I’ve been thinking about this post for a while. A lot of people ask me “I love what you make but I could never turn this into real money” or “I’m just starting, it feels impossible.” So here’s my super honest, messy story. No fancy tips, just how it actually happened for me.
I started exactly where most of you are right now.
Two years ago I was broke, stressed, and my closet was full of “I’ll fix this later” pieces. I’d watch pretty transformation videos at 2 a.m. and feel inspired for five minutes, then do nothing. My first project? I completely destroyed a cute blouse because I cut without measuring. I almost gave up that same day.
But I kept going anyway. Tiny projects. One altered T-shirt. One patched jeans. One weird bag that looked terrible but I still used it. I posted everything here, even the ugly ones. You guys were so nice about it. That encouragement kept me going more than anything.
There were so many moments I wanted to quit.
Like the month I spent $80 on fabric and ruined half of it. Or when I listed my first pieces for sale and got zero views for three weeks. I remember sitting on my floor surrounded by half-finished projects thinking “this is stupid, nobody will buy my weird upcycles.”
But I kept showing up. Not every day — sometimes I’d disappear for two weeks and feel guilty. Then I’d come back and make one small thing. That’s it. Just one.
Slowly things started changing.
People began asking if they could buy what I made. Then someone commissioned a custom remake. Then another. I started an Instagram just for fun and somehow got a few sales from there. Nothing huge, but enough to buy more thrift finds and keep going.
One year in I was still scared to call it a “business.” I was just “someone who sometimes sells stuff.” Then last Christmas I paid my rent mostly from upcycle orders and custom alterations. I actually cried in my kitchen like an idiot.
It didn’t happen because I suddenly got really good. It happened because I didn’t stop.
I still make mistakes all the time. I still have projects that don’t sell. I still feel like a beginner on hard days. But now I also have a little income doing something I genuinely love.
If you’re just starting and it feels overwhelming, I want you to know this:
You don’t need to be perfect!!
You don’t need to post every day!!
You don’t need to know everything right now!!
Just keep making things. Even the ugly ones. Especially the ugly ones. They teach you the most.
Two years sounds long, but it goes faster than you think. And every tiny step forward counts.
I’m still figuring it out every single day. But I’m so glad I didn’t quit when it felt impossible.
You’ve already started. That’s the hardest part.Keep going. I’m rooting for you so hard.