Crafty Little Dreams Claimed

India Carter is the face behind the shop Crafty Little Dreams, which specializes in the creation of jewelry that is inspired by food! Originally from Pittsburgh, India is now residing in Central Florida. After launching her Etsy shop in late 2019 and quickly completing 10 sales—which is a big deal when competing against thousands of other online shops—it is clear that this Gem is well on her way to achieving her dream of becoming a successful business owner!

Discovering Her Talent

India first discovered her creative passion when she was a child. During playtime with her cousins, she would often add certain elements to their games that would “enhance the playing experience.” And after learning how to make rag dolls with her grandmother, she realized something life-changing:

Her creative development was now on the fast track! India’s new hobby became finding hands-on design projects to get involved in.

Why Food?

The unique idea for creating food-inspired jewelry stemmed from India’s research into how to create miniature dollhouse dioramas for her rag dolls. As she studied how to create miniature food representations, she soon realized there was an untapped market for food-inspired jewelry!

India has grown and developed a wide audience, ranging from grandmothers looking for one-of-a-kind earrings for their grandchildren to small business owners looking for something novel that represents their niche. Case in point: one of her current clients is the owner of an orthodontist office requesting custom-designed teeth earrings!

Creating Meaning Through Her Work

What truly defines this particular Gem is the meaning that India generates through her work. She believes that items are meant to be more than just products; they are actually unique extensions of yourself. With a passion for putting positive energy out into the world through the pieces she creates, India’s products are always packaged with inspiring quotes displayed on cute magnets. Also, the rag dolls India continues to make are based on her faith—something she holds near and dear to her heart.

Challenges and Triumphs

In the beginning, India was apprehensive about starting her own business. Her fears centered around self-doubt, defined by thoughts such as “Can I really do this?” and “Does anyone want to buy my items?” For a time, these thoughts held her back. But with perseverance, she later learned how to overcome those criticisms and move forward, in large part thanks to the support of her friends and family. Their shared excitement about her jewelry would often help her overcome her hesitancy to introduce a new product to the market.

With self-doubt out of the way, some of India’s current struggles strike a more logistical chord. With an average of about eight hours to create a rag doll and one to two hours to produce a custom jewelry piece, India’s biggest concern now is committing the time necessary to consistently post on social media and update her listings—an obstacle common to many businesses as they grow and expand. But that’s where two words found in her company’s name come into play: Crafty and Dreams! India truly loves the crafts she makes, and her passion has turned into her dream job. So you can bet that nothing will stop this Gem on her path to making Crafty Little Dreams a household name in Florida and beyond, thanks to the reach of the internet! Be sure to follow her journey on IG @craftylittledreams!