Life and Work with Muriel Hanson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Muriel Hanson.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Ever since I was a young child, I loved to make “stuff” with my hands. I used various materials found around the house that I would staple together to make clothes for my dolls and stuffed animals. Creating something “useful” out of random things always fascinated me.

I grew up in France and went to school in Strasbourg and Epinal where I studied the “haute couture” process from conceptualization to fabrication. I also learned production management in the last years of school.

After moving to Colorado, I worked at “Jila” a local clothing store as a clerk and seamstress. As much as I enjoyed my work, I still strive for something more. My vision was to be my own boss, have my own business and work from home. This desire served a dual purpose, to start a family and be present for my kids the way my parents were. I have fond memories of growing up in their store, chatting with customers, filling their orders, organizing supplies.

So in 1997, my business “Needle & Thread. De fil en aiguille” was born. My initial projects were making alterations, making pillows for two interior designer companies, sewing doll clothes as a contractor and trying to figure out a selling product for craftshows. Placemats were the first idea: Placemats allowed me to be creative with a product. It was fun creating them for all seasons, ages and activities.

In 2000, I toured the South of France looking for factories making Provence fabric and started to import this french fabric. I found my niche and now people recognize me as “Muriel Provence”.

Has it been a smooth road?
Even if I love my job, there is always the hard times. I feel like I play when I sew or talk with people. I made a lot of wonderful friends in the “craftshow family”.

Working from home is not for everyone. It wasn’t easy caring for young kids who were screaming for attention as soon as the phone rings or when I was trying to meet a deadline. It was also difficult trying to keep them “contained” at shows. But they grow up (too fast) and now they help by carrying buckets and setting up or putting down my craft show booth, bringing bolts of fabric from the airport…

Outdoor craft shows can be hard when the weather doesn’t cooperate and brings temperatures too high, winds too strong, rain, lightning storms or snow. This year has been rainier than usual. So we have to try hard and come prepared for whatever weather.

For the last eight years, instead of having new collections yearly, the factory in France are taking collections off. As I refuse to buy fabric from China, I’m trying to make new items to compensate. My customers help by giving me ideas of what they want or need.

It doesn’t sound like a challenge but it was and is one for me. I finally gave up and replaced my flip phone by a “normal” cell phone because nowadays I have to accept credit cards at shows.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Muriel Provence -Needle & Thread. De fil en aiguille- – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I import fabric from the South-East of France called “Provence”. This part of France is famous for its sun, blue sky, lavender, cicadas, olives and flowers. Which are the motifs represented on the fabric. These iconic images make for very striking patterns and are easily recognized.

I import the 100% cotton and coated fabric (waterproof) by bolts of 40 yards, straight from the factory in France. After the fabric arrives, that’s when the fun starts! My sewing studio is adorned with brightly colored bolts of fabric that make me happy.

A lot of the items in my inventory are ideas given to me by friends and customers. For example, an older friend in 1997 who was taught as a little girl by her grandmother to make an apron with a tie that slides. She shared it with me and I still make them the same way. So this apron’s design is over a hundred years old! An other example with my son. He made a messenger bag in sewing class in middle school. I liked it and made one for myself with the coated fabric. After a year, my friends told me to make some to sell, so I did. Of course, I can’t make every project, my to do list is way way too long. Curling iron case, groceries bag with a pocket to keep a bottle up, wedge placemat, coin purse, phone bag, come from that list. I always welcome the ideas and put them on the list, but it doesn’t mean I’ll get to it. I finally made a few car trash bags last month that were on the list for over three years!

I find sewing therapeutic. I love to sew, however I don’t love ironing! Before I started to borrow audio-books from the library, I would iron the hundreds of napkins while talking on the phone with my mom or my aunt pleading with them to stay on the phone for hours.

I use three commercial sewing machines which my husband hates to hear rumble as I zoom thru the seams. The machine that sews napkin hems is so loud that I try to refrain from using it on the weekends.

There are many ways that I sell my wares; craft shows, appointments, my website. The website serves more as a gallery. People look thru the collections, choose colors, for tablecloth they measure their table and choose a drop and email me their orders. Then I get back to them on whether or not the product is feasible based on the fabric availability. I also wholesale to a store in Longmont, the “Cheese Importers” an awesome store with an awesome owner, Linda.

Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
Most women are really good at building relationships. I have quite a lot of customers coming back at shows to buy or to talk. I enjoy these friendly relationships.

As a woman, working from home during the week is perfect for me. When my children were younger, it was practical too. I could always take time to take them to school, doctor appointments and such and arrange my schedule around them. I would play with them during the day, as long as I made sure to take plenty of time to work too. I work mostly in the morning and take naps in the afternoons. In summer months I also work very late in the evening.

I need to be around people and I need to be alone. So during craft shows, I’m on my little “people cloud”. On the other hand, working from home is very quiet. It is great but can also be lonely. Meeting girlfriends is really important.

Pricing:

• Price range from $1 to $116

Contact Info:

• Address: Louisville, Colorado
• Website: www.murielprovence,com
• Email: 2muriel.nt@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007193628001

Image Credit:
Muriel Hanson

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