E9 What Is a Portfolio Career for Fabric Creatives?
The VirginiaLeighStudio Home page:
https://www.virginialeighstudio.com
Today we're talking about a portfolio career. But what the heck is a portfolio career? Have you ever heard of the term? It might sound like something reserved for executives or consultants, but let me tell you, it's not. It is a game changer for creatives, especially for those fabric and fiber artists like you and me.
A portfolio career is a career built on multiple streams of income or projects that align with your unique skills and passion. Think of it as designing a creative life where your talents can shine in different ways. Whether that's custom work, teaching, selling art, or craft pieces, or anything in between.
It's not about being scattered. It's about being strategic, versatile, and aligned with that one thing you love to do. Now you may be wondering, what does that look like in practice? In real life? How do I even start building one? Well, that's exactly what we're going to be talking about today. I want to share some ideas, some inspiration, and a few of my own stories about how I've taken skills I've spent decades honing skills that started in women's fashion design and applied them to areas I never expected, like from custom waterproof furniture covers to teaching what I know online. I've learned that the skills we have as fabric and fiber creatives are far more versatile than we give them credit for. By the end of this episode, I want you to see the potential in your own skills. How they can open doors, create opportunities, and even become the building blocks to a sustainable, creative business.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to add something new to what you already have going, this episode is for you. So, if you're ready to explore what a portfolio career could mean for you? Well, let's dive in.
This is the Textile Creative Podcast, where all things creativity, fabric, design, and business come together. I'm a certified fabric lover who lives in the Dallas Fort Worth area. After being downsized out of a career I adored, I discovered a way to turn my passion into the business of my dreams. A business that aligns with what I love to do fuels my creativity and gives me the freedom I've always wanted.
When I first became an entrepreneur, I struggled to make ends meet and wrestle with how to achieve my vision. But now that I'm my own boss, I teach classes on creativity, pattern making, and design, run a membership for budding fabric creatives, and help others build creative lives, businesses. I'm here to help you discover what lights you up and guide you in building a fulfilling creative practice or business.
Whether you're working with fabric, creating fiber art, or sewing custom gowns, this is your space to learn, grow and thrive. Welcome to The Textile Creative with Virginia Wygal.
So, what exactly is a portfolio career? Well, at its core, a portfolio career is when your work life isn't centered on one job, one client, or one project. Instead, it's made up of different income streams, skills, or creative endeavors that all work together, usually along a common theme. It's about combining your talents and passions in a way that feels fulfilling.
And of course, we also want it to be profitable, right? Think of it this way. Instead of putting all your eggs in one basket, you're spreading them out across a few. This approach gives you flexibility, it gives you creative freedom, and most importantly, financial stability. Because when one basket gets a little light, you've got others to lean on.
So let me give you an example. I recently met a weaving artist who just embodies this perfectly. She started as a traditional weaver, creating and selling scarves. And over time, she expanded into wall hangings, big, beautiful intricate pieces, and she quickly gained attention for that. From there, she began holding weaving classes, sharing her knowledge and inspiring other artists. Then she discovered wire weaving, which added an entirely new dimension to her work. Now she creates wire woven bowls and jewelry and framed artwork. She teaches wire weaving workshops, she sells kits for beginners, and she even wrote a book on the subject.
All of these pieces, scarves, wall hangings, workshops, wire art, kits, and books, make her a portfolio. career. Each one draws on her core skills as a weaver, but they allow her to explore different avenues, adapt to new opportunities, and diversify her income stream. I mean, it's beyond amazing. That's the beauty of a portfolio career.
It's like building a patchwork quilt. Every piece, whether it's a workshop, a product, or a creative service, adds to the whole. Together, they create something that's not only functional, but also uniquely yours. All the while, pointing back to your central passion or skill set. So, why should you consider a portfolio career?
Well first, there's that financial stability part. By diversifying your work. You're less vulnerable to slow seasons and market shifts. If one area kind of quiets down a little bit, another one might actually pick up the slack. Then there's creative freedom. With a portfolio career, you're not boxed into one thing.
You can explore and experiment and grow. If you're passionate about several aspects of fabric and fiber work, like sewing, pattern making, or teaching, you can include them all in your career. And finally, there's the flexibility. Trends shift. Interests evolve. A portfolio career gives you the room to adapt and to pivot when you need to.
It's about creating a work life that evolves with you. I want you to think about your own creative skills and passions. What would your portfolio career look like? What pieces might you want to include? And what new things might you explore? Let me use myself as an example. If you ask me how I ended up building a portfolio career, I would have to say, honestly, it wasn't something I set out to do.
It's something I discovered along the way, by paying attention to what I love and what lights me up, while also staying open to opportunities I didn't expect. I started my career with a single focus. Clothing design. I studied clothing design in school, where I learned to draft patterns and create collections.
My first job was a pattern maker, but I quickly worked my way up to senior designer and eventually became the director of product development. I was overseeing entire teams, traveling the world and managing the lifecycle of a product from idea to retail shelves. At the time, it felt like a singular career path.
But even then, I was building versatility. I designed everything from high end women's fashion to children's wear and even bedding collections. And at home, of course, I was also working on side projects. Custom wedding gowns, theatrical costumes, slipcovers, even car upholstery. I didn't realize it at the time, but those side projects were the seeds of a portfolio career.
The common thread, of course, fabric and sewing. Fast forward to now, and my work life looks completely different. But also, it is totally connected to those early skills. I still use everything I learned in garment design, but I've applied it in ways I never could have imagined. I work with clients on custom projects, like those waterproof furniture covers, for high end outdoor pieces.
But I teach online courses and workshops as well, helping other creatives master skills like pattern making and designing their own collections. I even sell my mixed media art, which combines my love of fabric, texture, and color into something completely unique. So, here's what I've learned. The skills you already have are incredibly valuable.
There are people out there who would love to know what you know. Whether it's sewing or weaving or making toys, anything. Your knowledge has value and your unique spin on it is what makes it marketable. Another lesson - don't be afraid to branch out. When I started my online courses, I had to learn new things, like how to create videos and market my offerings and connect with students virtually.
Those skills didn't come naturally at first, but they've allowed me to diversify my career even further. Every new skill you learn opens up more possibilities. And here's the best part about a portfolio career. It doesn't mean you have to give up the things that you love. It means you get to expand on them.
For example, I still love garment design, but now it's just one piece of a bigger picture. It's connected to my teachings, my client work, and even my art. Everything feeds into everything else. Take my upcoming So Successful workshop series, for example. That's a direct result of my passion for fabric and design.
It's a way to teach others how to turn their skills into a thriving creative business. And it's just one more piece of my portfolio career. So, if you're thinking about your own creative work, I want you to remember this. What you know has value. The skills you have honed over the years can be applied in ways you might not have thought of yet.
And every new thing you learn or try, that's another tool in your toolkit. A tool that can open doors, create more opportunities, and keep your work life as versatile and fulfilling as you want it to be. So, let's talk about how you might do this for yourself. How do you start building a portfolio career that works for you, your skills, and your passions?
First, you identify your core skills. What do you already do well? What comes naturally to you? Or what have you spent hours or years honing? These are your foundations. Maybe you're a skilled sewist or a pattern maker or a quilter. Or maybe you're an expert at choosing fabrics, teaching techniques or creating beautifully finished pieces.
Write those down. Be specific and give yourself credit for the things you already do well. Remember, the skills you have are probably more transferable than you think. Next, I want you to explore crossover opportunities. This is where the fun begins. Thinking about how your core skills could translate into other areas.
For example, if you're great at sewing garments, could you expand into home decor and accessories? If you're a quilter, could you teach quilting workshops or sell quilt patterns online? If you're a fabric dyer, could you create kits or even host dyeing parties in person or virtually? The possibilities are endless.
And the more you think about how your skills could branch out, the more doors you're going to see opening. Here is an important one. Start small. You don't need to overhaul your entire creative life in one go. Test the waters. Try out new things one at a time. Let me say that again. Try one new thing at a time.
Maybe you experiment with selling a small product line or offer a workshop at a local group. Some ideas are going to feel right and some won't, and that's okay. The point is to try some things out, learn, and figure out what aligns best with what you want to do, your skills, and your goals. And here's another one.
Build in flexibility. A portfolio career isn't static. I mean, it's meant to evolve with you. As your interests grow and trends shift, well, your career can shift with them. Maybe you start a sewing program, or you start doing custom garments and later you find yourself creating art pieces or teaching online.
That probably sounds a little familiar. Yours truly here. The beauty of a portfolio career is that it allows you to pivot without abandoning what you’ve already built. Let me share a personal example. This very podcast. is a step I never imagined I'd take. Wasn't even on the radar. When COVID hit, I had to learn a lot of new tech.
Things I was not comfortable with at first. But that leap opened the door to an entirely new way of sharing what I know. Now, not only do I get to connect with you, but this podcast has introduced me to an even larger population of fabric and fiber creators. And the best part? Well, many of them are excited to come on this show and share their expertise with you.
It's a perfect example of how trying something new can lead to opportunities you never dreamed of. So, here's what I want you to take away. Start with what you know, look for ways to expand or branch out, and don't be afraid to experiment. It's through those small steps that you'll find your rhythm and probably a very unique new path.
This episode of The Textbook Creative is brought to you by the So Successful Workshop Series. Let me ask you a question. Do you love fabric? Are you dreaming of turning that love into an income stream? Whether you want to sew custom crafts, throw pillows, wedding gowns, or even women's suits, Sew Successful Workshops walk you through every step of designing a profitable, fabric focused future.
We'll follow the Sew Successful eBook as we explore how to build a strong foundation and develop the mindset for success. We'll master essential skills, from project planning to creating a signature look. You'll explore business strategies, including pricing your work and promoting it effectively.
You'll learn how to stay productive and continuously grow through the growth and creative exploration. We'll also uncover the most useful business terms to help you navigate your journey. And you'll get a detailed how to get started section to turn your dream into a reality. If you're ready to turn your passion into a paycheck, don't wait.
Grab your seat at the next Sew Successful Workshop today. www.virginialeighstudio.com/sewsuccessfulworkshop. That's www.virginialeighstudio.com/sewsuccessfulworkshop.
So let’s talk about some of the challenges you might face when building a portfolio career, because I want to be honest here. This path is amazing, but it is not always smooth sailing.
One big challenge is balancing multiple projects. When you have several streams of income or creative endeavors, it can feel like juggling. There is a constant pull in different directions, and if you're not careful, you can start to feel overextended. Another hurdle is what I like to call shiny object syndrome.
You know that feeling when a new idea pops up and suddenly it's all you want to work on? Well, the key here is discipline. You can't chase every idea at once. You have to focus on developing one thing at a time. Build it, refine it, get it running smoothly before you move to the next. And here's another challenge that I hear a lot from creatives and it's worth addressing.
If I teach people how to do what I do, won't I lose customers? The answer is, maybe. But in most cases, the answer is no, and here's why. There are two kinds of people. Those who want to learn how to do something themselves, and those who would rather buy it ready made. When you teach, you're tapping into an entirely different audience.
And even if there is a little overlap, here's the reality. Teaching allows you to scale. Now let me explain that. When you're making for individual customers, you're trading your time for money. There's only so many hours in a day, which means that there is a ceiling to how much you can earn. But when you teach, you’re teaching one too many.
If you do it virtually, you're no longer limited to your neighborhood or local market. You can teach people around the world. And that's massive. So here is an example from my own business. I am really good at making patterns for complicated designs. It's something I have spent years practicing. And one of the best compliments I've ever received is that I can usually fit even the most challenging figures on the first try.
That's a skill I'm known for and I'm proud of. But here's the thing. I don't want to spend all my time doing custom patterns. That's the hard truth. Just because I can do it and I do it well doesn’t mean I want to spend all my time doing custom patterns. So, I teach pattern making. Why? Because teaching allows me to transition away from that kind of custom work and into other things I enjoy more.
Like fabric design. Now I still do some for a select few clients because I choose to. because the style or the design excites me. I still love the design aspect. The point is, I get to choose. Teaching lets me share my knowledge with a much wider audience while gaining back time for the things I want to prioritize.
And here is the best part. My students gain something, too. They walk away with a new skill, a sense of accomplishment. And a pride in what they're learning, so it ends up being a win win. Now, a few quick tips to remember. You don't have to get everything right the first time, and honestly, you won't. The goal is to keep moving forward, one step at a time.
Second, the ability to pivot. Be willing to adjust your approach. Flexibility is your best friend when building a portfolio career. And finally, you don't have to do everything at once. In fact, it's better if you don't. Start with one project or idea, build it, and then move to the next. A portfolio career isn't about being everything to everyone.
It's about building a creative life that's uniquely yours. One that leverages your skills and passions in ways that feel exciting and meaningful to you. It's about creating multiple streams of income that align with what you love to do and allowing you to pivot and adapt as your interests and opportunities evolve.
Now here is your challenge. Take a moment to think about what your portfolio career might look like. What are the skills, talents, or interests you've been keeping on the back burner? Could one of them become a new opportunity? And remember, you don't have to have all the answers right now. Just start with one small step.
What's one thing you could try or explore this week? Write it down. Think about it. And most importantly, take a first small step. If you're ready to start building, or if you're sitting there thinking, this sounds amazing, but I have no idea where to begin, my Sew Successful Workshop series can help. Each month we tackle a different aspect of becoming so successful.
It's a great place to break it all down into actionable steps so you can start creating your portfolio career. You'll find a link to register in the show notes, and I'd love to see you there. Your creative career can be as versatile and layered as you are. Start building it one piece at a time. It's the best thing I ever did, and I know you can do it, too.
You've got this, and we'll talk again next week, my friends.
Thank you for joining me on the Textile Creative. I hope this episode sparked new ideas and inspiration for your creative journey. If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe and share it with a friend who might need a little creative encouragement. And don't forget to visit my website for more resources and inspiration.
We'll put all the links in the show notes. Your creativity is your greatest gift. Nurture it, share it, and let it shine. Until next time, stay inspired, stay curious, and become Sew successful.
Connect with Virginia:
Website = https://www.virginialeighstudio.com
Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/virginialeighstudio/
Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/virginialeighstudio
The Sew Successful Workshop:
https://www.virginialeighstudio.com/sewsuccessfulworkshop
