Today we’d like to introduce you to Tenisha Hendon.
Hi Tenisha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
There has always been a special place in my heart for creativity. As a young girl, I was introduced to crocheting by my babysitter. She gave me this beautiful basket full of yarn and hooks and was teaching me the basics. Later my mother saw that I had an interest in making wonderful pieces, so she bought me a glitter jewelry making kit. You can say the seed was planted for me to become a maker in the future.
After having my son, I realized I needed a different outlet to break up the normal newborn routine. I just wanted something special for me, so I tapped back into my maker skills. I discovered this cutting machine called a Cricut on social media and it was the perfect investment for my therapeutic needs. I was so fascinated with all the many possibilities with this machine and begin trying different crafts from iron on t-shirts to party decor. My first project was my son’s first birthday. I used the machine to make the family t-shirts and decorations for his party. I thought to myself this could be something more than just family events I could actually turn this into a business.
After trying out different craft niches, Craftimony Clothing and Apparel was born. I wanted to focus on creating a clothing and apparel collection that provides inspiration and motivations through daily reminders on t-shirts and accessories. These are just quick reminders people can read in passing to remind themselves to keep a positive mindset no matter what stage they are in life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, the honest truth is this has not been a smooth road. Some challenges I face is, I am a mother so I am on call 24/7, wife and work a full time job Monday through Friday. I wear many hats during the week and work on my dream on the side. In order for me to keep Craftimony alive, I schedule myself time on the weekend to perfect my craft, develop content to post on social media and purchase materials to produce my content. I have to make time for Craftimony no matter how tired I get. I typically don’t post or work on my blog as much as I like to so I have set small obtainable goals to complete a project a month so I have something to look back on at the end of the year.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in heat transfer vinyl and sublimation t-shirts. I create my designs in Cricut Design Space using commercial free fonts and graphics. I’m in the process of learning how to sew with the intent to create a cosmetic bags collection to include my daily reminders. I LOVE making t-shirts for family and friends that are celebrating anniversaries or birthdays. Packaging is a really big deal for me because it says a lot about the care you put into your piece. Materials are a HUGE factor for me, so I prefer to use materials that have the tendency to last through washes and t-shirts have to be soft and comfortable. I have my own craft room that has a 15×15 heat-press, sawgrass printer, heavy duty sewing machine, Cricut Maker. I share this space with my home office as I work from home. Half of my space is for crafting and half is for working.
How do you define success?
Success is the meaning of learning through trial and error, making mistakes, attempting your best, failing, perfecting and producing something you are ultimately satisfied with the result. If you put in the work, time and effort you will find your success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.craftimony.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftimony/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/craftimony/
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftimonyWorkshop
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