Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Karen Hain. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Karen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

The first dollar I earned selling macrame was at a big event in Detroit called Dally in the Alley. It was a dream come true to take part in something I’d attended since childhood. But when I started getting set up, I realized how unorganized my booth looked compared to the professional artists around me. Mine looked like a garage sale stand, and I was embarrassed. I took a clothing rack outside of my stall and taught passers-by how to tie knots. The interaction was a hit, and nobody even cared what my booth looked like.

I still remember the first thing I ever sold, a plant hanger. The person who bought it was named Ashley. I’ve only made one mistake (at least that has been big enough for a return) in my five years as an artist, and it was that first sale! I was in awe that a stranger bought my stuff, and I forgot to tie the ends of the hanger!

Karen, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

A few years ago, I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, which squashed a lot of my dreams and left me unable to work. I needed something to keep me busy that had a lot of flexibility, and I found fiber art. It was so satisfying to be able to see how many good, healthy hours I’d had in a finished product. If I felt like days had been wasted stuck in bed, I could look and physically see each knot that represented times where I felt okay. Because of this, most of my pieces tell stories that end with some element of hope.

Soon enough, I started selling macrame products and teaching workshops. Like me, I hope that students and people who choose items for their homes feel peaceful and complete when they look at their macrame. Macrame is sometimes intended to look shabby or imperfect, and I love that! I think it makes for a non-threatening thing to learn, something people can just have fun with. It is the one thing that kind of makes me zone in and leave my anxieties behind, so I try to relay the feeling.

Lately, I have been doing more custom orders and spunky colors. I find that larger projects have more meaning to me, simply because of the time put in.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I have learned that it can be okay NOT to have a particular goal or mission, aside from enjoying the process. This may not be true for all artists or business owners, especially those who are full-time and rely on the income. But for me, I’ve always had the most success when I didn’t strategize quite as much. It’s easier said than done to stay out of your own head or avoid constantly working toward the next hustle, but it makes the creative process flow better. Creating what you want and believe in comes across genuine and interesting (because it is)! People don’t want to see the same things every day. I can’t tell you how many times passion projects just for me have received more views or ‘likes’ than more standard items I thought would sell.

I know many will disagree, and that’s okay. Sometimes a guiding foundation and discipline can give focus and lead artists where they need to go. But, on the flip side, I think getting stuck in the ‘why’ can stop us from branching out, too, and I tend to err on the side of trying weird, fun things instead of defining my work or intentions. I like to see where life takes me!

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Of all the entrepreneurial media I’ve read or listened to, I can say that social media sites of other small businesses have been my greatest resource. I would rather put time into watching videos from other community leaders out there doing craft shows and artists markets instead of a millionaire or influencer who is removed from the hometown market I care about. When I see a local business gain an influx of customers or their way of communicating takes off, it helps me see what’s working (or what isn’t).

We can learn so much from one another. Social media, especially for small, local businesses. is what you make it and can be a positive place. The community aspect of it is really important to me, and I see a lot of value in the encouragement and networking it brings.

I would say the biggest way it’s changed my management/entrepreneurial thinking is that it has showed me how to ask for help and how to support others. If you can’t do that within your own maker community first, getting strangers on board with your business is going to be tough.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.etsy.com/shop/AllenYorkDecor
• Instagram: AllenYorkDecorAndGifts
• Facebook: AllenYorkDecorAndGifts
• Other: TikTok: @detwaaa