Virtual Reality: Modern Little Ones
SLIDESHOW: Modern baby gear by a Seattle Etsian. Here, one of Séguin’s reversible bibs, which she says wasn’t designed over night. "It’s definitely a process," she says, "You don’t just wake up one day and say ’I’m going to make this! I’m going to sell it tomorrow!’"
Séguin creates from her Crown Hill home, which makes it easy for her five-year-old twin girls to tag along to work. "My work space actually began as my daughters’ play room. They still have a corner, but little by little I’ve taken it over with fabric and sewing goodies. They don’t seem to mind."
Vibrant color is an important element of Séguin’s designs. "I’m not doing the pastel thing from ten years ago, when all baby stuff had to be light yellow, light pink, or light blue."
Fabric selection is this Estian’s favorite part of the design process: "I absolutely love it. If I could figure out a way to buy fabric for a living, that’s what I would do." Séguin gets her materials from fellow Etsy sellers, like Fresh-Squeezed Fabrics, as well as from more traditional textile stores.
Séguin resolved to open an Etsy account after a friend’s sister asked for a custom-made onesie at a baby shower. Now, her onesies often feature bold graphic images like owls or these cheerful gnomes.
When designing pieces like this tote bag, Séguin isn’t afraid to go off the pattern. "I’m an experimenter, an adapter. I don’t mind winging it, because there are a lot of ways to finish off projects so they make you happy."
"The best side benefit of this whole project is that my children will grow up in an environment filled with beautiful fabrics, thinking ‘Oh yeah. I could make that!’"
For the next few months, Séguin will be focused on creating new fabric combinations to showcase her fledgling line of mini backpacks and tote bags.
