sushibooties

Q. Who is Sushi Booties?
A. That's me! Della, but I couldn't do it without my team! My partner Kevin, and our three talented kids Zane, Ian and Eva. Our close family friend June is an integral part of our sewing production. We have had a rotating cast of family and friends help during our busy seasons and we are very grateful for their help! Everything in our shop is handmade by us, in our home workshop in Oregon City, Oregon.

Q. When did Sushi Booties start and how did you come up with the idea?
A. Sushibooties started back in 2008 with our first Etsy shop Sushiornaments.
Kevin and I both had "real" jobs back then, I managed a well known sporting goods website and Kevin raised Christmas trees and managed our screen printing business. That holiday we wanted to make handmade gifts for our family and incorporate our three kids in the process. Being obsessed with Japan, I remembered my favorite Christmas ornament as a kid was a sushi roll that my aunt had made, it was easy enough for our kids to make, and they became a hit with our family, friends and most all Etsy!
It wasn't that far of a jump when my friend became pregnant to make baby booties that look like sushi, the next obvious step was adult sizes and the slippers were launched. When I found out from watching The Martha Stewart Show that fortune cookies originated from Japan it only seemed fitting to be the next style in the collection.. and so on.. I still really love Japan!
We now sew full time, I quit my "real" job back in 2011 for my "dream" job at sushibooties and have never looked back!

Q. What are some of the highlights in the last couple years for Sushi Booties?
A. In 2011 Sushi booties were featured on the Martha Stewart Show. We got to attend a full week of shows and won peoples choice for being most "Re-Marthable"
Just recently in May of 2014 we were featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Kevin and I felt so lucky to be featured that we donated a portion of our sales from the month of May to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, we were able to raise over $800.
Some other highlights include our customers using our booties to announce they are pregnant! We are always so excited and honored to be in on the secret! Its always a "I LOVE MY JOB" moment to do those!
Also this year we started reusing and recycling all of our scrap material, Oregon Wool Traders & Sushibooties is dedicated to leaving a smaller footprint on the planet, That's why we are proud to announce that all scrap and left over material is reused and recycled to make dog beds for the Oregon Humane Society, We have already been able to donate 40 dog beds this year alone!

Q. What are some of your other interests?
A. Kevin and I love to be creative. We have another Etsy shop Oregon Wool Traders, Made from authentic Pendleton® wool. http://www.etsy.com/shop/OregonWoolTraders
We also love 60's garage music, we play in a band Thee Four Teens, and after a long day of sewing we unwind by playing music with our collection of vintage instruments. Kevin and I love to travel, Kevin likes to collect records for his jukeboxes and I love to take photos with my camera. Garage sales, and kayaking on the weekends if we aren't too swamped with sewing!
June collects vintage oddities and makes the most beautiful jewelry. She is amazingly talented at playing the Farfisa organ in our band and has her own Etsy shop too. Please check it out at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/parapluiepress for awesome, vintage inspired camera straps.

Q. Where else are Sushibooties available?
A. Our website www.sushibooties.com. They are also available through the Uncommon Goods catalog and website: www.uncommongoods.com Yes! we hand make those as well.
---- Also I think it should be duly noted that we are the FIRST AND ORIGINAL designer of Sushi Booties® and Fortune Cookie Booties®. Although, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, it is still obnoxious, and a bummer for a small family owned business. So get the real deal from us! Handmade in the USA. ----

Q. What kind of sewing machines do you use? and what is your favorite tool?
A. We have 3 Brother Nouvella 1500S Straight stitch work horses!! and 1 fancy Brother Pacesetter 600 for detail work. My favorite tool right now is our AccuCut die cutting machine. It has saved us hundreds of hours of hand cutting our patterns. and they come out perfect each time!