Good afternoon again, readers! This time we’re talking with Sara Selepouchin of girls can tell, who sketches diagrams of everything from bicycles to the human heart and silkscreens them on tea towels, coasters, and more.
1. Hi there! First things first: What’s your name, what’s your business name, where are you from, and where are you currently located/crafting?
My name is Sara Selepouchin. I grew up in the middle of New Jersey amid the pine trees and I run girls can tell from a lovely little studio overlooking Chinatown and the Vine St. Expressway in Philadelphia, PA.
2. How did you get your start? Please tell us a little bit about how your business went from an idea to what is is today.
In 2005, I was pretty bored with my job as a low level designer at an architecture firm, started doodling diagrams and participating in the craft community online. I begged a friend to let me screenprint with her, then taught myself to burn my own screens. After running girls can tell as a part time obsession for a few years and a brief stint as the Etsy Teams Coordinator, it seemed like a natural decision to give girls can tell a go full time. It’s the hardest job I’ve ever had, but the best by a long shot.
3. What inspires you the most to create?
Seeing people’s reactions to my work, without a doubt. I love when people walk up to a table of my illustrations and start giggling – that’s when I know they *get it*.
4. What are your favorite materials to work with? Do you have a favorite color palette?
Industrial felt! In real life, I love browns and rusty oranges, turquoise and dusty pale blues, but I decided for my line to print in what, well, prints best and shows off my drawings best, which is mostly really basic, primary colors (think the 8 box of Crayolas…)
5. Who are some of your favorite indie artist/crafters and why do you love them?
This question is simply not fair! There are far too many to name! I love the support we all draw from one another in this growing community of makers! It’s hard to see work of other artists I know without closely connecting the item to the artist themself, knowing how much time, thought, energy + love goes into everything. (and, yes, this answer is something of a cop-out) 
6. Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business? (Nothing TOP-SECRET, of course!)
Look for some new facets of girls can tell in the next year or so. I love my existing line of diagrams, but I’m also feeling the urge to make a companion line for it. I don’t want to just be the diagram girl forever…
7. What are some other things you like to do when you are not busy making awesome stuff?
I particularly enjoy seeking out exception craft beer, riding my bike, playing with my dog (or watching my boyfriend play with my dog) and just curling up on the couch with a good movie (or TV series – there are so many good shows lately!).
8. What are the top 3 reasons someone shopping at the BBB 2010 should be sure to stop by your table?
Twice as many diagrams this year! There’s absolutely something for every single person you know at this point! There are literally about 50 designs at this point – old favorites, fresh new stuff and everything else – as well as new products featuring said diagrams! And some of it will certainly be discontinued after the holidays, because let’s face it – printing 50 different designs all by myself is a little insane. 
9. What is your favorite background noise to listen to while working?
I’ve been alternating between listening to whole albums (I don’t particularly like listening to music on shuffle – give me a song’s context, please), watching comedy on my laptop while I print, and listening to classic literature through audiobooks (currently I’m making my way through Jane Eyre).
10. Where do you do your (craft) work? (e.g. in a studio, in the living room, a spare bedroom, the floor, kitchen table – what’s your work area like?)
I have a big bright studio in a warehouse full of workspaces + galleries just north of Chinatown + Center City in Philadelphia. It’s been totally wonderful to have regular interactions with people outside of my house (which was the hardest thing about working from home for two years) and I love how the whole building opens up to the public on first Fridays. However, it’s usually a whirlwind of activity up here, so most of the time it looks like a small towel factory exploded in my workspace. I make piles + lists to keep organized, so there are lots of stacks on just about every flat surface most of the time.
11. If you had to contribute something you made to a time capsule to be opened in 2110, what would it be and why?
A set of unicorn floursack towels, because they seem to make people laugh.
12. What advice would you give to BBB SHOPPERS?
If you see something you love or you know will make the perfect gift, don’t hesitate to pick it up! It makes me sad when someone comes back to my booth looking for something they saw earlier and someone else snagged it in the meantime.
Thanks for talking with us, Sara! I’m intrigued by the mention of unicorn floursack towels, and I hope our readers are, too. See you at the BBB!
xo The BBB Organizers
