Today we’d like to introduce you to Bailey Reber.
Hi Bailey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m an entrepreneur! My two biggest endeavors at the moment are the podcast that I host and the Etsy shop that I’m about to launch.
My podcast, Distressed to Joyful; Bailey’s Way, launched in May of 2020 and is about my journey with accepting my bipolar disorder and overcoming the challenges that I am often faced with due to the disorder. I just wrapped up Season 2 of the show in December 2021 and will be launching Season 3 on Monday, February 7th. Before the podcast’s debut, very few people knew that I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder or that I struggled with it for years before learning how to successfully manage it. For the longest time, I chose to keep this information private for fear of judgment or mistreatment. Bipolar disorder is classified as one of the most misunderstood mental health disorders and due to this, many people choose to struggle in silence like I did. Once I got the help that I needed and began to see a transformation within myself, I knew that I needed to share what’s helped me in order to encourage others to seek the help that they may need. My hope and ultimate goal of my show is to provide a safe space for people to hear that they are not alone in their struggles, that seeking help is a sign of strength, and to encourage everyone to be kinder to those around them. You never know what’s going on in the mind of the person next to you and choosing kindness above all is always the answer.
As for my Etsy shop, this is a long-time goal of mine that I am finally bringing to life! I learned how to sew in elementary school and was gifted my first sewing machine when I was 10 years old. By the time high school hit, I began learning how to make clothing for myself. I’ve been designing and creating my own clothes and costumes for over a decade now (many of which are showcased in these featured photos) and thanks to the encouragement of my partner, I am currently enrolled in a Fashion Design program at a local community college. My Etsy shop, Bailey’s Way Designs, will launch in early February 2022 and will feature baby/kids clothing and useful accessory items! I’m very proud of myself for finally taking the steps to launch an online shop to sell my creations. All of the funds will be put towards paying my college tuition to help me move further into a full-time career in fashion and eventually launch my own line.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m not sure that any entrepreneur can say that they’ve had a smooth road! For me, there have been many struggles along the way. When I came up with the idea to release a podcast, I had zero knowledge of what I needed to do. I began by purchasing an online course to teach me everything from naming my show to launching it and later marketing it. This was a lifesaver! Without this course, my show would still be just an idea. Because I had to teach myself everything, I’ve made many, many mistakes along the way. While some people view mistakes as failures, I choose to view them as “learning curves”. My mistakes have led me to solutions that have aided my future work within this show. Sure, it’s frustrating at times, but every minute of this has been worth it!
The reason behind my Etsy Shop taking much longer than anticipated to launch is that I did not realize how much equipment I needed or what kind of knowledge I should have in order to successfully set up my shop. I thought I could just create some clothing, upload photos, slap on a price, and begin making money. To say I was wrong is an understatement! Recently, I’ve begun doing extensive research to aid in a successful launch. I’m very excited to see all of my hard work finally pay off!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
When it comes to my clothing, I specialize in costumes, evening wear, and themed outfits. Recently, I challenged myself to make a different romper for each holiday of the year using only 1 pattern. The ultimate goal was not just to create a holiday outfit that I can wear every year, but also to challenge myself creatively. This was such a fun project that my followers really enjoyed and the ideas from it will be reflected in many of the baby/kids clothing that will be in my Etsy Shop. I also do freelance design work on the side and love when my clients come to me with a custom project that challenges me. Creativity is definitely my strong suit and my eye for designing beautiful, unique clothing sets me apart from others.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
My favorite surprising fun fact is that I’m learning to speak the Hindi language! My partner is from India and is actually trilingual with the ability to speak English, Hindi, and his regional language, Gujarati. I’ve always wanted to learn to speak another language and now that I have someone close to me who can do so, I have no reason not to learn! I began self-teaching during the 2020 lockdown by using the Duolingo app, podcasts, and watching many Bollywood movies. I actually exhausted all of the Hindi content on Duolingo which prompted my search for an online teacher. Thanks to Verbling, an online language teaching resource, I now take private lessons once a week and am on my way to fluency!
Contact Info:
- Email: whatisheybailsdoing@gmail.com
- Website: https://whatisheybailsdoing.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/distressedtojoyful_baileysway/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/distressedtojoyful.baileysway/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/baileyswaydesigns/
Image Credits
Darrell Williams
Monish Thakore
Sharon Ferranti
