Announcing the Stock Your Shop Contest Winner: The Purple Chameleon!

A few weeks ago, we challenged you to Stock Your Shops for the chance to win an iPad — and so many of you did! And the winning shop is a Manti, Utah-based shop, The Purple Chameleon. Congratulations!

We caught up with shop owner Christina Dineley, who has been making headwraps and accessories (or hair pretties, in her words) for the past four years. Read on to learn more about Christina’s work, and what she has planned for the new iPad! Take it away, Christina:

Your hair pretties are so colorful and, well, pretty! What is your making process, and what materials and tools do you use primarily in your work?

I HATE writing things down, so often times my ideas will go straight from mind to finished product. And then afterwards, I’ll take pictures and measurements in order to be able to recreate it. Haha!

My sewing machine and die cutter are my bosom buddies — we’re together six days a week year round. Many days, from one right into the next, we greet the sun together. I’ve just introduced a serger into the family though. I had it for a week before I even plugged it in. Serious intimidation factor. But oh, the possibilites! So we’ll see how we take to each other :)

There’s also a lot of hand-sewing and detailing in many of my pieces. I prefer sewing over gluing whenever possible. I think it gives them a better quality and look. I love to mix the old with the new, and like to use vintage materials and findings whenever I can. I have about 400 different fabrics on hand at any time. There are so many amazing fabric designers out there though, that I have some fabrics that will BE vintage before they ever leave my hands — if at all!  For now, I’m content to simply look at them :)

It’s true, there are so many great patterns and materials! Aside from the fabric itself, what’s your go-to place for inspiration?

I truly find inspiration everywhere! In a fabric pattern, nature,  architecture, the color combination of an outfit, genres of time. And a customer or photographer’s request or theme always gets the ideas going as well! Too many ideas. Too little time to explore them!

So how did you find Goodsmiths?

A friend in a Facebook sewing group actually put the word out, and I checked it out, and decided to go for it! I like that there are no listing fees, and only a 2% fee when an item sells. That means less upfront costs, and more money in my pocket to put back into building my business.  I also like that it is a marketplace for HANDMADE goods — not mass produced items. As someone who puts a lot of time, energy and part of myself into every thing I create, that’s important to me.

Aw thanks! That’s important to us, too. Lastly, we’re dying to know: What are you going to do with your new iPad?

One of the reasons I hate to write anything down, is because I write it down anywhere. I have probably five different notebooks going right now, not counting loose sheets of paper, envelopes, even receipts with drawings and notes on them! And of course, I can never find the one I’m looking for at the time. With my iPad, I’m looking forward to getting more organized — keeping my ideas in one place. It will also be great for updating my shop and FB page while on the go — less time spent quibbling over who gets the computer next: my Husband, kids, or me. Haha! And I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty sure there’s going to be some movies watched on it as well!

Luxe in pomegranate necklace

Nakea headband in paisley of turquoise and green

Raylin headwrap headband

Thanks again to everyone who entered! You can learn more about Christina’s work at thepurplechameleon.com or on Facebook. And if you like Christina’s goods, head over to her Goodsmiths shop to follow her and admire these stellar hair pretties.