Kelly Korver shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Kelly, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
People usually are surprised to learn that I design and hand screen print all of the apparel in my shop, I think it’s more common to either be a designer and outsource the printing or be a screen printing shop that prints other peoples designs in bulk.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Kelly, the sole owner, designer and screen printer behind my brand “Birds Kept North”. I started this small business back in 2012 when I was going to college for a degree in Apparel and Textiles with a minor in Art. It all began as a fun way to make meaningful gifts for family and friends but as I got more and more requests of different designs I realized this could actually become something bigger. I opened an Etsy shop that fall and soon markets and street fairs began to fill my free time. I could work from anywhere and have the flexibility to raise a family. Now 4 kids later, I am able to be a present mother and still have a creative outlet where I can attend markets and focus on building up the wholesale side of things.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My mom always encouraged my creative side, when I was little she would draw pictures with my siblings and I. She always had craft supplies in the cupboard that we could use as we pleased. I don’t remember anything but positive responses from her about my art and designs, she let me play interior designer and paint the walls in our family home. She encouraged my seamstress abilities and provided the supplies needed to design and sew my own creations. Once I started screen printing apparel, she placed orders and gave away the items as gifts to family and friends. She’s definently my biggest fan.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
When I had my first baby, my small business got put on the back burner. It was hard to find myself being pulled in different directions becoming a first time mom while running a business. There were days I wondered if I could keep being both but then I remembered that this was what it was all about.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
When done correctly, screen printing is a high quality way to make a design on a shirt that will last years and years to come. During Covid I experimented with outsourcing the printing of my designs to a print-on-demand company that uses DTG printing. DTG is like running a shirt through an inkjet printer; the design stays on the surface. On the other hand, screen printing pushes the ink into the fabric and they become inseparable. I soon realized with regular wear and washing the DTG prints were flaking off and falling apart. This made me decide to switch back to screen printing all my designs in house again because I’m committed to delivering a high quality product.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I believe I’m doing what I was born to do. In the beginning of this creative adventure I’ve been told more than once that maybe I should get a “real job”, one that includes clocking in and having a boss I suppose. I didn’t listen to that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/birdskeptnorth
- Instagram: @birdskeptnorth
- Other: Faire (wholesale): birdskeptnorth.faire.com
