Today, I'd like to welcome Patty Young. Patty is amazingly multi talented and is certainly a great model for balancing being a self-employed artist and a Mom.
Hello there! My name is Patty Young. I also go by Patty Prann Young in the publishing world. I own MODKID, LLC which is a company that designs and sells high quality sewing patterns for girls, tweens and women's clothing as well as accessories. I am also a licensed fabric designer for Riley Blake Designs, and a published author with C&T Publishing.
2. What is your background and how did you arrive at your current job(s)
I have a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in Photography with a minor in Graphic Design. I worked as a designer-turned-Creative Director for a couple of marketing agencies for nearly 15 years, until one day I decided to quit my high stress job to raise my family and pursue my own creative endeavors. Those creative endeavors led me to start drafting and sewing my own clothing for my little girls and a business was soon born. I have been doing this now for 10 years and wouldn't change a thing!
3. How many hours a week do you devote to your job?
I work while the kids are at school, so roughly 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and some days I will hop back on the computer after dinner time and work some more. During high stress periods, like right before Quilt Market or when a fabric deadline is fast approaching, I will work nights, weekends and holidays. So I'd say I work anywhere between 30 and 60 hours a wee, depending on what I have going on.
4. Where do you physically work?
I have a full studio and office in our home's basement.
5. What do you sell and how do you sell it?
I sell PDF and paper sewing patterns along with all of my books (I have 3 sewing boks and 2 coloring books) and a few miscellaneous products I've designed over the years, like jacquard ribbons and designer pins. All sales are done on-line through my website www.modkidboutique.com or on Etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/modkid.
6. What are you working on now?
I just turned in artwork for my 22nd fabric collection (!!!) and I am currently working on 3 different sewing patterns. One of them will be released next week on Etsy and the other 2 are exclusive designs for Riley Blake that will be featured in their new video series, Imagine With Riley Blake. I am also preparing demos for Quilt Market. There's never a dull moment around the studio!
7. What do you do when you are not working?
I love to spend time with my husband, Jon, and my 2 daughters, Sophie and Sydney. Jon and I are ethnic food and craft beer aficionados, so often times you'll find us reviewing the latest restaurant or beer find. Both of my daughters are competitive dancers and are members of their school's Dance Teams, so from December to March you will find me attending dance competitions throughout the state of Illinois.
8. Perhaps an indelicate question, but people starting out wan to know - what are your income sources?
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In order of revenue size,
1. Fabric design royalties from Riley Blake. These checks come quarterly and are based on wholesale sales of my fabrics.2. Royalties from Silhouette, Inc. I am a contributing artist with Silhouette, where I design SVG files to be used with their cutting machines (think scrap booking, card-making, vinyl signage, etc.). I receive royalty checks from them monthly.3. Sewing pattern sales. I sell paper patterns to distributors, stores and the consumer. I also sell PDF (digital) patterns to the consumer on Etsy. In addition to Etsy, I also receive commission sales from PDF pattern sales on YouCanMakeThis (monthly commissions), Craftsy and Kollabora (real time).4. Book royalties from C&T publishing. These checks come quarterly, like the fabric royalties, and include royalties for 2 sewing books and 2 coloring books.5. Miscellaneous licensing checks from different companies I have done business with throughout the years, like Momenta (scrapbooking papers), Simplicity (sewing patterns) and a few others. These usually come twice a year, in January and August.
9. If you could give one suggestion to someone starting out, what would it be?
Make sure you can be fully committed to this endeavor. It takes time, money and lots of passion to get a successful business off the ground, but it will be so worth it! Also, don't try to take on too much at once. Concentrate on the one thing you are really good at and truly passionate about and go for it!
10. Where can people find you and/your products? (FB, blog, website, IG, Twitter,stores)
MODKID Website: http://www.modkidboutique.com/Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/modkidTwitter: https://twitter.com/pattyyoungPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/modkid/
Thank you Patty for participating in Stitchography. Next Friday we'll learn about the creative behind Eva Paige Quilt Designs and the very unusual places she has taught her quilting techniques, including the lab of a nursing school!
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