HankOrange: How’d you get that name?

Hank + Orange.

Two things I love.  My son and my favorite color.

But HankOrange is much more than a kid and a color. 

HankOrange was established in 2010 during a time when I needed something for ‘me’.  My little man, ‘Hank,’ was a few months past his one-year birthday.   My husband was gone on a 12-month deployment to Iraq.  I had wanted an embroidery machine, so, as a little ‘deployment’ gift to myself, I purchased one.  My machine isn’t super fancy or high tech, but it does what I need it to do {most of the time, anyway!}. 

Sewing and designing with my embroidery machine became a creative outlet for me.  I created custom items for friends and family.  I realized I enjoyed the process- and the sense of accomplishment-  so I decided to open up an Etsy shop {why not, right?!}.

What started as a little hobby has turned into a business that can travel with me wherever I go.  As I mentioned before, I’m a military spouse.  And being part of the military community means moving, and often.

My grandma recently told me, prior to our last move, “as long as you have your sewing machine to hide behind, you will be just fine.”  Her words ring true.  One thing that remains a constant for me, is my sewing machine {and my running shoes, but that’s another post!}.   Although, at times, I probably ‘hide’ behind my machine a bit too much. 

I love to sew.  I love to create. Having an indie business has its up and downs, just like life.  Nothing is perfect.

Sure, there are plenty of times when I get frustrated.  Frustrated that a project is taking too long, or not going the way I had imagined it would, frustrated my machine just ate another project {and it is quite possible I’ve punched my machine before!}.

But when someone shares that what I created is ‘better than they’d imagined,’ or ‘perfect’ for the recipient, the sense of accomplishment is overwhelming and is the reason I do what I do.   It is the reason I love to sew and to create!  The fulfillment and the process of it all is what keeps me motivated, what keeps HankOrange going. 

The frustrations are overshadowed and forgotten when a customer is beyond happy. 

HankOrange is much more than a kid and a color.

HankOrange is a story.  HankOrange is a brand.

Please share in the HankOrange story!