We were lucky to catch up with Gretchen Haselden recently and have shared our conversation below.

Gretchen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I have been surrounded by handmade quilts my whole life… My great grandmother Viola Sherman was my first exposure to the art of quilting. Growing up, I would watch her make beautiful quilts, she made it look so easy and relaxing…She probably made hundreds of quilts in her life. They were mostly utilitarian and patchwork using repurposed fabric, they were beautiful! I have seen a few of her appliqué quilts as well. Then many years later when I had my first baby, my mom made the most beautiful quilt for my little girl. It was so different from the patchwork quilts I was accustomed to, it was like art. Something about seeing a more modern quilt, with colors that were picked just for me struck a cord… I had never even considered sewing until that moment, and somehow I could see myself doing it from that time on. I began to really appreciate handmade items and notice art everywhere I went, but I still had never picked up a needle and thread.

After I expressed interest in it my mom got me my first sewing machine, gave me some fabric, and helped me get started. One of the amazing things about learning a new skill in the modern days we live in is you can find instruction on almost anything online. I worked late nights developing my skills and practicing while my kids were sleeping (by this time I had two toddlers) and it was almost always too late to call and ask questions if I had them, so I got very familiar with searching for solutions on Youtube. Whether it was how to re-thread my machine, make my corners sharper or how to hide stitches in the binding… Youtube never failed me. So far I have made and sold over 100 quilts and hundreds of other smaller pieces.

Knowing what I know now I believe I would have invested in a marketing course and learned about brand development sooner. I treated my business like a hobby for years longer than I should have. For me, there was a fear of losing my authenticity if I learned too much or tried to grow to the next level, maybe a touch of imposter syndrome. By learning the marketing side of things I have actually gained so much connection and understanding of my audience which helps me serve them better. I still express myself in a way that is true to me and I only create what brings me genuine joy, but my message and my products are finding the people who need them faster because I understand the process better. Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself early on in your business, it will save you time and money in the long run!

I believe that resourcefulness and flexibility are key skills for any entrepreneur or creative. There will always be unexpected obstacles we need to navigate, there isn’t a handbook for the situations that sometimes arise in a small business, but the solution to all of your problems are out there if you look for them. We have to develop our craft and become professional problem solvers at the same time.

Time has always been a major obstacle in the way of learning more. In the early days I only worked when my kids slept, so I squeezed every second out of nap time and then I would start working again when they went to bed at night. This set up can make it hard to get into a flow, and then the time is abruptly cut short when they wake up. I could have scaled my business faster if I had a regular 8+ hours to work in one sitting on a regular basis, but the beauty of this type of business is you CAN still grow even with crazy hours and other responsibilities. If you want it enough you will make the time to do it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi! I’m Gretchen, I live in the beautiful state of Georgia with my husband of 14 years, our 3 kids and 2 cats. When I’m not working you can find me reading, having tea parties with my kids, hiking, baking or sewing something for fun. My Christian faith is also very important to me, and truly it’s what is at the center of everything I do. When I first got into sewing I was a full time homemaker and just had my first baby. Before I had my daughter I was warned by well-meaning people that once the baby was born I would be so exhausted and busy, I wouldn’t have time for anything else…there was a little less sleep than usual, but I was surprised to find a new kind of energy bubbling up. Being forced to slow down for a season and be fully present was like a reset button for me, I started noticing things that I would have ordinarily looked over. Appreciating the beauty in my surroundings… I came alive with creativity, but my only outlet was baking and capturing moments with my point-and-shoot camera. It didn’t feel like enough. This was about the time my mom got me a sewing machine for Christmas and I started teaching myself to make plush baby toys using Pinterest tutorials. I moved on to stockings and I eventually worked up to making my own quilt over the next 2 years. I shared my new hobby on social media and after a while people started asking to buy what I was making. By the time my third baby was born I had a well established quilting business, with enough orders to keep me busy.

I have made sure to keep my hands open in every season, and when I need to I pull back on orders and focus on other things, I do. As my third baby has gotten older I have poured more time into affiliate marketing and brand partnerships with companies I align with. My most recent endeavor is learning design and a line of Sweatshirts and T-shirts that I sell through my Etsy shop. I am also working on some other projects that fill my creative cup and allow me to remain flexible as a stay at home mom. I think what sets me apart is my customer service (in all of my businesses) and the love and care I have for every person who comes across my path. It is a surreal feeling to know that there are people using something I made with my own hands and I value my customers so much for trusting me to create for them.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The main thing I have had to unlearn is not finding my identity in what I do. The temptation is always there, but that way of thinking will bring you down eventually. I am a very self-motivated person, and I love to push myself and be really consistent and excellent in whatever I do. After having my third baby, I was in a season of homeschooling my older two children, working nearly full-time hours quilting, and dealing with PPA (postpartum anxiety). That eventually got to me…my body and mind could not continue at that pace and have good results in any area (work or home life). I had to slow down on work for a bit and that was honestly so hard. I didn’t realize until then how much I had found my identity in my work. I think it is so important for us to be able to separate ourselves from our work and view ourselves through a healthy lens of love and acceptance, just as we are. I have come to realize my worth is not subjective, it is inherent. So I am free now to create from a place of overflow and not from a place of trying to earn my worth or prove myself. Creativity is fueled by energy and energy is sucked dry by self-doubt.

I will also add that I’ve had to let go of a scarcity mindset along the way. I have learned that it’s important to have a strong belief in my value, my gifts, and know that someone out there needs what I have to offer. Even if there are 25 people doing the same thing as you in your city, there are people who are specifically meant to come into your life, your work is what is meant to touch their lives. I say to myself “what’s meant for me will find me”, and I truly believe that. The power of believing this deep in your bones is that you will show up as your best self, confidently bring what you have to the table and trust that the right people will find it. With a strong mindset in place you can develop any skillset you choose, overcome any discouragement, and disappointments won’t bring you down. No one can do you like you! There is so much peace in knowing that.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being able to create and make something beautiful is just so satisfying. I love the entire process of working on a project, from the brainstorming, planning, all of the steps between start to finish… there is also an aspect of it that feels like meditation, when you’re in the creative flow and you’re just going through the motions, it can be very calming to the mind. I also think the time freedom is a rewarding aspect. This type of work and lifestyle has allowed me to be home with my kids during their early years of life. It allowed me to homeschool, travel, take weeks off when needed without getting approval from a boss, change my hours up whenever I want. It has not always been easy, and it has certainly come with sacrifice, but I don’t regret it one bit. When your work brings you joy, and you love what you are doing…there’s really nothing better than that.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.etsy.com/shop/lovegrettashop
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/gretchenehaselden
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008963739929

Image Credits
Madi Parker