We had the good fortune of connecting with Kay Samuelson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kay, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve been disabled and chronically ill for the past 7 years, and I am physically unable to work a regular job. I spent years without any income, and knew that if that was going to change, I needed something really flexible that I could do from bed. The most flexible option was starting my own business, using a low-energy skill.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It all started a few years ago when I got a kit on Etsy to embroider a necklace for my mom’s birthday. When the kit arrived, the instructions were entirely in Chinese, so I taught myself how to embroider using the pictures. It came very naturally to me, and I realized I could easily create my own designs and jewelry, and possibly sell them. So I went to craft stores and got the supplies to start making my own embroidered jewelry. I enjoyed it so much and it went so well that I started wondering what other types of wearable embroidery I could make. I liked the idea of the wearable aspect being my niche. I don’t sell embroidered hoops that can hang on walls, I make practical pieces that people can get a lot of use out of. A little over a year into this endeavor, I realized I could combine my love of thrift shopping with my love of embroidery. I began thrifting clothes, and up-cycling them with embroidery. Honestly, as much as I love the jewelry I make, up-cycling clothing has my heart. I love having a sustainable business and giving old clothing new life. It definitely wasn’t easy to get to where I am now. I was born and raised in Southern California, and I just moved to Flagstaff, AZ in 2022. I began my business right before covid hit in 2020, and due to my compromised immune system, I had to stay in my home, 24/7, for over a year. Living in Southern California meant the transmission rate for viruses was incredibly high, since there were so many people in such a small area. For that reason, among others, my family and I began looking to move to Northern Arizona. (Living in CA was not only dangerous in terms of transmission, but the heat and poor air quality triggered flares of my conditions and worsened my chronic illnesses). Once I moved here, I had the freedom to consider expanding my business, and I was able to be a vendor at my very first market last October! It was the first time I had sold my work face-to-face with customers, and I loved it so much that I knew there was no going back to being a solely online business.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Whenever anyone visits I take them thrifting and antiquing! Flagstaff has such a great thrift scene and I spend most of my time in thrift stores so to me, that’s the best way to see Flag! My favorite is Cedar Closet, but I also love places like St Vincents, Barn Bros, Fourth Street Vintage, and Hodge Podge. I go thrifting almost every weekend. I also take people downtown because there are so many incredible small businesses and coffee shops. Since I’m disabled, I can’t hike or rock climb, so to show off Flagstaff’s incredible scenery, I love taking people on drives up Fort Valley. There’s such diverse landscape up that way, it’s a must-see! If people are visiting during the summer, they HAVE to hit up the Sunday farmers markets, and the Urban Flea Market that takes place once per month. I’ve gone to the Flea Market as both a customer and a vendor and I have to say it’s my favorite place to go. In terms of food, I’m gluten free so I always recommend people hit up Flagstaff Station Market Cafe, and New Jersey Pizza Company. Both have amazing gluten free options!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to the extensive online chronic illness and disability community. Chronic illness and disability are incredibly isolating, especially when you’re too sick to go out and meet people in real life. Finding community online with people who shared similar life experiences to mine, allowed me to embrace my circumstances instead of fight against them. That inner acceptance was key for me to find a way to create a business and job for myself that could exist in tandem with my chronic illnesses.
Instagram: https://instagram.com/strengthinstitches?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Other: My business email is: ksstitchesembroidery@gmail.com
Image Credits
Photo is mine. I’m not sure how to upload more images