that I get my best work done at night, I’m
always up to about 2 or 3am on most nights of the week (and I thought
pulling all-nighters was a thing of undergraduate past! lol). I love to
multi-task (I often find myself fidgety if I’m not doing more than one
thing at a time) so I’ve channeled that energy to be as productive as I
can.

What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?

-My favorite pastime until recently was reading and writing. I have a
bookshelf overflowing with books and my computer has about a dozen
half-finished novels on it. Now, on any given night, my sewing machine and
hot glue gun are on and my floor is riddled with fabric and buttons and
elastic and the like. Not that I don’t enjoy reading and writing
anymore–those were my first true passions–but I’ve grown a bit antsy and
can never sit still for too long to do them now, so crafting definitely
keeps me busy.

Who is your role model and why?

I’d have to say that my parents are my role models. When I was younger, my
mom bought me every craft set that I can think of. I had my own pottery
wheel, knitting set, bead-making kit, paint set–you name it. While I may
not have used them all as much I could of, I was made aware of the world of
arts and crafts and the incomparable joy of using your hands to make
something on your own. On many occasions, I watched my dad grab his toolbox
and attempt (sometimes unsuccessfully lol) to fix things around the house
that were broken, rather than calling someone. I always admired him for
that. I am who I am today–crafty and resourceful–because of them. I’m
never one to shy away from a leaky faucet or rattling refrigerator (I’m
proud to say I have my own toolbox now) before eventually letting a
professional see to it–that’s IF I haven’t figured it out myself first.
I’d like to think I’m quite well-rounded because of the two of them.

What is something about yourself that people would be surprised to hear?

-Anyone who doesn’t know me and just met me on the street would probably be
surprised to hear, based on my small size, that I LOVE to eat. Not just a
little bit, but a lot. I’m always cooking and trying new recipes

Where do you live?  What is your favorite thing to do around town?

-I currently reside in Atlanta, GA. I grew up further south near Savannah
for nearly 14 years when I was younger but, being a military brat, moved
around a bit after that. After stints in Louisiana, DC, Maryland, and North
Carolina, I found my way back to Georgia about two years ago. Spring and
summer time are the best in the city because there are always festivals
going on in the local parks. Any opportunity I have to experience food and
fun, I’m definitely down!

Anything else you’d like us to know about you?

-I believe that I am truly an artist, in every sense of the word. I realize
that I take every opportunity and turn it into an avenue to express myself.
Growing up, I loved writing. I felt it was the best way that I could
express how I was feeling or what I was thinking. Now I’ve found that I
don’t have to just settle on that facet to express myself. Every craft
project–be it something I sew, or paint, or make–is an form of
expression. I enjoy cooking so much (not only because I love to eat), but
every meal that I make is a chance for me to experiment and express myself.
I enjoy life because I view every day as a blank canvas that I just can’t
wait to put a picture on!

Thank you so much LaKesha for becoming a sponsor and making it possible for The Renegade Seamstress to continue to provide refashion tutorials.

So, what do you say everyone, let’s give LaKesha some love and visit her shop today!!