Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelley Segars.
Kelley, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In April 2020, I started making face masks for friends and asking just for donations to Knoxville Children’s Theatre if they could. After making about 100, I was getting return customers and decided I could start charging money. (It took me about 70 before I felt comfortable making them!) I had been doing freelance landscaping before COVID, and after that, my daughter was home all the time, so I didn’t feel like I could work outside the home much. This was a perfect fit for being able to make my own hours, help protect people from the pandemic, and be a parent.
After Christmas 2020, I started making throw pillows, cloth napkins, and headbands. I also started designing my own fabric. My daughter also designed some. I transitioned the name of my business from “Masks by Kelley” to “Made by Kelley” and created a website. I had a booth at a few arts and craft markets in spring and summer, which was fun because it was the first time I could interact with customers in person.
In the fall of 2021, I’d planned to start an Etsy shop because I thought the demand for face masks would have disappeared but instead, I got more new orders for back-to-school. Then, I got an order to create custom fabric and make 250 bandanas for a local transit conference, so that kept me busy for a while! I started making reversible boho sling bags after a customer wanted one and then got into tote bags, dog bandanas, and fabric holiday gift bags.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
At first, I didn’t want to buy any fabric because I wasn’t sure how many masks I would sell or how long masks would be needed. Then I got overwhelmed with orders and it was difficult to figure out how to keep them straight and how to let people know what fabric options there were.
The constant struggle is having time for marketing and the administrative side of things. And trying to keep my sewing room organized! It is hard to work at home because there are so many other things that need to be done (like the dishes, constantly). I have a list of yard chores I meant to do in the fall of 2020, but I was too busy making masks, so I decided to do them in spring of 2021, but still was too busy sewing.
My new year’s resolution is to get an Etsy shop started in January. It’s not the best timing – I should have been ready for the holiday shopping season this year, but I am trying to be more relaxed about life and not stress over all my to-do lists.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
This has been the most fun part of my journey. Back in high school and college, I planned to be a writer – not as a career, but certainly, it was a big part of my life. Once I started working, I used my writing skills as part of my job but didn’t write at home anymore. So it seemed like creativity just fell out of my life.
When I had my daughter, it became apparent that she was extremely creative. She is a great artist, a talented actor, and always thinking outside the box. So I decided she was the creative one in the family and was living vicariously through her. But then she started designing fabric for me to make face masks out of, and I was coming up with more ideas for designs than she had time to draw.
I finished an Among Us design she started and then realized maybe I could do some designs on my own. Since then, I’ve created more than 10 designs and the list of what I want to do doesn’t fit on a sheet of paper!
I love quirky, whimsical designs that make people smile. At first, that meant buying other artists’ designs on Spoonflower, but now it means I can specialize in making things out of my own quirky designs.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Believe in yourself. Do you know that friend who always tells you that you’re awesome? Be that for yourself!
Give yourself the same grace that you give to your loved ones.
Go for it!
Contact Info:
- Email: madebykelleydesign@gmail.com
- Website: www.madebykelley.com
- Instagram: @made_by_kelley
- Facebook: madebykelley20
