Today we’d like to introduce you to Karla Pinkerton.
Hi Karla, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I feel my story can be broken up into three parts: vet bill, Cory’s accident and the POOL! In 2019 we purchased our home, I started my 4th year teaching , found out we were having our third little one and our family brought home a puppy.
Unfortunately, the puppy ( a lab) got into rat poison we had put out which led to a hefty vet bill our family was not prepared for. At that time my sister in-law was making shirts for her teacher friends, this seemed like a great option to pay off this bill. I started making spirits wear and school themed holiday shirts for the staff. It was a hit! I learned how to screen print and wanted a little more from the business- this led to learning about sublimation and the tools I needed. This was a game changer! I was able to print full color images on so many things! Mugs, keychains, shirts, hair ties, and coozies! I continued to experiment, learn and grow as customers would reach out and ask “can you make this?”
October 10th, 2020, my husband was in an off road accident that left him in the hospital for three weeks with nearly his whole left side of his body broken. This off the cuff, small business now became a way to make ends meet for the family. Thankfully, I had time I had from maternity leave ( thank you covid) I had never taken, I was now able to be home with the family and grow my business. The amazing community we call home took care of us in ways we couldn’t have imagined. Supporting and shopping through the holidays, to the nomination from H2 Financials annual Family “Ädoption”. Cory was determined- he hustled and persevered the next few months and was back to work in February.
Throughout the last year I needed to find a balance between mom, teacher and business owner. It was not working coming home and stressing on completing an order or trying to post just “one more thing”… 5 am mornings were now a thing. I committed to only working from 5-6:15 am daily during the week . This was a game changer. I found myself more at peace and more organized with customers and orders. Now of course there are days where I squeeze some work in, especially now during summer, but our family runs more smoothly with solid boundaries.
The next couple years, I would participate in craft fairs with my daughter by my side( my little mini me). My Husband was/is always there to make sure I had what I needed. He bought me my amazing Daisy’s Design easy up and was by my side loading and unloading the trailer to wherever we would go!!!! We are someone! At home pop ups became a thing! People would make it a point to come! What a feeling that was!
With these traumatic events now behind us, what was the business going to support next? A POOL! Next came the #pinkertonpoolfund.
A new and happy chapter to our life! And boy has it been worth the struggles we have faced! January 26th, 2023 we purchased the gazebo from Costco! Big purchase!
November 2023 Waylon ( 5 years old at the time) drove the escalator in with Dusty and broke ground! On March 23 around 2 am we had a full pool!
The memories we have made are priceless! We are not enjoying the second summer with our pool, creating memories with an amazing group of friends and family! The business continues to grow! Custom orders, same day, and bulk. My customers are truley tyhre best!
Many people are looking for something to do… another way to make money..This was not the case with Daisy’s Designs. It came about in a time of need. The passion is still there and growing. I never realized I had this type of creativity. I could not have done it without my family.. my husbands support.
It has inspired our daughter to run her own bead business and find ways to make her own money!
Cheers to many more years of growing, learning and expanding!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The struggles our family faced were the hardest. Learning how to balance the business, a husband, and three kids was a struggle.
The year Cory got hurt I was off work through the holidays. I had run into school to drop off the kids gifts ( adorable photo mugs of the kids from the first day of school) I was so excited!
While there, I received a message for an oder the customer needed same day. Awesome, I can do that I told myself!
I loaded up and zoomed home.
Well, I zoomed home going faster than I should have down Watt.. We all know how that goes. No ticket was given (boy was I grateful!) , I had his daughter the following year in Kinder and now that officer is a dear friend of ours! I will never forget that moment. I learned to slow down! Not just on the road but in life.
As I grew and continue to grow, I learned how to balance time, to say no, and how to set hours. During the school year I am up at 5 and give myself until 6:15, then I am mommy. If need be, I stay awake and prep orders when the kids are in bed.
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?
This is my full time job 🙂 I am a full time mommy of three Bailey (9), Waylon (7) and Conway ( 5) and Transitional kindergarten teacher!
I knew in kindergarten with Mrs. Brazie, this is where I would be! I will be entering my 10th year teaching here in August. It truly is a blessing. I wake up and do what I love! Yes we need to work, but when you do what you love, it isn’t work, and my little love bugs know and can feel it!
I met one of my dearest friends teaching! Taylor Ennis and I hit to off from the second she walked in the door! We have been partners since she had started and have started and opened the new transitional kinder program!
In 2020 when I gave birth to my third baby, she gave birth to her first. While we were both over 10 days early, Cory, my husband received a photo of Emery, born 4-1-2020, my husband then sent back Conway Patrick born just two hours ago after Emery Danielle ! Our birthday twins are just another symbol of our bond!
Now my small business, I love that I can create memories. Darn near every item I make is custom and requested. I get to make things for others that are meaningful and heartfelt. A custom shirt is a lasting memory for others. Something that has had thought and emotions put into it! From the 48 50th annual camp out to our R- Town logo on a flag. When you grab that shirt from your closest it brings back memories! I love that!
Creating hats for our local coffee shop- a hat isn’t just a hat for them! When someone walks up and buys coffee, looks at that hat and buys it…that means that individual thinks that much of your business that they want to wear your brand! I bring that feeling to them! I get to make something others want to represent!
Custom ornaments… Vicky Watkins! Every year I making her at least 15 custom ornaments for her family and friends! I take her ideas and create memories for her and her family! Priceless.
Laser engraved ornaments for Christmas, photo key chains, custom tape measures, or prom robes… I never know when I am going to make and my customers trust me!
Proud? Our community is home! One thing that makes my heart happy and something I am so proud of, is giving back to our community. When someone reaches out to “your” business and asked for a donation, I am not only giving a gift to others, but I feel like am are someone! It is something small I can do that makes such an impact for others. It is a very gratifying feeling.
Within our community are many amazing small business that do similar, if not the same things I do. We are so unique and different in our own ways. I have to say I am proud of the support we give each other! If I needed saving in the laser engraving department, I know I could contact Tori with Ava + Oakley Co and I have her back on our program we use! When it comes to prints for shirts, I just teamed up with Raks.laserstudio as my DTF print girls! This is awesome! We support each other!
As time goes on, I love when customers message and say “can you make this?” My customers and our relationship drive and set this small business apart from others. I make what they want, what they need and see. All with a simple message!
It is relationship with trust. It is one we have built over time. It grows and changes as the years go by.
You all are what sets Daisy’s Desings apart. We have a relationship and I am charish and am so thankful for it! Thank you!
A shirt, an ornament, a last minute coozie for an event… it is such a fulfilling gift my customers give me 🙂
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
People are often surprised when they find out I have a full time job, have three kids and only work on my small business in the mornings! Ofter I hear “how do you do it!?” ” She is super woman” , ” Do you ever sleep?” . Trust me I do! I smile and say thank you. This is a fulfilling passion I did not expect find but here we are, growing and yes, making sure I get sleep!
Pricing:
- Custom Tee shirts start at $20
- Laser Ornaments $10-$15
- Hats $18- sun star hats- mens – ponytail hats- trucker foam
- Photo Ornaments $10
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daisysdesigns2020?fbclid=IwY2xjawLNhEVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE2TnZ4elVhdGg2SVQyYW5ZAR6ECqKxEP89sH8eYO_3_5VIgHtNsbPMT9TZ-Bl8U5ey8ctP-TQzrfb6jtEtyQ_aem_Q4Ny-XftkfslQZY_VJJ82Q
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daisysdesigns2020
