We recently connected with Kaitlin Mahony and have shared our conversation below.

Kaitlin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I am still in shock that I am able to make a living by doing what I love! I have always wanted to go into the fashion design field since I was a little girl, so kept my focus and created a path for myself. I started taking fashion classes in high school, then majored in Fashion Design at Marist University, and quickly got swept into the fashion industry as a designer right after I graduated.
I worked for over 10 years as a Handbag Designer with brands such as Isaac Mizrahi and Cynthia Rowley, and different lines for HSN, and Macy’s.
I always had entrepreneurial thoughts, and wanted to start my own business. My best friend from college and I decided one day to take the leap. We created a line of party dresses, opened a studio in Hoboken, NJ, and also sold our designs to bridesmaids shops across the country. We did everything from the design, to the draping, to the pattern-making and sewing. We were doing it… until the market crashed in 2008 and we could no longer sustain.
After that, I went back to work in NYC, got married, started a family, and moved to the Jersey Shore. I then eventually shifted careers and started teaching Fashion Design at the high school level. I enjoyed it for a few years, but then that entrepreneurial tug came back.
I had always thought about the fashion classes that I was able to take in high school in NYC. Now living at the Jersey Shore, I realized that there weren’t any opportunities like that in the area. So I took advantage of that void, and started offering fashion design classes for kids of all levels and ages.
I ran those classes on the side for about 2 years. During that time, I started expanding my services, growing my network, and building the business. After about 2 years or so, I decided to take the jump! I left my teaching job, and created Sketchbook LLC which offers many services including the kids fashion design classes, workshops, and birthday parties. I also offer live sketching services for weddings, showers, corporate parties, or any kind of event. I do custom illustrations, ladies sketching parties, and I sell merchandise as well.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I grew up in Central New Jersey, and always wanted to pursue a career in the fashion industry. I started taking fashion classes at FIT and Parsons School of Design in NYC, and quickly knew that was the direction I wanted to go. I attended Marist College (now University), and majored in Fashion Design. As soon as I graduated, I landed a job as a Handbag Designer for a company in New York City. I was a city girl, working in Fashion, and loving it!
Fast forward years later, I am married with 2 children and live at the Jersey Shore. I started my company, Sketchbook LLC, by running after school and evening kid’s Fashion Design classes.
As that business grew, I expanded my services and started offering adult sketch classes, and doing commissioned custom illustrations.
I noticed that the live sketching craze was becoming very popular, and thought that was the perfect fit for my growing business. Live sketching is when I sit and do a quick, fun, fashion illustration of the guests at the event as a little takeaway. It’s a definite crowd pleaser and a huge part of my business right now.
One thing that I am most proud of and that I think sets me apart is my pride in my work. I take pride in making sure that I am giving my client the highest quality products and services. I absolutely love that I get to make so many people happy from my talent whether it be from a custom illustration that I make, the live sketching service I provide, or the fashion classes that I run. They can be assured that I will always put my love and expertise into all my projects.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My particular goal driving my creative journey is two part. My first goal is for my kids to see that you can make a living and be successful doing what you love. I hope that they find something that they are passionate about and motivates them to work hard as well. There are so many people out there that are not satisfied with their careers so I hope my kids find something that they love like I did.
My other goal is to prove to myself and people that didn’t think I could make this a successful business, wrong. I have come across many outsiders that have made negative comments about succeeding in the fashion and art world. Some days it brings me down, but most days I use it as motivation. It pushes me to work harder, be resilient, and strive for success.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that I get to use my talent to make people happy. To see and hear the joy that my work brings people, is such an amazing feeling.
My favorite part of being an artist is when you get feedback like, “this illustration is so special”, “You were the hit of the party! The guests loved your sketches”.
It’s comments like that, that make it all worthwhile and the drive to keep going!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sketchbookstyle.com
• Instagram: @sketchbook_km