Entrepreneurial Endeavors: Flibby Pie Design

Several people have recently asked about my blog's new layout, so I am very happy to share an interview with the web designer who created the lovely, organized new look. Katie is a nineteen year old homeschool graduate from Alabama who has a website and design business, Flibby Pie Design. Katie:

What does your business offer? I am a freelance graphic and web designer, and I offer custom blog/website and graphic designs! You can find me at http://www.flibbypiedesign.net/.

How did you get started in your business? I started getting interested in web design when I was around 11 or 12 - it was then that I really discovered the internet, and whenever I would get online I used to play these online adopt-a-pet games (kind of like 'Webkins'). The pets had their own pages that you could customize and I ended up spending more time adjusting the pages than I did playing the games! Then, in 2005 my Mom started a blog and I spent hours in Photoshop and online fixing up her template through trial and error. It was about 2007 when I started making graphics and fixing up blogs for other people, and the business just grew from there!

How my business name came about is a bit of a funny story! When my Mom started her blog she gave each of her children a different blog nickname. Mine was 'Flibbertigibbet', which came from of my love of 'The Sound of Music.' After using it in blog postings for quite a while, it quickly got shortened to just "Flibby." Then, when it was time to name my business, I knew wanted to use Flibby in the title, but it needed a little something extra. Just "Flibby Design" didn't sound quite right. My sister just happened to be baking a pie that day, and one of my siblings suggested "Flibby Pie." I thought it had a nice ring to it.

What marketing avenues have you pursued? Do you have future ideas to "grow" your business and what you offer? I do plan to grow my business as I learn more about design. I would like to be able to offer designs on more blogging platforms. As far as advertising and marketing, I just recently created a facebook page, and the more designs I have out on the web the better! I'm always changing my business website too. As I improve as a designer I constantly update it. I can be very fickle!

Does your family play any part in your business? My family plays a large part in helping me by allowing me to have a lot of time to devote to it, and encouraging me. I also use them to bounce ideas and designs off of. As far as doing the actual designing, they don't help me so much with that. ;-)

Do you feel that being homeschooled has benefited you as you've begun this business? If so, how? I definitely feel that homeschooling has benefited me! For one thing, had I been at public school all day, I would never have had the opportunity to develop these interests! I also wouldn't have the entreprenuerial mindset that my parents have instilled in me. They have always stressed the importance of doing all work as unto the Lord, instead of taking an easy way out. With web design comes lots of tiny details that some people would rather skip over because no one will notice, but I attribute my desire to finish a job well to my parents and their teaching.

How do you spend your time not related to your business? I always have a lot going on! Playing piano, beekeeping, studying (I'm working toward a degree with CollegePlus), sewing, writing stories, drawing, listening to music, participating in church activities, reading, playing outside (I still act like I'm 10 years old at times), taking care of and playing with my siblings, gardening, and holding any babies I can get my hands on.

What are your future goals? Lordwilling, I would like to get married and be a stay at home wife/mother someday. Some other possible goals I have for the future include writing a book, going on trips, and running a 5k. But other than that I'm going to keep at my business and whatever else my hands find to do - and do it with all my might. Hopefully all for the glory of God!