13/10/2022
A friend recently mentioned this topic about being a solo artist who has not ever had a partner to help out financially. Having a small business where you’re supporting yourself is no small feat! It got me thinking about my own “journey” with my business and how much help, privilege, and pure luck I have had along the way. I started sewing professionally right before graduating high school and opened my first business in November 2003 after graduating. I lived with my parents and they never charged me rent or food. I lived there trying to make a living into my mid twenties. I couldn’t afford to support myself yet. Eventually I did move out and roomed with a friend and we shared rent. But she paid for the majority of the rent while I took care of my room and another room where I used as a studio. During all that time I met and fell in love with my now husband Jed. We moved to Chicago where Jed fully supported me while he made a small income while working at getting his PhD. If you know what a PhD student gets as an income you’ll know it’s not much. We lived pretty simply, and I helped out as much as I could with what I made sewing clothing. We rented an apartment that had two bedrooms, a living room and dining room, so we didn’t exactly live in the cheapest apartment you could find.
Anyway, the point I’m making is that I don’t want anyone to think that any success I’ve made is only due to my own work. Because while it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, I would never ever be able to do what I’m doing right now if it wasn’t for all the people in my life who helped support me along the way. Continued in comments…
Wearing the mid-rise version of my pattern. Expansion for this coming *eventually*!! 😄
