Nicky Leighton – Little Light Stitchery

This week we caught up with Nicky from Little Light Stitchery to find out more about her experience as a female-founder of a creative business...

What do you do? 

I’m an embroiderer! I stitch funny, cute, inspirational and rude things onto beautiful fabric. I also want to share my love of embroidery, of making something with your own hands, through the kits and patterns that I sell and the online workshops and social stitching sessions that I host. 

What is your favourite thing about working in the creative industry? 

It has to be the amazing sense of community. When I first started my small business, I was worried that I might be lonely, but actually I feel like I have a whole army of colleagues behind me! 

What has been the biggest the challenge in your career so far?

This is tricky as there have been quite a few! I think my biggest personal challenge has been, and still is, having confidence in myself. Firstly having the confidence to leave my safe civil engineering career behind and step out on my own, and then almost every day since then, having the belief that this is what I should be doing. 

What has been the biggest highlight in your career so far?

Seeing my products in brick and mortar shops gives me a real thrill! A lot of my business is run online so seeing my hoops and kits available to buy in person is really exciting. I can’t wait to see shops reopening and people returning to our high streets. 

Who is the most inspirational woman to you? Did they inspire you to follow a career in the creative industry?

I don’t mean for this to sound cheesy, but I have to say my Mum. She was self employed for her entire working life, running a needlecraft business and I learnt pretty much all that I know technically from her (and my Dad). When I was deciding whether to leave my previous career, she sat me down and quietly said that I should go for it. It was completely unexpected, but I knew then that if she had faith in me, then I could at least try my very best to make this work.  

What is your advice for women whop want to start a career in the creative industry? 

Do your own thing. It should be something that you feel passionately in and that love for your art will be the foundation of your business. It is so easy nowadays to compare yourself to others, to similar businesses, but you are on your own journey and no one else is you. 

Nicky,

Little Light Stitchery.