We recently connected with Sandi Barrett and have shared our conversation below.

Sandi, appreciate you joining us today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?

I worked in marketing and fundraising before leaving my 9-5 to manage my own business full-time. When you work in fundraising you need to represent your brand 24/7. Additionally, you need to be extremely organized. These two requirements have translated well into my personal business.

When visiting a location or interivewing someone for a story, I need to have my personal brand shine through even though I am writing for another outlet. I need to have my questions prepared which requires research and organization. Finally, meeting deadlines is critical to my success as a freelancer which reflects both on my brand and on my organization skills.

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 background and context?

I run two diverse businesses; I am a freelance writer and a sewing instructor.

As a freelance writer I focus on local cusines, fun libations, and soft adventure travel writing. I write for online and print publications taking travelers across North America and Europe highlighting interesting locations. My favorite places to explore are small pockets of town where you can still find authentic local cuisine (and cocktails). I recently returned from Athens where we enjoyed a private foodie tour that explored out-of-the-way restaurants and bars most tourists don’t get to see. I also coach young, up-and-coming bloggers how to get started with their own personal blogs. You can find my travel and blogging stories at https://www.TravelWithSandi.com

I am also a sewing instructor. I teach newbie and experienced sewists how to make clothes that fit their body. The clothing industry is based primarity on fast fashion that is here today and gone tomorrow. My sewing philosphy is to students make excellent closet pieces that fit great, constructed beautifully, and are made to last. I love teaching and you can find my free sewing classes on my YouTube and website. My passion for sewing and writing come together on my sewing website https://www.BarrettsCustomDesign.com.

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

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a freelance writer is the freedom. I create and shape my stories.

As a freelancer, my job is to find a story, pitch it to an editor, then write the approved story. With this process, I get to choose where I want to travel, what I want to see, who I would like to interview, and what story I want to tell. Of course, the story needs to be one people want to read!

For instance, on a recent trip to Prague, I visited all the quintessential tourist spots. I also explored small bars and posh restaurants across the city in search of the perfect Pilsner and finest Czech cusine. I wrote about the amazing food and the different ways Czech locals drink their beer. I didn’t bother writing about the Prague Castle, since it has been written about hundreds of times – my version would add very little to the cachet.

Traveling to places I want to go and writing stories that are interesting to me is satisfying and rewarding. Presenting these stories crafted with my personal lense for readers to enjoy makes me happy.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Teaching sewing has been a side hustle for me for many years. I have always love to create and sewing is a perfect outlet for me. I also adore expensive fashion and making my own clothes was less expensive.

Making my own clothes led me in search of finding how to fit #memade garments. Shaping flat fabric into a three-dimentional garment can present challenges. Perfecting fit and sharing fitting techniques is the backbone of my sewing business.

I began teaching newbie sewists over twenty years ago and never looked back. I started teaching a local fabric shops. That progressed to teaching in continuing education programs. I started writing and reviewing patterns for leading sewing magazines and websites (It always goes back to my passion for writing). Now I have my own studio space where I teach sewing classes to sewists of all levels. When I’m not teaching sewing, I making YouTube videos on how to sew.

Unlocking students creativity is my passion. I love watching sewists break away from stringent patterns and explore their own creative path.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://barrettscustomdesign.com/ — https://travelwithsandi.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travel_with_sandi/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TravelwithSandi — https://www.facebook.com/groups/sewingmemadeclotheswithsandi
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandi-barrett-39297a2b/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4SoJZnzeZ5G_QM37X35LmA

Image Credits
All images by Sandi Barrett