 Shaffer starts Red Thread Studio
Susan Shaffer, research analyst for University Development, has it all in the bag ... the tote bag, that is. Her original design for a reversible tote is turning a hobby into a possible business venture. Available at Quilters' Paradise on Pollasky Avenue in Clovis, the tote capitalizes on the "going green" trend for stores that encourage shoppers to bring in their own bags.
"I saw a contest and entered it with an original design," Shaffer says. "The designs didn't have to be original, but mine was. The prize was $25 for the top three totes, and I won one of them."
Winning the contest inspired Shaffer to experiment further. "My first love is quilting, so I didn't want to get into making totes," Shaffer says. "I decided to make a pattern."
For pattern production, she went to a copy store and transfered her first pattern drawn on newspaper. She wrote out instructions and drew diagrams.
Next Shaffer had to christen her new company. "My daughter and I were talking on the phone and I was looking at a quilt I had made using what we call redwork," Shaffer says. "Redwork is all red embroidery. I decided to call my company Red Thread Studio."
Shaffer then designed her own logo for Red Thread Studio with cherries she made using Microsoft Word. She drew the cherries using circles and the leaves using the freehand "scribble" tool. Then she chose the color scheme.
"I love red and cheddar yellow together," she says. "So that's what I used."
Shaffer's logo has a vintage feel to it, perhaps because her favorite quilts are vintage, hand-crafted pieces.
 To market the tote pattern, she asked one of her favorite shops, Quilters' Paradise, if it carried patterns made by locals. The shop owners were very interested in Shaffer's work and offered to test the pattern.
"They were really excited and very encouraging," Shaffer said.
The final product is easy to make and fun to use.
"The tote rolls up like a travel umbrella so you can put it in your purse or suitcase," Shaffer says.
More ideas are percolating for future patterns. Shaffer's already working on another pattern — this time for a messenger-style shoulder bag that rolls up. She's got four other pattern ideas on the way ... all of them on their way to becoming a "cherry" of a tote.
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