Mesa teen balances crochet business with school
Feb 24, 2026
While many high school seniors are focused on college applications and graduation, Linda Hernandez is juggling those responsibilities while running a thriving handmade crochet shop on Etsy.
The Mesa teen, a senior at Arizona Virtual Academy, launched The Little Guppy Shop after teaching herself to crochet at age 15.
What began as a search for extra spending money quickly turned into a full-fledged business.
“I saw a plushie my sibling had and thought, ‘I can make that,’” Linda said. “I didn’t know how to crochet, so I looked everything up and learned from YouTube.”
Learning wasn’t easy.
As a left-handed artist, she struggled to follow mostly right-handed tutorials, and it took months before she could produce her first plushies. Her early creations included small sea creatures, such as octopuses and whales, which became her first Etsy listing.
When Linda launched her shop, sales were slow. She waited four months before receiving her first order, a crocheted “mushroom boy.”
Soon after that, however, consistent sales began.
“I tried to stay optimistic,” she said. “The competition is strong, but being consistent kept me going.”
Linda credits much of her shop’s growth to her efforts on social media. She promotes her items on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, posting product videos, behind the scenes clips and custom orders.
One of her best selling items is a scarf inspired by “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” that takes her about five hours to complete.
Her most popular seasonal items range from crocheted Shrek-themed headbands in summer to hats and scarves during winter.
But running a handmade shop has come with unexpected challenges.
The repetitive motion of crocheting has taken a toll on her hands over time.
“When I first started, I could crochet very fast,” Linda said. “Now my hands don’t work the way they used to. They get sore, so I take breaks throughout the day.”
Balancing school and her business has also required discipline. Linda said Arizona Virtual Academy’s flexible schedule has helped her manage both, She typically completes schoolwork in the morning and dedicates afternoons to fulfilling orders.
Her marketing class has played a major role in her development as a young entrepreneur. She credits her CTE Business & Marketing instructor, Mike Sanders, for teaching her about branding, logos and pricing psychology.
“He’s very supportive,” she said. “I’ve even gotten sales from pop-up markets he’s connected me with.”
Linda hopes to participate in more local markets after she graduates, including popular events in downtown Mesa. She is preparing her inventory now, crocheting plushies and accessories while saving money for booth fees.
Although she plans to continue her Etsy shop as long as she can, Linda said she eventually hopes to launch a new business creating hygiene products for women.
For now, she said, she’s proud of what she’s built, especially after others doubted she could succeed.
“When I started, people told me it wasn’t possible that I should just get a regular job,” she said. “But I had a goal. I wanted to make that dream a reality, and I did.”
Her advice for other teens hoping to start a business while in school: stay focused and stay consistent.
“Consistency is key,” she said. “If you have a goal and don’t let others bring you down, it’s always possible.”