Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin LaRoy.
Hi Kristin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I grew up with lots of opportunities for creativity and imaginative play in my household. My mom was a teacher who loved to craft on the side and my dad was an engineer who also loved to collect tools. This was a great combination for me. My mom taught me many skills and I fondly remember her teaching me how to read patterns, hand stitch, and eventually use her sewing machine.
I was always trying to use her left-over materials for my little projects. When it came to my dad, his projects were always in the garage and we would get to use power tools. My dad really influenced me in how methodical or planned a project could be. If we had a new project brewing you can bet, he would pull out the graph paper and begin taking measurements. His favorite say is always, “measure twice, cut once.”
As a child, my parents enrolled me in dance. I don’t think at the time they thought this would be a part of my career path, but I fell in love with the art form. I began to dance at age 4 and it was such a great way for me to express myself. I was a very shy and introverted child, but the teachers and artists I worked with made me feel confident and gave me a sense of belonging. Dance really took me places, as I grew up learning the art form, I became interested in teaching and choreographing. I have been dancing for over 35 years now and have been a part of several great dance programs, along with creating my own program that ran here in the Upstate. Now, my work as a dancer is through arts integration, here at the TR Makers Co and also through the public schools in Greenville County.
When I graduated college, I was proud to have a degree in Business Information Systems (oh, and a minor in dance) from the University of South Carolina. I promptly headed out to find what I have always referred to as my “real” job. I was a Statistical Analyst for a major health care company and then later took a job with a small business as a software developer. Of course, while having these “real” jobs I was also doing my thing as a professional dancer and teacher. It was when I worked for the small business that I realized the differences between corporate America and the world of small business. I was hooked on the unique opportunities it provided flexibility within my schedule, and the rewards of seeing your work make a difference to the customers and even the boss himself.
My story, like many other small business entrepreneurs, is not a straight path as you can see. I have been inspired by so many different people along my journey. When I decided to open the Travelers Rest Makers Company (we call it TR Makers Co), it was after becoming a stay-at-home mom with two young kiddos and a budding art career as a printmaker. I taught myself how to carve blocks and print my designs on fabric. Most printmakers produce work on paper, but I didn’t want my works to sit lonely on a wall. I wanted people to be able to wear them, and I was pretty darn happy when I figured out how to make it happen.
I would go to farmers’ markets and artisan markets to sell my shirts and it was at these events that I began educating folks about how my block print designs were produced. I would carve my blocks at night after my kids (and husband) had gone to bed. It was so therapeutic for me and really helped me to refocus my energy after having been at home with two kids all day. Then I would ink and hand pull each t-shirt print, our house was full of drying racks!
As my artisan business began to grow, I was looking for a place in the town we lived in that would buy my work wholesale. Nowhere – none of the businesses around us bought artisan work wholesale. There was only one business at the time that was even consigning artisan work. I just couldn’t believe it! It wasn’t long after this that space became available on our Main Street and I jumped. It was going to be a place where I could create my work and also help others to learn artisan techniques. Our concept was born, we would have a place you could shop artisan goods and play like an artist too.
Since opening in 2015 the TR Makers Co has grown leaps and bounds! One thing has stayed the same though and that is my belief that we are all creatives; it is the unique gift that makes us human. When you come to the TR Makers Co you can be creative yourself or be inspired by the work of other artisans, either way, we are here to help everyone along their journey through the handmade arts.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think the road of building a small business is bump despite any best efforts. We have had our share of challenges for sure! My family is very important to me and being a small business owner means I don’t always get to be home when I want to. I am thankful for my husband that keeps me grounded so my work-life balance doesn’t get too off-kilter.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
It is not uncommon for us to get asked, “So, what is a Maker?” It is a question we hear at least twice a month, if not more, in our shop here in Travelers Rest. However, I don’t think it is what a maker is that defines our work, rather why we make that explains us. Through working with many Makers over the years we see one common thread.
A Maker believes in telling a story through their hands, using the fine craft techniques they have learned during their lifetime. Their selected craft may be different from one another, but our desire to share our own experiences, emotions, or observations of the world is the thread that binds us together as Makers. When we bring Maker’s work into the shop, we look for the stories, how they are being told and what makes them unique.
Just as important to us is helping others, folks who might not even consider themselves artistic. We want to give them away to find their story and self-expression through the handcrafted arts as well. You may not consider yourself a Maker, but I bet on some level you are. We had a lady in the shop just yesterday who said “Oh, I am not really creative it skipped my generation and went to my children.” Later in that same conversation, she began telling me about how she loves to cook and create meals for her family and friends. She is a maker. Her work may only be enjoyed by family and friends, not to last long, but her meals are how she expresses herself and the food pairings she has come to love.
It is human nature to create, mankind has evolved through the creative ingenuity of our kind. Along with providing a sense of self-expression, just being creative and taking part in the creative process helps provide a sense of freedom, builds confidence in ourselves, relieves stress (amen!), and helps us to problem-solve. The techniques we teach here at the studio have been around for centuries, but it is each individual that really helps to bring them to life creating a work that is personal to them. Through printmaking, sewing, weaving, hand building, painting, felting, and many other techniques we give you the tools to help you express yourself.
Adults and children can come to take part in individual Play Dates, Happy Hour experiences, or birthday parties and private events held at the shop. We also have elementary and middle-grade students that take a class with us weekly in our Afterschool Makers, Arts Lead Learning homeschool classes as well as our Summer Maker Days. And even budding artisan entrepreneurs can join in our Makers EDU class series. With each of these opportunities, we strive to bring the Maker out in you, helping you to enjoy the benefits of creating.
“So, what is a Maker?” We are all Makers and whether you are looking to find your creativity or be inspired by others, you will find it here inside the walls of TR Makers Co.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I know this may sound weird, but just this year we put an Alexa echo dot in our shop and I love it. I didn’t realize how helpful this addition would be. I really just purchased it because it had a clock on it and I was hoping the speaker would play our playlist a little easier than our former method. There are two other features though that have made this device such a win for us.
The first is the list of capabilities. I have a dedicated Art List on Alexa, so if we are running low on a supply or need items for a class my staff or myself will add it to the list. Then the next time I am out running errands, I can quickly see what I need to pick up. It has been a lifesaver!
The other capability we use weekly is the reminder function. During our Arts Lead Learning homeschool classes, we can very easily lose track of time. So, we started using these reminders that would go off at set times during class. And instead of announcing to the class that we are halfway done, twenty-minutes left or 5 minutes till parents show up our reminders say things like “Hey Kiddos! How is your class coming along?”
“Woohoo! Your projects are looking great.” and “Clean up time! What can you do to clean up around your table and on the floor?” The kids get a kick out of hearing these messages and will often begin talking back to her telling her about how much fun they are having.
Contact Info:
- Email: trmakersco@gmail.com
- Website: trmakersco.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/trmakersco/
- Facebook: facebook.com/trmakersco/
Image Credits
Antonio Modesto Photography
