Crochet
I first learned how to crochet when I was around eight years old, and then again at thirteen when my mom taught me the basics. A little over two years ago, my best friend asked if I knew how to crochet and wanted to learn. I ended up teaching her the basics, and together we used YouTube videos to keep improving. I started small—making a rose and a heart—then jumped straight into making a crop top, and I have not looked back since.
I have now made over ten crop tops and hundreds of amigurumi plushies. I especially love making plushies for other people—since I do not always know what to make on my own, it is really fun when someone asks me to create something specific.
My most recent projects were the four starter Pokémon for a friend and Toothless for my coworker. Both took a good amount of time, but they turned out really well and were so worth it. I usually follow patterns for all of my plushies, so if I can find a pattern, I can make it. I mainly find patterns on Instagram, YouTube, and Etsy.
Crochet Markets
I did my first crochet market with a friend about seven months after I started crocheting. I had a lot of plushies I had made and sold a decent amount of them. It was a simple setup with just one table, but it gave me a great introduction to selling my work.
Since then, I have grown a lot. This year, I participated in five craft markets, starting in June and ending in October. This time, I had my own setup, a more established brand, and came prepared for each market. Looking ahead, I hope to do even more this year—ideally one market per month—and I have already signed up for one in April.
Painting
I was first really introduced to painting in 7th grade art class, and when high school started, I took as many art classes as I could, including two focused specifically on painting. I loved it and wish I had more time to dedicate to this hobby. While school, work, and crocheting keep me busy, I know I will come back to painting eventually.
I started with acrylic paint, which was my favorite medium for a long time, but in my AP art class I got to try oil paint and really enjoyed it. I especially loved creating a skull painting in oils—it was challenging and rewarding. The slow drying time was both a plus and a minus: it allowed me to work and layer over time, but I also wished I had more space to let it dry.