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Lyssa’s Crochet ~ A Young Girl’s Dream Come True

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Being a blogger, I get many requests in my e-mail inbox daily.  Some are from companies, other are from everyday normal individuals just trying to make an honest living.

I admit I can’t do as many pro-bono articles as I would like on here, because I have two kids and my husband is right now the main source of income for us.  

So, yes I do use this blog to make money.  I have admitted that here before and am not too proud to say it, but every little bit helps out in this economy.

I was a teacher, who now no longer has job or any other source of income.  I have two kids, which I refuse to put into daycare and take a job that would just pay for that.  So, this blog has helped out greatly, as well as my own start up company with J9 Designs.

But recently, I had received a lovely e-mail from a sweet, smart and sassy young teenage girl, who is just trying to find her own way and make a few dollars doing it running her own Etsy shop, named Lyssa’s Crochet.

When I first read her e-mail, I admit I felt like this could have been one of my own daughters someday writing this and the mother in me, couldn’t resist contacting her back.

I told her that I would love for her to share her story here on my blog with all of my readers.  She offered to make something for my girls, but I honestly didn’t want her to do that.  I just wanted to give her the opportunity to have her voice heard here.  Paying it forward here was all I wanted to do and am hopeful someday if my own girls need to have this done for them that someone will do the same for them.

Now without further ado, here to share with you is Lyssa Horney!

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Hi, my name is Lyssa Horney. I am 17 years old, live in Arizona and am the firstborn girl of 12 kids with nine brothers and two sisters.

Lyssa CrochetingI first learned to crochet when I was seven years old, but didn’t make anything more than a chain until I was about fifteen. One of my close friends saw a picture of a crocheted hat made to look like Gir, a robot dog from the cartoon Invader Zim, and she simply had to have it!

One of Lyssa's Creations
One of Lyssa’s Creations

So, I grabbed the only crochet hook I owned, hopped onto Youtube and figured out how to write my own pattern to re-create the picture my friend had shown me.

Another one of Lyssa's Awesome Creations
Another one of Lyssa’s Awesome Creations

Soon after, that same friend was walking in Target when a woman stopped her to ask where she got her hat. Thus began Lyssa’s Crochet, a local business in Phoenix, AZ. For two years, I sold hats, scarves and other custom orders to my friends and family.

Jack Skellington
Jack Skellington

Then, in September of last year, I decided to make the venture of opening up an Etsy shop to try and sell my wares nationally. I specialize in hats that look like different cartoon characters. I have made Buzz Lightyear, Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse, Finn from Adventure Time, Owls, Hippos, Jack Skellington and many more! And I love getting new ideas and being asked to recreate a new character that I may never thought of before!

Despicable Me Minion Hat
Despicable Me Minion Hat

All of the items sold at Lyssa’s Crochet are machine washable and made from patterns that I either wrote myself or adjusted to fit my designs. Whenever I am not onstage acting, or juggling my full time college schedule, I am happily crocheting away, making new designs and listing new items.

Mix and Match Ice Cream Cones
Mix and Match Ice Cream Cones

Growing up, my older brothers all had something they were really good at. Video games, acting, music, math. I think one of the biggest reasons I took up crochet was because I was good at it and I knew my brothers would never, in a million years, be able to create the things that I could. The idea that I have the ability to take a string of yarn and turn it into a basket full of little vegetables is almost like magic to me. I love it! And there is no better feeling then when someone else loves my work so much that they want to own it!

A few more of my creations below now to take a look at, too!

Full Toy Pizza
Full Toy Pizza
Farmer's Basket with Toy Vegetables
Farmer’s Basket with Toy Vegetables

 

Thanks again to Lyssa for for displaying her wonderful crocheted talent here today.  And, if you are interested in seeing more from Lyssa, please do visit her at her Etsy Shop here.  

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About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. dianeroark says

    Janine,

    You have a large statement at the bottom of each page explaining that you make some money from some of the ads, posts, etc. I love that it is so large and you cannot miss it.

    I love that you gave this teenager a change to be recognized and get her name out there. She does beautiful work. I hope more people find her because of you.
    I have a friend whose daughter is 16 and knits. She also does beautiful work on Etsy. She is doing well and I told her too that I would love to support her with a post.
    I feel like

    • Janine Huldie says

      I love that statement and trust me it is easier to put an image in then have to re-write the same thing over and over, because I do share a lot of affiliate and sponsored content often enough. And I was so happy to feature Lyssa today and hope that you can feature your daughter's friend soon and would love to see here creations on your blog, too!! 🙂

  8. Billybuc says

    Very cool; I love to see teens doing something constructive like this. Little known fact….I used to crochet when I was a pre-teen. 🙂 Have a great day, Janine.

  15. Diane Lopez says

    She is a real treat. Lyssa I hope your doing well. Been awhile since I seen you. Keep pursuing your dreams and keep on making what you absolutely love. No Doubt you are truly a one of a kind unique friend. I'm glad I met you ^.^

  16. Sandy_Ramsey says

    Wow! She is really talented with a crochet hook! I will have to visit her Etsy store. As you well know, I am a huge advocate of kids and Etsy stores. Anytime a young person wants to take the initiative, I am behind them 100%!
    My recent post My Ten Year Old Is Afraid Of Dying

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