Meet Cassandra Arteaga | Embroidery Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cassandra Arteaga and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cassandra, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I’d say the most important factor behind my success with HazyLilFlower and the reason I have been successful would be by staying authentic as possible to myself and my craft. I don’t try and think about it as, “what is going to make more money?”. I create when I feel inspired that day or create things that I would personally like and would wear. If the audience and customers fall in love with it then it’s just a plus. I feel that people can tell when you’re creating just to try and make sales. I don’t go for trendy, I go for what feels true to me and for the love of creating.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is very much inspired by nature and the beautiful things I witness around me. I’m obsessed with flowers, mushrooms, and anything whimsical. I think what sets me apart from everyone is that I do all of my work by hand. I have an embroidery machine but I feel that hand embroidery adds personality and character to my work that if anyone else tried to replicate it, it would be different in its own way. People have told me you can feel the love that was put into the pieces they’ve gotten from me and it’s great and I hope they do every time. It’s very meditating for me, I’m an anxious person and embroidery really helps quiet the mind and zone in. The thing I’m most proud of on my journey so far has been being able to sell my art at a consignment store called Dreamland Arts + Community when it was open. It really showed me what I was capable of doing and succeeding in if I wanted to branch out into a store. Not being scared of rejection and just going for it has really helped me professionally. I think it’s worse to not try at all and always think about the, “what if’s”. I do feel I had an advantage starting off during the pandemic. I was able to give this all my time and attention and really work on my craft. I think the biggest challenge has been trying not to slack off working for myself. It’s so much easier to get distracted and side tracked I have to remind myself that I want this more than a 9-5 working for someone else. I’ve learned how to be my own boss, really tap into the business side of things, and be a one woman show balancing everything (social life, trying to create content for HazyLilFlower, packing, customer service, shipping, resting when needed). I want the world to know that you can do anything as long as you are being true to yourself and have a passion for whatever it is you are doing. Passion will drive you and take you far.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My absolute favorite place to go to when I have free time is the lake, that’s where I’d take them. Grabbing a sandwich and favorite drink at the local grocery store then heading to the lake is my jam. It’s so peaceful and serene with beautiful views. You can read a book, get in the water, eat some food, work on your art. I love bringing my embroidery and working on it. It’s the best. If there’s some live music that night then that’s a plus!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would actually shoutout my boyfriend Christian for pushing me to take the embroidery route. Before any of this, I had seen a reel of things to do during the pandemic. One was hand embroidering a butterfly on a shirt and the other was making jewelry. I had asked him which I should try and he suggested I do the embroidery because everyone makes jewelry. I guess I should shoutout that video as well. I ended up embroidering a butterfly on some overalls and didn’t know I would fall in love with the craft. I started embroidering on hats, posting them on Instagram just like a “hey look what I made!” and soon my friends were wanting me to make one for them. A few months later I started selling them on Depop then ended up making an Etsy for HazyLilFlower and that’s where my business truly started. I also would like to give a shoutout to my friends and family who’ve supported me in the beginning and along the way. It always feels extra nice when those closest to you cheer you on and support you.

Website: https://hazylilflower.etsy.com/

Instagram: hazylilflower