Sweet 16 in Stitches

 
Here is a story we have been waiting all summer for! This little 17 year old cutie has one of the funnest shops on Etsy! Sweet16inStitches is the business of a very young euntreprenuer that has been at it since she was about 9 years old! We all need a start somewhere  - from googley eyed rocks, to lemonade stands, and now her own online shop, this girl is going to go far!

Tell us a little bit about you, your family, and what you like to do for fun!

I walked up to my room,
"Houston we have a problem!”
My room has officially sprung a leak! Threw up! Overflowed fabric!
HEEEELLLLPPP!!!

That's when it hit me, 'I needed a bigger room!'

But of course, that was out of the question, my room was as big as it was ever going to get. So I made the next most logical decision swirling around in my head.

What if I sold it? {the fabric, not the room...but I guess you already figured that one out.} = )

Hi there! I’m Caroline. I’m 17 and love to sew. I’m the daughter of two
amazing people, and sister to an older and younger brother (Gunnar and Jadon)…who are pretty awesome too. =) I have a golden retriever mutt mix with a stubby tail, and a whole bunch of fishies to call my own. I have had an amazing opportunity to open up my own shop, and hope you can see all the love and effort I put into each item. When I’m not sewing, I’m swimming, baking, writing, taking pictures, or just being a teenager! I’m thrilled you are taking the time to read this blog, and hope you enjoy my shop.

Why did you decide to open your shop and why sell on Etsy.com?

 I happened upon Etsy one day, and have been loyal ever since! I opened my shop about a year ago and strongly recommend it to first time business owners, or even people who have a physical shop, but could use more visibility. The thing that really hooked me, was the prices. It only takes 20 cents to upload an item, what a bargain!

When did your shop officially open?

 

On my Sweet 16^th birthday 2013

Any current shop promo discounts, if so when do they end?

Absolutely! Thanks everyone for spending your precious time in reading this blog. To celebrate, here’s a coupon code you can use for 10% off your next purchase at Sweet16inStitches: ReadIt2014 It expires December 31, 2014

 

Do you take custom orders?

Oh my goodness, I love custom orders! It’s fun to get other peoples original ideas and make them come to life. Most of my sales has been custom orders. In fact, I received one not too long ago. The customer wanted two sleep masks, so she sketched them out, and I simply cut out the felt and sewed it together!

What is your favorite part about owning your own business?

 I really really love to sew, and I get a kick out of people buying my creations.

Do you have a product that you prefer to design/create over others?

Quilts are my first love. I love turning in circles in the fabric department, looking for those special colors that were made for each other. I love the sewing stage, quilting stage, and the melodious sound of the dryer buzzer, telling me my quilt is officially done. I really enjoy creating original sleep masks too! I start with a simple internet picture, and convert it into a one of a kind hand cut mask.

Do you have any advice for other crafters who would like to start selling their creations?

 Do what you love, and don’t make it a chore. If you love what you do, the love will definitely show in your work. But also, don’t just do it for the money. My two favorite quotes go like this: The only way to do great work, is to love what you do. ~Steve Jobs

Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. ~Maya Angelou

Best advice you received when you went into business for yourself?

My sweet pappy has always told me: You have to throw yourself out there! No one is going to buy something from you if you just stand in the shadows, you have to go door to door, talk to the customers, give out business cards, and get your name brand out there!

 
I have also read a lot about successful businesspeople, and learned weather you have won a Nobel Prize like Nelson Mandela, or are an entrepreneur like Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, George Lucas, Richard Sears, you don’t just sit back and wait for the right time. Alan Mulally didn’t just say, “Sure, I guess I’ll take the job,” he jumped at the opportunity to make a difference, and because he took on his mission with confidence and perseverance, he now owns a multibillion dollar car company.

 

Do you have your own shop blog and social media sites? We would LOVE to follow you back!

Absolutely! https://www.facebook.com/Sweet16inStitches and littlebrighteyes.net

We love to attend craft and vendor markets - do you?

 

 YES! My favorite and most successful one has been the “13^th Annual Thrill @ The Mill” with 7 Acre Wood. It was my 3^rd craft show, and I will definitely be doing it again.

What is your favorite part about the markets?

Meeting new people and seeing their eyes sparkle when they buy one of my products. Markets help you realize what products sell best, and you figure out very quickly whether your prices are reasonable or not. It gives me a chance to hand people business cards, and learn what their interests are.

Do you ever get nervous the night before a big event?

There is always a little bit of nervousness, but mostly I’m just excited!  

Did you always see yourself becoming an entrepreneur?

 I always saw myself doing something in the creative industry, but I never thought it would be sewing! When I was littler, Maybe 9 or 10, I would sit outside on the driveway trying to sell shells and rocks that had googly eyes glued onto them for 25₵ a critter. I’ve sold lemonade with my little brother, and one time, made a whole bunch of candles and went door to door with my dad, selling those too! So yes, you could say that I’ve always seen myself being an entrepreneur, but owning my own online store at 17! That was only in my dreams! =)

Do you use your own products?

All the time! That wouldn’t be very good marketing to not use them, heehee. I believe in my products and use them wherever and whenever.

What is your most popular product on the market right now?

 Right now it has to be the sleep masks. People are always telling how unique and cute they are.

What is the favorite item you make and why?

 Once again, quilts are my ultimate fave, but when I’m not sewing those, masks are my second. I love taking a picture from the internet and sketching a quick drawing of it to get the size right, and then hand cutting all of the felt pieces out and stitching them on. I love seeing a pile of felt squares turn into a sleep mask, or pretend mask.

Tell us anything extra you would like to be added to your feature.

 I am starting a charity! God has blessed me with a talent and I wanted to share it with the world. I need all the help I can get too! The purpose of the charity: “Sew Loving” is to make small lap quilts and send them off to ambulances, to then give to hurting kids. Something to take their mind off the situation at hand. If you would like to help out in any way, you can check out my blog page here: www.sewloving.org  there is even a free quilt tutorial that you can do in a day and for about 20$.  Any help is appreciated!

Caroline – thanks so much for stopping by and blessings us with a review! We will always remember the felt mustache mask & stuffed elephant we purchased at the fall festival event!! Note to readers: her products make fantastic gifts!! Used the elephant for a baby shower presents and the mustache mask for a Christmas present! Caroline can be reached for custom order via Etsy conversation. Be sure to check out her websites & social media here -   Etsy, Face Book, Blog, &  Sew Loving Website.