Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Camille Ipsen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Camille, appreciate you joining us today. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?
Several years into my business, I was approached by a large media company to produce a variety of original cross stitch patterns to be featured on their website. I was thrilled! Some of my products had been in major publications before, but this felt like a really big step. They were very specific about the content and timeline. In fact, they were specific about everything – except the price. My contact asked me how much I wanted to be compensated for the project.
This was a huge undertaking. Not only did I need to design several new patterns but they all needed to be stitched for photographs in a very short amount of time. (Spoiler alert: Cross stitch takes a long time.) I had never asked for a large sum of money before. I was scared that if I asked for too much, they would walk away. No one talks about how much they’re getting paid, so I couldn’t find a reasonable comparison. I finally requested a modest (too low) amount that I thought they would accept.
The contact and supervisor came back with a counteroffer that was almost three times as much as I requested. When I tell you I cried, that is an understatement. I was overcome with gratitude. I decided then and there that I would never again undervalue my time and talent.
Camille, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I always knew I wanted to work with my hands. I studied Architecture in college and my favorite part was model building. I loved designing my projects but then I wanted to actually build them – myself!
The first thing I ever purchased from Etsy was a cross stitch pattern. It was a simple typography pattern, but something that I couldn’t find in the store. That was the spark that lit the fire. I immediately started designing my own patterns, which graduated from graph paper to Excel and finally to pattern design software. I found the missing link! Now I could take a concept from the design stage to the finished product.
I opened my own Etsy shop just a few months later and have been selling cross stitch patterns, kits and finished pieces for 12 years. The idea behind my shop name (not so) Modern Millie is that we’re doing an old craft in a new way. My patterns focus heavily on pop culture and subjects that appeal to a new era of makers. I love reintroducing people to something they associate with their grandmothers. Cross stitch is easy to learn and immensely satisfying. And now it’s funny too!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
People always ask me HOW I became interested in cross stitch. Before I can answer, they tell me that they tried it as a kid. Same. I learned how to cross stitch, along with a dozen other crafts, as a child in the 80s. The real question is WHY I am still cross stitching after all these years.
I am a strong believer in the mental health benefits of slow crafting. I love a great craft project that you can whip up in under an hour. But I know that the repetitive – slow – motions of stitching and counting and breathing over and over are a balm for stress, anxiety and depression. It’s like the yoga of the craft world. It can take as little as five minutes of stitching for my breathing to slow and my body to relax.
At the height of the pandemic, lots of people turned to cross stitch. And puzzles. And sourdough. The amazing thing was the messages they would send after they made one of my patterns. It was a sanity saver. Cross stitch allows you to be still and productive at the same time. I’d love for the world to stop scrolling and start stitching.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Two years ago I accepted a job with Benzie Design. I create craft tutorials, social media content and oversee a maker team. It was a very appealing opportunity but I struggled with applying for the job. When I started (not so) Modern Millie ten years earlier I was so excited to be my own boss. It felt like I was stepping backward working for someone else again. Did this mean my own business venture was a failure?
What I have learned is that there are a million ways to reach your goals. I love the work that I do – for myself and for Benzie Design. I get paid to stitch and sew and cut and glue and teach. It’s a pretty sweet life. Having an additional job gives me more creative flexibility in my own business; I don’t have to think of every design in terms of dollars. It’s been a wonderful gift that I didn’t plan for.
Accomplishing my goals all by myself doesn’t make them more valuable. Maybe we weren’t meant to do it on our own, anyway.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.notsomodernmillie.com
- Instagram: @notsomodernmillie
- Linkedin: Camille Ipsen
Image Credits
Justin Hackworth, Camille Ipsen