Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Haas.
Hi Melissa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I am a southern girl and, in that fashion, I learned everything from the women in my family. My mom taught me how to cook and my aunt (a Home Economics teacher) taught me how to sew. I started sewing when I was 6 years old. I learned early on that it felt satisfying to make something and get a finished product. When I started sharing these items with my family and friends, they took on a new meaning. I was showing my love for people with the things I made for them. Over the years, I have learned all types of sewing, crafting, and needlework. When I saw my first embroidery machine in action, I was hooked. This meant I could make those gifts for people and they looked all the more professional and I could do more and different things. I worked with my first machine while still working in the corporate world and dreamed of the day I could retire and start my own craft/machine embroidery business. That day finally came when I retired a little over a year ago, moved from Atlanta to Summerville, and opened my business, The Crafty M.
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?
As most people know, working in the corporate world is a 24/7 environment these days. It didn’t leave much time for my crafts. But, I continued to burn the midnight oil and do custom work for my family and friends. It was during this time that I grew in my abilities and it made it all the better
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Crafty M specializes in one-of-a-kind machines embroidered items for personal use, gifts, and home decor. Our most popular items are our free-standing lace machine embroidered earrings. These earrings are extremely lightweight and easy to wear. Beautiful designs for daily wear can be matched to the color of your outfit. Novelty designs celebrate holidays and seasons of the year. We also do a wide range of custom work for our clients from totes and hats to towels and garments.
Yes, we are a business but our best payments are the smiles of delight from our clients
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Every great endeavor comes with a measure of risk. Whether it is the financial risk of buying equipment or opening a shop to try something new, the risk is a necessity in order to make one grow. Without the support of my family and friends to help me, I might have been too afraid to take the risks I have. Yes, you might fail but you never know until you try.
Contact Info:
- Email: melissa@thecraftym.com
- Website: www.thecraftym.com
- Facebook: @thecraftym
