At 17, Talia Quest is already making waves with her unique small business, Bittles.
Bittles are crochet characters, each designed with distinct personalities and traits to symbolize the beauty of individuality.
The story behind Talia's creations is equally charming—they live in a treehouse, and one day, a Bittle falls from the treehouse, ventures out and discovers the world, bringing back lessons of self-acceptance and individuality to share with the others, symbolized by the different types of hats they wear.
Talia’s business took a meaningful turn during a challenging period in her life. Last year, she spent two months in a partial hospitalization program recovering from an eating disorder.The experience profoundly shaped her, inspiring her to embed messages of mental health awareness and recovery into her work.
“I really try to make it a part of everything I talked about. And I really try to bring it into my business.” Talia said. “I’ve made my account on Instagram a mental health awareness platform, where I like to promote recovery and inspire people.”
A student at Glastonbury High School, Talia has been crocheting since she was young. It became a central focus during her recovery. It provided a therapeutic distraction and a means of expression. Her peers in the treatment program even joined her in crocheting, filling their windowsill with their creations, a testament to the communal and healing power of the craft.
The Bittles themselves are more than just toys. They serve as symbols of various traits and emotions. For instance, the "Paw Pals” collection of characters included a lion representing courage and bravery. Talia's upcoming "Fruit Friends'' collection, personifies different emotions and characteristics, encouraging individuals to embrace what they might lack, their Bittle as a daily reminder.
She also crochets “adoptable animals” that can be customize with a birth certificate.
Her business attracts a diverse customer base, ranging from teenagers to young adults. She sells at craft venues, such as the Glastonbury Farmers Market, and at her mother’s art shows
"I've had like a few people reach out to me saying that I've helped them a lot,” Talia said, “And that means a lot to me. So it's good to see that I'm starting to slowly make a difference."
"I really want to spread the message of being brave and unapologetically yourself. I really want to inspire others. And if it inspires them to pursue recovery, then that's really great too."
You can find Talia’s Instagram account at @the.little.bittles and her website thebittles.com