Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Mikeal.
Hi Ann, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m going to start a bit further back from the beginning.
I was once a zookeeper at the Naples Zoo, I loved my job and would have continued in that field, my life just took a different path. In 2009, I got a call that my stepfather had passed away (I was the last person to see him alive), it was really hard on my mom being alone and I lived 3 hours away.
In July 2010, I packed up and moved back home to work for the family business, mom was now the owner of my stepdad’s electrical company. Like I’m sure many other people’s lives, I got pregnant and there were no zoos within an hour of where I lived.
During the “nesting” stage of pregnancy, I started to crochet (I’d knit in high school a bit) and actually joined a local fiber guild. I basically fell down the rabbit hole! I started making stitch markers, then dyeing and carding fiber for spinning then moved into yarn. I started Twin Mommy Creations in honor of my twins, Dylan and Ethan.
My plan was to find a way to earn and save money so that the two of them would be able to go to college one day, this was back in 2012. Now, 9 years later (it’ll be 10 years in September), I still dye crazy yarn colorways, make outrageous spinning batts, have some super funky stitch markers, and overall nifty fiber tools!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For me, it has been a slow road. Mostly because I still work a full-time job and can not dedicate everything I have to my business.
I am the mother of three children and at one point we had 3 more foster children. Sometimes life throws little “speed bumps” in your path and you take a little longer to get to your destination. Some of my struggles have been insignificant and others were life-changing. I had my studio completely flood and lost a ton of product, not to mention the cost for repairs (be sure they know exactly what is in your homeowners’ policy), we got an emergency placement for 3 small children, and the kids came first.
After the fosters left us, I ended up pregnant with my third and final child, his birth came with a lot of complications in the end and I ended up spending 20 days in the hospital. The road to recovery was incredibly difficult, so trying to get back my stamina played a huge role in my journey… I have some of the best customers though and they really rallied behind me!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
On my business card, it just says “creative genius” for the job title.
I know that sounds super cocky and although it may be, it is also completely honest. I am first and foremost a fiber dyer. I dye machine processed yarns, as well as fleeces and roving. In the beginning, my specialty was spinning batts. I would have people come to me just to buy spinning fiber and I slowly drifted from making batts. Don’t get me wrong, I do still create those little fluffy batts, but it is a lot more time-consuming on my limited availability.
I do try to make batts whenever I get the chance, my 10-year-old son even makes them from time to time for his college fund. I now predominately dye yarn and am most known for color saturation and crazy names. Quite a few of my customers keep coming back just to read the labels and laugh at the names.
Some of them are pretty straightforward, but others are outrageous and over the top. I get my inspiration from really everywhere and my names come from whatever I’m doing at the moment. For example, I have a yarn named “Late Night Benediction”, that one came from the Oak Ridge Boys song, Y’all Come Back Saloon.
I’m most proud of just not quitting. No matter what comes at me, I’ve managed to hold on and not give up. I honestly don’t know what sets me apart, other than my personality. I don’t sugar coat much and at times have no filter, I’ve noticed that the people who keep coming back just like me for me.
No matter how unmatched my clothes are or how unorganized I am, I make them laugh and am a straight shooter.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
You have to work 100 times harder than you may have had to before.
There aren’t in-person events at the moment or those that are going on just don’t have the attendance that they used to, so you have to bust your behind to get people’s attention. The constant creativity and coming up with new things have definitely helped to keep me relevant.
If you work hard and dedicate your time, it pays off.
Pricing:
- Yarn – $28-$32 a skein
- Spinning Batts – $20 for 3 ounces
- Stitch Markers – $3 each (or in sets)
- Fiber Tools – $5 to $30
- Ornaments – $5 to $14
Contact Info:
- Email: twinmommycreations@hotmail.com
- Website: https://www.twinmommycreations.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twinmommycreations/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twinmommycreations
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/twinmommycreate
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0BNim-RCmdG06b8Srt1Og
Image Credits
Ann Mikeal
