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Tatting with TotusMel

Pamela Quevedo, otherwise known as TotusMel, is a tatting devotee who has turned her love of the traditional craft into a successful online business. I spoke to her about how she got started and the perils of under-pricing.

How did you get into tatting?

I taught myself to tat after I found myself a stay at home mom. I was bored with knitting and crochet and thought I'd try something entirely new. I discovered tatting online and after several failed attempts at the shuttle, I found the needle and it was love at first knot.

How did your business start?

About the same time I learned to tat, I discovered etsy and thought I'd give it a go. I started out with knitted pieces and tatting, but soon transitioned to just the tatting since the marketplace was already saturated with excellent knitters. It wasn't really a business for me for over two years though. It was a slow transition from making my hobby pay for itself to actually making money.

Your designs are all unique, where do you get your ideas from?

I started by using vintage patterns. Seeing bracelets and chokers in edgings was a simple leap. I both appropriate old designs for my own purposes as well as design from scratch. I also get ideas from the fashion world as well as my customers and their odd requests. It was a request for a lace mask that started my entire mask line. It was a designer lace stiletto that birthed the ankle corsets and several other pieces were created as off handed challenges.

How long do the larger pieces take you?

My largest pieces have taken weeks, though most rarely take more than three or four days to make.

Considering the time-heavy nature of your work, how do you price your pieces?

Like most people, I dangerously under-priced my work initially. As my skill level improved, I felt more comfortable charging for my time. I know most people use a material costs formula, but most of my pieces are made with just thread so that really doesn't help. I heard a line the other day, 'I don't charge by the hour anymore, I charge by the awesome'. Honestly, that's basically what I do. I charge for my time and then for the complexity and use of the piece. If it looks more 'awesome' I can increase the cost.

What are your favourites of the pieces you have created?

The ‘In Bloom’ ankle corsets were created after seeing a pair of lace stilettos online. Since I couldn't recreate them, I opted to make something inspired by them. The other is the my ‘A Kind Of Pale Jewel’ mask. It was the first mask design I created after a customer request. The customer changed their mind and opted for a cheaper item they found elsewhere, but I have created several mask designs after that on request.

You have amassed quite a following on your blog and on etsy - how do you promote yourself?

I always have to remind people that it took years to get where I am, that following took a lot of time. Initially I spent a lot of time in the easy forums, but I outgrew them. I sort of felt like you can only play to the crafter crowd and get so far, you need to find new people, friends and buyers. I started a tatting blog, an etsy finds blog. I spend a lot of my tatting time with twitter open on my laptop. I have a flickr, a facebook fan page and most importantly, I try to make things people want to look at and hopefully buy.

Tatting is a very traditional creative method - have you considered using any other traditional methods to create your pieces?

There is a whole host of other crafts I want to learn and utilize , needle lace, metal work, all sorts of things, but with two small kids, I'm just going to stick with what I know for now. There will be time.

What has been the high point of your career as Totus Mel?

High point, hmm? I keep thinking that is what is over the next hill, though I've had many great ups. I have been published a few times in Belle Armoire and Belle Armoire Jewelry. My signature mask was posted by Boing Boing last year after I made a tutorial for it. The best thing though has been being able to stay creative, stay home with my kids and pretend that I'm famous on the internet.

Where does the name Totus Mel come from?

TotusMel was actually my very first screen name online. It means 'all honey' in Latin which is what my given name, Pamela, is suppose to mean. I couldn't imagine using any other name online.

What are your plans for the future?

I just want to keep moving forward with my designs. I have been fortunate to collaborate with many wonderful artisans and have several secret projects in the works for the coming year. I never know where the thread is going to take me next, but it should be interesting.

What advice would you offer to anyone wishing to start their own creative business?

Don't pick something that you just think will sell, pick something you absolutely love to do because if it ever takes off, you don't want to get sick of what you're doing. If you're creating something you love, just making pocket change to pay for your creative habit will feel nice. And give it time and space to grow. You will likely not be an overnight sensation; network, meet people, work on your art and by all means don't quit your day job unless of course you don't need one.
For more information on Totus Mel and to see more pictures of her unique designs, visit her etsy shop at

http://totusmel.etsy.com.

For more on our interviewer see

  Tatting is a handicraft similar to crochet and lace making, which can be used to make decorative patterns, edgings and pieces. It can be worked using a shuttle or needle, and is comprised of a series of knots, chains and stitches.

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