This Week on MYM we have Christine from Buttercup Creates. Christine is a small batch hand-dyed yarn supplier. Her colors are BEAUTIFUL and I am sure you will agree :)
Introduce yourself and your business.
Hi there!
My name is Christine Galdamez, the owner and creator behind ButtercupCreates and Buttercup Fibers. Just over
a year ago, I embarked on creating a crafting Instagram as I have been
crocheting since my early 20’s and wanted to find a community to call
home. As I learned more and more about
the fiber community, I delved deeper into patterns and even began testing them
for friends I had made. This is how my true
obsession with fiber began.
How did you launch your business
& what made you want to start a small business?
I began dyeing yarn after meeting Ashley of
Blue Mule Fibers in April of 2018 at DFW Fiber Fest. That was also the same trip where I met some
of my real life knit-besties; Kate, Alana, and Valerie. I was so inspired by the colors Beth and
Ashley were creating that I wanted to delve further into the fiber. They walked me through some of the things
they have learned and, armed with Hand
Dyeing Yarn and Fleece: Custom-Color Your Favorite Fibers with Dip-Dyeing,
Hand-Painting, Tie-Dyeing, and Other Creative Techniques by Gail Callahan,
I started my journey.
The first skein of yarn I attempted was
dyed with coffee, tea, and food coloring.
The colors were tonal and earthy and what I had always wanted from a
hand-dyed fiber company. It felt as
though there was a niche yet to be filled and so I kept dyeing!
What are some struggles you had
starting your business and how did you over come them?
Struggles honestly plague me every
day. Instagram is full of such amazing
makers and so many of them are now getting into dyeing their own yarn and
selling. Some of these ladies are so
creative and it feels as though I can never complete, but I keep going no
matter what. The creativity felt from
the creating of color and the result is worth everything. Also, never judge a dye pot until it is dry!
Where do you draw inspiration from?
Inspiration is something that seems to
happen naturally from a “dye-speriment” as I call them or looking at palettes
on Pinterest with my Insta-buddy Claire (E’Claire Makery). At the moment, the inspiration is about
creating a colorway that is not only repeatable, but also inspiring to other
makers. I prefer asking for help naming
the colors so that the community is involved as I would not be where I am
without them and I don’t like my names to be too “on the nose”. I have been workshopping a Harry Potter
inspired collection (original, right?) and all the names must have a deeper
meaning than just “Voldemort” – not saying there is anything wrong with that, I
only wish to stand out.
What motivates you as a maker?
The main thing that motivates me to keep
creating is the opportunity to see the fiber being made into something by
another maker. Collaborations have been
my favorite as these designers have such INCREDIBLE ideas that I would never
have the gumption to create! It also
means the world to surprise those who may not be able to afford the cost of
hand-dyed fiber when they receive extra goodies with their purchase. It is all about the end user and what
gorgeousness they create. This is my
most favorite part of what I am so fortunate to do.
What is a goal you set for yourself
as a maker/artist and how did you achieve it?
Now, goals.
Every new color is a goal. Every
chance to push myself is a goal. Right
now, I took from my own stash some of the new color “Speechless” and I am
working on knitting socks for myself.
The absolute thrill of realizing that “I made that and then made it into
something else” is such an achievement.
I hope that is how others feel as well!
Do you have any tips for new makers/
small business owners?
As previously mentioned, there are so many
new dyers each day that I am so happy to watch on their journey. The best advice is to find what colors,
techniques, or styles represent you and push all those limits. The dyeing of fiber is just as creative as
knitting a sweater or crocheting your first beanie. Do it for the process, not the end result.
What are some hobbies or interests
you have outside of your small business?
Some of my hobbies outside of the fiber
world are gaming, listening to Harry Potter on my way to and from work, and
spending time with my husband and step-children. My husband is my biggest supporter and the
reason I try to push through those times where I feel like less than
myself. One of my biggest hobbies would
be playing The Sims 4 on my laptop
and creating amazing homes. It makes me
feel as though I get to create my dream home with every click!
If you have read this far, I want to thank
you for sticking with the craziness in my head (tangents are my thing) and I
hope to connect with you on Instagram or even via e-mail!!
Christine
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