My previous business:
Kara Smith – vintage fabric handbags.
 
I thought I should do a post (and should probably blog too…) about my previous business to Mount Vic and Me. In 2006 I came back from Brisbane to Sydney then on to the Blue Mountains to live with my previous partner.
 
Rather than working again as a graphic designer for someone else I decided to start my own business. I have always been fascinated with print and textiles and had accumulated a vast collection of fabrics. So ‘Kara Smith’, my handbag label, was born and sort of rocketed fairly quickly. I was at the very first Finders Keepers market which was originally called ‘Hope St Market’ in 2007 in Darlinghurst in a funky church space: http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/our-story.html (It’s incredible to see how that business has grown into a national venture and iconic market).
 
The handbags were created using my very own patterns in bold and fabulous fabrics, vintage buckles and buttons. I am not a seamstress by any means but I loved designing the shapes. I took on local seamstresses to help me create more bags as I just wasn’t quick enough to make money to turn the business over.
 
Social media wasn’t quite as fast and furious as it is now and there was a good network of designers in Sydney and across Australia that I was a part of. I love some of these brands (I’ll post more about them later too some day). I even had my clutch purse design featured in ‘Meet Me At Mikes’ crafty book (2009). You can buy it here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/meet-me-at-mike-s-pip-lincolne/prod9781740666305.html
So here in Mt Victoria I moved back into greeting cards with ‘Mount Vic and Me’. These then moved into tea towels and other items. I hit more designer markets (which by then were flooded with creatives and much harder to get into. I’ve never managed to get into the current day Finders Keepers ironically!).
 
This brings us back to where I am now. In late 2017, a little shop in Mount Victoria, a wholesale business with various stockists of my designs across Australia, a growing international audience, Blue Mountains Socks – and yep, I still do graphic & web design work.
 
Hopefully one day it all pays off. For now, every single cent that I earn goes back into the business. I worry that I’m not around the kids (now 6 and 9) on weekends but hope I can get myself into a position where I can employ someone someday at least part-time.
 
I love the small business community here in the Mountains and across the globe that I chat to. They are all so hardworking and it’s a tough gig. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve considered going back to the workforce, to employment, to holidays and super.
 
But I can’t. I love love love doing my own thing. It’s tough. There are a lot of baked beans rather than lobster involved in our life (something Geoff and I joke about all the time) but it’s worth it.
 
Even if you never ‘get there’ you can say you made some impact with your own art, design and work.
 
When you can, choose to #shopsmall #shoplocal #belocalbuylocal – all of us in small business are eternally grateful.
 
I’m not sure how this turned into a small business positivity moment… didn’t start out that way but I hope I haven’t dribbled on too much.
 
Much love to ALL OF YOU! x

Always something new at Mount Vic and Me.

June 6th 2018