Interview With Kellie of Red Dirt Kids

My name is Kellie, I am a Christian, home-school loving, stay at home mom to 9 of the best kids in the world!. Our children range from 28 years old down to 3. We have 3 sons that are married and they have blessed us with soon to be 9 grandchildren (we have some twins on the way!) My husband, Steve, is retired Air Force and we have homeschooled for about 18 years. Our oldest 2 sons went to public school for 2 years here in the states then the oldest 3 went to the school on base while we lived in England for a couple of years. We are now settled down in the great state of Oklahoma. We are blessed to have my mom and sister living nearby, as well as 2 of our married children. We have 2 sons in the Army, our oldest daughter lives here at home and is a LPN, we have one daughter that is a senior, a son in 6th grade, and one in 3rd grade then a lively 3 year old daughter! I can think of nothing better than living a life serving the Lord and being with my family! It is an amazing blessing seeing my 28 year old or 26 year old son with their 3 year old sister. Life is very busy with lots going on but I would have it no other way.


Tell us a little about yourself.



How did you begin working in your craft and how did it develop into a business?
I grew up with a very creative mom. But it was not till I had my 4th child that I asked her to teach me to sew. She thought I was crazy trying to learn to sew, homeschool and have 4 children. But I loved it! I was hooked from then on…
My husband likes to tease me that I have more fabric than the local fabric store. I enjoy making things for the people I know and love. Crafting is sort of an outlet for me. I enjoy not only making the items but giving them away or selling them through ETSY or at local craft fairs. When I started making more than I could give to family and friends I thought “why not offer them to other people through ETSY or locally”.


Sack Of Potatoes Felt Food


What is one of your favorite home school memories thus far?

I am not sure if I have one specific memory, but I have a lot of things I love about homeschooling. One thing I love is when the kids are so excited about what they are learning that they tell everyone that will listen, or when we walk in the mornings and work on math or spelling flash cards and the kids say “Time to stop already”. I just love seeing the progress each one makes and seeing the bond that homeschooling has brought to our family.



Felt Food Carrots

What advice would you give to other home school families who are also trying to run a home business?
Well, I am not sure I would have good advice since my business is not booming right now. But I would say to keep your priorities right. School the kids first then have time set aside that you can work on your craft. It is hard at times, I have little ones so sometimes it is hard to fit the “work time” in. I never want to make my kids stay away from mommy, but if you can enlist the help of older siblings or a friend I think that helps. I also prefer to list items that I have made already and not so much items to be made.



Crayon and Color Pencil Rolls

Where do you find inspiration for your pieces?
Mostly I get inspired by watching my children or grandchildren play.


Do you have specific goals for your business or for your homeschooling? Would you share some of those with us?
So far I have had 5 children graduate from our homeschool with one more graduating this year. I hope to continue teaching our younger children, and encourage other moms to also homeschool. As for goals for my business, I hope to keep plugging at it till I get consistent orders. I am hoping as I have more and more children flying the coop that my crafts will help fill the empty nest syndrome that I sometimes hear other moms talk about.



Baby Girl Gift Set