FROM ZERO TO $4.43 MILLION: THE ASTOUNDING RISE OF A SIDE HUSTLE SENSATION!

Hold onto your knitting needles, folks! Krista Ray, a seemingly ordinary lifestyle blogger from New York, just flipped the script on what it means to chase your dreams! In a jaw-dropping twist, her side hustle, Penny Linn Designs, exploded into a needlepoint empire, raking in a staggering $4.43 MILLION in 2024 alone!

HOW A WOULD-BE HOBBY TURNED INTO A CASH COW

It all started in September 2020, with Ray selling $25,000 worth of needlepoint canvases within TWO HOURS of launching her brand! Sounds glorious, right? Well, her dad crunched the numbers, revealing that each painstakingly painted 4-inch canvas took a whopping SIX HOURS to create over the course of four months! With $7,000 sunk into supplies, her profits were a meager $2 an hour! Yikes!

“I thought, ‘This could never be my job,’” said Ray, now 33. But when the pandemic shut down the world, people flocked to crafts like moths to a flame!

FROM SOCIAL MEDIA TO SALES: THE UNSTOPPABLE FORCE OF CREATIVITY

Fast forward to late 2022, and suddenly, this side gig became her full-time path to glory. The year 2024 saw Penny Linn Designs cruising to a mind-boggling $369,000 per MONTH! Can you say, “Cha-ching!”?

As demand soared, Ray hired 34 employees and even opened a 5,000-square-foot retail paradise in Norwalk, Connecticut—just a stone’s throw from her New York beginnings. The store features everything from chic canvases adorned with champagne bottles to Taylor Swift quotes—because who doesn’t want to stitch their fave pop culture icons?

CRAFTING YOUR WAY TO A FORTUNE: A PANDEMIC PHENOMENON

Ray was riding the wave of a crafty revolution. Needlepoint surged in popularity during the pandemic as those stuck at home reached for the nearest needle and thread. Despite some physical fabric stores closing, online marketplaces like Etsy were raking in a record $2.8 BILLION!

Young, hip, and social media-savvy, Ray zeroed in on a customer base primarily under 35, crafting accessible patterns that instantly captivated the masses. TikTok even sent needlepoint items viral in 2023, proving that this craft wasn’t just a fleeting fling.

FROM GRANDMA’S GIFT TO A MASSIVE SUCCESS STORY!

It was her grandmother who first introduced her to this age-old art, but Ray reignited her passion in 2020 when fashion blogging felt too frivolous during a global crisis. "I enjoyed creating something during a time when everything felt scary," she confessed.

For ten solid months, she churned out orders, all while binge-watching Schitt’s Creek. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was grinding!

Today, Ray’s new venture may not yet match her previous income peaks, but she’s found fulfillment beyond those lofty blogging heights, especially after relocating to Connecticut and starting a family.

STUNNING GRAND OPENING—A REALITY CHECK ON GROWTH

On March 1, her retail wonderland opened its doors, and shockingly, customers began queuing as early as 5 A.M. just to be the first inside! What a testament to her empire! “I wasn’t prepared to see our online community show up like that in real life,” Ray gushed.

With 50,000 followers on Instagram, she’s building not just a brand, but a thriving community dedicated to the playful world of needlepoint. Despite the odds stacked against her and the late nights crafting the perfect piece, Krista Ray is proving there’s no stopping this sensational side hustle.

What’s stopping YOU from joining the army of crafty entrepreneurs? Grab your needles, and let’s stitch our way to success! 🌟