Daily Inspiration: Meet Micah Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Micah Smith. 

Hi Micah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I first learned to crochet in my early 20s. My big sister Sonya taught me. I really enjoyed that we could spend quality time together. I stopped crocheting for a little while because I started to get bored. 

I then moved to Virginia Beach in the fall of 2015 due to me dating a guy in the Navy. I didn’t have friends so I was trying to keep busy. I found a yarn shop. I completely fell in love with a cardigan. I was told that it was knit so I immediately wanted to learn. I purchased the tools and did just that. I haven’t stopped since. 

I later moved to Whidbey Island in Washington where I’ve met lots of great people by starting a group on Facebook called Stitch and a Bitch of Whidbey. It was great being able to meet people and enjoy their company. 

I moved once again but this time I went home to my small town Gramercy in 2018 and in 2019 I moved to Baton Rouge. I realized that there isn’t many local hand dyers in this area. And the only yarn shop in Baton Rouge was closing. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to start Fleur De Stitch’d. 

I started dying in the fall of 2019. Everything about FDS is French and New Orleans culture. I asked my friends in Washington if they would like to carry my yarn (2020) and they said yes. (All Wound Up. Bazaar Girls) I was so ecstatic. I thrive to make sure my dyes are consistent. I’ve also had opportunities to travel to Colorado which now I have two shops there as well. (Ewe and Me, Colorful Yarn) I have done craft shows and trunk shows. One day I’ll have a Yarn Truck and travel across country. 

Our mission is 

To provide a healthy environment for mind, body, and creativity. 

To bring people together no matter how different we look or culture through the love of fiber crafts. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I think my 3 biggest challenges is finding what colors works and what people like. I’m drawn to blues and purples so a lot of colorways have that. I want to expand my creative mind and step out my comfort zone. I’m also a single mother which have its challenges on its own. I have a lack of support from my family. My nanny is very supportive. I think I just want to prove everybody wrong that doubts me. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an Independent Hand Dyer. I create beautiful colors on yarn to knit or crochet into garments. Seattle Skies is one of my favorite colorways. One of my Instagram followers actually named it. 

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I lived with my nanny and uncle when I was in kindergarten. They had a dog named Sandy. Every morning my nanny would cook grits, eggs, bacon, and sausage. And I was definitely eating red beans and rice for dinner. Anything I wanted cooked; my Nanny cooked it. I remember walking to the levee with my uncle in New Orleans East. Sandy would come with us too. We would stop and get a snowball and walk about 2 miles on the levee. Every time a train would pass, we will signal for the captain to blow his horn. My nanny is one of the few people I can call for anything. She made me the woman I am today. I cry every time she tells me she’s proud of me. 

Contact Info:

• Email: ContactUs@fleurdestitchd.com
• Website: fleurdestitchd.com
• Instagram: Fleur_De_Stitchd
• Facebook: Fleur_De_Stitchd

Image Credits
Mariah Banks
Micah Smith