Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Rapp and Michelle Silberman. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Nicole and Michelle met in early 2020 months before the initial lockdowns began of the Global Pandemic. Their story begins in Vicenza, Italy, as their husbands, both active-duty military, were stationed there. They initially connected through a mutual love of knitting, and early on, Michelle introduced Nicole to spinning and processing wool into yarn. Their adventures spanned across the region of Northern Italy as they visited small farms and learned about local sheep and alpaca fiber.
Nearing the end of their European tour, Nicole had the brilliant idea of opening a mobile yarn shop. She asked Michelle to join in the venture and her response was a resounding “yes!” A 1960s vintage Italian Ape was sourced and retrofitted to hold skeins of yarn and notions needed for knitters and crocheters. Together, Michelle and Nicole worked on the design of the truck and sourced independent yarn dyers and artisans to fill the truck with handmade items.
Since May of 2022, Sheep 2 Stitch has been operating in and around Augusta, Georgia, selling hand-dyed yarns and notions. You can also find community meet-ups and classes in knitting, crochet, weaving, and a variety of fiber crafts.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Entrepreneurship has been a challenging and rewarding endeavor. There is always a balance between doing and sharing the craft that we love with the demands of running a business. Time management, learning new software, and keeping up with new technology are just a few examples of some of the challenges we address often. But the challenges are part of what we do and as a whole, running Sheep 2 Stitch and being a part of the local crafting community is meaningful.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Sheep 2 Stitch has a wide variety of skills and products to offer. We are very focused on providing quality yarns and experiences. We rely on our mobile business to more easily connect with the community.
Nicole has taken a lot of teaching opportunities this year. We have partnered with a local coffee shop to teach group crochet classes. Nicole has volunteered with the Girl Scouts to teach beginning weaving. She also gives private lessons in knitting and crochet. Sheep 2 Stitch hosts a weekly meet-up at the Savannah River Brewing Company in August, GA.
Michelle has been naturally dyeing yarn for the business. She uses dyes such as Indigo, Black Walnut, Onion Skins, and many other plants. She also teaches the fiber arts at our yearly knitting retreat.
You can find Nicole with the yarn truck every Saturday at the Evans Farmers Market.
What does success mean to you?
In a small creative business, I define success as creating unique and meaningful products and services that bring joy or inspiration. Success means building a loyal customer base and fostering a supportive, collaborative environment. It also includes continuous learning and innovation to keep the creative offerings fresh and relevant. Ultimately, success in a small creative business is about achieving a blend of artistic fulfillment and financial viability while making a positive impact on the community and industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sheep2stitch.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheep2stitch/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheep2stitch/
Image Credits
Dustin Williams Photography
