Meet the Makers: Tish Hautea of SQooiD
What do you make? How did you get into it?
I carve designs on rubber used for decorating clothes, cloth, letters, invitations etc. I got into this craft business because when i was in college we were taught print making, after that i got hooked. I also do this because I get to encourage people to do more art by using the stamps to decorate things even if they don’t know how to draw or paint. It’s like an introduction to creating art in their own imaginative way.
Are you a full-time crafter? If not, what is your day job?
Left my advertising job to work as a full time crafter.
Check out the detail on one of Thereses stamps!
If you’re a full-time crafter, what made you take the leap and pursue your craft?
Making Handcarved stamps with my own designs can be physically and emotionally challenging but the rewards of being appreciated and being supported by the people i know, and the new friends i meet makes it more fulfilling. A life fueled with passion and hardwork is always a win win situation.
What motivates you in pursuing this business?
One of the things that motivate me is the respect i get from other crafters and artists alike. Iba ang feeling na mismong creative person naniniwala sa ginagawa mo and nagagandahan. Also, customers who never fail to appreciate my craft and who spreads creativity always push me to believe that what I’m doing is worth something more than just an income generating business but also a business with a purpose to make people do art.
Meet the woman behind SQooiD! Therese Hautea.
What are some of the challenges of maintaining a craft business?
Man power is my ultimate challenge. It is physically draining because carving is a tedious job 🙂
What’s a new skill–craft or business–that you’d like to learn?
Pottery making 🙂
An assortment of hand carved stamping goodness!
What’s your most recent craft business milestone?
I am fairly new to the craft business, i believe that I have yet to reach that milestone.
What is your favorite lesson in your experience of your business?
How to talk to people is very important, because not everybody understands what i do. being able to communicate with them and being able to give tips have given me more room for improvement and constant research and experiments regarding my craft.
You can’t help but admire the intricacy and illustration style on which this carving was based on.
What craft business advice can you share with other aspiring entrepreneurs?
Be true to your craft and don’t let money always dictate what you make as a crafter. Because at the end of the day we all want to say that that’s my design, my craft, my passion being used by people. Also, don’t always agree on haggles. A craft done with everything you have is not worth haggling for. You want people to buy your craft because they believe in it. (except, ofcourse, for bulk orders heehee)
Um, if you were a craft tool, what would you be? And why?
I want to be a blade. It’s a simple tool that can create new things just by cutting.
Bringing a new dimension to the conventionally cute paw print.
What can we expect to see from you guys at the upcoming Maker’s Market?
Expect to see intricate stamp designs that you wont find in random commercial areas and a smiling face ready to answer all your questions with regards to carving stamp.
Where else can we find your work?
please visit my FB page SQooiD here >>> www.facebook.com/sqooid