Etsy Insights: Breathing New Life into Old Textiles | Etsy Success

PrairiePrimitives · 2025-04-16T15:55:33.148000Z

Hi! My name is Tana, and I’ve been running my Etsy shop, PrairiePrimitives, since August 2006. I specialize in making items from antique quilts that have seen their better days. My journey working with old quilts began in the mid-1980s when I found some quilts at a flea market in northern Indiana. I took them home and made them into stuffed cats, then sold the cats at a craft fair near where I’d bought the quilts. When they sold out, I knew I was onto something!One of my most memorable finds was a quilt with an embroidered name—likely that of the maker or the recipient. I carefully crafted that section into a one-of-a-kind heart, which was quickly purchased by one of my dedicated “heart collectors.” A couple of years ago, one of these collectors told me she preferred hearts made from truly worn-out quilts. One day as I was cutting out hearts, I texted her two photos: one of a heart with some worn areas and another from a quilt that was undeniably worn out. She quickly replied that the more tattered heart "needed to come live with her!" It was a wonderful reminder of how upcycling can breathe new life into something that might otherwise be discarded. I used to save these worn-out quilt pieces for rag stuffing for my dolls, so it was awesome to learn that my customers wanted them made into hearts!Navigating Primitive-Style TrendsSourcing antique quilts in customer-preferred colors, worn enough to repurpose, and at a reasonable price has been a constant challenge. When I started my business, I lived in the Midwest, where old quilts were more abundant. I frequented flea markets in Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois to source raggedy old quilts for my folk art. After moving to California in the late 1990s, finding antique quilts became more challenging. Fortunately, I’ve been able to find them online from all over the country—and even a few from Canada!Selling primitive-style items has also been challenging. When I started working with quilts in the 1980s, "country" was a popular decorating style. I didn’t even learn about "primitives" until the late 80s, but once I did, I knew it was the style I’d been searching for! While many shoppers still decorate with primitives, they are fewer and farther between than they used to be. Years ago, I learned that doing every craft fair I could squeeze into my calendar often ended up being a waste of time. Instead, I discovered that selling at antique fairs was the perfect fit for me!Connecting with CustomersIn 2001, I was honored to be invited to help establish a handmade folk art section at the California Country Antiques Fair, held in Los Altos, CA. The show promoter asked me to demonstrate my craft. Since I lived a few hours from the show, I asked if I could sell my items to help cover my expenses. He agreed to that, but asked me to demonstrate my skills as time permitted. About 30 minutes into that show, I exchanged glances with the other artist there and we quickly decided that we weren’t going to have time to demonstrate much since we were so busy talking to shoppers and writing up sales! That event, both that day and twice a year for the following 10 years, has proved to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, reaffirming my belief in connecting directly with customers who truly appreciate handmade folk art.Honoring TraditionTrends change, platforms evolve, and sourcing materials can become trickier, but if you stay true to your craft and learn where your customers are, you can create a lasting business doing what you love. Despite all the changes, I’ve kept a little ritual before I cut into a quilt for the first time. For the past 15 years, I’ve taken a moment to thank the original quilt maker, acknowledging that their quilt had a long well-loved life. My goal is to preserve pieces of it for another 100 years, ensuring it continues to have a meaningful existence for future generations.Now, I’d love to hear from you! Do you have any special rituals or traditions when working on your handmade items? Drop a comment and share your story -- I'd love to connect with other makers and collectors!

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