https:\/\/bloc-handmade.com\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nQ:<\/strong> Karen, What have I missed? <\/p>\n\n\n\nA: <\/strong>No, I think that\u2019s everything summed up pretty nicely!<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ:<\/strong> What would say are some of the values that drive your business and why are they important to you? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mustard Fringe Bag made from an old leather jacket<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nA: <\/strong>Reduce reuse recycle! I think it\u2019s more important than ever to try and be kinder to the planet, but I also totally understand that this can be difficult for some people. I want to try and show that we can all make small changes \u2013 for example, like making your next handbag a sustainable one! No one has to go all out and swap all the things for eco-friendly options – obviously that would be amazing but I realise it\u2019s also the dream! But, if we all made small changes here and there it would make a huge difference. Also, think it\u2019s really important to think about the things we throw away \u2013 do they need to go to landfill? Can they be reused? If it\u2019s clothes that you no longer want but still have life in them, why not think about selling them or donating them to a charity shop? Or, you could have a go at sewing and transforming them yourself \u2013 sewing machines really aren\u2019t that scary, honest!<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ:<\/strong> What do you do to get into your creative zone?<\/p>\n\n\n\nA: The first thing I do is always visit my supply stash. When I pick up items from charity shops I have no idea what they will be turned into, I just know that they have a second life as a bag of some description. So probably once a month I\u2019ll spend a couple of hours going through everything \u2013 jackets, denims, items I\u2019ve collected to be used as linings \u2013 and just messing around with them really, looking at designs and seeing what would work. I like to reuse as many original items as possible, so the more pockets, zips and buttons I can get into a bag the better. Every now and then I\u2019ll do some internet research too \u2013 often I will see styles I hadn\u2019t considered making before, so will add them to my \u201ckeep in mind for future jackets\u201d list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q:<\/strong> How do you balance working full time and running BLoC Handmade?<\/p>\n\n\n\nA: <\/strong>It can be a bit tricky sometimes! My day job can get a bit crazy at times and I\u2019ll end up working longer which means less time for me to spend on BLoC in the evenings. I try to get ahead with as much as I possibly can \u2013 I aim to have at least a week\u2019s worth of social media scheduled, so I don\u2019t need to worry if I can\u2019t get round to post one day, the social side will just keep running in the background. I\u2019m trying to take this approach with my making too. I aim to get 2-3 new bags onto the website every month and try to at least get the prep done the month before, so I\u2019ve got something in the bag (sorry, terrible joke but I couldn\u2019t resist!). I also make sure I take time off from BLoC too \u2013 I\u2019ll have days where I don\u2019t really look at social media, and I don\u2019t spend any time in the workroom on Saturday or Sunday evenings. As much as I love working on the bags, I think it\u2019s important to have that time to totally switch off and do other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ:<\/strong> What is the most important thing that you\u2019ve learned from running your business?<\/p>\n\n\n\nA: <\/strong>I\u2019ve learned a lot in a short space of time! I think the main thing I\u2019ve learned that has helped me the most is planning. At the start of BLoC I didn\u2019t really have a plan as to what would be made when, when I would post on social media, which markets I would get involved in \u2013 I had a bit of a scattergun approach! Now I have a clear plan each month and know what my deadlines are, so I\u2019m much more consistent. Plus if I have a plan I can pick out what I can do on a certain day depending on what time I have free \u00ad\u2013 that way I can cross the quick wins off my list, I love doing that!<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ:<\/strong> What plans do you have for BLoC Handmade in 2021?<\/p>\n\n\n\nBlack Recycled Leather<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nA: <\/strong>Last year I managed to support various charities and I want to do more of that this year \u2013 the next fundraising bags are in progress at the moment and I can\u2019t wait to be able to share those. I also donate to charity every time someone adds anything I can use to my supply stash \u2013 I don\u2019t like the charity shops to miss out just because I haven\u2019t stocked up there!<\/p>\n\n\n\nGetting to know you!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nCook at home or take-away? Cook at home \u2013 I do love an Indian takeaway though!<\/li> Favourite way to relax? Knitting or crochet, films and I try to read at least half an hour before bed every night to try and switch off from the day.<\/li> Guilty pleasure? Bargain Hunt!<\/li> Personal hero(s) and why? Oh gosh, there are so many! I really admire Joe Wicks (The Body Coach) \u2013 I think the journey from where he started out to where he is now is amazing and really inspiring \u2013 just shows you what you can achieve if you believe in yourself and stick with it!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\nThanks Karen!! Lovely to spend a little time with you. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Introducing: BLoC Handmade This month I want to introduce you to Karen and her amazing eco-sustainable business BL0C Handmade Karen\u2019s journey began almost by accident when she made herself a denim jacket using old jeans. From there the seed for her business began to grow and today she makes beautifully crafted eco-sustainable handbags from charity… <\/p>\n
Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2,56,55],"tags":[63,64,65],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inaridesigns.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inaridesigns.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inaridesigns.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inaridesigns.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inaridesigns.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=547"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.inaridesigns.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":561,"href":"https:\/\/www.inaridesigns.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547\/revisions\/561"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inaridesigns.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inaridesigns.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inaridesigns.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inaridesigns.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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