Today's featured shop, Dyche Designs, has plenty to offer for everyone on your shopping list. From quirky rubber ducky soaps, to cozy scarves, to skulls perfect for your friends that like home decor that you can't find at just any shop. Born in Wales and raised in Oxfordshire, Kathryn of Dyche Designs made the move to Leesburg Virginia in 2004. With the love and support from her family, she decided to leave her job as a Human Resources Officer to pursue her dream of creating for a living.
Blue Skull With Metal Accents
How did you get started crafting?
I feel like a relative late comer to the crafting arena. My sister was always the artistic one in the family and I honestly didn’t think I had a creative bone in my body. That was until one Christmas when she had my brother and I do a decoupage project with her. Little did she know that she would be responsible for unleashing a creative beast and now there's no going back!
It was that, combined with a move from the UK to the US in 2004, that started me on my creative journey. I suddenly found myself with access to so many different crafting materials and I was like a kid in a candy store. I had great fun experimenting with different mediums and thought that over time I would find a particular area to specialize in. As it turns out I discovered that I just love variety way too much to focus on any one particular craft.
Why did you decide on Dyche Designs for your business name?
My father died of cancer almost seven years ago and it was important for me to find a way to carry on his name. ‘Dyche’ is my maiden name so it seemed fitting to call my shop ‘Dyche Designs’. The initials of my shop are also my mothers’ initials.
I feel like a relative late comer to the crafting arena. My sister was always the artistic one in the family and I honestly didn’t think I had a creative bone in my body. That was until one Christmas when she had my brother and I do a decoupage project with her. Little did she know that she would be responsible for unleashing a creative beast and now there's no going back!
It was that, combined with a move from the UK to the US in 2004, that started me on my creative journey. I suddenly found myself with access to so many different crafting materials and I was like a kid in a candy store. I had great fun experimenting with different mediums and thought that over time I would find a particular area to specialize in. As it turns out I discovered that I just love variety way too much to focus on any one particular craft.
Why did you decide on Dyche Designs for your business name?
My father died of cancer almost seven years ago and it was important for me to find a way to carry on his name. ‘Dyche’ is my maiden name so it seemed fitting to call my shop ‘Dyche Designs’. The initials of my shop are also my mothers’ initials.
Do you have a muse?
My whole family acts as my muse. They make me laugh, smile, reflect, question things and I like to thing that each piece I create is inspired by them in some way.
My mother is an aromatherapist so my love of soaps, candles and all things scented can be attributed to her (I spent many an hour with my nose in her aromatherapy oil drawer basking in the wonderful scents that would emanate from there).
My brothers chosen art form is photography. His curiosity and inquiring mind encourage me to look at things from a different perspective. I love the way he is able to convey emotion and capture a moment in time through his lens and it's this that makes me strive to improve my own photography skills.
My sister is extremely talented and uses a wide variety of mediums. She has this wonderful ability to think outside the box and her imagination and creativity spark many new ideas.
Last but not least my husband. I love his unwavering support and his honesty. It’s all of these things combined that have encouraged me to change and grow and explore creative new outlets.
Do you take custom orders?
I try to offer a variety of items in my shop including a wide range of styles and colors. Where possible I am happy to work with someone to complete a custom order and have done so on a number of occasions.
My whole family acts as my muse. They make me laugh, smile, reflect, question things and I like to thing that each piece I create is inspired by them in some way.
My mother is an aromatherapist so my love of soaps, candles and all things scented can be attributed to her (I spent many an hour with my nose in her aromatherapy oil drawer basking in the wonderful scents that would emanate from there).
My brothers chosen art form is photography. His curiosity and inquiring mind encourage me to look at things from a different perspective. I love the way he is able to convey emotion and capture a moment in time through his lens and it's this that makes me strive to improve my own photography skills.
My sister is extremely talented and uses a wide variety of mediums. She has this wonderful ability to think outside the box and her imagination and creativity spark many new ideas.
Last but not least my husband. I love his unwavering support and his honesty. It’s all of these things combined that have encouraged me to change and grow and explore creative new outlets.
Do you take custom orders?
I try to offer a variety of items in my shop including a wide range of styles and colors. Where possible I am happy to work with someone to complete a custom order and have done so on a number of occasions.
Brown Bold Print Floral Bag With Wood Handles
What does a typical day look like for you?
I usually get up around 7 am, log onto the computer and check my Etsy shop. That’s followed by a morning cup of tea (I am British after all).
After that I really don’t have a typical day. I may knit, sew, do some beading or go crazy with a canvas. Other times I’ll read, research and brainstorm ideas. I also spend a lot of time on the computer editing photos, updating and promoting my shop. No two days are the same and that’s what I love about my work. It’s great to get up in a morning and have the freedom to choose what it is I want to do that day.
Where would you like to go with your business
To infinity and beyond . . . no seriously I would like to get to the point where sales are consistent yet manageable. Right now I love what I do and the flexibility I have to create. Ultimately I want to remain small enough that I can manage the business by myself while making a profit.
What is one strange or funny thing you'd like to share with us?
Ever since I was 4 years old I’ve had a love affair with chimpanzees and gorillas. Looking around my home you’ll find lots of ‘monkey’ items although it may not be obvious at first glance. I think what draws me to them is that they resemble us in so many ways.
Thank you for the feature, beautifully done.:0)
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