Meet Elizabeth Pokki | Owner of Thread Head Designs

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

Hi Elizabeth, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I always knew I wasn’t a traditional 9-5 kind of gal, but it wasn’t until I started working full-time that I knew I couldn’t do it forever. I’ll be honest, I never had a 9-5 job where I felt peace and that feeling of “this is where I’m supposed to be.” Looking back, even though the jobs I had were very hard on me mentally, I’m thankful for them. Without them I wouldn’t of pushed myself so hard to start my own business. The sense of unfulfillment I felt everyday really motivated me to keep pushing for more. I originally started hand embroidery as a way to destress after work, but very quickly fell in love with it. I knew I somehow wanted to do hand embroidery full time, but I had no idea how. What I did know though is if I tried hard enough, I could figure it out.

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.
What sets me apart from others is me. The key is to be yourself because there is only one of you in the world. It sounds cliché, but it’s cliché for a reason. We all are so unique in our own ways and we each have something beautiful to offer.

It definitely wasn’t an easy journey to get to where I am now, but if it was easy I wouldn’t appreciate as much as I do. When I started my online business, I thought my only option was to sell my finished work. I was selling my art, but it wasn’t enough to pay the bills. One day I was speaking to my cousin Tyler Smith who streams video games full time. He told me one of the most valuable things he learned was that when people are online they either want to 1. laugh or 2. learn. So I took his advice and started posting more teaching content. When I made that switch, everything changed. So even though my business wasn’t exactly how I pictured it at the beginning, I’m glad I had an open mind and was open to different possibilities.

Teaching has also been so fulfilling for me. I love the connection I’m able to make with everyone. The feeling of helping someone accomplish something they are proud of feels so good. It’s such a honor when people come to me for advice. This craft has brought me so much joy and I want to share that joy with others.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love North Carolina because we have a little bit of everything! I would probably plan a day trip to the beach and go to Taco Baby because yum. For local things to do I would definitely plan a few craft nights because I love being home. I always have to stop at a few thrift stores, go downtown to see the local shops, farmer’s market, and look for any type of market/craft fair. For coffee I would hit up Omie’s, Joe Van Gogh, and The Press. For food Namu, Juju, M sushi, and Dame’s Chicken and Waffles.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My close friends/sister who have always supported me, my parents who jumped for joy when I said I was going to quit my 9-5 job to pursue art full-time, and my wonderful partner (and employee of the month every month) who believed in me when I didn’t. I cherish my family and friends so much, so having their support from the start has helped me so much.

Website: threadheaddesignsco.com

Instagram: threadheaddesigns

Facebook: threadheaddesigns

Youtube: Elizabeth Pokki

Other: Tiktok – threadheaddesigns