Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Monahan.
Hi Lisa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Sewing was something that I took up on a wild hair back in 2010 while living in Seattle, WA (I’m originally from Corsicana, TX). I’d sadly never touched a sewing machine even though I grew up around them as my Grandmother quilted when I was little. A friend of mine who knew the basics of sewing machines taught me how to get started and the rest just came naturally over the next year. That same friend and I would often spend Saturdays cutting up fabric and sewing vintage-themed dresses from patterns purchased at JoAnn Fabric. On those days, I learned all that I needed to know about sewing terminology and, more importantly, lots of troubleshooting.
When I had my first child in early 2014, sewing as a hobby dropped off for a few years until we moved to northeastern Kansas in late 2015 shortly after I had my second child. Upon moving to a very small town from a huge city like Seattle and not knowing a lot of people, my need to dive into a hobby for distraction was critical. With two young children in the house, sewing became an outlet for me. I would frantically cut fabric and sew during their naps or while they played beside me.
The first item I really made and began to sell was a flannel infinity scarf with a hidden pocket inside. The idea had come to me while flying and constantly losing my boarding pass with two very young children in tow. I figured that if I had a dedicated pocket for things I really couldn’t lose while in an airport that perhaps I would finally not accidentally throw out my boarding pass while juggling children and diaper changes. I wasn’t the only person who’d had this idea for a pattern before, but it was what I started my business with. Crafted by Lisa Marie was born in Atchison, KS, and my first show was in Lawrence, KS, for a holiday market in which I brought close to 100 handmade hidden pocket scarves and had a great turnout! People in the area loved the idea and supported my shop very well.
We then moved our family to Pflugerville, TX, in early 2017 where sewing became front and center again now that I felt like I was finally home. I branched out and began to make clothing for my children, which I loved, but also expanded my business at the time to include other accessories like zipper bags, makeup bags, aprons, and totes. I then landed a large commissioned job for Steel City Pops in Austin to make a very large amount of avocado green stretchy headbands for their employees which made me realize it was time to get serious and get a serger (a machine best suited for making knit garments).
Shortly thereafter, having this new machine made making clothing for myself and my children my favorite pastime. My handmade accessories business was slow but steady, but above all I just loved sewing and didn’t really mind if things sold or didn’t sell. It was about the joy of making things. Then after enough people asked me for custom clothing items here and there, I finally decided to branch out my business further and formally launched a custom clothing line in my shop in November 2021. Things have been exploding ever since with tremendous support from friends and family. I really look forward to the day I get a custom clothing order from a complete stranger – that will really feel like I’ve made it.
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?
Having children certainly put my sewing journey on pause for a while. The oddest struggle I faced was when I became pregnant with my daughter in 2017. Pregnant women often develop aversions to certain foods during pregnancy, but I somehow developed a deep aversion to my sewing space and everything related to it. It’s hard to understand, I know, but even seeing fabric shops I followed on Facebook on my timeline made me feel queasy. This lasted for months and had me slow down my business for an extended period, but it mercifully dissipated toward the end of the pregnancy.
Other than that, the struggles I’ve faced as a crafter and seamstress are no different than what many other similar vendors face at markets. You’ll hear under someone’s breath that they could make that or that they could get something like it for less at a big box store. Certainly these are potentially true statements, but it’s the understanding that you’re supporting a small business that makes the difference. Anything you purchase at a big box store is manufactured on a giant scale. If you’re at my booth looking at things I’ve made, you’re talking to the person who shopped for the fabric, designed the item, cut it all out and sewed it together. Most of the time if you’re holding something that I made, it is truly one-of-a-kind. I don’t often make the same thing twice. These little things may be lost on some shoppers, but to me it’s what makes them all so special.
As you know, we’re big fans of Crafted by Lisa Marie. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Crafted by Lisa Marie is my handcrafted sewing business. I began with hidden pocket scarves and have evolved now to include most any sewn accessory and have most recently branched out into custom clothing for children. Much of my business consists of custom orders of all types in which people come to me with an idea for a gift, an item, or an outfit and I work to make it happen. There’s an open line of communication between myself and my customers. If there’s something special that a customer wants, I work closely with them to get exactly what they are looking for.
I really love my repeat customers who come to me when gifts are needed for baby showers or similar gifts. The joy of getting something handmade and knowing it was made just for you is a really special feeling. I love getting to make that happen each and every week.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Austin is just an incredible city, truly. Being born and raised in Central Texas and having lived in the Pacific Northwest and other places, getting a chance to finally live and settle in the Austin area was a dream come true. Growing up, Austin just seemed like this magical place I never got to visit but were cool things just seemed to happen. Now that I live here, the young version of me feels validated because Austin really IS quite magical. The nightlife is fantastic, the atmosphere is electric, and even raising a family here just feels right.
The only thing I wish were different was the attitude toward people from the west coast coming here. They see what I saw growing up – how great this place is. It is absolutely hard when the best kept secret is getting found out by so many people and thus driving up home prices across the board. But you can’t blame people for wanting a piece of this lovely city. From downtown to the hill country – there’s just so much this part of Texas has to offer.
Pricing:
- Makeup Bags: $20
- Aprons: $22
- Tote Bags: $20
- Fold-Over Clutches: $35
Contact Info:
- Email: sheislisamarie@gmail.com
- Website: craftedbylisamarie.etsy.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/craftedbylisamarie
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CraftedbyLisaMarie
