Rising Stars: Meet Amber Epperson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Epperson.

Hi Amber, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m originally from Pine Bluff, AR. I grew up in a single-parent household and became the sole breadwinner and responsible party at the age of 16 when my mother became ill and unable to work. I grew up pretty fast, but it actually worked out in my favor now that I’m an adult with a child of my own. My mother is a big inspiration for me and the path that I’ve taken in life. She was a naturally talented woman. She was the neighborhood seamstress, craftswoman, cook, and babysitter. All of those things brought her so much joy. My love of creating, children, and all things home definitely came from her.

One of my interests is cooking. To complement that, I really wanted one of those vintage aprons that you’d see 1950’s housewives wearing. I searched online but refused to pay $70 for an apron. That’s when I decided to make one. So I purchased a sewing machine (because the best way to save $70 is a $300 machine!), patterns, and made it happen. My design was not that great, it actually looked nothing like the picture in my head, but it was something that I created so it was special to me. I posted it online and surprisingly had a lot of people interested in purchasing one. That is where my business, Oh Sew Amber began in 2011. The sewing machine that I purchased came with an embroidery function, so I soon began making monogrammed satin pillowcases as well.

Embroidery was my introduction to business, and I’ve grown to add a vinyl application and screen printing to my repertoire. I embroider business logos, kid’s applique birthday shirts, bags, and more. I use vinyl applications for cups, custom t-shirts, and lots of other items. Screenprinting is available for bulk orders such as company apparel, class reunions, and more. I have the privilege of printing for some of my favorite local brands and organizations.

My most recent venture has been into motherhood. I became a mother to my wonderfully amazing daughter Callie in September 2020 at the age of 36. Pregnancy after the age of 35 is considered “Advanced Maternal Age (AMA)” or more commonly known as, “Geriatric” Pregnancy. While I’ve always wanted to experience motherhood, this pregnancy was a surprise, and adding the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, this was a very stressful time. There are tons of resources and communities for mothers, black mothers, single mothers, etc, but I was unable to find a specific community for AMA/Geriatric mothers. That’s when I decided to create one! My podcast and community, Out of Prime is in the works and will launch very soon. The focus is to provide support and community for women over the age of 35 who are becoming first-time mothers or women over 35 who are having another child after 10 years or more. It is my hope to address concerns about the real or assumed risks around AMA, provide a supportive community, and provide expert advice on navigating health and perinatal concerns.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not. I don’t think any road worth traveling will be. The best way to learn in my opinion is by experiencing and listening. If you can’t learn it one way, learn it the other!

Some of the struggles I’ve experienced in business include selling items before I mastered my craft. I look back at some of my earlier work and cringe! Either I’m hard on myself or my customers are really nice people because I haven’t received a lot of negative feedback, but I have received some. I just do my best to rectify the issue and improve going forward. Another struggle has been pricing. I started out underpricing my work mainly due to not knowing what to charge, and also due to the fact that I knew I wasn’t putting out the best work but needed money to buy more supplies. Once I mastered my craft, I began to price my work based on that.

A struggle that I’m having with starting the podcast and community is just plain fear. What if I run out of topics? What if people hate my voice? One of my mantras to navigate these fears is “Feel the fear and do it anyway”. That’s how I’ve decided to move through life.

I’m a single mother with a full-time career and business, so I’ve struggled with balance, time management, and prioritizing. In order to stay on top of it all I am an advocate of self-care. Therapy, deep breathing, time with family and friends, massages, whatever I enjoy, I do that when I need to. NOTHING or No ONE comes before my mental health. That is very important to me.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am most proud of my ability to continually grow and reach beyond my comfort zone. My ability to make others feel comfortable with me is what sets me apart. I have customers that became like family to me. It’s really been a beautiful journey. I’m excited to see what comes next.

How do you define success?
Success to me is defined by my ability to live life on my terms.

Only accepting or participating in things that bring me joy. Success is being able to decline things that don’t serve me and not cause me to go without them. Show up for my child and loved ones when I’m needed, knowing that I can do so comfortably. Happiness and a comfortable living define success to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ohsewamber.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/OutOfPrime