Some makers find their craft — and then there are those the craft seems to find. Cami Riepe, the creative behind Mae Day Crochet, falls firmly into that second category. Based in Placerville, California, Cami has built a sweet corner of the internet around her love of crochet plushies: the kind of handmade creations that are equal parts whimsical and irresistible. Between her cozy aesthetic, her genuine love for the craft, and a personality that makes you feel like you’ve made a new friend in the first thirty seconds, it’s no wonder her community keeps growing. We sat down with Cami to talk hooks, inspiration, and what it means to make things with your hands and your whole heart.
Getting to Know You
I grew up with a very crafty Mom, so making things at home was always very natural to me! As soon as I was tall enough to reach the sewing machine pedal, my mom had me on her machine learning. Some of my earliest sewing memories were making my own summer dresses and picking out a strawberry patterned fabric, I thought I truly had made it in life every time I wore it! I loved sewing pillow cases, dresses, skirts, and small quilts all the way through my childhood.
In high school I expanded my knowledge of sewing by taking quilting classes and I remember being so challenged by making a crazy quilt out of special clothing items but I pushed through many ripped seams and ended up winning best of show in my state fair!
After I had my baby, I struggled a lot with postpartum depression. I wasn’t pursuing anything creative, and I knew I needed something to do at night to keep my hands and mind active, so I decided to branch out and try to learn a new craft- crochet! I learned everything from YouTube, and was determined to make amigurumi because I thought it was just the cutest style ever!
I slowly learned the first few stitches night after night then tried to make a bee, he was a little crooked of course, but I felt so accomplished! That little bee was the start of what turned into my crochet business. Every spare minute in my days and nights were used with my hook and fluffy yarn in hand.
My husband built me a little craft room attached to our garage because we were all slowly drowning in yarn and stuffing. To my shock, people started asking me to make certain animals so I decided to post a few to my local facebook group!
They all sold within the day, and this kept happening each week! I remember one lady used to drive nearly an hour to my house to pick up her orders- I was in shock! That was a huge turning point for me- I went from setting little crochet stuffies out for porch pickup until I couldn’t keep up anymore.
I started researching how to start selling at local markets and I was sold! I used my crochet money I made so far to buy a tent, table covers, display shelves and started crocheting my little heart out. I lived and breathed crochet to stock up, and every single market I left feeling so grateful and shocked at the amount that would sell! In my first year I was doing multiple markets a month sometimes, and barely being able to keep up with inventory!
Inspiration & Creativity
My inspiration always starts with my daughter. I would make her favorite animals, use her favorite colors and everything just grew from there! I knew I wanted her to have a colorful, whimsical childhood, so something that began as a hobby to challenge myself, ended up being something so sweet to add to our family’s life!
I always want to show her that if you want to learn or do something- nothing is stopping you!
The Making Process
I love using sweet snuggles and sweet snuggles lite yarn- the fluffier the better is how I like my yarn! I’m also back into sewing now, and my mom gifted me a husqvarna machine- the closest we could find to the one I grew up learning on and I LOVE it!
Behind the Brand
The most rewarding part of sharing my work with others is when people have started going to markets and sharing what they make, and telling me I inspired them to go for it- it’s so humbling to know that anything I did would propel someone to realize how creative and successful they already are!
Balancing the creative side with the business side can be a lot to balance at times, but whenever it feels too overwhelming I take a break. At this season of my life my daughter is heading into kindergarten, and no longer naps, so my time to crochet to keep up a large inventory has lessened greatly- so for now I’ve put the business side on pause, but that’s the beauty of it! Being able to choose how much or how little you need to do for your season of life actually feels so freeing!
The advice I’d give if you want to turn your passion into a business is to share the process! Growing a community online can spark inspiration, as well as lots of business opportunities! Companies started sending me things because I just shared my journey online and the social media side of things honestly was such a highlight to my whole journey!
Fun & Personal Touches
One thing that might surprise people to know about me is that my favorite movie is Apocalypto and that I always had to have some kind of intense movie or show to watch while I crocheted late at night since it was the only block of time I’d have after a day of mothering! So while you walked away with the fluffiest cutest little animal- it was probably created while watching the Godfather!
My favorite tool or supply I could never live without is my seam ripper, and my stitch markers!
Looking Ahead
In a different creative aspect I love to find old treasures and re-purpose them, so thrifting is my number one hobby at the moment. I love re-purposing furniture and I have been able to thrift vintage fabrics and recently sewn tote bags using these second hand pieces, and it brings me so much joy to see tossed aside items be loved and made into something beautiful!
It has been years now since I struggled with postpartum depression, so it’s a beautiful thing to see where my creative journey started, and where it carried me through hard times in my life.
I love using color now, and sharing the process along the way no matter what it is I’m doing. I give myself space to make mistakes, because mistakes truly are the best way to learn! Being a perfectionist can really inhibit creativity (coming from a recovering perfectionist) so remember your projects don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful!
Being able to find the joy in every day life is a daily habit of mine. Just being able to sit down and sew random pieces of fabric together and seeing something take form, or a huge roll of yarn turn into a little bee? If we really stop and think about how our hands and minds can work together to create something … I mean how cool is that?
I definitely see my creative journey shifting soon as I’ll be able to bring my daughter into these different crafts with me and watch her creativity blossom just like my mom did with me!
I hope whoever reads this can find the joy in the everyday, learn from making mistakes, and feel confident in trying new things just for the fun of it! You are worth the time to invest in yourself and being creative sure helps you feel confident in life!
Keeping Up With Cami Riepe
Does Cami’s story leave you wanting to pick up a hook and a skein of yarn. There’s something quietly contagious about watching someone do what they truly love — and Cami does it with the kind of warmth and authenticity that makes the handmade world a little brighter. Whether you’re a longtime crocheter or someone who just thinks her plushies are unbearably cute, you can follow along with her journey at:
Instagram (Crochet): https://www.instagram.com/mae.day.crochet/
Instagram (Lifestyle): https://www.instagram.com/cami.riepe/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@camiriepe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/CamiRiepe/61579571290347/?mibextid=wwXIfr