Introduce yourself and your business.
Hi! I'm Candace from Wildflower Crochet Co. I am a self-taught crochet artist from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I make and sell wall hangings, pillows, blankets, bags and purses as well as patterns.
How did you launch your business & what made you want to start a small business?
I learned how to crochet in 2012 during my short stint as a housewife. I was living with my husband in Arizona but wasn't legally allowed to work, so I kept myself busy by shopping at Joann's and watching crochet youtube videos. I thought my work was looking pretty professional (haha!) once I figured out my tention so I decided to open up an Etsy shop to declare my triumph over crochet. I was so excited when I sold the only thing listed in my shop -- a snowflake bunting banner made with the scratchiest off-white yarn. In hindsight it was probably because I only charged $12 with free shipping ha! Shortly after that, we moved back to Canada and I was working a full time job again. I continued to crochet and I sold a few random things thanks to my super low price point but that got boring and I started to play around with my own designs. I stopped selling physical items and pattern writing was my fun little side hustle when I found the time.
In 2016 I went on maternity leave to give birth to my son and never went back to work. This catapulted me into having the time I really needed to focus on a handmade business. Because I had rebranded too many times with my pattern shop, I opened a new Etsy shop under Wildflower Crochet Co in November 2017 with no idea if this time it was going to work or not. I just had a 'wild' idea in my head that I needed to chase and the time to do it.
What are some struggles you had starting your business and how did you over come them?
Balance! Because I'm a stay at home mom, it feels like I'm in a forever balancing act between working on the business, giving my 3 year old the attention he needs, maintaining the house, being a wife + finding time for myself. This was a really big struggle in the beginning but I have found that sticking to a routine, keeping a small + focused list of to-do's, and giving myself grace when things don't work out as planned are all crucial to keeping up with the balance.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from my own life as a cozy enthusiast. If it's cozy, I want it in my life. When I'm looking to be visually inspired, I cannot walk away from Instagram, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters or Pinterest without wanting to immediately go make something!
What motivates you as a maker?
I'm most motivated by my own innate need to create. When I have an idea, it courses through me and I won't stop thinking about it until I chase it down every avenue. I also feel an unexplainable emptiness when I'm not creating. Even when I'm in a slump or not making progress on a project, I am always fighting back the urge to start something new.
What is a goal you set for yourself as a maker/artist and how did you achieve it?
Keeping track of my finances was a goal that I set for myself as a maker this year because I didn't understand the importance of bookkeeping before now. I took accounting in college and understand the basics but I struggle with consistency. Just like with everything, making a commitment, creating a routine and sticking to it is helping me to be successful with this goal so far.
What is your favorite part of being a maker?
I put my heart and soul into each piece I create and it makes me so happy to see my work or design displayed in someone else home!
Do you have any tips for new makers/ small business owners?
Don't wait and don't let fear hold you back. If you have an idea, go for it! It's okay to start somewhere, to take time to develop your branding, packaging, and photography. It's okay to slowly figure out the intricacies of your business. I started out with a low res logo I made in Canva and business cards that I just printed and cut myself. Grow with the flow.
What are some hobbies or interests you have outside of your small business?
Crochet is even more as a hobby than it is my job so when I'm not making or designing for the shop, I usually have something on the go for myself. I love being by water -- in my part of the world that means walks by the river to collect mountain rocks and driftwood but I sometimes long for the ocean and the shells and the sea glass. Thrifting is also a big hobby, I love to hunt for household treasures. I sometimes feel that same urge to browse a Value Village like I do when I need to create something!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I'm obsessed with cactus. I can't happily grow any because my windows don't get enough light but I really love them because I'm nostalgic about the time I spent in Arizona. It's where I fell in love, married, lived and learned to crochet. so the desert forever holds a piece of my heart.
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