As the covid-19 pandemic pressed on into 2021, Anna Pinto wasn’t able to attend her high school in Highland Park, and her younger sister, Gia, wasn’t able to attend the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.

Both were at their Murrysville residence being home-schooled — and ended up taking the opportunity to start their own Etsy shop called Carefree Critters.

“It started around Gia’s birthday,” said Anna, 17. “I gave her my sketchbook, and she drew this little creature. I thought, ‘That was so cool,’ and I turned it into a puppet for her birthday.”

Anna said she has spent a good deal of time sewing and crafting over the years.

“One of my home-school projects was also to create a small business, and I started thinking it would be such a cool concept,” she said. “I started learning how to design a logo, how to create an Etsy page, take product photos and then we made our shop.”

The Carefree Critters shop runs the gamut, from a line of animal stickers and pins with names such as “Anxious Chicken” and “Sassy Chicken” to small stuffed creatures like the “Pigasaurus,” which comes in green, pink, blue and tie-dye.

With about 140 sales so far, Carefree Critters is more of a hobby than a career at present, but the sisters have also taken their business out into the community.

“It’s not a huge page, but we try to do local things, like the Murrysville Farmers Market,” Anna said. “Last winter, we did a larger one also, called Handmade Arcade (in Pittsburgh). This summer, we’re hoping to do more of those.”

Gia enjoys drawing, and many of her pieces have served as inspiration for items in the store.

“She really likes drawings pigs,” Anna said, interpreting as she spoke with Gia through American Sign Language. “She loves going to the market and seeing all the people.”

Gia said her favorite product so far is the giant “Pigasaurus.”

The girls’ mother, Daria Mochan, said she loves seeing the entrepreneurial spirit in her daughters.

“They’re really creative, and I think it’s great to see them working together,” Mochan said.

Visit the shop online at Etsy.com/shop/CarefreeCritters.

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