My shop really opened in January of 2012, contrary to what my shop page says :).
After graduating college with a degree in Theatre Arts, I struggled to find a job that truly fulfilled me. I worked briefly at a theatre as an apprentice (if you know that word, you know why this could not be a career XD ).
I needed a flexible job because I work in theatre (mostly acting in children's theatre). I thought it would be really great to run my own business making clothes and other items, but I didn't think it was feasible.
After sometime, I found myself working towards a career in insurance sales. About 4 months into this endeavor, I realized I was working my butt off towards something I didn't really care about. I guess I had a moment of 'Why am I doing this when I should be doing that?". I decided that there was no reason that I couldn't apply my work to what I really love and am passionate about (and I think I do well!)
Since then, I've been working towards building my business up. I have learned a lot since starting my business, and I'm continuously learning. I'm always working on something, but I'm still able to do theatre work too. I also babysit the niece and nephews.
My business has definitely grown and evolved since it started. I like to make all sorts of items. In the beginning, I used to make anything and everything. Eventually, I decided to downscale to just making accessory items, in an attempt to keep things cohesive. I'm still able to make a great variety of items.
I love to make warm things for cold weather. I like to play with interesting color combinations, and I like to create my own patterns. While some of my items tend to follow similar structures, every item has something that makes it unique. I usually make up my patterns, so rarely do I ever make the exact item twice.

And about the name Lil Minda, it was given to me by my parents' god child when he was about 2 and first learning to talk. He would call me Lil Manna because, well, he was making fun of my short stature... It just stuck.

Running a business is not easy, but it's so incredibly rewarding. Choosing to take that plunge is one of the best decisions I've ever made.

You can see more about me on my profile page: http://www.etsy.com/people/LilMindas?ref=owner_profile_leftnav

Check out my Blog for more photos and updates: http://lilmindasarticles.com/

Thanks for checking out my story. Don't forget to check out my shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/LilMindas