We recently connected with Courtney Renkema and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

After graduating from college, I developed a new interest in sewing. However, I found there were limited opportunities to grow in this skill set. I took one class at a local sewing shop but otherwise became self taught. My husband’s job relocated us to California for a few years. I explored jobs where I could sew and found Fashion Camp, a creative learning space that teaches children how to sew! I happily worked there for a few years until my daughter was born.

After her birth, we moved back home to our roots in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I still found very few resources for sewing, especially for children. Our new home had a unique room in our walkout basement that my aunt encouraged me to make into a sewing studio. It seemed both an unlikely and perfect use of the space. The encouraging words of the people in my life enabled my dreams. My previous work opportunity equipped me to confidently take steps toward this idea with my employer’s blessing.

My husband graciously surrendered this spare room. He had his own plans for this space but instead helped contribute to its transformation! We slowly began renovating the space while our daughter was one year old. It had a restroom, exterior door, separate driveway for access and good features to be able to build upon. It was important for me to have the atmosphere warm, and welcoming before prioritizing the next steps towards offering classes. I initially felt that this phase was keeping me from more productive work. Instead, I now see how essential and unhurried this step needed to be.

I worked very slowly in this phase as I now had three children under 2 years old. My son joined our family through adoption at age 2 and our third son was born four months later. With three young children I felt this ambition needed to be carefully maintained while my family was so young. It was a gradual, slow investment to both serve my family and hopefully bless others in this pursuit. Since my children all arrived at once, this space at times took natural pauses. As a stay at home mom, I continued setting goals to invest in the studio as this was life giving for me. Knowing my children wouldn’t always remain little I wanted to have something to work towards, as an investment for later.

Next, I had a dear friend help me with branding for the studio, she gave me confidence to launch! In February of 2018, I created social media platforms on Facebook and Instagram to communicate and build community to begin teaching. We took photos of a chalkboard announcing the opening of The Common Thread Studio in calligraphy with beautiful hydrangeas surrounding it. The flowers soon wilted in the cold winter scene but the launch was simple and effective.

For my first class I had one registrant who attended with her grandmother. She was a friend of one of my family members. At this point the studio had not undergone larger renovations and looked much different than it does now! I didn’t have a website, just a simple acuity scheduling service to process payments for registrants. The studio naturally began to grow through referrals. Establishing trust within our home based studio was important to me as people were entrusting their children to my care. I was content with slow growth as I needed time to build a curriculum too.

As the studio audience grew, developing a website, gathering email contacts, hiring a photographer and graphic designer were some of our best investments. Business operations aside, serving our community and creating a place for people to belong has been our best success. We’re blessed to have been recognized by Grand Rapids Kids, Grandtastic awards in 2022 & 2023 for being in the top 10 for best art instruction/ studio for kids.

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.

My name is Courtney, I married my high school sweetheart, Steve. I’m a dreamer, which I imagine is a hard personality trait to be married to. My dreaming was where The Common Thread Studio began! As a mother to four children, the studio was built in the margins of motherhood, like nap time. I’m now able to work flexibly from home while homeschooling my children.

Our sewing studio offers sewing classes, primarily for children. We have acquired an enthusiasm for children’s education. The Common Thread Studio inspires children to develop a wonder for continued learning. We value helping parents and grandparents learn alongside their child and enjoy shared interests too.

The studio exists to educate in a craft that may not be as easily attained elsewhere. Sewing truly is a timeless and lifelong skill we can entrust to our children! I have found at age 7 a child can be attentive to sew safely on the machine if they have interest.

In 2023, after five years of offering classes, we’ve expanded our course offerings with knitting classes, summer camps, girl scout events and birthday parties. Additionally, we have sewing kits, merchandise and resources to further encourage sewing at home.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

To pivot is uncomfortable and often necessary in gaining momentum. To be forced to pivot is exceptionally hard but also meaningful when not everything is left to our limiting control.

I studied Speech-Language Pathology and received my Bachelor’s degree. My husband graduated both high school and college alongside me and started his career in Grand Rapids, MI. We continued to establish roots here which limited my graduate school opportunities. I was unable to complete my education and fulfill the requirements that are necessary to work within the field.

I had to consider rebuilding my resume and everything I had previously worked towards. In my new explorations I discovered sewing and never looked back! Had I been left to my own plans, I would have missed a better one!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I thoughtfully consider how to invest time in our business while balancing this season with young children at home. The studio is located inconveniently below our kitchen sink & dishwasher. Shortly after beginning to offer classes, a drain pipe burst that significantly damaged the studio.

It forced us into a season of renovations with cancelled classes. Later, the repairs provided what was needed to function safely and productively in our space moving forward. Previously there had been no overhead lighting in the studio. To sew in a poorly lit space is difficult! An electrician helped provide overhead lighting and secured proper outlets for the many sewing machines and irons. New drywall, flooring installation and other cosmetic changes were also made.

The renovations provided renewed resources and purpose in developing the studio further. Having a home studio allowed us to recover quickly from this difficulty. Working from home has been a safe space to adapt to challenges while growing our business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thecommonthreadstudio.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thecommonthreadstudio
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thecommonthreadstudio

Image Credits
Annie Blanding. La Reverie Photography.