By Jessica Iacullo

As I'm writing this, I'm staring at my stitch on my bookshelf, and I think that's so special for the story I'm about to tell. In December of 2018, I was home in New Jersey for the holidays when I got a message on Instagram from Cece. She sent me a stitch design of a noodle bowl and a bottle of Sriracha and asked if I would be interested in a design like that and if so, she would make it for me. 

I run a food blog called Hungry Grl Big City and it started when I was a student at Pitt, which then turned into the business I run today, back in Pittsburgh. I was so flattered and honored the Cece thought of me enough to make me something so on-brand and personal without ever having met me.

When it came time for Cece to deliver it after Pitt's winter break, I suggested meeting up for lunch in Oakland to thank her for the beautiful stitch. She even stitched 'HUNGRY GRL' which made it that much more special. We ended up going to Roots, which was a new salad spot on campus, and the picture I took of our lunch lead me to become the business' social media manager today!

What I love about my stitch is that it brought me Cece, who has become a friend I can lean on and vent to, in addition to giving me one of my favorite clients. You never know what can happen when you initiate a conversation or business proposition (or just doing something nice) with someone you don't know!

Click here to find out more about Jess and Hungry Grl Big City.