“How I started making things isn’t a proper question, the real question would be, when was I ever NOT making SOMETHING?” -VictoriaTheGerm

I was introduced to Victoria via @GEEKLEETIST over Twitter. I had seen the pillows made by VictoriaTheGerm, but could never match a face to a product, a name to the hands.

I am more than happy to introduce *drum roll, please* Victoria of VictoriaTheGerm *cheers* *bow*

Not only is Victoria an inspiration to creators and hobbyist  alike, but her story is alot like mine so I feel an almost sisterly connection to such a vibrant artist.

I had worked over and over what to write that would bring justice to the struggles and joys of being a young entrepreneur, and she simply says it best...

” I’ve made a million things that are completely useless to me and others and then a small percentage of what I make can actually be used/admired/appreciated by others than just myself, which is where VictoriaTheGerm as a business came about. The very first pillow I made with felt, well let me tell you, it was a complete mess, but after some practice of cutting in the right places, sewing correctly, and teaching myself how to do an invisible stitch (which let me tell you is not such an easy thing to do, evidence of that can be found in my first pillow) my pillows came to be something I really liked and I thought others would as well.

Why do I do what I do? Who really knows to be quite honest. I would love to say it’s only because of my love of sewing, but when I first started it was about half because I loved sewing and the other half because I needed the money. Let’s be honest, being a college student is no easy thing, and money makes the world go round, so I would like to thank all my buyers for helping me get an education with that money (and buy some nice vegetarian friendly food as well). But to be completely honest, I really do love to make things which is why this business idea is something I am so happy with. I love when people tell me about how much they love their purchases from me and the prettiness that these colorful things can bring. Where else can you find a Jesus riding a dinosaur or a Hello Kitty stormtrooper felt pillow? Nowhere but from me, baby. You know it!

A good amount of my friends really love my craftiness, several of my pillows were made as orders for friends, and I know there are a handful of friends who think that what I do is merely a hobby and not something I can really try to make full time, and I would really like to prove those people wrong, and for the others I’d like to make pillows for each and every one of them.”

To find more on Victoria, here are some links to help you stalk. ♥

EMAIL: bleached_droogie@yahoo.com

WEBSITE: http://www.etsy.com/shop/victoriathegerm

TWITTER: http://twitter.com/VictoriaTheGerm

INSPIRATION: What inspires you to create your artwork?

All my creations are about visual appeal.
What others might look at and think, “What the hell is that about?” I look at and say, “I like it!”
If something looks good I say, “Make it into a pillow!”
Chances are what I like is probably what most people don’t like, which is why it still shocks me that people actually buy my sewn creations, but then there’s something out there for everyone, isn’t there?

HISTORY: Please tell us about your history with making and/or selling handmade.

Ever since I was young I can remember making SOMETHING. It didn’t have to be important or actually useful, but it was always SOMETHING. I find that my hands need to be busy whether it’s drawing, painting, knitting, or sewing. One year for Christmas I made all my friends at school little dolls with their names stitched into them and it was then I realized that things I make can actually be liked by others than just myself (or family members, who are biased on things I make right from the beginning). At first I decided to knit things and sell them. That didn’t work out. Then I decided to sew little animal pins and sell them. That didn’t work out either. Then came the day when I thought, “PILLOWS!” and “FELT!” and that’s how it came to be. I sew designs of things that I like, from classical music artists to cartoon characters to sci-fi geekery. It’s all good to me.