About ByTinymite

At ByTinymite, we design patterns and make accessories that are primarily geared to travel, exploration, and adventure. Our goal is to teach women to sew and make specific projects in order to equip them with the skills to create colorful and unique items that meet their practical needs, personal tastes, and make their life easier, as well as prepare them for their next adventure. At ByTinymite, we want women to have fun both by making them and taking them outside on an adventure or a fun trip, and desire to build a community of such women who are both creative and adventurous.

Sewing Supplies - Pattern Pieces, Rotary Cutter, Acrylic Ruler on Self Healing Cutting Mat

ByTinymite provides content related to how to sew (primarily geared towards beginners), supplies and tools recommendations and reviews, as well as tips, tricks, and techniques. Additionally, ByTinymite provides patterns and lessons for specific projects, involving useful, versatile, and attractive accessories, equipment, or gear that can help you navigate your travel or outdoor adventures and allow for convenient and quick access to items you would like to keep on your person. Many products also allow for a hands-free method of carrying those items, such as chapstick, keys, or a water bottle, that you may want to keep with you at all times.

Cut up jeans, scissors, a tape ruler, and a thread spool spread on a table with a sign that says "Reuse, Repair, Upcycle"

At ByTinymite, the health of our environment has a tremendous impact, not only on what products are sold, but also how they are made. All products are made in the least wasteful way possible. Every care is given to use as much fabric as possible, so that no more than mere shreds are disposed. At ByTinymite, upcycling and reuse is a contributing factor in many designs. This, in particular, is why you may find that several items are one-of-a-kind, as they involve formerly discarded material being reused to create something new. You will also find that craftsmanship is valued over industrial efficiency, with designs and a professional quality that will hold up against normal wear and tear.

At ByTinymite, we value creativity, innovation, enjoyment, and quality. Thus, we are committed to providing you with the tools, skills, and environment to create high-quality items and accessories that are unique and innovative while allowing for your own creativity to shine through.

ByTinymite is owned and operated by Victoria Leonard.

Water Bottle Holder, Cell Phone Charger Holder, and Chapstick Holder Adventure/Travel Set with Sloth Print Fabric (Green Ferns and Brown Sloths on a Blue Background)
Purple and Navy Cell Phone Charger Holder with a Plaid and Polka Dot Patchwork Print on the pocket

Mission

To help equip women to create quality, colorful, and unique items that meet their practical needs, personal tastes, and prepares them for their next adventure.  

Vision

To build a community of women who enjoy sewing and share a love of the beautiful outdoors, travel, and adventure, as well as provide them with the tools and skills to add convenience and joy to their lives, and to prepare them for their endeavors.  

A group of women stretching their hands out to the center on top of one another like a team does - shows community
The owner of ByTinymite (Victoria Leonard) sitting at her sewing table with her sewing machine

Core Values

Creativity Value Symbol: Turquoise circle with a bright lightbulb inside

Creativity

Innovation Value Symbol: A purple circle with a profile head view with a gear inside the head to convey thinking
Enjoyment Value Symbol: Lime green circle with a happy person (torso up) with arms spread up and circles above it like juggling

Innovation

Enjoyment

Quality Value Symbol: Pink circle with a checkmark inside of a smooth circle and a squiggly circle - looks like the top of a ribbon when you win a competition

__Quality__

Meet The Owner

In addition to sewing and running a business, I also volunteer with the children’s ministry at church and attend weekly Celebrate Recovery meetings. My Christian faith is important to me along with self-awareness and personal growth. I’m mostly a homebody, but I’d rather be outside (especially with access to water) more than anywhere else. My favorite activities are all things outdoors, especially biking, hiking, swimming, and kayaking. In the summer, you can find me at the beach or a nearby park. I absolutely LOVE traveling and all the things you can learn from other peoples and cultures, in addition to seeing all the amazing sites. I also enjoy dancing, watching movies, reading, working puzzles, coloring, and am currently learning how to play the Ukulele. Chocolate is one of my biggest weaknesses.

What motivates me the most is creativity and innovation. I also care greatly about people and the environment. I enjoy creating new products that help people enjoy outdoor activities and travel in a way that is environmentally responsible and helps them enjoy their adventures more. I am inspired to create products that are extremely practical, yet fun and colorful, that make things easier or more efficient.

This business has given me an opportunity to express these interests and try to create a positive impact on people and my community. Thank you for joining me on this journey.

The owner on vacation - shown on a boat up north
Picture of the owner leaning up against a fence at the Botanical Gardens in Norfolk, VA
Picture of the owner on vacation in Colorado at the summit of Pikes Peak
Travels of the owner to Costa Rica - picture on the porch of a tree house
Fabric for a water bottle holder + supplies on the cutting table - sewing project in progress
Sewing project in progress - mesh bag fabric pieces cut out on self healing mat
Blue floral fabric pieces cut out for a cell phone pouch/small travel bag purse
Sewing project in progress - pleated zipper pouch after pleats have just been made

Over time, however, I began to realize that part of what I loved most was missing from my Etsy shop. I am most interested in how my designs and products impact the individual. I am, ultimately, more interested in sharing a love of sewing with others and fostering creativity and thus providing other adventurous women the skills and the opportunity to make and customize these products to fit their own personal needs and tastes. What I could do with this desire began to formulate as I thought about what I’d like to do next in my career. I realized some things were missing from my full-time office job, such as creativity and working with people, and this led me to start brainstorming how I could fuse my love of creativity and for people in a way that could actually be a viable career option. Furthermore, I want to live a more purposeful life where I can focus my attention on helping people and doing something that is in the service of others that brings joy.

Story Behind The Business

I started sewing a year or two after finishing grad school as a much-needed creative outlet that added to my growing interest in crafting. What ultimately made me decide to dive into sewing was seeing a gap in things I was looking for on the market and realizing that I could make those things that were missing. I often notice that too much of what is available is brown or black when I desired color, or color choices were dictated by a particular season or trend. Or, something was close to what I was looking for but not quite the right fit. It was difficult to find matching accessories, or perhaps a specialty bag did not really have all the compartments I was looking for, or it was too expensive to buy for what it was. So, in addition to creativity, I started sewing so that I could have things customized to my own tastes and fit my personal needs. I started practicing with gifts for my mom. I started designing patterns of things that she could really use and that would make her life a little easier, such as an over-the-shoulder water bottle holder, a chapstick holder that could clip to anything, and a waterproof cover for her bike basket that matched her bike. As I continued to experiment with my designs and testing new products out on my relatives, I began to realize that this is something that I am really good at and that I enjoy making for others. Furthermore, with each new item, I realized that the design process and making patterns was one of my favorites and that my patterns were something that I could share with others. I began to get lots of comments, even from other sewists, who were amazed that I designed it myself, as opposed to using a purchased pattern. I also really enjoy the entire process of designing and making the product and enjoy doing that for others and bringing them joy with a product that is unique to them. This led to opening an Etsy shop in Fall 2019 as a side hustle.

Random Fun Facts & FAQs

  • Where have you traveled?

    International:

    • Iceland

    • Costa Rica

    • Prince Edward Island, Canada

    • Vancouver, Canada

    • Niagra Falls (Canada side)

    • Bahamas (Freeport Nassau)

    • Jamaica

    • Grand Caymans

    • Cozumel, Mexico

    Within the United States:

    • Maine (Bar Harbor, Moosehead Lake)

    • San Francisco, CA

    • NY (NYC, Poughkeepsie)

    • Mackinac Island Michigan

    • Colorado Springs, Colorado

    • Charleston, SC

    • Blue Ridge, GA

    • Asheville, NC

    • Pigeon Forge, TN

    • Orlando, Florida

    • Lancaster (& Hersy) PA

    • Washington, DC

  • How many states have you been to?

    18:

    • VA, WV, ME, AK, NC, SC, MD, OH, GA, FL, TN, NY, PA, CO, MI, RI, CA, NV

  • Where do you want to travel next?

    I couldn’t say…there are too many places I want to go. But some of the top ones on my list are:

    • England

    • France

    • Istanbul & Ephasus, Turkey

    • Prague

    • Some sort of European tour where I can see many Byzantine and Early Christian churches.

  • Do you have any siblings?

    No

  • Do you have any pets?

    No

  • What is your favorite color?

    Purple

  • What is your favorite food?

    My Mom’s spaghetti

  • Biggest weakness?

    Chocolate

Random Facts

  • I LOVE squirrels.

  • I’m not a huge fan of pets, but I absolutely love wildlife.

  • I am very particular about things being neat and clean and put back in their place.

  • I am a major planner, and I struggle when plans go awry. I can sometimes be a little inflexible.

  • I prefer staying home as opposed to going out.

  • I’m an old soul, you could say…and I often get along best with older people.

  • However, I can still be young, fun, goofy, silly, and sometimes spontaneous.

  • I struggle with anxiety and depression, especially seasonal depression. I love the sunshine.

  • I find it hard to be indoors too long, especially when I cannot see outside.

  • I like to make people laugh.

  • I think the YouTube fireplace is one of the coolest things ever.