Happy Saturday and welcome to another wonderful Saturday Spotlight. This weekend I introduce you to Gen Antolini, the talent behind Ridiculously Cute :). I try to make sure I don’t waste your Saturday reading and I think I nailed it again
Saturday with Gen
1. Tell us your crafting story. I say crafting because I know you do it all.
Oh wow… this is a tough one because it is exactly as you stated it… I do it all. I guess it started when I was about 7 or 8 years old. My Mother died and I needed an outlet of some sort. That outlet turned into several outlets… painting, drawing, sketching, pottery, knitting, crocheting, jewelry-making, anything and everything creative. I couldn’t get enough. When I realized that I was ambidextrous, it opened up even more avenues for creativity… I was able to create things even more intricate in nature and feel that fulfillment that I lacked so greatly. I’ve been heavily involved in arts and crafting ever since.
2. LOL I knew you did it all, that’s why I asked that way. In reference to knitting, who taught you and how long have you been a knitter?
My grandmother taught me how to knit when I was 7 years old. I am 42 years old now – so just over 30 years, but let’s pretend I’m only 32 years old, Mmmkay? Back then, she handed me 2 straight US8 aluminum knitting needles, some yarn, and taught me the long-tail cast on, knit stitch, and purl stitch. She said, “There you go.. now make whatever you want.” The rest was, as they say, history.
3. Gotta love those skills passed down from grandmothers, priceless. I know you have a business called Ridiculously Cute, which is the best name ever! Tell me about that, how did that start?
Thank you so much for the compliment! As said previously, I’ve always been creative. Everything I have ever done… it’s been along the lines of “Well, I could totally make that!” and then I would. My best creation was my daughter, though. When she was a newborn, I began a business making baby hair bows. I sold them on eBay and was part of a few designer boutique selling groups. I also started selling to local brick & mortar boutiques. One day, I was on my office floor playing with my daughter – I don’t actually remember what she was doing – but, I said out loud, “You are just Ridiculously Cute!”. The light bulb went off immediately… like, I literally stood up so fast and got on my eBay account and changed my business name… within 2 weeks, I had all of my business cards and advertising set up with that name. So, for 14 years now, everything I do is Ridiculously Cute – literally and figuratively LOL.
Oh man… there are so many factors that have come into play to make it all happen. If I had to pick just one thing, it wouldn’t really be “one thing” at all… it would be ALL of the people that have supported me, stood by my side, gave advice, and uplifted me since my shop’s inception. Two people, in particular, that were and still remain my biggest cheerleaders are Marina (ASheepInTheWoods.etsy.com) & Adella (LolaBeanYarnCo.etsy.com). They are not only some of my favorite makers, they are also 2 of my best friends and my sisters by choice!
Adella was the one that talked me into opening my shop, finally. She was one of the great ones that lifted me up when I was dragging myself down with worry/anxiety. Without her and all the other people that have been my cheerleaders, I would not have the courage to keep going, to keep challenging myself, to maintain my inventory, stay up to date on trends, to push myself and keep working 7 days per week, to inspire & help others to create their own stitch markers & jewelry, and really, the list is endless.
My husband wanted to add in a few things that he says attributes to my shop’s success. “Your attention to detail is unsurpassed. Your customer service is amazing. The speed with which you produce your items. The absolutely amazing quality of your products. From concept to creation, you nail it every time.” My shop’s success has ultimately been possible through a LOT of hard work and dedication, perseverance, determination, making mistakes and learning from them/applying them to a higher quality of products, and a great amount of tenacity… and through it all, through the pitfalls, through my health issues, through the negativity that I faced from others in the beginning, I have kept going…. so really, even the bad things have helped me be a stronger businesswoman. I am a BOSS!
5. I love that you have friends that are so supportive. What is your best seller?
I’d have to say my Tea Party sets are a big seller… along with my Glitter Bombs. Those Tea Party sets really put my shop on the proverbial map. It began as what my shop was known for… “Those cute little tea sets”, “When will you be restocking those adorable tea sets?”, and so on. I have always tried to create stitch markers and other knitting/crocheting-related items that stand out – that get noticed when you’re knitting in public – but also that speak to you on a personal level, and make your knitting and crocheting more enjoyable by just looking at them while you are creating. There are many other things in my shop now – a year later – than just stitch markers. But, I think my shop’s name is most synonymous with stitch markers, in general.
6. How flipping cute are they, I see why they are best sellers What do you find most challenging in being a business owner?
That’s a tough question to answer… there are numerous challenges involved from the business side to the personal side. When you are a small business owner, your personal life becomes very entwined with your business life. I am one person, running the whole thing… from purchasing supplies to production to shipping to bookkeeping to filing taxes… all me! When I’m having a bad day, I still have to push through to keep the business flowing. I think, and I know I’m not alone, that a huge challenge for us as small business Owners, Mothers, Grandmothers, Spouses, and a myriad of other hats that we all wear, is making time for ourselves.
Self-care is not something that I am very good at upholding. Sure, I get lots of ideas of what I could be doing to self-care, but then I keep finding myself back in work-aholic mode. One day, I might figure out that whole “Me” time thing, but in the interim, I’m still going to do my thing and create!
7. Wow Gen, this was a great Saturday spotlight. Thank you very much . How can my readers connect with you?
Etsy shop: ridiculouslycute.etsy.com
Email: ridiculously.cute@gmail.com
FB Business Page
FB Group
Instagram
Pinterest
GG
Wow! How awesome is Gen? Thank you for spotlighting such a multitalented, small business owner! I really enjoyed getting to know Gen and look forward to checking out her Etsy shop! 💗
It was great to get to know Gen – and her items truly are adorable!!