We recently connected with Megan Stiles and have shared our conversation below.
Megan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us 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’m building up a full time living. A year after starting my business, I’ve been able to help supplement my husband’s income to better support our family, while also staying home with our kids. In February of 2022 I decided I wanted to take the things I made with crochet to a more serious level and instead of casually making thins here and there for people, I wanted to turn my art into a full business. I started to market myself on facebook and instagram with some success, but once I joined TikTok in April of 2022 that when things really began to grow. I never went viral, but I was able to grow my social media following through posting videos and pictures on my platforms consistently and using marketing tools I learned through research. By May, I discovered I really loved designing patterns for other crochet artists to make and that became my main focus. I found my niche in designing patterns and really moved forward with that. I casually sell finished items and take custom orders on occasion, but my mains focus and source of income is designing. Live streaming through TikTok has been one of the biggest ways I have promoted myself. It as been a great way to connect with other artists, show off my work and market what I do as a an artist within the community. I don’t think I would change anything I’ve done to make it to where I currently am at. Lots of hard work, love and luck has gone into this business, but every second has been worth it.
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
Hey, I’m Meg and I’m a Crochet Fiber Artist. I am a mom of 4 amazing kids I get to spend my day to day with and one that watches over us from heaven. I’m an advocate for Pregnancy & Infant Loss and lover of the color pink, Manatees and a good Iced Coffee. When I was 9 years old, my grandmother taught me how to crochet. Throughout the last 21 years, I have picked up and set down the hobby until 2022 when I decided that I would turn my hobby into a full on business. My main focus is designing crochet patterns for other fiber artists to use, but I also sell finished items at craft fairs, market and vendor events as well as take a few commissions throughout the year. I do this to help support my families goal of becoming debt free, but also so that I can be home with my kids on a day to day basis. Apart of my business supports material and shipping costs to send families who are experiencing pregnancy and infant loss keepsake hats and blankets. My love for crochet stemmed from my grandma teaching me as a child, but my business grew from wanting the ability to help support my family and to be able to provide families with a keepsake after experiencing child loss.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
It is my belief that your biggest success will come from your most loyal supporters. Number don’t matter if people don’t engage with your work. The best way someone can support you as an artist is to purchase your product. If their circumstances don’t allow for them to financially support you, the next best way to support an artist is to share their work with others. Engage in their social media platforms, tell others about them, share events, sales and products they are marketing. Recommend them to people. Your word of mouth recommendation goes a long way. Encourage others to shop small and/or locally.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Being able to bring people’s vision to life. It is so exciting to have someone approach you with a story, sentiment, idea and ask you to turn it into a physical item. Being able to help financially support my family, while also staying home with my kids is a huge reward, as well as being able to support the pregnancy & infant loss community through my craft.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.linktr.ee/megsmakes
- Instagram: @megsmakescrochet
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842371099750081/
- Other: TikTok: @megsmakescrochet