Today we’d like to introduce you to Heidi Stone Black.
Hi Heidi, 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.
I began crocheting way back when I was 23 (I’m 40 now). Since then, I began designing my own patterns and selling my handmade items. It was a decent side hustle that helped pay for groceries, etc. My Pilates clients loved my creations. (Yes, I’m a Pilates instructor)
In 2016, my husband and I moved to Ohio from California to help take care of his dad. His dad had a massive stroke a couple of years prior. I am now his full-time caregiver, which means I mostly have to work from home. We also have 15 chickens and 3 little dogs.
I had signed up for this handmade business school, and I met this super cool lady named Erin. She loves yarn and has a yarn business. We became instant friends. Erin lives and runs her business in Knoxville. I had her hand-dye and spin custom yarns for my business. But then of course one thing led to another, and I bought a spinning wheel from her… and from there I started dying my own spinning fiber and yarns.
It didn’t stop there either. I bought a drum carder which is used to make batts of wool for spinning into yarn. As soon as I had that Erin hired me. I am now the head fiber blender for her business here in Knoxville, as well as running my own fiber arts business back in Ohio.
I’m actually at Erin’s house as I write this. This weekend we are vendors at the Handweavers Guild of America conference at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life has been anything but a smooth road. Going from a full-time Pilates instructor to a full-time home caregiver has been the most difficult thing I’ve ever done in my entire life.
But I try to make the best of it. And I absolutely love what I’ve done with my fiber arts business. This weekend away from home is hard, but very necessary for my health, both mentally and physically.
I think the hardest part of everything is remembering to slow down and pamper yourself sometimes.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love the color. I love mixing colors and fibers most people wouldn’t think to put together. I think my most notable items are my fiber batts. Because I’m very sensitive to how fibers feel next to the skin, I only use the softest fibers in my blends. And I’m not afraid of bold colors.
I’m definitely proud of the fact that I’m not professionally trained in fiber arts. Nobody showed me how to dye yarn, I just picked up bits of information from others and came up with my own process. And it worked! Often times I cannot find in stores, what I see in my head. So I just make my own.
I’ve also taken things to a whole new level and started a podcast. It’s called Crime, Coffee, and Crafts. We feature a different coffee each episode, and a different craft or current WIP, and then tell a true crime tale. I’m really proud of what my BFF and I have done with it.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
Oh man, that’s a tough question. Especially this week.
I’m not sure if luck is a thing or not. I think that when things go bad, they all go bad together or one after another. So many things tried to prevent me from going to Knoxville this week. But I pushed through and figured it out. My mom didn’t raise a quitter.
More often than not I’d say I have decent luck if luck is a thing.
Personally, though, I think if you put your mind to something and work hard, you’ll get somewhere you want to go. I put my mind to doing something I love and it’s paying off.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cocoonhomespun.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocoon_homespun/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/100063496695477/
