Ep. 32: Why Diversification Is the Key to Surviving as a Creative Entrepreneur with Sophie Timms

Today, Stacie sits down with UK-based embroidery artist and educator Sophie Timms, founder of Mindful Mantra Embroidery and the Bloom Embroidery Academy. Sophie shares her inspiring journey from studying law to building a thriving creative business with multiple income streams, including a high-retention membership of nearly 200 embroidery enthusiasts. Whether you're dreaming of making a living from your art or already on your way, this episode is packed with wisdom about following your intuition, building a community, and crafting a business that supports your life.

 

Today on Art + Audience:

• Career pivot during a pandemic: Sophie shares how she went from studying law to picking up embroidery during lockdown, and never looked back.

• Letting the audience lead: Her product line grew organically by paying attention to what her followers wanted most.

• Inside the Bloom membership: A look at how she keeps members engaged with tutorials, challenges, and rewards, while automating much of the process.

• Juggling business and motherhood: Sophie talks about working solo, staying consistent, and building smart systems to manage her time.

• When tariffs hit hard: A 65% drop in U.S. orders could have been devastating, but diversifying her income helped her stay afloat.

• Why community matters most: With a 93% retention rate, Sophie explains how member recognition and connection keep people coming back.

 

Important Note:

At the time of this episode’s release, Sophie has temporarily paused shipping to the U.S. due to ongoing tariff issues. If you’d like to support her work, the best way is to follow her on Instagram, join her newsletter, and stay updated on when U.S. shipping will resume.

 

Connect with Sophie Timms:

• Website: mindfulmantraembroidery.com

• Instagram: @mindfulmantra_embroidery

• Membership: bloomembroideryacademy.com

 

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate, and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart 

• Facebook: @ShopGingiber

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber

• Got questions? Call the Art + Audience Podcast hotline: [phone]