Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Balaicuis.
Hi Katie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story is fairly straightforward. I’ve always had a creative itch that I inherited from my grandmother and great-grandmother, who were often sewing, cross-stitching, and crocheting. At various times throughout my childhood, both women sat with a younger and more impatient little girl in an attempt to teach her to crochet. At that time, I would often get discouraged and eventually, I gave up learning anything more than the bare basics of crochet. It wasn’t until covid shut down the world that I, like many, began looking for a hobby to fill my time. I already had the tools and old skeins of yarn to pick up crochet again, and after looking at a few patterns, I realized that the terminology actually made sense! I found YouTube videos, new patterns, bought my first skeins of plush yarn, and with lots of practice, I began growing my skills and inevitably my plushy collection.
Another of my prominent hobbies I picked up during this time was bookbinding. I’ve always loved to draw, and when I discovered I could make my own sketchbooks to create in, I knew I had to try it. I instantly fell in love with the whole process from folding the papers, sewing them into a book block, customizing the cover, and gluing it all together. I love to crochet, but if you come to markets, asking about my bookbinding will generate more enthusiasm because I view it as one of my more impressive hobbies.
In 2024, after around 2 or 3 years of crocheting and bookbinding and giving my makes as gifts, I decided to take the plunge and begin selling some of them at my local farmer’s market. This gave me a great foundation to begin applying to and vending at other markets such as the Covered Bridge Days in Elizabethan, Main Street Days in Johnson City, Battle of the Build Artisan Market at the Appalachian Fair Grounds, and many other wonderful events.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My main struggle was and is patience. I am a perfectionist at heart, and at times it has been hard for me to push through the learning stages of developing my skills and growing my business. Vending at markets has helped me a lot with pushing through. Meeting and being around people who find value in my craft and who build me up through purchasing or simply kind words have helped me through this struggle. Another struggle was getting started. It took a lot of deliberation before I finally decided to sell my products. However, once I made up my mind to start the business, perfect or not, doors started opening, and that is when I noticed my greatest growth. It was going through the process of preparing for and setting up at markets, learning what my customers liked, and working through a few commissions that I began to see the value in my work, and finally started to believe that I could succeed in running a small business.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in crochet plushies and handbound sketchbooks/journals. I believe what I am most proud of is also what sets me apart, which is my handbound books. Bookbinding is a less common craft, and I think it is incredible to create something that other people can use to create in, whether that is drawing, writing, recording memories, brainstorming ideas, et cetera. I am also proud of my progress in crochet. Although I believe bookbinding is what sets my business apart, what sets me apart as a crochet artist is my focus on characters. I love playing video games, watching anime, and consuming other media, and that is conveyed in my crochet.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me would have to be my walk with Christ. His love, grace, and patience as I navigate the stresses of running a small business have made all this possible. It is important to me that I find ways to honor Him in everything I do, especially my business, since after all, it was God who gave me this drive to develop my creative skills. A couple of ways I look to serve Him are monetarily and through interactions with customers and others around me.
Another point that is important to me is for other creatives to understand they can do this too. At markets, I often come across people who say, ‘I wish I could sell at markets’ or ‘I wish I could crochet.’ My response is almost always ‘you can!’ As for learning a craft, crochet or other, YouTube is a great place to find tutorials and informative videos, and for selling at markets, I have found vendor fees as low as 5 dollars, which presents a low-cost way to test how your craft sells. I find, those who want to sell something they have handcrafted often put off starting the business or selling at markets because their skill level or product is not at the level they want it to be, or they don’t believe anyone will want what they have to sell. This mindset prevents many skilled and hardworking people from even trying to sell their product. I always try to urge these people to just try out a simple market; farmers’ markets are a great place to start. Many people are surprised by just how easy it can be to get started. You don’t need an intricate plan executed at the height of your skill, it doesn’t have to be perfect! Just try one market and watch as the possibilities open before you. You’ll meet great people, make friends with your fellow vendors, learn more about your craft from fellow enthusiasts, and even travel to fun places you might not have otherwise gone! All while bringing in some income to support your crafts and getting involved in your local community. Markets have been a blessing in my life, and I hope, if you’re reading this and sitting on the fence about becoming a vendor, this will give you the push you need to go for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/view/inclassartist/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiebkrochet/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatieBKrochet/
