They say that cats have nine lives, but it only took one-eyed Sparrow's single, spirited spirit to inspire Allyson on a transformative journey into the world of custom woodworking. Our special guest, Allyson, shares the touching story of how her feline friend sparked the birth of Sparrow's House, intertwining her tale of resilience with her own past marked by early entrepreneurial flares, her father's law office, and a growing love for craftsmanship. As you tune in, expect to be moved by a narrative that's as much about personal bonds as it is about the creative process that fuels Allyson's thriving business.
Venturing beyond the sawdust and wood stains, this episode peels back the curtain on the intricate dance with social media marketing that's propelled Sparrow's House to a wider audience. Allyson candidly discusses her double-edged sword of being an unpaid content creator, her mastery over Instagram reels, and the clever whimsy of Sparrow's cameos as a brand mascot. We also get a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes challenges and triumphs of running a small business, from crafting local business signs to sharing the ongoing travel adventures of Sparrow's House.
Yet, at the heart of every timber and joint is a story, and Allyson's custom furniture pieces are no different, each holding a sentimental narrative waiting to be told. One particularly poignant tale is a nursery sign project, imprinted with an infant's hand and footprint, which underscores the profound relationships built through her work. As Allyson navigates business growth, finding a larger workspace, and wrestling with imposter syndrome, this episode is a testament to the power of community and the tenacity inherent in small business success. Join us as we celebrate the interplay of personal fulfillment and entrepreneurial hustle through the lens of Sparrow's House.
They say that cats have nine lives, but it only took one-eyed Sparrow's single, spirited spirit to inspire Allyson on a transformative journey into the world of custom woodworking. Our special guest, Allyson, shares the touching story of how her feline friend sparked the birth of Sparrow's House, intertwining her tale of resilience with her own past marked by early entrepreneurial flares, her father's law office, and a growing love for craftsmanship. As you tune in, expect to be moved by a narrative that's as much about personal bonds as it is about the creative process that fuels Allyson's thriving business.
Venturing beyond the sawdust and wood stains, this episode peels back the curtain on the intricate dance with social media marketing that's propelled Sparrow's House to a wider audience. Allyson candidly discusses her double-edged sword of being an unpaid content creator, her mastery over Instagram reels, and the clever whimsy of Sparrow's cameos as a brand mascot. We also get a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes challenges and triumphs of running a small business, from crafting local business signs to sharing the ongoing travel adventures of Sparrow's House.
Yet, at the heart of every timber and joint is a story, and Allyson's custom furniture pieces are no different, each holding a sentimental narrative waiting to be told. One particularly poignant tale is a nursery sign project, imprinted with an infant's hand and footprint, which underscores the profound relationships built through her work. As Allyson navigates business growth, finding a larger workspace, and wrestling with imposter syndrome, this episode is a testament to the power of community and the tenacity inherent in small business success. Join us as we celebrate the interplay of personal fulfillment and entrepreneurial hustle through the lens of Sparrow's House.
Alice and Roach and the name of my business is Sparrow's House. This is Sparrow's, named after my cat. We say if anyone has a cat they probably know. We say it's Sparrow's house and we just get to live there. So when I was trying to come up with a business name, I wanted something personal.
Speaker 1:For a while I was throwing around like Alley Cat, but I don't go by Alley, so I'm like no someone with Sparrow's house and but I'm a woodworker so I do all custom woodworking, so she's made out of wood here, okay, and everything is custom. So whatever a client wants, I try to be able to give it to them. The past couple of years it's been pretty heavy into custom cabinetry and it just kind of seems like when you share something on social media or something and people see that then that's what people want, so then that's what you do, so then that's what you share.
Speaker 1:So then that's what people want you know, and so that just kind of seems like where it is right now.
Speaker 2:Okay, and then tell me a little bit about Sparrow, since it is Sparrow's house. I noticed that there's one eye left.
Speaker 1:Yes, she only has one eye and this is why I wear waterproof mascara all the time, because I just never know when I'm going to tear up. Oh sorry, that's her heart, she's all. She'll be 13 in May. Okay, I found her when she was itty-bitty, like a pound and a half, maybe four weeks old, in the woods. And, long story short, if she would have been a full grown cat I probably would have been like I was not a cat person, but since she was so little, I lured her over and her right eye was pretty badly injured. I think she was born with some sort of eye injury and it was pretty gross.
Speaker 1:But anyways, I scooped her up and I was with my mother-in-law and we're like well, we got to take her to the vet so they can fix her. And we go to the vet and I'm like, here you go and they're like that's not how this works. Like you found her, she's your problem, it's you know a million dollars to fix her. And I'm like we don't have that kind of money. And, long story short, we found another vet who's like bring her in, let's see if she has vision in her right eye. And she did. And so they removed her left eye as a teaching surgery. So it was only the cost of materials, so it was affordable for us. And so then I named her Sparrow for the hem, his eyes on the Sparrow, and so I just felt like, if he's watching over this little bitty cat who should be dead really out in the wilderness, it's just a good reminder that he's always watching over all of us too. Beautiful story.
Speaker 2:I love that. And is it she or he? She, I'm sorry she changed your life completely because look at the business I know yeah.
Speaker 1:And I'm kind of a cat person too.
Speaker 2:So welcome to the club, ma'am.
Speaker 1:You're still a dog person, but my yes.
Speaker 2:But your heart opened up some more.
Speaker 1:Yes, for sure, I love that. Yeah, so she's fine and she hangs out in the shop with me sometimes and so it's fun to have her around. I love that.
Speaker 2:And now tell me about you, your childhood. What was that like, and how has all of that led you to where you are today?
Speaker 1:All the enough walking up the stairs to come here, I was having like childhood flashbacks. It just it's a really old building, I'm assuming, and still kind of feels and smells old. Yes, and my dad is an attorney and so when I was growing up he, his law office, was in a really old feeling smelling, building up the stairs, and so I remember going to visit him at work or going to work, you know, filing and shredding papers in elementary school and just like the smell and the feel, and so it was kind of comforting walking up the stairs to come here.
Speaker 2:That's great to hear that that smells good. Bringing back.
Speaker 1:If you only have some of the orange dial hand soap, that would have been in the bathroom.
Speaker 2:That would have Actually it just ran out but we have a different one. But we had that we did.
Speaker 1:I think it comes with this right. Yeah, it's just like it's left over from 100 years ago.
Speaker 1:So, um, I think I've just always kind of had this entrepreneurial spirit wanting to make money. I just, from being little, you know, asking my dad is there anything I can do to come to the office and help around and make some money? Um, in, I think, second grade I was like running a friendship bracelet. You know business with the, with the braiding of the, or like the beads, the beads, uh huh, yeah, before Taylor Swift made them cool.
Speaker 2:I was, I was rocking yeah.
Speaker 1:That's right, Charging like per inch or per bead. Girl, we love that. And um, then I had a job as soon as I turned 16 or even, you know, younger than that. I was just finding like little odd jobs to kind of make money.
Speaker 2:I mean, you said your dad got you like your little job there, mm.
Speaker 1:Hmm, yes, so there was always something available to do. He always had something that could be done. So my sister and I would go and do in there. So I'm the youngest of two. My sister's a couple of years older than me Okay.
Speaker 1:The baby. Uh huh, I grew up in Northeast Ohio, so like almost right in between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. So oh, yeah, right up there, mm, hmm, so cold. So when people hear like it's so cold and like relax, you don't have like a fact of the snow to deal with, it's cold up there, um, but so anyways, and then, yeah, just kept kind of working in through high school and mom always did crafts with us for our birthday parties.
Speaker 1:She would always have some sort of fun craft to do. I remember one year we did embossing, um, so like you get this special ink and you use a stamp and you ink, and then you put a powder on it and you can use a hair dryer and it makes it like puff up, so kind of like wow, and so just other little things. My grandma taught me how to sew and how to knit, and so it's always kind of used my hands. And then, um, as an adult, my husband gave me a cricket machine paper cutting machine one year and so I started getting into that and then making stencils to make wooden signs.
Speaker 1:That was maybe like 11 or 12 years ago and I'm like this is this is fun. I'm kind of good at this and it was fun. You know, like the thankful, grateful, blessed, like all of the like hobby lobby sign things like really coming Blowing out, and so I'm like I can do that and mine can be better and it's handmade and this and that, and so I kind of started getting into that. And then we moved here 10 years ago and, um, actually was a teacher as an elementary school teacher and I but I still kept making these crafts on the side. And then I started getting into different vendor markets and you know all of the holiday shows and stuff like that, and so I was teaching all day and then coming home by night.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then spare us house by night. And so in the fall of 19, I guess I'll in the back up a little bit in sometime in 17 or 18, I needed a dresser for our guest room and it's just, it's very small space and so I needed something specific, kind of narrow, and I couldn't find anything that I liked, and I'm sure you've seen that Instagram reel where the audio is. I was born with the. How hard could it be, jean?
Speaker 2:I have not seen it.
Speaker 1:I'm sorry, I'm terrible. Well, I was born with that gene and I'm like. Well, I'm sure I could just build a dresser. How hard could it be? Like who thinks that?
Speaker 2:Not me. I feel like, uh no, I don't know where to start, so good for you.
Speaker 1:And so we were having some work done on our house and the contractor at the time was just a single oh guy working. It's not like it was a crew or anything. He was also into woodworking and so I would ask him for some tips and stuff like that. And so he kind of guided me along and so I built this dresser and I'm like that was cool. I liked what I did there. So then I went from signs and I started building just like little chachkies to do to sell at these markets.
Speaker 1:So fast forward to the fall of 19,. My husband's like something has to give. Like I never see you. You're canceling plans with friends. Like this is interfering and not really adding to our lives. You have to pick one, yes, and I was like, well, I'm happy to retire from teaching and so. But we decided I'd finish out the school year, which then ended up being 2020 COVID, and so it was. It was a little bittersweet. I had a moment of maybe I'll go back. Is this really how I want to end my teaching career? Maybe I'll go back and do it one more year. And then, colin, my husband was like your kids were in fifth grade. It's not like you're going to see them next year, and we don't know what things are going to look like, and so I'm very glad that he helped you make that decision right, yes, wow.
Speaker 1:So that summer we had the same contractor was doing work on our house. He was redoing our kitchen and I don't know why I was just like what do you think Can we build our kitchen cabinets? He used to own a cabinet making shop and he's like I am done with that life, I don't want to do that. I will teach you how to do it and you can do it. And so he did.
Speaker 1:It was very much the like teaching I do, we do you do method where he showed me we did it together and then I took over from there and so I felt the majority of our kitchen with his help and guidance along the way, and so sharing that on Instagram, and then just kind of went from there and I thought I would still just continue doing the market scene and making signs and stuff like that. But then people saw, oh well, could you build this and can you build this? And oh sure, I mean I don't know how, but I'm sure I can figure it out. There's a YouTube video for everything. So that's that was four years ago. Wow, I believe that was four years ago.
Speaker 2:And now, here we are.
Speaker 1:And now here I am chatting with you, yeah.
Speaker 2:That is so amazing, though I can just tell like from your childhood you were always a very curious girl and always wanted to learn and like get into things with your hands.
Speaker 1:I like your words have never been spoken. I was in trouble constantly. Really, I was always in trouble, but it's because I was curious and I just wanted to know, like see how things worked, see what was behind that curtain, see what would happen if I did this thing anyways, even if I was told not to. I love that. Yeah, it was definitely. I was always in trouble. But in my I have a couple little nieces and my mom and sister always say oh, the little one, she's just like you when you were little.
Speaker 2:Why you say it like that?
Speaker 1:And I'm like well, good for her.
Speaker 2:I turned out awesome. You did so. She'll be just fine. No, I love your mind. I'm just like how, like I wish my brain function like that, where, like, I could do that, like, but I'm just like I don't know if I could make that cute little cat of my cat, but like, you're just so amazing, like that you could create something from your mind and make it into a physical form. That is so cool.
Speaker 1:Thank you, I appreciate that. Yeah, sometimes it doesn't work. I have definitely had some fails, I mean that's life, right, but you keep going.
Speaker 2:But that's life.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you just keep every. Every opportunity is a learning opportunity, that's right. There was a teacher I used to work with and she would say practice makes progress.
Speaker 2:Not practices.
Speaker 1:You know, most people say practice makes perfect. That's not always true.
Speaker 2:So practice makes progress, and you know I haven't heard that saying. So now I'm going to say that Practice makes progress.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so as long as you're going forward then we're good In the right direction.
Speaker 2:I love that. As far as with marketing, with your brand and your business, how are you going about that? Like I know, you said something about Instagram.
Speaker 1:What all?
Speaker 2:are you doing to reach out to those potential clients and nurture those current ones that you have?
Speaker 1:So I have. I don't know if I've ever actually spent any money on marketing other than maybe like a $5 Facebook ad or something, but social media word of mouth, that is really the only marketing that I do. Sometimes I feel like a content creator on Instagram and then I step back and I'm like no one's paying me to make these reels. So, like, calm down and focus on other things.
Speaker 2:What is for you to get in your name out?
Speaker 1:there and seeing the personality behind it. I love doing transformation reels and Colin will. Colin tells me that when people ask what I do and he tells them he goes. She does total room transformations.
Speaker 2:You do girl.
Speaker 1:And I love that he says that, and so I like making reels where it's showing the before of a space and then has a cool transition and then shows the after of the space.
Speaker 2:That's cool, that you know how to do that. A lot of business owners don't know where to start. So, girl, you're already ahead of the game.
Speaker 1:Thanks, yeah. Yeah, so pretty much Instagram, facebook and word of mouth. I have a neighbor who I did some work for last summer, I think, maybe the summer before, I don't remember. But she's referred me to a couple of people and so someone just signed a couple of weeks ago and so I sent her a little referral gift and I apologize to anyone, like if that's happened before, if someone's referred somebody who has signed and then I just didn't realize. But, like, I'm going to try to do that, moving forward, just to show like appreciation since that is the word of mouth really is my only marketing strategy.
Speaker 1:It makes a big difference and I think even on social media, small business owners for the most part don't understand what a huge impact Double tapping. Just give it a little heart. Well, like, if you're watching it anyways, just boop, just like it or share it or comment or something like it's free, it's support. You're sitting there scrolling for three hours. Anyways, make it be three hours and half a second, because you know the algorithm and I don't even understand how algorithm. I know nobody understands it's constantly, ever changing, always. Once you think you're like okay, well, if I post between this time and this time, no, then someone's like actually it's change.
Speaker 2:Yes, it needs to be at 2 30am west coast time like something.
Speaker 1:Yes, so that's how you're, yeah, and that's just kind of it, and I think, like this is going to be really cool.
Speaker 2:Exactly. You're going to get your clips and you're going to have some content. You know that's right.
Speaker 1:So get all this.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and get Sparrow too, so you can throw in, you know. I'm sure people would love to see the name the face behind the name.
Speaker 1:That's right. Do you do put?
Speaker 2:videos up Sparrow. Oh, you better believe it. Yeah, I need to follow you on our.
Speaker 1:Instagram account I started doing. I try to hide her in Reels even so. You know how in Apple photos, if you have a photo and then you select the subject, it looks yes, so I'll do that, and then I'll like drop her in. So usually if I'm doing a transition reel, I'll do the before. I usually do the design sketch up and then I'll do the after, and so I let it do its thing, and then the very last split second will be Sparrow at the end. So I'll you know, say find the Easter egg, the Easter Sparrow.
Speaker 2:That is so cute. I love your little mind, just like finding ways to include like the name brand yourself and information for everybody to see what all you're up to.
Speaker 1:So I made this little guy I use this tool called a scroll saw. I feel like the best way to describe it is kind of like a sewing machine, but it's a. You're having a sewing machine and needle goes up and down, up and down. Yeah, it's a blade going up and down really fast and it's a really skinny blade.
Speaker 1:I mean, it's probably like this, oh wow, and. But you can get really detailed and intricate cuts, so I cut this on the scroll saw, and so I'll make a lot of nursery signs or family name signs. I've done a lot of business logos. Have you been to baked bagels? I have not. Have you been down the road, though, and you've seen it? I don't think so.
Speaker 2:I live in Herndon, so I'm just mostly coming, okay.
Speaker 1:Okay, sometimes we'll take walks, but I'm not like you know, we'll go walk past it sometime. In their sign outside. I made their sign outside Baked BKG bagel Wait yes, actually, I did yeah. It's like black yeah.
Speaker 2:Yes, that was you.
Speaker 1:Yes, so I made that. And then inside they have a couple signs upstairs around their champagne.
Speaker 2:Look at you, I'm going to have to go in, that's you're my excuse to go in there now. Be like, I know her. She's great, that's right.
Speaker 1:So I use those, I use a scroll saw to make that sort of thing, and so I thought that was where Sparrow's house was going to go, not really the furniture and cabinetry route and so that's why I made this little guide, to kind of just show it. And then I have a highlight on Instagram for stories, and it's Sparrow Travels, and so I'll take this little Sparrow with me whenever we travel and I'll take pictures of her.
Speaker 2:Where all she's been.
Speaker 1:Yes, your location that's so cute and on my Time Hop app this week it's coming up. We were out West and so Sparrow was at the Grand Canyon three years ago. This is my original one. It has been retired because we were in France last June. Yeah, my husband left a book bag in an Uber. Oh, do you know where that bag is? No, it's not my bag, oh my God. But Sparrow was in the bag and my wallet was in the bag. When I'm like I don't care, I can replace all that stuff. And we were hopping on a little boat for to do a river cruise for about a week and so we tried contacting Uber and all these things and you know that's forget it. No luck. And so I'm like, oh well, we canceled all of the cards and I got a new driver's license and all the things. I'm like I'll just make another Sparrow, it's not the big deal.
Speaker 1:Three or four days later, I received a Facebook message, instagram message, email, a website inquiry all from the same guy saying, hey, did you leave a bag in Paris? I have your stuff. And I'm like, get out of here. And he had, he had taken a picture and sure enough, it was almost. I mean, it's my ID and Sparrow was in it and we, you know, spent the whole week. Well, I spent the whole week like so excited and we met back up with him when we got back in Paris at the end of the week and got it back. But anyways, he said that he just Googled Sparrow's house and so that's how he was able to find me and find like all my social media and everything. So I have since replaced her. I made a new one and she does have a new. This was like the original logo. Yeah. She's since been slimmed down. Her eyelashes a little more sassy, yeah, and so I made a new. I have now I have like metal furniture medallions that go in rather than being burnt on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I washed her a couple weeks ago. So, I need to make a new one because she didn't survive the washing machine.
Speaker 2:Oh, you need to save this one for her, because she's like a good luck?
Speaker 1:Oh for sure. Yeah, I mean that she made it all the way through Paris and then got back to you, somehow came back. I know I was kind of mean to my Instagram followers. In my stories I said it's a very sad day, we've lost Sparrow, and like. That's all I said. So they're like hello, why respond Like I'm getting engagement?
Speaker 2:No, look at you, you're smart with that. Actually, you're just like oh yeah, but you know like every little trick.
Speaker 1:I let a few hours go by before I was like I mean this Sparrow, not the real Sparrow. Yes, she's fine, she's safe at home. She's safe at home. She will live to be 35.
Speaker 2:Yes, I hope so Me too with my cats, I know.
Speaker 2:I just want to be around as long as, like we are, like I want to be an old lady with my cat. Exactly, my memories are with you. You know me already. I know you. I know it breaks my heart. I don't want to start all over, right? No, I don't. I don't know that I can. I don't know that I can. Anyway, moving on, right, the waterproof mascara. I'm telling you, mine is not, but anyways, what advice would you give to people out there, like you said you're like, the most you spent was like a $5 Facebook ad, right? So what advice would you give to people where it's not like so expensive, like what's the trick that you're doing?
Speaker 1:First of all, I do not feel qualified to give anybody advice on anything at all, but if I had to say, it would be learn social media, learn how to do reels and show up. And I even that's what a lot of the social media marketing people will tell you. They'll just say just show up, just post, and it doesn't even have to be a post that stays there forever being in stories, and so I probably am not going to post again today. But I posted this morning from the gym. I did a time lapse of the sunrise and said good morning, have a great day, just so that I'm on there. So it keeps showing up. But then I do try to show my face once in a while or like to show myself working. The other day it was a 17 second clip that I put in my stories of me just cutting somewhat, that's what we want to see.
Speaker 2:We want to see the person behind. How are you making me a?
Speaker 1:little thing.
Speaker 2:I mean, I do, I do curious Like how do you even do that Cut a tree and get a black sharpie?
Speaker 1:Like girl I don't know. Yes, I go out and cut a tree down and then use scissors to.
Speaker 2:This is why we need to see the process, ma'am.
Speaker 1:Yes, I'll share, even like process reel. So I take a bunch of like little clips of the recording and kind of squish them together. But this I actually teach Squirrel Saw. So if you really wanted to learn I could.
Speaker 1:I could learn to do that Absolutely. I feel like anybody can learn how to do anything if you have the patience and the right tools and the right teacher. And yeah, I just People tell me all the time, oh my gosh, I can't believe you did that and this, then, like you can too, like I really, you really can, thanks for believing me, you really can I do remember, probably like 10 or 15 years ago, I was at somebody's house and the husband worked at Craftmade.
Speaker 1:Is that down here Craftmade cabinets? You're asking the wrong person.
Speaker 1:I never know anything he worked at this cabinet shop and I didn't think anything of it because woodworking was not even A thing I would never even thought I would in a million years. And he built their pantry and I remember saying what do you mean? He built it. Like, he built that, it's beautiful and amazing. And she's like, well, yeah, I mean he built it, someone has to build cabinets like. And he did it. And I just was like I don't believe it. And I just remember being so amazed that he did it and I actually saw him a couple of years ago. She is a secretary for my dad now, and so my dad had a dinner and a couple of years ago and we were up there and I remember telling them this story and they just they got a kick out of it.
Speaker 2:They're like look at me now. Right, I love that. It's like full circle.
Speaker 1:And so, anyways, advice I would say learn social media and network. I will go to. I would still do a couple of markets maybe, like I haven't in a while, but I would, and it was more just to network and just get to meet other people and just be real, like I try not to be fake, I mean, I am just real Again. I'll tell you a quick story about this. Tell me Headband, please do.
Speaker 1:I took a picture of my outfit I was wearing the other day and I sent it to some girlfriends, a bunch of friends, and I took a picture with the headband and without, because I couldn't tell I'm like it's really cute, but I know, should I be more like professional? I don't know. I couldn't tell Total mixed reviews at first, but then it was overwhelmingly no headband. Oh, and I was like I don't care, I like the headband. That made your decision. And my one girlfriend who I was like I don't care, I love the headband. She's like then wear it. Since when have you started doing anything because of what other people have told you to?
Speaker 2:do and I'm like you are right.
Speaker 1:Why did I even like Should?
Speaker 2:I yeah.
Speaker 1:I guess I just maybe wanted affirmation that I should wear the headband and I didn't get it. But I said I don't care, I'm wearing it anyways.
Speaker 2:I love that because sometimes people really do doubt themselves, but it's like you forget to take your own advice and to just stick to your vision. So I love that you were like you know what? No, I'm going to put that headband on. It looks professional, it's cute, hello Fashion. Professional doesn't mean you don't have to be fashionable, that's right.
Speaker 1:I never dress up like this, though, because I'm in a workshop most of the time, so I'm in joggers or jeans and a hoodie, and I mean, why not?
Speaker 2:It's good to feel pretty some days too.
Speaker 1:I know I'm like where is Colin going to take me to dinner. Exactly, colin, better I'm looking good.
Speaker 2:Exactly when this comes out, he better have had dinner with you that night. That's right, absolutely.
Speaker 1:I feel like I keep getting off topic from your original question. No, you're good.
Speaker 2:Can you repeat what the question was what good advice would you give to marketing, to people who are trying to do marketing and without spending so much money? But I think he said getting to know social media and knowing the ins and outs and all of that good stuff and make even just posting a story, like not every single day, but one in the morning, one a little bit later. But stay top of mind with the algorithm.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and again, networking with potential clients, but also just with members of the community. So you're more than just a business name and I think one of the most important things is connecting with other small business owners. Yes, I think in the small business community we are a lot of times each other's biggest cheerleaders and even and so we all know how social media works, so we're commenting, sharing each other's posts on there, getting engagement up on there, referring to people who come to us, or you know. So I build furniture, I can refinish furniture. I don't want to refinish furniture, but I can, but I don't want to.
Speaker 1:But I know a couple of people who do, and so recently I had someone say, hey, we have this, can you do this? And if it was two or three years ago, I probably would have said, yeah, I'll do it, because I was just taking anything I could get until I kind of found my groove. But I love being able to say you know, I can't do that. Here are two people who can, and I'm going to say both, because this one style is like this and her style is like this, so, depending on what it is, yeah, and so I know that people other small business owners have referred me kind of in the same way. Oh no, we don't really do that, but she might do that sort of thing.
Speaker 1:So I think just getting involved in your small business community, really it doesn't have to be the same industry, or it can be the same industry. I mean, in Loudoun County, what do we have? Like a billion people live here. They're with a billion homes. Like I know there are tons of woodworkers and other cabinet makers here. I'm not worried about it and like there's enough business to go around. And it's really too bad when you see like people being competitive to the point of like being nasty to each other.
Speaker 1:And it's just like you're here to. We should be here to help each other and support each other and learn from each other Absolutely.
Speaker 2:What has been your favorite project that you have been hired to do? Anything in general that sticks out like you know what. That was fun. I learned something new from this.
Speaker 1:I do get this question a lot Sorry. I never know what to say. Because, it's almost everyone I do. I'm like, oh my gosh, that was just so much fun. I loved doing that. Yeah, or I was able to learn this thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, or something that stood out to you, maybe something that was a challenge, and you were like you know what I did that?
Speaker 1:I'm gonna like get all emotional here again and you will too as soon as I'm done man.
Speaker 1:Bringing me into a few years ago, a girl that a friend of mine lost a baby and but they had her hand print and footprints and so she asked me to make her a nursery sign, and so I was able to use her hand print and footprint and cut them out with the scroll saw, wow. So it's really sweet that her actual hand print and footprint are on her sign. But then I'd like to go be extra and so I cut out like this size, teeny, tiny hands, so as a surprise, so that each of the parents, like, could hold her hand, and so they always have it. So I've since made a sign for their son and like, with his hand print and footprints to, but that will always stand out to me. Just, I love that I was able to do something more personal for them rather than just, yeah, this is what you ordered and paid for.
Speaker 2:But then here's just a little something extra that I got to you Wait, my gosh, you really have like that personal connection with them and you also love to Go above and beyond. It seems with clients, like if you just say that you put your heart into it, like you hear the story, you hear what they're requesting, but when you actually like have a connection with somebody you really like show that through and that's the difference between just Getting something from so-and-so. You don't get that special touch.
Speaker 2:You don't get that connection that human connection, and with you Absolutely do, and you feel that you're tearing up right now.
Speaker 1:I know I've had, I mean, several clients are are now friends and you know that I won in particular. I didn't know before she found me on Facebook. They were new to the area and I did her project and I remember going home and telling Colin I just really like this girl, like I could hang out with her. I wish we were friends and then we kept in contact and so we hung out once and her husband then told me you know she was saying every day you would leave. I just want to hang out with her.
Speaker 2:I wish she would say love her and I'm like and so now we're friends.
Speaker 1:And then there were two other clients that we were acquaintances before but didn't really know each other and then, since having worked on their projects, like we're now friends and we're couple friends and we'll go on double dates and do stuff, and so it's really cool that I get to make these personal connections. And it's not just I Don't know, you're hiring a Task rabbit to put together your IKEA bookcase or something.
Speaker 2:I don't know and.
Speaker 1:I think it helps being a woman too. You know, it's usually the women are the ones making the decisions, and so if you're hiring a man to come in and do whatever, you're not hanging around and chatting with him. No, I mean, maybe you are and that's me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly, but I'm probably not, yeah, and so, being that I'm a woman coming in and doing this, I think they feel more comfortable kind of hanging around and then we get to chatting and, you know, get to develop these relationships kind of, and and that's that's really important to me too, yeah, thank you for sharing that story.
Speaker 2:That was very touching and just sweet.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so even though it was small project you know I've done great big ones, but that one is just is really sweet and I was really honored that she asked me to even do that in the first place, and I'll just always remember that one.
Speaker 2:For people who are interested in getting something done customized like that. Where can people find you and see your work?
Speaker 1:so Pretty much my portfolio is my Instagram and it's Unfortunately sparrows dot house.
Speaker 1:There's someone got it someone like in England has made you know five posts 13 years ago. Darn it, but anyways, sparrows dot house. I'm sure if you just start typing sparrows house, it shows up sparrows house on Facebook or wwwsparrowshouse, and I'm sure it's not dot com. No, it's dot house, dot house. I have an inquiry form. I'm there, which I do ask, even on Instagram. I ask people to go there so I can keep my ducks in a row. You know if you have too many things going on at once, but yeah awesome, thank you, and you do Customization.
Speaker 2:As far as furniture goes, you said what it? What was it that you used to do? You could mention back then I. You switched from that to furniture.
Speaker 1:Smalls yes, like signs. Yes, yeah, we'll still do you still do that. Okay, I think we'll forget because I haven't done it, because people started seeing big things, and so that is what my Instagram feed kind of became so see, this is a reminder If anybody is looking for signs.
Speaker 1:I did just get an order the other day. Someone had and again it was word of mouth from a guy who I made his business sign, and so his sister-in-law contacted me. She has a tiny house and so she wants a couple signs for her tiny house. There you go. So I have that coming up, that I'll be doing. Yeah, so, but everything is. I mean, it's not like I'm going to Home Depot and buying a cabinet box and Customizing it by painting in color. I am building it from scratch, like yes so that is an order right there, and yeah, it's cool because then you can, we can do anything.
Speaker 1:And it's it's funny when people are like, well, what is it? Normally? It's like a, normally a 36 height and it's normally 24 depth. And I said, yes, normally Can literally do whatever size you I mean within Any size that you want. So you want it to only be 30 inches tall, we can do that. You want to be 40 inches tall? We can do that. Yeah, so I like people being able to have the options and I'd like to include them in it. Some people are very much whatever you think I'm sure it'll be fine. Okay, that's fine. And then other people you do have the other extremes.
Speaker 2:So much we're there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, very much Know what they want. Yes, but even like in in between, if we had a design set but something came up, I realized I need to tweak something, I Will reach out to the client just to let them know. Hey, this is going on, are you okay with that?
Speaker 1:Oh, sometimes yeah, and this one girl who were now friends. She said that when she was looking for a cabinet company, it was between me and this other company. But when she was chatting with me and I told her that how I will have her along for the whole, the whole process, she said that's what sold me you know this other company. I was gonna give them my measurements.
Speaker 1:They were going to make the design and then just come and put it in place and end of story, and so she said I really liked that you were more personal, you were going to allow me to be involved in the process, and then I also share a lot of what I'm doing in my stories. So then people can watch me build their stuff, watch me on Instagram or in person, install their things in their house and then she's working on my thing.
Speaker 2:Okay, cool, there she is.
Speaker 1:Hopefully they don't use it to like keep tabs on me.
Speaker 2:No, but maybe they feel like I know it's what's coming, yeah but, yeah, and then Last question if you could leave our listeners with one piece of advice or share anything that's in your heart that you would like for them to know, what would that be? Can be in regards to anything.
Speaker 1:That is a huge and loaded question. Yeah, listeners, as in is it mostly small business small business Yep.
Speaker 1:Again, I don't feel qualified to anybody and I think that maybe that is then what I'll leave you with is talking about imposter syndrome. I'm sure, I don't know, maybe other people don't experience it, maybe it's just me. Nope, I do it. I think we need to be reminded that other people do it too, and so I just started sub-leasing big shop space. So I've been working out of my home shop, which is about the size of this room, and it was a 2023 goal of mine to find big shop space, because I just have outgrown my space at home and it's, you know, rent around here is insane and all these other things, and I just it never happened.
Speaker 1:Then I got in touch, got connected with somebody on social media a small business thing, you know, just making those connections. He has 3000 square feet of wood shop space and he was looking to sub-lease some of it. And even when I was looking for space, I'm going to have to move all of my tools there it's. I'm going to have to go to Winchester to find something like affordable. You know all these things and it just never worked out. This guy's in Leesburg. He has 3000 square feet of space. The use of all of his tools is included. He has a spray paint room the size of my shop and a drying room. He has an assistant who, crazy enough, just lives one street over from me, and just all these things came into place. It's within my budget that I can afford it, and the first full day I worked there in February I came home and cried for, like the rest of the night.
Speaker 1:And Colin is like what is wrong with you? And I'm like I know nothing. I know nothing, I have no business being in business, like I should not be charging anybody for anything. I'm crap, I'm garbage, all the things because I just had spent some time talking with this shop owner and how much he knows just made me feel like how much I don't know. And so you know, colin, ramon, it's told me all the things that you know. We would tell somebody who's going through that and it's like you know it, but you don't know it when you're going through it and so just keep going and believe that you can.
Speaker 1:And believe that you can. Yeah, and I don't know. So I do think imposter syndrome comes on hard all the time, Even on the way here. On the way here, I'm like what, what am I doing? Like who am I that anybody would want to talk to me about anything? We want to talk to you. I love it. Yes, Talk to you all day.
Speaker 1:And but I just I think everybody does kind of go through that yes, yes, and I wish we talked about it more with each other, I think. So I guess my advice would be if you are feeling that way, do reach out and talk to somebody about it, because chances are that person's going to say, yeah, me too. Oh my gosh, I just got over that. Or oh, I just had to do this big thing and I was starting I wouldn't be able to do it, but, you know, put on my big girl pants and I figured it out.
Speaker 2:I'm glad, because I'm glad that you made it here and didn't have self-doubt, because you shared a lot of wisdom with me and I love your story.