I am just a wee bit proud of my daughter, Anne Cate. When she was about 15, she started an Etsy shop, creating handmade accessories. This past year, she re-branded herself and her shop in which she sells sweet, sophisticated and adventurous accessories.
She focused on the her love of the city and the sea. Her sailor knot bracelets are very popular, especially for brides who “tie the knot” and for their bridesmaids.
She had created some dorm room decor to take to her room last year that included skylines of cities that she loves.(It was one of the cutest dorm rooms I have ever seen, by the way!) She took that concept a step further by designing skylines and printing fabric at Spoonflower. She then sews these fabrics into various size clutch purses, throw pillows and pillowcases.
14″ Throw Pillow in the Popular St. Louis Skyline
Annie, as I call her, has grown her business while being a full-time student and working multiple part-time jobs. She is working on a fashion merchandising major and entrepreneurship minor. She has honed her sewing ability while working at the theater’s costume shop and David’s Bridal. This fall, while working with LaunchNET, she starting pitching her business and won three pitch competitions.
A local store reached out to her to wholesale her products. She then contacted numerous stores in the area and is now wholesaling in 6 local shops. She was featured on a local news segment called “More Money for Me.” Not only did this air in Cleveland, but in 42 NBC affiliate markets around the country! See the video here.
This led to an expected, but also overwhelming, period of growth! And a lot of late-night sewing!
I want to thank my friends and colleagues who have supported her by sharing her products and making purchases. We are both grateful! As a mom and a sewist, I can’t wait to see the places Anne Cate will go! Follow along with her, too:
Our visit to Etsy HQ in Brooklyn, NY!
Anne Cate in NYC
I have been given a number of your wonderful items through the years. This year was the skyline of Cleveland, my roots. I am so proud of the work you are doing and love showing it off to others! Bless you and keep up the beautiful work!!
Thanks, Diana!!!
Awesome, I just dropped in after a blogging hiatus. So fun to catch up with everyone and see how well they are doing. I am very proud of her and love her logo, products and new business venture. You know the old saying – “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”…you are a great Mama!
Layne! So good to hear from you! Sadly, my blogging has been….well, sad! Sadly missing! And I’ve missed you!