{"id":2925,"date":"2024-01-03T15:15:25","date_gmt":"2024-01-03T20:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/?p=2925"},"modified":"2024-01-12T08:06:40","modified_gmt":"2024-01-12T13:06:40","slug":"chicken-coop-wagon-bonnets-fabricator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/hobby\/chicken-coop-wagon-bonnets-fabricator\/","title":{"rendered":"A Fabricator\u00ae + a Flock of Chickens = Un-egg-spected Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

Which came first, the chicken or the coop? For Genelle Hitchman, it was a flock of chickens \u2014 which led to a unique wagon-style coop that would change her life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Genelle and her husband, Todd, are die-hard DIYers with a 10-acre homestead in Texas. Aptly named Hitchman Homestead, the land hosts not only the family\u2019s home, but a thriving business building pioneer-style wagons tailored for different uses. Genelle sews the bonnets (fabric tops) for these wagons with her Fabricator\u00ae sewing machine and other Sailrite\u00ae materials.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Such a unique business must be the result of thorough planning, right? Well, not quite. Genelle and Todd never intended to start a covered wagon business. Instead, it was a surprise that came from Genelle\u2019s dream of owning chickens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up, my grandfather had a garden and chickens. I have happy memories of collecting fresh eggs from his small coop. I have always wanted a garden and chickens of my own, but it was always just out of reach.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Before moving to Texas, the Hitchman family lived in a crowded California city. They weren\u2019t able to build the self-sustaining lifestyle they wanted there. \u201cWhen we bought our home together in California on a tiny lot (so little room for gardening), our city had many restrictions on \u2018homesteading\u2019 activities \u2014 so chickens \u2026 were a no-go,\u201d Genelle remembered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, the couple\u2019s demanding jobs left them burned out. They didn’t get much free time to spend with each other or their seven children. After years of nonstop stress, they\u2019d had enough. \u201cWe decided that we wanted to stop \u2018living to work\u2019 and start \u2018working to live.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Genelle and Todd knew they\u2019d have to completely overhaul their lives to become homesteaders. But they were so ready for a change that they threw themselves into the prep with a will. \u201cWe started planning a year ahead of time,\u201d Genelle said. \u201cWe wound down our careers in California. I learned homesteading skills. We had to find a suitable area and property.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Their property search took them to the wide-open spaces of the Texas Hill Country over a long weekend. \u201cWe went with the intention of just getting an idea of the area, but found our dream homestead on day two of our trip. We were signing purchase contracts as we boarded the plane home!\u201d Genelle told us.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the perfect property fell into their laps, Genelle and Todd knew their move was meant to be. The family settled in Texas in 2018 and spent the next few years setting up their homestead. It now includes chickens and goats, a garden, a composting system, and much more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Wagon Business Gets Rolling<\/b><\/h2>\n

The homestead\u2019s chicken flock was the inspiration for the first wagon Genelle and Todd made. Genelle told us that she and Todd were watching the chickens one day when Todd said, \u201cBoy, I sure do like having chickens, but it\u2019s a shame their stuff is so ugly.\u201d The store-bought coop and run the chickens had at the time didn\u2019t fit with the homestead\u2019s d\u00e9cor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Todd decided to change that. \u201cThe next day, I awoke at [3 a.m.] to find him at his drafting table,\u201d Genelle said. Todd showed her a sketch of a coop modeled after a covered wagon and asked, \u201cWouldn\u2019t you rather see this in the yard?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A
The Cluck Wagon was the perfect coop upgrade for the Hitchman flock.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why a covered wagon? Genelle told us that \u201cTodd has always been a fan of Old West movies. He \u2026 often pauses shows to get a closer look at wagon details. Anytime we see an antique wagon, we stop and look. There\u2019s a lot of wagon art in our house.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Genelle agreed that a wagon-style chicken coop would fit right in with the homestead. The \u201cCluck Wagon\u201d came together over the next few weeks. Todd built the wagon while Genelle sewed a suitable bonnet from a hardware store drop cloth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once the wagon was ready, the flock moved into its new home. \u201cIt was adorable,\u201d Genelle gushed. \u201cI took some pretty photos. \u2026 I shared my photos on Facebook in my chicken groups. Overnight, my photos went semi-viral. I woke up to about 6,000 likes and shares, and an inbox full of messages [like], \u2018That is the cutest thing I\u2019ve ever seen, I want one!\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

From there, the unintentional business took off. \u201cWe built a few wagon-coops delivered more or less locally and then started getting requests. \u2018I don\u2019t have chickens, can you just do the wagon?\u2019 \u2018Can you make it a farmstand?\u2019 \u2018Can you make it into a kid\u2019s bed?\u2019 So we did!\u201d Genelle said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Frontier Sewing With the Fabricator<\/b><\/h2>\n

The demand for custom wagons led Genelle to Sailrite in early 2023. At the same time, she realized that her home machine wasn\u2019t strong enough to sew wagon bonnets. \u201cWe\u2019ve been \u2026 progressively getting more elaborate and authentic with the bonnet canvas,\u201d she told us. \u201cEarly this year, I had really been struggling \u2026 getting the heavy wagon bonnet canvas through [my small machine].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But then, a customer asked for something even sturdier than the canvas Genelle was using. \u201cWe took on a build where the client \u2026 wanted a waterproof [marine grade] fabric, which I found on the Sailrite site. After ordering a sample, I concluded that my current machine was not suited for this fabric.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Luckily, the solution wasn\u2019t far away. \u201cSailrite \u2026 carried the industrial machines I would need to work at this level.\u201d After comparing her options, Genelle decided on the Fabricator. When we asked for her thoughts on the machine, she described it in two words: \u201cGame changer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Fabricator has revolutionized Genelle\u2019s work. \u201cGoing from a budget, old home sewing machine to a top-of-the-line industrial beast took some getting used to. \u2026 Now that I have a few projects under my belt \u2014 I LOVE IT. Using the Fabricator has cut my bonnet construction time in half. I am also very proud of the quality of my bonnets now, and I know they will hold up and look professional.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Genelle has been back to Sailrite several times for other supplies and project help. \u201cSailrite has been amazing from the beginning,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s so much more than just a supplier. The videos and guides are wonderful tools for me to learn as I work with new materials and my new Fabricator machine.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Genelle\u2019s Fabricator has allowed her to customize each bonnet to the wagon\u2019s planned use. \u201cOur wagons are not antique restorations. They are new builds, intended to look like an antique wagon but useful for modern purposes,\u201d she explained. For example, many customers have ordered wagons as vendor stalls. However, the fully enclosed bonnets that authentic frontier wagons had wouldn\u2019t work for this purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n

True to her self-reliant nature, Genelle used her Fabricator to come up with a solution. \u201cI have created our own stylized bonnets (with Sailrite fabric!) that \u2026 still look the part without being \u2018authentic\u2019 covers.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Fabricator also gets to sew a huge range of other projects on the homestead. Genelle has been sewing since childhood. \u201cMy mother taught me the basics of sewing at about 10 years old,\u201d she told us. \u201cI was a very small child \u2014 and as a teen, when my fashion sense began to develop ahead of my growth, I loved that I could make fashionable clothing in my size.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Her passion for the craft has only grown since then, and she has plenty of ideas for DIYs. \u201cI still sew anything and everything. Recently, I have been repurposing our burlap green coffee bags into rustic farmhouse Christmas decorations \u2026 I alter clothing. I sew a lot of accessories for our wagon builds \u2014 wheel skirting, sink skirting, basket lining \u2026 anywhere there needs to be a \u2018touch of textile\u2019 to finish the look. My favorite projects have always been costumes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The freedom that drew her to homesteading is also one of her favorite things about sewing and her DIY lifestyle. \u201cOur only limitation is our willingness to do anything,\u201d she explained. \u201cWe can build, do and produce whatever we want with almost no restrictions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Advice for Building a DIY Business<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Hitchmans\u2019 business is the true fulfillment of their years of dreaming. \u201cAs we were planning our move years ago, we had a conversation that went: \u2018If you could do anything, what would you do?\u2019\u201d Genelle\u2019s answer was raising chickens. Todd said he wanted to make art. As it turned out, their wagon- and coop-building business includes both of these passions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen we came [to Texas], we didn\u2019t anticipate the direction things would take! If you\u2019d have told me six years ago, \u2018Hey, you\u2019re going to build pioneer wagons for a living,\u2019 I\u2019d have thought you [were] crazy. But here we are,\u201d Genelle said. \u201cIt\u2019s really awesome to see our hearts\u2019 desire become tangible and to make a living doing something we both love.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

We asked Genelle what she would say to someone looking to quit a restrictive job and start a DIY business like she did. She gave this advice:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGet out and get involved in your local farmers market or maker\/crafter community. Even if you can\u2019t get a booth [or] table yet, go look and learn. See what people are buying. What do they want? What are they not buying? What isn\u2019t being offered? Look at price points. Displays. What would you want to see as a buyer? None of this costs anything.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen start small. Use what you have. Do a thing, sell a thing. \u2026 Listen to your customers. Improve the thing. Sell another thing. Repeat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Genelle and Todd have certainly proven that this process works. And with big plans for Hitchman Homestead\u2019s future, we know that they\u2019ll continue DIYing their dreams. If you\u2019d like to check out more wagon builds and see what Genelle is making with her Fabricator, you can follow her on Instagram at @hitchmanhomestead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Genelle, thank you for sharing your story and for your encouraging advice. We\u2019re delighted that the Fabricator and other Sailrite products are helping you achieve such great success! We wish Hitchman Homestead nothing but the best in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who We Are<\/b><\/h2>\n

Sailrite is your one-stop DIY shop! We are a passionate crew of do-it-yourselfers who strive to equip you with the supplies and how-to knowledge you need to tackle your next project. Do you want to learn upholstery, leatherwork, canvaswork, hobby sewing, bag making or more? We have the fabric, tools, hardware, sewing machines and notions you need to master any DIY. And even if you\u2019ve never sewn before, our tutorials and how-to videos are designed for beginners and experienced crafters alike.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start your DIY journey today: <\/span>www.sailrite.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Which came first, the chicken or the coop? 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