We were lucky to catch up with Lisa Mccleave recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa, appreciate you joining us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

I love this question. So much of who I am, is because of my amazing dad. I have watched my dad, my whole life, go out of his way to help anyone in need. With a huge heart and a thoughtful soul, he has been there for people in more ways than he even realizes. His love and care is contagious and I have spent my life always trying to be there in whatever way I can for anyone in need that I encounter. I am this way from witnessing my dad be that kind of person my entire life.

In my business, I come across many people who need things made/customized because of a life event/trauma/celebration they are currently going though. Being very close to my dad, he will often stop over while I’m working and ask about my current projects. I will tell him the backstory and he is always listening with his heart. So many times he has offered to pay for the item for that customer who is going through something awful, as a way to help them. Or offered to purchase an additional item to help cheer someone up.

This has impacted me, as I find myself doing the same thing many times. Sometimes I am giving a break to someone who might need it financially. Other times I try to find a way to cheer someone up in their moment of need. I will listen to someone if they just need to vent. This happens more than you could imagine, even with complete strangers. I often find myself taking a moment to send a message of gratitude to someone who has really supported me in a unique or constant way. When someone is celebrating something, I try to come up with a way to congratulate them. It might be a gift from me, a written note…anything I can do to help them feel extra special.

Don’t get me wrong, not every order has me feeling all the feels. Some orders are just group t-shirts without a story behind them. But the customers who do have a story to share and let me be a apart of that story, always have a special place in my heart. It makes me feel fulfilled to do good things for people and I’m thankful there are so many awesome people who come through my business and open up to me.

Something that sets my business apart from so many others is the connection I have with so many of my customers. I thank my dad for showing me to always have an open heart. I’m so lucky that I get to let so many people in with 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?

I’m a mom of two beautiful boys, Flynn and Liam. Married to my sweet husband for 13 years this March. I was a stay at home mom up until my second son, Liam, was born. At that time, Covid lockdown had just begun. It was during nap times that I started playing with the Cricut machine I’d received for Christmas. I never had been particularly crafty, but found myself needing to do something when Liam napped and crafting it was! This little business began with me putting people’s initials on ring dishes and quickly grew into me making door signs, apparel, paper crafts, and a variety of other customized items.

After developing a social media group, I would post creations and people would contact me asking for help coming up with the perfect gift for their mother, friend, co-worker, neighbor, teacher…you name it! I truly love helping people come up with “the perfect gift” and a lot of people enjoy the help! Though getting to know the people I’m making something for, a connection is formed and relationship just happens. Then we work together on lots of projects moving forward. I think this is what makes Crafty As A Mother so unique. I don’t think people feel like they are ordering from a crafter. I think they feel they are ordering from a friend, even when they don’t know me super well yet.

I’m so proud of how much this business has grown of the past 4 years. But it wouldn’t be this way without such awesome customers/friends who support it and support my dream. I feel blessed to show my boys every day what hard work and dedication, grit and passion can produce. And I’m so proud to have a family that supports my dream as well. What a dream to do what you love and have so much support. It’s a blessing.

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

I’m not sure if this is unlearning a lesson…but I certainly have had to retrain my brain. After having my first son, Flynn, I was diagnosed with anxiety. This anxiety can feel crippling at times and change can be hard for me. So even tho my business is constantly growing (and that’s a great thing!!!), it is also constantly changing because of the growth. I have had to retrain my brain to react the right way to rush orders, large obstacles, new challenges, etc. To not react with anxiety riddled thoughts. Although this may sound odd to someone who doesn’t have anxiety, it is overwhelming at times. Even though it can be difficult, I am grateful. All that this business has brought in the past 4 years, has helped me grow as a person and helped me to overcome so much of my anxiety.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My advice would be to just be yourself! I am a quirky goofball, that does happy dances in my craft videos and I’m sure that’s weird! But, it’s who I am. I think so long as you stay true to who you are, those customers will find you and love you and support you. My other advice would be to stay consistent. If people are in your group or on your business page, it’s because they like you and/or what you do and create. Keep showing up for them so they can continue to enjoy what you bring to that group/page.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://craftyasamo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crafty.as.a.mother.llc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1993320084277355