QOTW: What do you want your handmade business to say about you?

@knitbrooks

Hi all you busy makers! Kelly here, back with another Question of the Week.

We all work hard to build our businesses. We strive to create to the best of our abilities, to get our names out there, to let the handmade world know we exist. We travel down many paths in search of who we want to be as makers, seeking out the "vibe" that feels just right.

In the end though, what do we want our handmade businesses to say about us?

My handmade business is a direct reflection of who I am not just as a maker, but as a person. I want knitbrooks to say, "This is a piece of Kelly." When someone sees my knitwear, my social media, my online shop, my market display, I want them to know everything is a direct expression of myself and what I most enjoy.

I want my business to say I'm a lover of nature, of minimalism, of the simple things in life like a hot cup of coffee or the coziest blanket nest on a Sunday morning. I want my business to say I'm driven and dedicated to this creative life, but also flawed and sometimes awkwardly stumbling along day to day making more mistakes than I care to admit.

I want my business to say I'm community oriented, and truly believe in community over competition. I want it to say, "we are all in this together," because the knitting and crocheting community is pretty darn awesome, don't you think?

Here's what Chelsea of @hookknotstudios, Gabrielle of @ephronine, Melissa of @theburrow.co, and Rachel of @rachelcrochets want their handmade businesses to say about them.

What do you want your handmade business to say about you?

"What I want my knit shop to say about me as a maker is simple... I'm dedicated and passionate. Isn't that what all of us want our work to reflect? You can't run a knit shop without dedication and passion because let's be honest here....knitting a pair of mittens doesn't happen in 20 minutes. What keeps me going during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is the love and passion I have for the craft; it allows my creative side to run wild. Creating something out of nothing and having others want to buy your creation is pretty awesome. It's that 'cha-ching' noise on my phone that I will never get tired of hearing."

- Chelsea
@hookknotstudios
www.hookknotstudios.etsy.com

@theburrow.co

"Running The Burrow is not a job for me; it’s something that brings me a lot of joy. It wakes me up in the morning excited to create new things and share them. My father always told me that whatever you do in life do it to the best of your abilities, and this is what I want my shop to reflect about me. I want my business to reflect my passion for this craft in the quality of my products but I also want to infuse this love and excitement for knitting and crocheting to my customers and community."

- Melissa
@theburrow.co
www.theburrowco.etsy.com

"I would hope my shop would in some way say that I'm here to inspire others to do what they love! There's a shortage of people doing what they love in this world. I have been exceedingly blessed in being able to do this, but it's more than that. You have to want it, to push through the people saying you can't succeed and that your dream isn't good enough. Making something with your own two hands and sharing it with the world is no easy task. It's so vulnerable and honest. So I would hope that through every stitch and every new item that makes its way out of my heart, I'm inspiring someone else to do what it is they love. Happily and courageously."

- Gabrielle
@ephronine
www.ephronine.etsy.com

@rachelcrochets

"I want my handmade business to reflect my love for cultivating community. It's important for me to encourage other makers in their creative journey, and see their knowledge grow. I love receiving questions through my Instagram, and I'm not shy about answering back. I love sharing patterns and yarn and tips and tricks that I've learned. We all have to start somewhere. I believe that teaching and learning from one another grows community. And that's the most important thing really, a group of friends who can come alongside you. I want my business to reflect my favorite phrase, because sharing truly is caring."

- Rachel
@rachelcrochets
facebook.com/hookinhanddesigns

What do you want your handmade business to say about you?
Tell us in the comments below or share it with us by emailing 'MY OML QOTW' to
ourmakerlife@gmail.com and remember to tag your #ourmakerlife  photos with us on Instagram so we can see your beautiful and inspirational handmade!

Happy Making!
Kelly, OML dream team
@ourmakerlife
@knitbrooks

Kelly is the mind, body and soul behind @knitbrooks: handmade modern knitwear inspired by nature’s endless beauty. After completing a photojournalism program, Kelly used both knitting and crocheting as a way to relax after a long day working as a reporter/photographer. This hobby has since transformed into a way to combine her love of creating fashionable knitwear, with her passion for photography, a cozy lifestyle, and her awe and admiration of the untouched wilderness.