Clearwater Teacher's Assistant Turns Hobby Into Business

Kelly Cox has been crocheting for more than 20 years. but it was only recently that she decided to turn her hobby into a business.

Spurred by the popularity of a hat she made for a student last year, the teacher's assistant at Paul B. Stephens School in Clearwater decided to start selling her creations through her new company, Kelly's Threads.

"A student of mine was obsessed with Perry the Platypus from (the cartoon) 'Phineas and Ferb,' " she explained while manning her booth at Safety Harbor's Harbor Sounds last weekend.

"So I made her a hat and everybody wanted one. I started getting a lot of special orders, so I decided to set up a little shop in the school."

The success of the platypus hat and other items led to a slew of colorful designs, including Spongebob Squarepants, Hello Kitty and Jack from "A Nightmare Before Christmas"; now the one-time hobby has led to a new side career for the educator.

"I plan on doing a show a month, and I will be doing the Safety Harbor Holiday Bargain Bazaar," she said of the December event. "As long as my inventory stays steady, I'll keep selling them."

To find out more about Kelly's Threads, contact Kelly at gracekelly415@yahoo.com or call 727-422-1062.