interview: darlingtonia moccasin co.

I’m always so impressed by the variety of wonderful handmade things on Etsy! And when I saw the adorable Darlingtonia Moccasin Co. I knew I had to do a little interview with the shop owner, Katie. I’m so happy she agreed!

Katie & her sewing machine

Q. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Katie I am a native Californian. In 2008 I graduated with a BFA in photography from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I love creating and when not making moccasins I can be found knitting, sewing, designing garments, drawing and of course taking many photographs. If you want to know what else I am up to I have a personal blog you can visit,http://www.igobykatie.blogspot.com

Q. How did you begin making such pretty moccasins?
I love moccasins and even before I started making my own I would wear them on an almost daily basis. One day I looked down at my feet and decided I was tired of my brown drab footwear. So I started to think about what my perfect pair of moccasins would look like, then I started to design them. What began as an experiment in footwear design, ended up my full time job when my first pair of handmade moccasins received such a positive response. I decided I wanted to create fresh new look for the age-old moccasin.

Q. All the items in your shop are so adorable! What is your creative process like?
Thank you! I start with swatches of leather and sketches. I mix colors together until I find combinations I love. Recently I have been designing more elaborate embellishments inspired by places I have visited, the sea & animals. I end up with page after page of ideas then pick out the ones I want to create. Then it’s just a matter of assembly, which is fun because I love to sew on my enormous antique completely manual (foot treadle and hand crank) sewing machine. Being a photographer first and foremost, one of my favorite processes is the product photography.

Q. What’s a normal day in your life like?
I wake up around 9:00am and immediately grab my laptop to check my emails/convos, post new features on my blogs and to see what’s happening in the world. Then I get myself fed, bathed and dressed and get right to work. People think if you work at home you must have a ton of free time. On the contrary, when you work from home you find yourself constantly working.

I am in the process of developing new moccasin designs, giving my company’s image a face lift with new packaging, etc. and have been working on a ton of other new projects. I commonly work straight through to the evening. From time to time I take part of the day off to enjoy the company of my friends and family.

Q. What inspires you most of all?
I find inspiration in movies I’ve seen, places I’ve visited, stories I have read and childhood memories. Also, my family & friends provide a great deal of inspiration they are all so creative!