Meet Megan Dougherty | Nine Thimbles

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Dougherty and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, I had never even imagined starting my own business. I’ve always been told “You’re so creative!” and I think 2020 really catapulted me into something else.

In August of 2020, I lost my grandma to Stage 4 breast cancer. She had been battling it for years and we both knew that it was coming, but I wasn’t ready for it.

From the time I was about 11, she taught me everything. We couldn’t pass a fabric store without her wanting to stop and go in “just to see” what they had. My whole life, I had watched her make quilts for other people and we had worked together on different ones up until when the chemo made her joints stiff and her fingers blister. Then, she had a bad fall and ended up having to stay in a therapy facility. With all of the COVID-19 restrictions, I wasn’t able to visit her and I got the call at 1AM that she had unexpected passed. I fell into a dark, dark place. The only thing I could really do to help me still feel close to her was to pick up a needle and thread.

What is now my own business started out as a grieving process. I was making things left and right.; staying up until 2AM sewing just because it kept my mind focused and I was too occupied to think about the things I couldn’t change. I began sharing pictures of my hand embroidery on my Instagram and my friends and family loved it. So many people reached out to me asking if I’d sell pieces to them or if I’d consider even making another one like it for them. The feedback was surprising and I just decided to open up an Etsy shop and post a few pieces for sale. It felt good being able to share my work with others and in a way, carry on my grandma’s legacy. I ended up making my first sale within the first hour of announcing the opening of my shop.

When she passed, she left me a small bag that held 9 metal thimbles she had used her entire life. And that’s how Nine Thimbles was born.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am definitely proud of everything I’ve accomplished in the brief time that I have. I started my business towards the end of September in 2020. Within those 8 short months, I’ve sold over 150 of my hand embroidered items, created a raffle to support other local artists by donating one of my custom home portraits as the prize, hosted a successful online auction of my work, reached almost 1,100 followers on my business Instagram page, created a waiting list because my items were in such high demand, designed my own logo and business cards, perfected my shipping and packaging, participated as an art vendor in a festival, and I have my pieces sold in-store at a local small business. All while being a full-time stay at home mom of a 5 year old and a 2 year old… during a pandemic.

Like I said, I never could’ve imagined this would happen. I absolutely love what I do and it’s crazy to think about what life would be like if 2020 wasn’t so hard on us all. Where would we be? I’m definitely stronger from it all. It truly brings me so much joy to not only get to show off a skill that I learned from my grandma, but for others to find joy in my creations. I’ve received multiple emails from people stating how the recipient of a piece I made cried when they saw it. It blows my mind.

A lesson I have learned along the way is to value myself, in more than one way. As an artist, you have to value your work. Don’t be afraid to charge what you really feel a piece is worth. You spend money on the materials. You spend your time on the designing and creation of it. You are not a mass corporation. Your time and energy are valuable. If someone can’t recognize that, just wait. Someone else out there will. Also, value your time. You can say no.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Something fun to check out would definitely be the High Museum of Art. They have so many different events and exhibitions! There’s something for everyone. As far as food, I’d say check out Zunzi’s. My husband and I lived in Savannah for 5 years and the original hole-in-wall Zunzi’s down there was a favorite spot of ours. It’s a South African- inspired menu and is one of those places with food that you get cravings for. Adam Richman from Man vs. Food even came to the Savannah location for his Best Sandwich in America show.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My late grandma, Lois Merritt. And my husband for fully supporting me every step of the way on this new small business adventure. My job shutdown during the pandemic and once things started taking off with my hand embroidery, we decided that this would be my new thing and I wouldn’t need to return to my old job. He’s been my cheerleader the entire way.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NineThimbles

Instagram: ninethimbles

Other: Email: hellothimbles@gmail.com