Talk Shop is the series where we interview independent store owners from across the country, to get their inside take on running an independent business that supports the handmade community.

In this Talk Shop, Jamie Chan, one half of the husband and wife team who owns Urban Fauna Studio, talks about her one-of-a-kind green craft boutique in San Francisco.

In a refreshing twist on the typical craft shop, Chan, and her husband Blas Herrera, promote environmentally-friendly crafting through their how-to workshops, and by selling green craft supplies and tools, in addition to handmade goods from independent artists.  Many of the products sold at Urban Fauna are not only made from recycled materials or are biodegradable, but also come from companies that engage in ecologically and socially considerate manufacturing practices — A big hooray for both crafters and shoppers who support green living and crafting.

Tell us what Urban Fauna Studio is all about:
Urban Fauna Studio is the brick and mortar incarnation of our online fiber shop Mary Jane’s Attic. Our products focus on ecologically and socially considerate manufacturing practices (i.e. no-petrochemicals used, sustainable organic fibers and woods, biodegradable products, and recycled materials) and indie made goods.  Our craft studio focuses on spinning, weaving, knitting, felting and other fiber arts. We also offer a revolving series of arts and crafts workshops that help other people find their creativity using wool and other fluffy stuff!

Do you have any sort of background in crafting or the arts?
We have been crafting since we were young.  We’re self taught fiber artists who enjoy working with raw wool and experimental handspinning techniques. We have organized several west coast Bazaar Bizarre craft show for the last three years and we teach crafting to children
through our local community centers and public libraries.

How does your business support independent artists and crafters and/or the handmade community?
We carry items on consignment and wholesale from many indie artists. As the business has grown, we have found that we have less time to produce our own products, so UFS was created to carry handmade goods from trusted indie crafters. We have found wonderful products and
artists through local craft shows and online markets such as Etsy.

Who are your favorite local crafters/designers?
Well, we love so many of our local artist and crafters. Many of them are in our shop. Some favorites are handmade soaps and cosmetics from Bathing In Luxury, Girl On The Rocks – with her awesome mustache buttons and stamps,  handmade felt hats from Marie The Bee, fun plush hams from Sweet Meats. The list is endless! The SF Bay Area freaking rocks with indie talent, it never ceases to amaze us how many crafters there are here.

How can local designers and crafters get involved with UFS?
Send us an e-mail! We’re always looking to take on new consignors for our fiber shop! If you can teach a cool craft let us know. We love to meet people who like to share the crafty love with other people!

What’s the most unusual item for sale in your shop?
We’d have to say the Sheep Poo Paper! Made from 100% sheep poo into lovely scented air fresheners. Poo never smelled so good! And the knitware ceramic coasters made by Elyssa Enttinger.

Any advice for those interested in opening up their own boutique?
Make lots of plans, draft a plan A, B, C and a “shit, what do we do now!” plan for your business because you can never be too prepared. Look at your goals for the next 5-7 years and really map out where you want to be financially. Think big but plan conscientiously and sustainably. Our economy (globally and locally) is going through rough times. You have to make your shop into something you’ve dreamed about, but also be realistic about the market you’re getting into.

Where do you shop, besides UFS, of course.
We love to shop in the SF Bay Area because it’s filled with small business owners. The Curiosity Shoppe, Paxton Gate, Needles and Pens, and Wells Gallery in Oakland are some of our top rated indie shops!

There’s a street fight between a seamstress and a jewelry designer… who would win?
Oh my. Well from a craft show organizer’s POV we’ll tell you that jewelry designers will get down and dirty to secure their space in a show. We can’t blame them since there are such a large number of emerging jewelry designers in the market. So yes, the jewelry designer will clamp your ears with some needle nose pliers and probably solder a red hot jump ring to your bum if you don’t watch out!

Any upcoming events or sales going on at UFS?
UFS will be vending at Stitches West 2009. This is the fiber arts mecca for the west coast and will draw thousands of crazed fiber crafters. Visit us at booth 1036 and experience the largest yarn market on our coast! http://www.knittinguniverse.com/.

We’ll also be at the next Bazaar Bizarre in Maker Faire 2009. For the latest information about products and in store sales subscribe to our mailing list at http://www.maryjanesattic.net/lists/?p=subscribe&id=2, or check our blog maryjanesattic.net/blog.

Urban Fauna Studio is located at 1311 16th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122.

Check out their artists and latest happenings at urbanfaunastudio.com.

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email hellocraftinfo@gmail.com with Talk Shop in the subject line.