Editor’s note: This meeting the makers post has all the things I love best-making it a perfect fit for our February theme of Love it Up. Robyn Santamaria of Shibang Designs is a talented and passionate Canadian maker with her own innovative style. Each of her pieces is a true work of art + skill + smart design, I am honoured to introduce Robyn to share her story with us!
Making and creating things has always been natural for me. From a young age I started selling my fimo creations at craft fairs and spending most of my free time drawing, making jewellery and sewing bags from fabric that I found around the house. When I made thedecision to take the Textile Arts Certificate at Capilano College (North Vancouver) right after high school I knew that I had found the perfect medium to express myself.
Exploring all of the processes related to fibre was my starting point and I gravitated towards embellishment, wool, dying and began to develop my technique of felt applique that I have built Shibang Designs around. I began designing simple shapes for purses to showcase the bright and textured abstract floral motif and creating a line to sell in some local boutiques in Vancouver. Feeling the need to solidify my skills and training in the textiles field I moved across the country to Halifax where I transferred to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University (NSCAD). It was there that I completed my BFA with a major in textiles, minor in jewellery and gained experience in fashion design and pattern drafting.
While a student I had the opportunity to participate in a couple of craft trade shows, both retail and wholesale, which has had an influence in the way that I currently run my business. In the past three years since graduating I have grown my business from part time job to a full time career. Etsy has been a great start to starting up and a wonderful tool to get out there. I am thankful for all of the leads, contacts and people I’ve met through this international online community. I also feel very lucky to be a craftsperson at this time when the internet and online shopping are so mainstream.
To sustain and promote my business I sell in three main ways; online through etsy and my own online shop, in boutiques across Canada and in the USA and by large trade shows that I travel to three times a year in Vancouver, Chicago and Toronto.
As much as I love working from home I enjoy meeting other artists in person and connecting with customers directly. What I find the most difficult is managing my time in all of the different roles that you must do when you run your own business – being the designer, maker, photographer, web designer, marketer etc. Some days I am busy doing other aspects of the business that I don’t even spend time sewing. It is a balance having to switching roles all of the time.
In the new year I plan to further develop my new line of art work as well as collaborate with other artists and designers.
Connect with Robyn by visiting her:
<<WEBSITE>> <<ETSY SHOP>> <<TWITTER>> <<FACEBOOK>>
i’m a big fan of robyn’s work! i just love the bright pops of colour in the flowers, so gorgeous. hoping to be able to meet her someday in this amazing vancouver craft community 🙂
Me too! I think all of her pieces are so covet-worthy:) I also love the West Coast/East Coast connection!
wow, wow, wow! what amazingly beautiful work! lovely interview! I love the photos showing all of the pieces being put together, brilliant!
Great segment on meeting the makers! I always see Shibang Designs when perusing etsy and now I can say I know a bit of the back story behind Robyn’s lovely creations!
What wonderful creations, like fiber watercolors. It is wonderful to get to know Robyn a little better.
Just beautiful! What gorgeous work. I love how you are using not only Etsy, but also your website and selling in local boutiques. Fabulous interview!
I am a big fan of Robyn’s, ever since she was the year ahead of me at Cap she has been a huge inspiration to me. Such a beautiful write up , Congratulations!!
Love Robyn’s work! so pretty…
Love, love, love!!! Robyn’s work is beautiful!
I really enjoyed getting to know Robyn! I too admire her beautiful and unique handiwork on etsy often and would love to own a piece to hug and call my own. Wishing you many more great things to come-
Her work is so beautiful! What an interesting process. Love it! Great write-up!
Thank you everyone for your comments & support! It has been a wonderful experience to be able to share some of my process and background.
When I mentioned that I hoped to collaborate I would like to also say that the photo of the beautiful woman above is Christine Adele White from Vancouver who is running for Miss Universe http://on.fb.me/zDmr8o modelling a bridesmaid dress by Vancouver Designer Cassie Dee http://www.cassiedee.com.
Goodness, that clutch in the last picture is so adorable! I love the style in which you create your art. It is so bright and the stitching seems so carefree and almost haphazard, and yet the final result is so beautiful. Definitely a unique take on design.
What drew you to this particular style, and do you work exclusively with felts?