We were lucky to catch up with Amy Sinibaldi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Right off the bat, I’d like to say that “successful” can mean different things for different folks. Keeping a business small— say a one-woman show, with a manageable flow, no delegation, and total control—may be one version of success. Allowing your biz to expand— managing staff, delegating time-consuming tasks, and trusting the flow beyond your control— that’s an entirely different beast. Either way, wearing many hats is necessary. As an artist trying to run a business, I’ve worn hats that were uncomfortable, awkward, loathsome, and some hats I’ve loved and suited me just fine. I have to admit that sometimes simply filling out a form was torture because I had to google every term to figure out what it was asking me. But you’ve got to put on those odd hats, pushing onward and upward, consistently, every day. I might be YouTube-ing guidance videos frantically behind the scenes, but what I present is a uniquely, authentic offering to the public that makes my market go “ohh”.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started nanaCompany in 2007, sewing and crafting little girls aprons and felt cookies. I was learning my craft as I went along and basically I’ve lived out a very long, publicly-shared learning curve that I believe is still ongoing. I’d sew a little something (a needlebook, a tote bag, a bear-shaped place mat), photograph it with all the styling skills I could muster, and share it to the public via Flickr and eventually my blog. I was consistent, paid attention to the little details, and I was generous in sharing what I could. By 2014, I’d been published in magazines, books, and was approached to write my own book, as well as design my own collection of fabrics— both dreams come true.

My first book, “Sweetly Stitched Handmades” was translated and published in at least four different languages. I license my fabric designs to Art Gallery Fabrics, who print and distribute their fabric substrates around the world. My designs have been licensed to enamel pins, a clothing brand, and now I’m expanding into paper goods (which are my fave).

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

A business should offer a solution to a problem for your customer. My goal is to provide that solution, and for me, it has always been about charm, delight, and simple joy. But I’d have to say that if I admitted it fully, the mission driving my creative journey is satisfying my very worst customer. That is me. And she’s not satisfied yet, so we keep on trucking.

Have you ever had to pivot?

If I had to pin it down, I’d say that 2015 was the “height” of my creative journey and I laid it all aside in 2018 to pursue a career in nursing. I believed I needed to do more than just make “pretty little things” and I did something very difficult— I returned to school and did my pre-reqs and got accepted into nursing school, graduated, and became an RN. In the height of Covid and weeks after my own mom died of it, I began working at a hospital. First night shift, then days. I tried a few different nursing jobs until my own health started to deteriorate. I am still on the other side now. I am a professional patient. But what this experience has lead me to is the determination and motivation to do what I’ve always wanted and follow my passion with less fear and reticence. Now is the time to chase those dreams and see what I can do. Now is the time to give it all I’ve got.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nanaCompany.shop
• Instagram: /amysinibaldi
• Facebook: /nanaCompany.blog
• Linkedin: Amy Sinibaldi
• Yelp: NanaCompany
• Other: https://pinterest.com/nanacompany

Image Credits

Amy Sinibaldi