Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Maher.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I graduated from Michigan State with a marketing degree/ minor in graphic design in the middle of Covid, got a job working remotely in corporate tech, and would craft and embroider in my spare time. I started out just making gifts for friends and family, a few custom requests here and there, and finally started creating designs for markets and crafts shows. The first year snowballed pretty quickly and now I have more custom orders than I can keep up with! I do lots of bigger festivals in Michigan, especially in the summer, and have expanded my online presence through my website and social media.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have definitely had my fair share of obstacles – learning how to navigate a business while maintaing a 9-5 and having a personal life, finding what works for me without comparing myself to others, and learning to say no sometimes. I am “yes” girl through and through, but sometimes that leads to spreading myself too thin and getting burnt out.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I design my own apparel/accessories and also create personalized one-of-a-kind designs, pet portraits, business logos, etc. I am 100% self-taught – digitizing and machine embroidery. I like to create things that are representative of the things I love: mostly nature, coffee, & good vibes. My favorite custom designs that I offer, hands down, would be pet portraits. I’ve made dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, lizards, and they aways turn out so cute! They take the most amount of work but they are so speacial and make my heart so full.
The small business community is the absolute BEST. I’ve made so many vendor friends and have learned so much from them these past couple of years. It’s motivating to have others who share similar struggles and support your wins. It has really opened my eyes to the value in shopping small. One purchase may not seem like it makes a huge difference, but it truly does.
Every single customer is someone supporting my dream and I could not be more grateful.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My husband is my rock (and my unpaid employee). Whether it’s helping me set up/work a market, encouraging me when I have doubts, or building me whatever displays I can think of, he is my #1 fan and greatest cheerleader. I honestly could not have made it this far without him.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies based on desgin and type of item
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stitchbymich.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stitch.bymich/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stitchbymichco
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/StitchByMichCo
