Launch Avena's Studio in Berea
Donation protected
I've been designing and creating fiber art toys for over two years. My work has brought smiles to many faces, both young and old! I have worked hard toward mastering my craft during this time and have a lot to share. Contibutions to my GoFundMe will help me accomplish my dream of establishing a studio and overcoming the limitations in my path to further work as a professional craftsperson.
I have two goals for these funds: The first is for practical necessities for opening a studio location that will be open to the public in Berea (in a sublet room in our local bookstore in the center of town). I'm already partly there, with a space available. I'll need supplies and help for painting and furnishing the new studio room, hanging a door, and for signage. I also plan to pay my first two months rent to the bookstore for our setup period.
The second goal involves equipment and supplies. I have one inadequate sewing machine I currently use; its limitations mean that I have to limit the types of dolls I can make for sale. I am stuck, unable to offer large dolls at this time. The market I sell in has collectors with high standards, and I need a couple of other stitch options to provide professional construction quality for my larger dolls. A second machine I need is a serger. There is a reason my image above is of an unclothed doll. I can't sell clothing items for my dolls without the professional finish of a serger machine. (I have chosen make and model carefully for affordable machines with an excellent "workhorse" reputation among other dollmakers.) Besides these machines, I have several specialty fabrics and fibers that I should have in stock in advance for orders and to build up inventory for my shop. I use natural fibers such as clean wools and double-knit skin toned cottons, cotton velveteen (for animals), and dyeable merino yarns and mohair wefts for wigs, all of which are costly but integral to my work. (I am only including these basic materials that I use in quantity in my budget and not extras such as assortments of clothing fabrics that I expect to purchase with income from sales.)
The studio will add to the local craft community, and allow me to share the magic of my craft with many more people. I will no longer be isolated working alone at home while my husband works alone many late evenings at the bookstore. We are both grateful to do work we love dearly, yet long extra hours put an extreme strain on our family. It will be a precious gift to relieve this and work side-by-side to help both businesses thrive together. As I get this studio off the ground I will also be looking forward to showing my work in exhibits, contributing more to the local economy, and teaching skills to others as I refine my work over the months and many years ahead.
I have two goals for these funds: The first is for practical necessities for opening a studio location that will be open to the public in Berea (in a sublet room in our local bookstore in the center of town). I'm already partly there, with a space available. I'll need supplies and help for painting and furnishing the new studio room, hanging a door, and for signage. I also plan to pay my first two months rent to the bookstore for our setup period.
The second goal involves equipment and supplies. I have one inadequate sewing machine I currently use; its limitations mean that I have to limit the types of dolls I can make for sale. I am stuck, unable to offer large dolls at this time. The market I sell in has collectors with high standards, and I need a couple of other stitch options to provide professional construction quality for my larger dolls. A second machine I need is a serger. There is a reason my image above is of an unclothed doll. I can't sell clothing items for my dolls without the professional finish of a serger machine. (I have chosen make and model carefully for affordable machines with an excellent "workhorse" reputation among other dollmakers.) Besides these machines, I have several specialty fabrics and fibers that I should have in stock in advance for orders and to build up inventory for my shop. I use natural fibers such as clean wools and double-knit skin toned cottons, cotton velveteen (for animals), and dyeable merino yarns and mohair wefts for wigs, all of which are costly but integral to my work. (I am only including these basic materials that I use in quantity in my budget and not extras such as assortments of clothing fabrics that I expect to purchase with income from sales.)
The studio will add to the local craft community, and allow me to share the magic of my craft with many more people. I will no longer be isolated working alone at home while my husband works alone many late evenings at the bookstore. We are both grateful to do work we love dearly, yet long extra hours put an extreme strain on our family. It will be a precious gift to relieve this and work side-by-side to help both businesses thrive together. As I get this studio off the ground I will also be looking forward to showing my work in exhibits, contributing more to the local economy, and teaching skills to others as I refine my work over the months and many years ahead.
Organizer
Avena Cash
Organizer
Berea, KY
