Get to know me- The face behind NerdyTortoises

Hi, first off, welcome to the new home of NerdyTortoises. I hope through this site and my other social media, that you can not only see all my adorable, kawaii products but also get to know me, the creator behind the business.

My name is Lexi, nice to meet you. I mean, you could say your name right now but I can't really hear it which isn't the best! But you could throw me a hi in the comments or on my Facebook, Instagram or TikTok page.

I started NerdyTortoises nominally in 2018. I put three listings on Etsy, did absolutely nothing to promote them and, when they didn't sell, I took it as a sign that it wasn't meant to be. Fast forward to the pandemic and I started to think about my dream of owning my small business again. Like many people, I had a lot of time to think that summer and I started to work on making stock.

Initially, I kept everything to just Etsy. I wasn't really selling anything and I started to have some doubt again. But I kept going thanks to the loving support of friends and family.

It took until November 2021 for me to actually knuckle down and really commit to the business. I did my first craft fair, which was definitely a learning curve. Slowly, the more fairs I did the more sales I made and my confidence grew.

Fast forward to now and I'm still learning lots every day. I've got a long way to go but similarly, I have also come a long way from the girl who posted three listings way back in 2018.

One of the main reasons I started NerdyTortoises, is because I'm autistic. Every job I've applied for, I haven't even made it to interview. So I decided, if I can't get a job I'd make myself one. A job where I can play to my strengths of creating and imagination.

When I'm at craft fairs, I struggle a little bit with communication (so sorry if I come across as slightly stilted at times!), which is why you will probably meet my number one sales rep and husband, Mike. He is definitely much better at talking to people than I am, which makes us a good team. Don't get me wrong, I love talking to you guys and getting to know you all, I'm just so grateful to have Mike there in case I stick my foot in it! I don't mean to but it has definitely happened on more than one occasion.

When I'm not crocheting (which, let's face it, isn't often), then I can be found reading books, exploring woods with my dog and Mike or playing computer games (my current favourites are Dead By Daylight and Animal Crossing). When I am crocheting, I am usually watching something. Usually true crime or some kind of documentary. I really have to be in the mood for something fictional.

I hope this is enough for you to start to get to know me and thank you for joining me on my journey. We're a long way from the final destination and company on long journeys is always welcome.