Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Guzman.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Stephanie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I think I’ve always been a pretty crafty person. I like making things with my hands and I loved art from a young age. I was in a lot of art classes in school and sort of stumbled into graphic design.
Having an affinity for toys and design, I just really enjoyed the process of making things with my hands, learning new techniques etc. It wasn’t until a professor in my university gave me the idea to make my own toys that I decided I could turn it into something a little bigger, and so The Felt Girl was born.
I started mostly through word of mouth, making stitched felted toys for baby showers and gifts for my friends. I started to plan bigger things and re-branded to general crafts, implementing handmade resin charms, stickers and other things that I thought people would like to buy.
Now I am selling at comic conventions and starting up an online shop.
Has it been a smooth road?
I don’t think anything really goes all that smoothly in the beginning. I feel like the biggest struggle for me, pursuing my passions, is juggling my time. I tend to have a lot on my plate constantly and am always trying to figure out how to best manage my time with so many projects and deadlines.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Felt Girl Crafts story. Tell us more about the business.
My business, The Felt Girl, implies that most of my things are made with felt, but with time I have branched out to more crafts and started to table at comic conventions selling my crafts and art. It’s been an amazing experience so far. Not only do I make felt toys, I make fun stickers, resin charms and all sorts of kawaii things.
I think what sets me apart from others, is that I’m also a graphic designer. I believe I have the upper hand in marketing myself and targeting my audience a little better. I also use my Hispanic background to my advantage when making products. I combine aspects of geek culture with something only a Hispanic upbringing would be familiar with. I like when people can laugh and connect with the art that I make.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I hope, that with time, I can grow into a more successful self-sustaining business, create a wider range of products and projects and that I can pursue this full time, continuing to make more fun stuff for others to enjoy.
Pricing:
- Stickers are $3 each
- Resin Charms (keychains, pins, and magnets) are $6 each
- Postcards are $5 and come with an envelope
Contact Info:
- Website: behance.com/stphgzmn
- Email: thefeltgirlcrafts@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/thefeltgirl
- Facebook: facebook.com/thefeltgirl
Image Credit:
Portrait photo photographed by Black Cat Content
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