Hobby Turned Business: The Impact a Hobby Can Have on Your Life

In this episode of The Mompreneur Collective, I’m joined by best friends and co-owners of The Little Needlepoint Shop, Kiri Domengeaux and Ellen Ishee, to talk about the powerful role hobbies can play in our lives as busy moms and entrepreneurs.

We dive into how their shared love of needlepointing started as a hobby and eventually grew into a thriving business. We also get into why not every hobby needs to become a business. Sometimes a hobby’s greatest value is the joy, peace, and balance it brings into your life.

We chat about:

•  Why hobbies are productive (even if they don’t make money) 
•  How having something you love helps you stay connected to yourself throughout your motherhood journey
•  The impact hobbies have on your mental health, nervous system, and overall  balance
•  What it’s like to run a business with a friend 
• Why you don't need more time to fit a hobby into your life
•  And how leaning into a positive “This WILL work out” mindset helped them take bold, fast action on a business idea that felt aligned with their passion 

This conversation is about more than hobbies though, it’s about connection, creativity, and giving yourself permission to unplug in a world that constantly tells you to stay busy. We also talk about how hobbies can open doors to friendships, opportunities, and even unexpected business ideas.✨

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t have time for a hobby, or you’ve been stuck in the mindset that every moment needs to be productive, this episode will offer a refreshing perspective and maybe inspire you to pick something back up that lights you up inside.🩷

Links to The Little Needlepoint Shop:

TheLittleNeedlepointShop.com

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Welcome to the Mom Pranwer Collective. I'm your host and certified life and business coach, Jamie Smith, and I couldn't be more excited to be here with you today. You're probably gonna hear me say that every episode, and it's always gonna be the truth. I love doing this podcast, I love having these conversations, and I hope you love listening. Every episode, an incredible mompreneur is gonna join me and will talk about all the highs and lows of being a mama and an entrepreneur. The struggle can be real, but the reward can be even realer, if that's even a word. Today, joining me is Ellen Ishi and Kiri DiMaggio, co-owners of the Little Needlepoint Shop in Lafayette, Louisiana, which is a beautiful boutique-style needlepoint retail store and space where they also host classes and parties. I've been to one before. So fun. I'm excited to chat with them today about what it's like to own a business that started as a hobby and actually is a hobby for customers to now discover as well. And we'll also get into why having a hobby can be so impactful as a busy mama when it comes to helping you create balance in your life. Let's welcome them onto the show. Carrie and Ellen, I'm super happy to have you guys here with me today. How are y'all? We're so excited. We're so excited. So excited. I um, I mean, I say that at the beginning of every episode that I'm excited. And as I'm recording the intro, I'm like, I think that people are eventually gonna get tired of hearing me say that I'm excited to be here, but it really is the truth. I'm just so excited. I love connecting, and when I get to do it in person, it's even better. And um, this is the first episode where I have two guests on, so it's even more fun, I feel like. It's just like double the fun um and double the wisdom sitting in this room that we all get to learn from. So that's amazing. But let me shut up and let y'all say hello.

SPEAKER_01 2:04

Thank you so much for having us. We're so excited. We were like, oh, we're kind of nervous, like we've never done a podcast before.

SPEAKER_00 2:10

Um, but I love to talk, so don't I know I'm so depriving you. Yeah, yeah, but that's all we're doing. This is just girl talk, of course. But um, fun fact for the listeners. So we we tried to do this. Um, what was it, a week ago today? So a week ago today. And um I'm sitting around waiting for him to get here, and I get a phone call, and she's like, you know what? I'm not able to come because you know the school called me, something happened with my daughter, it's an emergency. I've just, you know, and I'm like, oh my goodness, this is such a a perfect example of what this is, what our challenge is, what our struggle is, right? Um, but this is mom life. So I I just I felt like it would be cool to share that because like that is what it is sometimes. Things don't always work out, but you make it work um regardless. So for sure.

SPEAKER_01 2:58

And I think Ellen and I have a good, like unspoken, not rule, but just like we both know, like we have kids and families that kind of come before everything. So like that's never been an issue for. So I thank you for being flexible with us because it was just like, well, we got a caller, like I, you know, I can't show up now. But that's been, I think, so helpful. Listening to other moms, I guess, like struggle with working and having a business or a job. It's like I almost sometimes feel like we don't not that we don't have the struggle, but it's like we have just a good rhythm and we support each other. That it's like I'm never like, oh God, what am I gonna do if one of my kids gets sick? I'm like, well, I'll have Ellen to lean on, and vice versa, you know?

SPEAKER_00 3:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:42

I don't know if that's okay to say, like, I don't want to seem like like unrelatable, but like we it's we have a support system in each other and our families too, you know?

SPEAKER_00 3:52

Yeah, and I think that speaks to how magical it can be to be co-owners of a business and and be in it with, I'm assuming you guys are like best friends, I'm sure. Yeah, spend so much time together both in and outside of work. And so, yeah, I mean, that's a totally different dynamic that provides a different level of support to you because a lot of entrepreneurs like myself, I'm a solopreneur. I don't have that, you know, somebody to just bounce an idea off of before I run with it, or somebody to cry to when I've had a rough day at the d at the office, you know. I mean, I have my friends and and those are the people that I lean on, but you guys have each other, and that's really cool.

SPEAKER_01 4:26

Yeah, and when you're like in it together, I feel like you understand it more than anybody else. Because even friends that are outside of it can kind of like make their own assumptions about whatever, but it's really nice to have someone else to like all of the risk feels a little bit less risky because there's someone else doing it too.

SPEAKER_00 4:42

That's beautiful, that's gotta be amazing, and probably made it all just seem so much more doable in the beginning. Oh, absolutely. Yeah, for sure. I don't I could not have done it by myself.

SPEAKER_01 4:51

No, we always say that like just we like a lot of the things that we do again are just kind of like unspoken, like the stuff like our work, like the tasks that we complete. Like we don't have to be like, hey, are you doing this? and I'm gonna do it's like we just know like this is my thing. Right. That's and like we both do the things that we're better at than the other person. So like I don't want to do the stuff she does, and vice versa.

SPEAKER_00 5:15

Yeah, that's amazing. Y'all have learned what each other is strong at, and y'all let each other, you know, handle each other's strengths and be in each other's lanes, and that's really good that y'all have like figured out that rhythm with each other because they're probably I mean, what would you say to the people out there that are like don't work with your friends, don't work with your your family, don't, you know, don't work with the people you're close with.

SPEAKER_01 5:35

I I mean, I don't know. Do it. It's like again, I think we we just have like a mutual respect and understanding for each other. So I think if you can maintain that and not be like personally offended when something doesn't work out, and not like we've never gotten, we've like joked and been like, okay, right now we're in a fight, but I've locked myself out. I really don't think we've ever been in a fight. Yeah. We have a locked box with a key, and that was some drama one time. The shop was supposed to be open. I was like, Kiri, you're gonna come in.

SPEAKER_03 6:08

Um not in I was like, that's our first fight. But no, well, we like kind of had a mutual friend. That's how we met. So we weren't like we kind of just knew each other like as acquaintances and then got became friends through the hobby.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:22

And then just like kind of jumped in, and then we're so close now. So like I don't know if that's a good thing.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

Yeah, yeah, like that kind of like sound like we've like grown up being best friends or like like we're learning each other, and like so that I think helps us too, that we don't have any like assumptions about each other that we've like known our whole lives. 100%. Right. So I think like owning a business together and starting with the hobby, like made us become friends, and then owning a business like made us be closer. Right. And yeah, like now we can't get rid of each other my family. Yeah, 100%.

SPEAKER_00 6:55

I love that. I love that. Well, you guys, I was gonna ask y'all. I mean, just you know, you're you're hobby-based business owners. So with that, I mean, being, you know, life was very full as business owning mamas and as hobby-based business owners specifically. I would love to hear from y'all why you feel it's important for us to still make time for hobbies.

SPEAKER_01 7:20

I feel like in like becoming a mom, you can like, it's easy to like lose your identity of anything else besides being a mom, which there's not a real issue with. I think maybe in the long run, you're like, okay, now my kids are grown up, what do I do? We have a lot of customers who come in saying, like, my kids are out of the house. I realize like I don't have anything for myself, so I'm gonna try this thing. So I think like you can lose like what you enjoy. And so for multiple reasons, it's good to have things that you enjoy. One for yourself, but two, like our kids are both like watching us do things that we love and like also being interested. So then it's like your family can be involved with the thing that you love too. So it's not either or. And you you were on the way to the zoo the other day, and you were stitching in the car. Like, it's like you kind of just people say that too. Like, I have close friends that are like, I don't know how you have time to do that. It's like, well, you just kind of make it like fits into my life now.

SPEAKER_03 8:17

Yeah, kind of just second nature. I feel like I just have it with me everywhere.

SPEAKER_00 8:20

I almost brought it just over here, like while we're he's so shit at it. He's so shit.

SPEAKER_03 8:25

It's so therapeutic. I find like I feel like it naturally just like keeps you off your phone. But I joke because I'm like, I don't know if it's any better than my phone because Daphne just sees me constantly like sketching something, but I'm like, at least it's I don't know, something more productive.

SPEAKER_01 8:39

It feels more pure to you than like for on your phone. Like she, my mom was making things, not my mom was scrolling.

SPEAKER_00 8:46

100%. Yeah. You guys both said so much that I'd love to speak to you, but I think in a world that is moving so so fast all the time, I heard in there, I think you said like just the element of the slowdown in it, I think can be super beneficial. I mean, for needle pointing specifically, for sure, just any activity that's like so super focused and it's like you're paying attention to these very small details, it unplugs you from the rest of the world and from the monotony of like what's next on the to-do list, what's for dinner. It just sort of like takes you out of all of that and then allows you to plug into um something that lights you up. So for the mom listening, maybe she doesn't relate to needlepoint specifically, maybe she's never done that, but there's some other hobby that you genuinely just feel like you get lost in. And Kiri, I think you said it, but it's like we you can get lost in motherhood sometimes. So it's really nice to have something that you can go to that uh makes you feel like yourself again and makes you, you know, see that, oh, like I'm a human being too, with passions and things that I have fun doing too. Um, and it doesn't have to be separate from your family because I hear that a lot. I work with a lot of moms that are craving more balance in their lives, like I think we all are. And they can't remember the last time they did a hobby when we start working together and then in our efforts to create more balance and they're starting to do those things, all of a sudden life feels different. Wow, it's such a good week this week. I'm like, well, what changed? Would you do differently? And she's like, I mean, I did it and picked up this thing that I hadn't done in a while, and it was so much fun. And I'm like, oh, so that that hobby that you did affected your entire week. Wow, yeah, that's beautiful, that's amazing, right? Like, see that connection there of how all of a sudden you felt better in other areas of your life because you took even just 10, 20 minutes to do something that feels good for you and it's just for you, but you don't have to exclude your family from that. And I love that you said that because there are so many moms that are like, but I I feel selfish going and doing something just by myself, right? I don't want to be away from my family. I like to be with them all the time. I love hearing that, and that's beautiful. But so you can also do things that you love and include them. Right. And that's not only a great example for them, like you said, but it's um it's you know, showing them that there are other things to do aside from just scrolling on our phones. Um and it shows them that it's important to make time for fun things. When did we all start thinking that everything we did had to be productive?

SPEAKER_01 11:17

Okay, I was literally thinking that as you were talking. I'm like, I got started in with like needle arts, because it wasn't needle point that I started with, it was hand embroidery. After I had my third baby, I was like, okay, I'm gonna be at home for three months. Like, I want to be able to like do something because I'm a person who like my self-worth is like how productive I am in a day, which is yeah, good and bad. But I guess I have to be productive. I need to be doing something, but I also just want to hang out with my baby on the couch. And so I started doing hand embroidery because it was like, okay, I can like do this little thing where I'm like actually like doing making something and creating something with my hands. So that makes me feel like I did something today, but then I'm also like not doing anything because I'm hanging out with my baby. But it's funny because like we do place a lot of value, or I do, on how productive and how many things I'm like checking off a to-do list. So needlepoint for me is like still doing that thing, but also like calming my central nervous system. And like you said, unplugging, because like that's a whole other vicious cycle that I think scrolling can do. Like you just get into comparing or seeing what other people are doing, and you're like, oh man, I should be doing that thing with my kids. And it's like really as long as you're like you have peace in your home, that's productive. So needlepoint, I think for both of us just kind of does that. Like we get to it is a peaceful place for us both to be. So it's been really cool to see like other people come into the shop looking for that, or not even looking for that, but it turning into that. And they're like, I've seen this on TikTok, like I want to start stitching, it's all over my feed, but then they do it and they make friends doing it, or they have like a community in the shop, which has been cool because I think certain things happen that you don't necessarily plan for. Like, of course, I knew we were gonna, or I thought we were gonna have customers that like come back to us and we meet and we become friends with, but it's really been cool to see the community that's been created, like just from us opening a store in town, yeah, you know, like you can't predict that friendships are gonna be built and then like other people's lives get impacted. And many of them are moms, some of them are not moms, so like the connections that it's created is just so cool.

SPEAKER_00 13:33

Well, how full circle is it though? Because you mentioned that y'all met, you know, doing this hobby, and you guys ended up not only becoming friends, but starting a business together and ultimately like designing your lives with each other as now a part of that. And so now you're cre you've created a space for another person to have that type of experience and positive impact in their life. Right for them to not only like it's so much more than just participating in a hobby, right? It's like it's a it's about connection too. It's about just the fact that you don't have to just sit at home and do this hobby alone, any hobby. You can go somewhere and do it with other people that you enjoy being around. And it it has the opportunity to create that bond, to create that friendship, but you might just end up finding someone to start a business with. Yeah. Yeah. Or to start something in your life with that's just gonna bring so much joy and fulfillment for you in some way. So this is way, way bigger than a hobby.

SPEAKER_03 14:32

Right. We have um two amazing girls that like work in the shop with us, and it's so funny because just to this, Kayla, one of them, just got married like two weekends ago. And I mean, we had a table full, it was us two, and then four other girls that she met through the shop, Kayla, and they have a little group text and like stitch group and have just all become close, and they were joking around, and some of them brought their like whips, like working projects, their like little projects to the wedding. And they were like, We were all supposed to bring this and take a picture, but half of us forgot. But it was just so cute, like and we everyone just met in the last few months.

SPEAKER_01 15:07

They didn't know each other and they're yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 15:10

I just love it.

SPEAKER_01 15:10

I know I can't think about stuff like that too hard because I'll cry, but it's like stuff, it's like really like we didn't go into it. We we always laugh about like a year ago when we were like planning and finding the spot that we were gonna like have the store and all these things. We never would have known if we laugh. We were like when we talked about the business a year ago, it was like such a small little thing. And our intentions for it were just like we want a needlepoint story laughing because we like love it so much, and like we just want other people to have access to it. We want access to threads locally, and we just want to share it to see that it's like grown way bigger. Not that we had like low expectations for it, it was just like it was like our little small thing, and it's bigger than us now. Right.

SPEAKER_03 15:59

We would have been happy with like so much less coming out of it almost. Like, you know, we just wanted to enjoy it. It gave us like some purpose, and it's just truly exceeded our expectations. Yeah, it's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 16:11

I love that. I love that so much. You said something just now that that I think we should speak to because so many people maybe have a desire to start a business, or you know, so many moms are like, gosh, that sounds amazing. I'm really, you know, ambitious. I don't want to just sit at home, I want to start something, but I don't know what that something is. And so sometimes you really can look at your hobbies and look at the things that you just enjoy doing. And not always does a hobby need to be turned into something productive to turn into a money-making machine for you guys, but you can look at those things and sometimes you can tie those into a business idea um or business opportunity somehow. And I love that you said we just really loved like needle pointing you. We wanted the somewhere to buy the threads locally. Right. So often I hear that with business owners. The business that they started, they started out of like a need for themselves to be able to have access to whatever it was that they were starting a business around. So it's really interesting to think like, what do you love? What are things that light you up and you're passionate about? And what's maybe missing in the market? What is that like what is not currently available to you having to do with that? Because maybe there's a lane for you there. Maybe that that's what you can provide, what product or service you can provide. And all of a sudden you're the only one doing it.

SPEAKER_01 17:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

And how cool is that?

SPEAKER_01 17:34

Yeah. And I would say obviously what we were just talking about, how it was like a a need for us was part of it. For me too, I always kind of desired to have my own business and um just kind of like show that to my kids, I think. And then like the other side of it is the flexibility that comes with being your own boss, I guess. Not that I ever think of it like that, but there is, we talked about it earlier, like there's an unspoken just mutual respect that we don't have to stress. There's no like added pressure that maybe in the corporate world there is. But um, so I always had like that desire to to work for myself. And it's funny because I'm off of social media for a link, but I have been getting on the shop's Instagram just to check DMs and stuff, and every once in a while there's a story that I'll click on. And this morning, another needlepoint store actually in New York City, uh Rita's, was on live, and she was, I think they have a trunk show this month, so they were showing some canvases, and one of the canvases said, You're not too old and it's not too late. And I think that's a just a good message to share with people. I think I'm 30, I'll be 32 this year, and I've I've lived like a thousand lives, and I'm still young. Like I've had different career paths that some of them are still playing out, and one of them started a year ago, and I had no idea a year ago that I would be here now. Right. So, like it's almost you have to kind of like let things happen. I I met my husband that way, like I wasn't looking for someone, it it happened. And so, in the same way, like this started so pure and just out of love and like joy for it that it there were no pressures around it. We didn't have an expectation when we started the hobby. It was just like out of love and joy for it. And then it grew into wait, okay, we're there's a space for us. Um so I don't know. I think like I don't know that I have like business or life advice for people, but I did like that canvas that said you're not too old, it's never too late. Um, to just go try something. And you have to have a good support system too. When I told my husband that I wanted to start a business, he was like, let's do it. You know, like what do we need to do?

SPEAKER_03 19:43

So that was that they're owners with us, our husbands were like, Oh no, they all need to start something.

SPEAKER_01 19:49

But uh, I mean, I know that Will Ellen's husband is the same way. Like they were like, Yes, go do it.

SPEAKER_03 19:54

And if they had they're so excited, like they get so excited anytime we have updates one thing.

SPEAKER_01 19:59

Or like any success. They're like, y'all are awesome. But I think if they had shown any signs of like, okay, well, present to us some business plan, we would have been like, okay, we can't do it. They were just like, yeah, go do it. Like, whatever it ends up being is gonna be awesome. So having that kind of support too, I know not maybe everybody has that. I would wish that for everybody, but that made it a no-brainer. Having the right person to be your business partner, having the right life partner to be like, yeah, go do the thing. I'm right here, like whatever you need. And having the passion behind it is just like the trifecta, I think. And that's not to say people can't do it alone, too, but I think you know, having whatever kind of village around you is important. Yeah, whatever that looks like. I don't know if that answered what you were having after, but that's what I was inclined to say.

SPEAKER_00 20:50

Absolutely. Well, I wanted to ask about what, you know, sort of just like what made you decide to go specifically needlepoint. But I feel like we've sort of uncovered that. I mean, it just seems like it was something that it was already a hobby of y'all's. You loved it, you're passionate about it, you saw a need for it, or there was an absence of the the stuff, all the goodies associated with it that y'all wanted to get your hands on being local. So, was there anything else? I mean, that just made y'all go needlepoint specifically versus let's open a sewing shop or a you know, craft store or something like that. Because I think that was also a bold move. And I I love highlighting that in entrepreneurs because I I see that correlation um between success and niches really often. And you are you guys definitely have your own little lane there.

SPEAKER_03 21:38

Yeah. I so I lived in Shreveport for a very long time. My husband was in residency um in medical school up there. I actually went to occupational therapy school. So I have my master's and I've always loved that, but I feel like I struggled to like know what I wanted to do, you know, if in college. And then I kind of like fell upon that. I was like, hey, I'll do that. So I went to grad school. Loved it and I did that for a while. And I was still like PRA in here and there, but I started needlepointing when I lived in Treeport. They have a shop there that's awesome. Um, and I just became like addicted. I found it like very therapeutic. It just like filled my time. This was like before I had um Daphne. So we were just kind of up there, and I mean we had a good friend group and support system, but he was busy a lot and it was just nice for me. So I um like kind of jokingly went to the shop there and texted one of our best friends, Claire, who does our uh social media, and I was like, oh my gosh, like I want to open a needlepoint shop. This was just like years ago, and kind of just I had just gotten started, but I just thought it was so cute. And I always kind of like saw myself doing something like I don't know, just like fun and like it's just a little like less stressful. Like I love doing therapy, but it's you know, it's a whole different world. And so needlepoint specifically, like it's just what the only honestly, like type of sewing or stitching crap that I had ever really gotten into. Yeah. Um, and so I just kept up with that for so long, and then that's how like we connected over needlepoint. But I don't know, like we joke, like maybe we'll expand into others, but we just haven't really like I don't I feel like we know so much about needlepoint and all the other like avenues. I'm kind of just genuinely like I don't know. Isn't what you're seeing?

SPEAKER_01 23:21

So we we get people asking us a lot if we'll ever carry cross-stitch patterns or embroidery thread and stuff like that. And it's we we're never like no, absolutely not. But I think for us, what's worked so well is that we're both passionate about needlepoint, right? I think too, this was an accident, but I think the store being called the little needlepoint shop helps us with like search and like people are like needlepoint store. It's not like something random. It's like, okay, we're gonna get to a needlepoint store if we go there. But I think you know, it being so niche and specific, and so needlepoint is like very I don't want to, I don't know what the word is, but it's it's very detail-oriented. Like there's a lot of things too that we don't even carry in the shop right now that we could. Right. So like there's such a broad variety of accessories and canvas and thread lines that we could carry that I'm like, we can't even think about another hobby right now.

SPEAKER_03 24:19

We're not even close to like maxing out on the thing.

SPEAKER_01 24:21

Starting with needlepoint for us, it's the main reason is that we're both passionate about something and we have to talk to people all day about this thing. So I'd rather it be something that I personally love and have experience with and still actively have committed that life to. But yeah, like not never, but I think we're probably good on just sticking with the needlepoint. There is a need for it. Lafayette proved that over the last nine, ten months that they wanted needlepoint specific. We, like I said, we get the questions about other crafts, but far outweighed by people just wanting to come in and needlepoint. So it's a no-brainer for us to just stay committed to this craft. And it's like because it's so genuine.

SPEAKER_03 25:09

Like when people ask about other stuff, I'm just like, I honestly don't need it. Like I don't even want to like lie and try to say right.

SPEAKER_01 25:16

And luckily for us in Lafayette, like we have sewing shops, we have um craft stores that are more broad, um, that people can go to and still get. It was like we were missing a needlepoint specific store. And we've had some, I think, along the way that have come and closed for whatever reason. But the big craft stores don't even carry needlepoint items. So there was a real gap for it in Lafayette. So we came in and not anymore.

SPEAKER_00 25:46

So great. So Piri, you just mentioned that you guys have been in business for around a year almost.

SPEAKER_01 25:51

You said the shop will make a year in June. But we kind of like started the business planning and like creating the LLC a year ago. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:02

Okay. So the time frame from when the idea, like the seed was planted to when the business started, what was that gap?

SPEAKER_01 26:10

Well, I think I know, but I okay, yes, like a month. But also for both of us, like Ellen just said, like when she was in Truthport, like I think you went into the year. And then I started Needlepoint several years after her. Um, and probably about six months before we started being like, Are we gonna open a shop in Lafayette? And but for both of us, it was like pretty instant, I would say. Like when I started Needlepoint, I was like, we need a sword, yeah, like immediately. But it took a couple months for us to like, you know, really connect. And it's funny because Ellen hosted a stitch night at her house. It was like a gallantine's party. Uh, and it was a bunch of Ellen's friends who now I've met and are some of my closest friends too, but it was like a bunch of girls. There were like 40 girls there, I think. It was like to teach them how to stitch. And now it like makes so much sense for us. But Ellen was like, you have to get up here and teach them. I'm like, Ellen, these are fruits.

SPEAKER_03 27:06

That was the first time. I think that was the first time.

SPEAKER_01 27:07

I was like, we should come over.

SPEAKER_03 27:08

Oh, and I was like, Kieran, I need help. I need help.

SPEAKER_01 27:10

She's like, get up here and teach these people. I'm like, I'm not wait, but I think that that was in like February. February.

SPEAKER_03 27:18

It was like Valentine's. And we kind of jokingly, I was like, because we had been talking about it here and there, and like some of my friends were like, Come on, like, you need to do this. Like, and so I but I just was like, I don't want to do it by myself. And I think I looked over at you and I was like, should we just try? And we were just like, let's do it. And then within like weeks after that, we like got coffee and we just kind of like, let's just try.

SPEAKER_01 27:38

Like, that was serious. We were both like, Yeah, let's just open this shop. And when I went home that night, I was like, me and Ellen are opening up a new shop to my husband, and he was like, Hell yeah, let's do it. Yeah, and and who is that? That's amazing. Like, don't worry about it. Like, so like unimportant. I it happened pretty quickly, though. Like she said, we had coffee after, and then that next month was March, and we were but we just knew we're like, we are doing this, and like we might as well just we don't need to like sit around.

SPEAKER_03 28:07

I mean, obviously, there are so many great things happen when you really take the time and like plan it all out, but we knew we wanted to start small, and so we were just like, let's just get it all rolling and just start, like just try.

SPEAKER_01 28:19

Um Ellen's aunt, like we, you know, we started small, but we knew we needed to kind of do it right now because it it felt good. It felt like if we didn't do it, we were gonna like miss an opportunity. And not that we were like racing to to do it. I didn't even think other people had it in their mind that like Lafayette needed a shop. Like at the time, I feel like having an LS, which is a local needlepoint shop. Um that's like a meetle point term, LS, having that in your city kind of felt like a big city thing. Like if you go to New York or if you're like random all the time. Austin or Dallas. Yes, or like a very small rural town in North Carolina, right? That there's nothing else going on. It honestly felt like we're the only people that are even thinking about this, but also like we're so ready to do it, like it's gonna be so much fun. And then Ellen's aunt, we always laugh because she said, Y'all really struck while the iron's hot, which is true, it's just like funny because we weren't trying to do that, but we did.

SPEAKER_03 29:19

It's like we opened and it was blowing up progressively, but now it's like almost right after we opened in the months, it like is when it exploded on TikTok really.

SPEAKER_01 29:28

Like our first month, we were like, Oh, that's way more than we thought that was gonna be. And then literally every month after that, we're like, oh, okay, this is this is more than we thought it was gonna be. So it's like it's on people's algorithms, it's like people are talking about it, people are seeing other people doing it. People just want to relax and like disconnect and just yeah, I think it's like the time of the hobby.

SPEAKER_03 29:53

I mean, everyone just wants a hobby. Yeah. I don't know. And it's just like it's so fun. You can still like visit, you know, while you're doing it. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 30:02

And it's almost like we're reverting back for so long. I think we like this like technology thing that's pulling everybody to their phones and their computers and the hustle and bustle. And it's like people do just, I think, gen genuinely want to be in the present, how whatever that looks like for them off the phone, hopefully, like in the presence of their family or their friends or whatever. I mean, it's so crazy still, like you'll go to a restaurant and people are sitting next to you and everyone is together, but they're all on their phone. I think as people we look at that and we're like, oh god, like we need to not do that, like just being more aware of it. And so needlepoint has just been that thing that like you can still do and be present and not be doing scrolling and like be connected. So, and then you're also potentially creating something that's gonna be passed down to your family members, so it's like a treasured thing, and it's like a moment in time, which I also think is really cool. We don't talk about that a lot because I think for both of us, I don't try to get hung up on like, okay, I'm stitching this thing. What is this thing gonna be? Where is it gonna end up? It's more just enjoyable in the moment, but also like I might be stitching a piece that my kids really take to and like pass it on to their kids, which is that's really cool.

SPEAKER_03 31:18

It's like art that is. I just like thinking about them like in a dorm in college and daffody and like my mom stitched this village like when I was two, like that's just so cute. Yeah, I would love that. Like, I love anything my mom passes down to me, you know.

SPEAKER_00 31:31

Yeah, same. I think that was probably one of my first thoughts was what am I gonna get for for Ellie, my daughter, so that we can hang it in her room and one day, hopefully, she wants to hang it in her room. Exactly, moving forward forever. It's just so cool.

SPEAKER_01 31:42

Like knowing that you handmade that, and you don't have to have the talent to be able to sew. Oh no, it's yeah, it's talentless, honestly. Like you just don't need to be creative, you don't have to have a talent, you just need to be able to put a needle and thread together to a canvas. So that's also the great thing. It's a very inclusive hobby, I would say. Um, so for people who are looking for a new hobby, yeah. I'm biased, but yeah, needle it.

SPEAKER_00 32:09

Well, I'll tell them all out there to be careful because you'll be you'll become obsessed.

SPEAKER_03 32:13

It's addicting. Oh, yes, it is addicting. Very addicting.

SPEAKER_00 32:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 32:16

Oh my gosh. So I don't know if it's better. Like, I'm like went from like you can possibly be addicted to like sprawling on your phone or like other things that I'm just addicted to the phone. I can't put it down.

SPEAKER_00 32:25

It's a better addiction. Um, well, you guys, I want to know from y'all, what do you think? You know, if every mama listening today was just like, okay, listening to them and listening to them talk about all the benefits of hobbies. If they all picked up a hobby, how do y'all think and y'all can both speak to it, but how do y'all think it would impact their lives?

SPEAKER_03 32:46

I feel like it kind of just gives you like a little bit of your own identity. I feel like for such a long time I struggled mostly just like with what I wanted to do, even after grad school, like I loved therapy, but I just still felt like I wasn't like fully tapping into my potential or just like what I wanted to do. And I mean, that ended up with becoming a business, but just a hobby, honestly, before like I even wanted to turn it into anything, it was just so nice. Like I found so much joy from just I don't know, having something of my own. Like it's you're so proud of it. Like I would just like send pictures to my mom, show well, like it's just you're like, oh my god, look how cute this is. Yeah, it's just fun. And that was, I mean, but I started stitching pre-kids, but now since I've had Daphne, she's two and a half. It's like I've almost become even like more obsessed with it. Like it's just so satisfying. I like stay up late doing it. Like I wake up before she wakes up, have my coffee and do it. And it just like, I don't know, it's just so relaxing and like kind of gives you like your own little sense of purpose, even though it's just like something so small and like cutesy, like it's nothing, it doesn't have to be something like very serious or you know, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 34:00

Just something to feel good. Yeah. And I think like your hobbies could be so many different things. Obviously, ours is needlepoint, so we like speak to that. But working out can be your hobby, cooking can be your hobby, going on a walk with your friends can be your hobby. Like, there's so many things, and I mentioned it earlier. I just think it's important as a mom and as a human being in general, like if you're not a parent and you're only working, like that can kind of feel I think purposeless, like to it to an extent. Like if you don't have something outside of the stuff you have to do that just feels like enjoyable, then like what are we doing? And so, just like Ellen said, it's just something that for us feels like I think it's like a place of peace now because it's like our comfort item thing, but also our kids see us do it that special, showing them like, hey, you can find something that you like to do too one day, and you should, and you can still do all these other things also. And it just feels for a person like me who needs to have a purpose and like complete things, like it checks that box for me. But also, like sometimes when I'm stitching, I'll pray, and like it's it just kind of gives you like some designated time, I think, to focus on yourself. So whether that hobby is needlepoint or any of the other things I mentioned, it's just fulfilling to set time aside that's not purpose-driven for any other reason except to create your own sense of happiness or enjoyment.

SPEAKER_00 35:31

Yeah. So even though we're talking about, well, guys, we don't we don't always have to be productive, it is productive in its own way. It's productive in that it's producing feelings of joy and peace in your life, and it's connecting you to who you are as as an individual um human being with all these beautiful, complex layers that we can just kind of get lost and all caught up sometimes with all of everything going on. And and this is a great way. It's like hobbies are productive in that way as well. You take even five, ten minutes to just do something that you really enjoy doing. It's like a breath of fresh air. It's like you can all of a sudden just slow down a little bit and you come out of that feeling so much more refreshed. So it's 100% productive, if that is how you get caught up thinking about it, even, you know? Yeah. Yeah. There were a couple things that stood out to me as y'all were both talking earlier about just you know how it all came to be. And it was like I heard y'all say, This is gonna be fun. And I heard you say multiple times, let's just try it. Let's just try, right? Right. And so, how magical to approach something as big as and as risky as starting a business and as scary as starting a business, right? But with the thoughts of this could be really fun and let's just try. Right. Versus this is really scary. I don't know where to start. Yeah, and that can keep someone stuck for years, ladies and y'all have both chosen better and bigger and leaned into the positive thoughts and just went for it. So good job.

SPEAKER_01 37:08

Thank you. And I don't want to ever come off as ignorant because we're not ignorant people. I think we we lead with like the light and the fun a lot, but we we both knew we were about to invest a sum of money that was not anything to shake a stick at. We were we were taking a risk, but I think we knew that. And for me, I'm like, I'm not gonna do anything and it not work out. So like we're investing this and it's a risk, but it's not gonna be a risk because it's gonna work out. So I don't want to seem ignorant to the fact that we were just like, let's write a check and if it lights on fire or whatever. We knew that we had we were gonna make it work. So I think having that attitude towards it too, right? It wasn't just like for funsies, really. Like we were we're trying to make a successful business happen, even though it is our passion and our hobby. Right. So, like there is, you have to weigh both sides, but to your point, we've just kind of really leaned into we're gonna have fun while we do it, we're passionate about it, that's what's gonna make the thing go. Not like we have to make this amount of money, but I know that's not the case for everyone, so I don't want to seem, like I said, ignorant to that. Like, you have to have a business plan, and we do we lead with our business plan, but we just have fun and of course go on impulse a lot of times. Because that's but that's what has worked for us. Right.

SPEAKER_00 38:23

You know, yeah. I talk often about how we have three brains, one being our actual brain, one being our heart, and one being our intuition. And it just seems like in talking to y'all, that the decisions that y'all have made are very aligned, like your three brains are all very included in the decisions, and they're all very aligned. So just that's amazing. Y'all should be very proud of yourselves because a lot of people get caught up in one brain, they get caught up just in their head and they're forgetting to tap into like what is my gut saying to do? Like, what is my heart telling me to do in this? And y'all seem to be very in touch with those things. So just keep doing what y'all are doing, and y'all are setting an amazing and inspiring example for so many people out there. So thank y'all for what you do.

SPEAKER_01 39:05

Thank you. I love thinking about it like that. So sweet. It's very true, too.

SPEAKER_03 39:09

Just so quickly, I'll say my dad, my dad is like super realistic, and he was like, You went to grad school, like just keep doing that. Like, he didn't even know what needlepoint was. And I was like, Dad, just wait, I promise you. And now my dad he drives volumes every day. He's like, Oh my god, this is amazing. Yeah, he's like, Oh my god, I'm so sorry, like forever doubting this. I'm like, I told you some needlepoint is there's it's popping.

SPEAKER_00 39:30

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 39:32

But that like is what I thought of like combining all those. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:36

So good. Well, this conversation was amazing, ladies. Thank y'all for being here today. Thank you for having me. Cheers to raising humans and building something meaningful. Absolutely. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. If you guys um want to check out the show notes, that is where I will be sure to include links so that you guys can find Kiri and Ellen and learn more about their business and all the amazing stuff they share.

SPEAKER_01 39:58

Yeah, and if y'all are interested to learn Needlepoint, we're your girls and teach y'all and set y'all up. There's no one better.

SPEAKER_00 40:04

All right, ciao. Thank you. Hey mama, thank you so much for listening today. I hope you enjoyed this episode, and if you did, share it with a friend. Your support means the world to me. Now get out there and go try a new hobby. Until next time, y'all. Bye.