This Is ElemenOPillows

For 20+ years, while our 3 boys were growing up, I worked (mostly part-time) as a CPA for a wonderful family-owned real estate development business. In turn, my husband and I enjoyed the flexibility my job provided while raising our three incredible sons.

Then in late 2011 with our boys all grown up, I wanted to—no, scratch that—I needed to—switch gears.   So I left my career to follow my "bucket list" dream of owning my own business in a creative field.  And set off on a virtual "trust fall" of an adventure.

Knowing I wanted to work with fabric and after perusing thousands of fabrics online, I sat down with my computer one day & boldly ordered (what I believed at the time was) a lot of fabric, waited anxiously to receive it, then made and photographed dozens of pillow covers & posted them online. And held my breath. Not sure if I was more afraid of failure or more afraid of success. Probably the latter.

Then the orders started coming in.  And I couldn't believe it.  I really couldn’t.  Side note:  I am still surprised by and in awe of each and every order I receive.

I was given a little pink sewing machine by my grandma when I was 7 years old. And I spent countless hours designing clothes and home decor items for my Barbie dolls using it.

For my 16th birthday, I asked for a professional sewing machine and I continued sewing into high school and college, even making some of my own clothes along the way. My love of creating extended into adulthood as I enthusiastically decorated each of the homes we’ve lived in.

When we were transferred to Wausau, Wisconsin with my husband’s job in the 90’s, I even had a little side sewing business selling snowman sweatshirts to elementary school teachers. These sweatshirts now fall into the category of “ugly sweaters” but I sold thousands of them back in the day.

In the beginning, I used my kitchen counter to cut bolt after bolt of fabric, hauling the bolts up and down our basement stairs every day to make room for “life".  And I sewed at our kitchen table.  My husband has since created an in-home studio for me. Which I love. And for which we are all grateful.

But I smile when I think of how I used to write personal notes in each package and I don’t smile when I think of how I stood in line at our local post office 2-3 times a week with several baskets of orders.prior to discovering alternative shipping methods.  But even then, I’d laugh when people asked me what I did for “work” because it didn't feel like work.