Moms on Mondays - Cara from Pocket Full of Posey

This week I am featuring Cara from A Pocket Full of Posey.  She makes the cutest, personalized, hand-stitched clothing and you can custom make something with her too.  Check out her post and then go shop!

I'm Cara and I run A Pocket Full of Posey, named after my crazy daughter Posey. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook. I make hand stitched appliqué shirts and other items. If you can appliqué it, I'm all about it. I've always loved to embroider and do appliqué, and have made my kid's birthday shirts since they were born. 

Last winter I decided, what the heck, I should open a shop and sell stuff. I specialize in custom kid's birthday shirts, and think it is beyond awesome to get an order from a kid who wants a unicorn and their name and lots of purple and a bunny - and know I can make that happen. Every item I make is drawn, cut, and sewn by me, completely by hand. I prefer the look of hand-made vs. machine appliqué or embroidery. I love that each item I make takes time, attention and is unique. Even if someone orders a shirt that I have made before, it will never be completely the same because each item I make is made-to-order. 

I grew up in Milwaukee but I've lived in Austin for over 10 years now. I've been married to my best friend for 7 years and have a 5 year old girl and a 2 year old boy. I received a degree in Math from a tiny college in Milwaukee named Alverno, then moved down to Austin where I taught high school Math for 7 years.  {I teach high school English!}  

I quit teaching full time when I had my son; but, in addition to my shop, I also mentor new Statistics teachers and teach weekend math sessions for AP students. I love math, sewing, my family, and Scandal . . . not necessarily in that order. If you would have told me when I was younger I would spend my days doing laundry and sewing, I may have not believed you. But man am I happy about it!

A Pocket Full of Posey is 100% me. I put my kids to bed at night and then I usually sew for 2-3 hours while I watch bad TV. Sometimes I sew at the park while my kids play, or at the bounce house while my son goes up and down the slide 500 times. I'm lucky that I am able to still be a full time mom and also do something that I totally love. Sometimes I can't believe how lucky I am. My favorite part of what I do is becoming a part of someone's special event. I love getting an order for a birthday or holiday shirt, or a new baby, or a grandma who wants a matching shirt with their grandkid, and being able to create something with love that will become a part of those memories. If I can make a shirt for a little girl turning 6 that is exactly what she wants and she's full of joy wearing it on her birthday, well . . . that's just so lovely!

I look forward to the next year and growing my little business. I plan to start an Etsy shop and have more ready-to-wear items. My favorite orders are custom orders, however, so what that will look like is yet to be seen. I want to learn to quilt as well, so that's on my list of goals for the next year as well. Mostly, I just want to keep making my customers happy and creating unique items for wonderful people everywhere. 

Thanks Cara, I hope you continue to live your dream!