Small Town Apparel is all about the artistry. Christina Hammer, half of the husband-wife duo behind the shop, meticulously hand paints little leather masterpieces worn on your children’s feet. Simply calling them shoes does not do the resultant works of art justice.  “I didn’t start painting until a year or two after I started Small Town Apparel. It began with small details I would add to moccasins,” Hammer recalled. “With every pair, I would push myself to add more detail until I was at the level I am now. I’m still always growing and learning how to better my art. It’s been a progression over the years that I plan to continue working on.”

Hammer and her husband Wayne launched Small Town Apparel in 2014. “It started out as just making moccs for my youngest son and snowballed from there,” she said. Of course, working with her husband obviously has its own benefits and challenges. “My husband and I have completely different work styles. It makes it hard at times and we butt heads often, but I love it. I can always count on his honest opinion and having him to bounce ideas off of is invaluable to me. We have different tastes so it makes for a wider range of styles I wouldn’t have without his ideas and insights.”

Small Town Apparel is widely considered the place for handmade Disney-inspired moccasins. Past collections include the shop’s signature Toy Story design with Woody and Buzz-inspired fabrics, hand-painted Star Wars graphics and Coco characters, Up balloon designs, and feminine Mickey and Minnie Mouse-inspired Mary Jane styles. Hammer also offers seasonal House of the Mouse prints, like her Halloween “Spooky Treats” and Christmastime “Very Merry Treats,” cut from leather adorned with familiar Disney shapes, holiday colors and festive treats. Beyond Disney, Small Town Apparel creates moccasins in solid colors and stylish prints, such as buffalo plaid, floral, camo and colorful serape designs, among many others. Hammer even painted a line of colored skeleton toes this past fall that sold out in minutes. “It is so hard to choose my favorite design,” Hammer shared. “Every time I create something new, I feel like it is my favorite. If I had to choose an all time favorite it would have to be our Poison Apple moccs.”

All of the shop’s footwear is handcrafted in the United States with high quality genuine leather. Sizes range from newborn to 13 and most of the Small Town Apparel drops feature ready-to-ship items. Hammer often creates coordinating leather clutch bags and wristlets for mamas to match their kiddos. “My favorite part of what I do is creating. Taking an idea from my head and translating it into a moccasin is so exciting for me,” said Hammer.

Don’t miss the next Small Town Apparel “Rock the Dots” drop tonight at 7pm PST. More details are available in the shop’s VIP Facebook group here and on the Small Town Apparel website.

Even more exciting, Small Town Apparel is expecting another future artist this May. Congratulations Hammer family!

Brooklynn & Grey strikes a difficult small shop balance between ruffles and ruggedwear for littles of both genders. Although shop owner Tiffany Chesley initially focused on bows and handmade baby crowns back in 2013 (under the name “Brooklyn’s Finest”), she expanded her handmade offerings after the birth of her son, Greyson. “When I transitioned to Brooklynn & Grey, I had my 3 year old daughter who was my muse and my little boy Greyson,” Chesley explained. “They are the reason behind every minute I spend creating, so it was only fitting to name my shop after them. Also, the name is representative of both girls and boys clothing that I make.”

These days, Florida-based (like me!) Brooklynn & Grey specializes in colorful peplum tops, tunics, twirl skirts, leotards and leggings, as well as graphic t-shirts, raglans, beanies, hoodies and cardigans for tots with sophisticated tastes. “I love seeing a fabric I just know will look amazing and then pairing it to the perfect pattern,” Chesley gushed. “I have dropped what I was doing before and ran and cut and sewn something and it has become a best seller my next launch. Ideas come to me at the craziest moments but I think that is also what keeps me constantly evolving and making new things!” There is something for everyone, including moms who want to match their kiddos. “I find that the funniest part of my shop journey is I never stick to one style. Rather, I find more enjoyment consistently changing things, modifying a favorite piece I currently offer, or constantly creating new ideas,” said Chesley. “My goal always is to set a trend I haven’t seen before and always raise the bar on my prior launches.” One of the most popular styles is Brooklynn & Grey’s signature lace bow back leos. “They’re a timeless piece I see every little girl making memories in.”

Although the Brooklynn & Grey brand has attracted a large following over the last six years, Chesley still maintains the small shop charm. “I’m able to tell you names and stories about my customers. My goal has always been to connect with them on a level that always kept me relatable and human,” she shared. “That they know the face behind the brand and that they never feel like a dollar sign but always a friend. Our VIP group is made up of over 13,000 people. I strive daily to chat, laugh, share and engage with them and to continue to make them feel like they are important because truly people are my passion.” The shop has grown so much that Chesley has hired over thirteen employees to help out. “This little shop that I started has become a job creator for others. They get to work from home and yet still provide to help their household. It’s an amazing feeling and definitely keeps me driven as I never want to let them down.”

As to the future, Brooklynn & Grey will continue to set trends. “I truly believe every small shop has its own personality because the person behind it is just as unique as their ideas,” said Chesley. “We are constantly releasing new limited edition items and pieces that keep everyone on their toes and excited to see what’s next.” If you want to catch the next drop, join the Brooklynn & Grey VIP Facebook group here and check out current offerings on the Brooklynn & Grey website or Chesley’s Etsy site.

Amber Kincaid of Buddy Dude Threads still views herself as the new kid on the small shop block. “At this stage, with Buddy Dude being so new and me still figuring out multiple aspects of owning a small shop and selling to customers online, I’m always telling myself ‘kiss,’ keep it simple, stupid,” she shared. Kincaid launched Buddy Dude Threads in late 2018, but initially had no intention of starting a shop. “Having a small shop, even a very, very small shop, is a big time commitment,” Kincaid revealed. “Juggling two toddlers, one of whom is severely cognitively delayed and autistic, autism therapy, and sewing is definitely an interesting full time job.”

The name Buddy Dude originates from a nickname for Kincaid’s oldest son Jacob. “It’s not particularly catchy, definitely not hip and trendy sounding, but it is something personal to me and seemed to be the best fit for what I wanted to do.” Beyond the name, Kincaid’s two boys also inspired her to open her own shop. “I started sewing for my children first,” she said. “My boys aren’t providing any feedback yet, although they will look at a particular cartoon print like Lightning McQueen and get a huge smile across their face. I know they approve.”

Unquestionably, Buddy Dude Threads has one of the fastest turnaround times for custom apparel, likely because Kincaid sticks to what she does best – children’s shorts and joggers. “The four bottom styles that I make are all gender neutral. What determines if they are boy or girl bottoms is just the fabric print chosen.” Speaking of fabric prints, Kincaid offers many options because she loves the different designs (“I had no idea there was a whole ‘fabric world’ on Facebook.”). I asked Kincaid to name a favorite. “Right now, I’m really excited to be making all the Dr. Seuss items. Those four prints are my first purchase from that particular vendor and I’m very impressed with the quality of the fabric and how bright the colors are,” she explained.

While Buddy Dude Threads may still be in infancy – not unlike many of the shop’s customers  – Kincaid’s sewing skills date back to her childhood. “My favorite part about sewing is the creativity aspect. I’ve always been crafty growing up and I still am,” she said. Whether it’s do-it-yourself home improvement projects or arts and crafts, I love it!” If she wasn’t sewing for Buddy Dude Threads, Kincaid would consider a career in house flipping. “Again, it’s another crafty type job. I love renovating and updating my own home. Whether it’s white washing the old red brick fireplace in our home, painting my kitchen cupboards myself, or updating all the light fixtures inside and out, I love all kinds of hands-on work.”

Buddy Dude Threads continues to grow and has earned a well-deserved reputation for quality. “I absolutely love the photos that moms post of their littles wearing Buddy Dude Threads,” Kincaid exclaimed. “I’m always relieved that they are happy with the item they received and their children are excited to wear it.”

Want in on the growing excitement? Spend some time going through the expansive fabric selections in the Buddy Dude Threads VIP Facebook group here.

Rachel Eden makes me laugh. Her responses to my queries are playful, just like the sweet plushes she creates for her shop Winks + Wildflower. Winks + Wildflower, opened in February 2018, specializes in the design of children’s lovies and stuffed animals, like llamas, owls, otters, moose, ponies, lions, cats, dogs and more. Eden draws inspiration from animals she loved as a child and she hand sews each of their little faces. The shop name is a reference to Eden’s daughter Charlotte, her “wildflower” and “official snuggle tester,” and her “lovie-stealing cat named Winksie.”

Winks + Wildflower plushes come in several sizes, including large and small snuggles, “love buds,” which are stuffed small snuggles, and “dew drops,” a smaller version of the “love bud.” Eden’s humor shines in both the names and product descriptions of the Winks + Wildflower plushes. For example, the Winks + Wildflower raccoon is named “Trash Panda” (“We wanted this to be as authentic as possible, so they have been marinated in our own trash cans all week”), and Eden’s long-tailed fox is “Faux Paw” (“How Embarrassing…”). Her recent cat unicorn design, aptly named “Meowgikal Kittycorn,” is described as “riding through rainbows sprinkling happiness and dreams clouds onto children.”

The Winks + Wildflower plushes come in soft, ultra-lux materials in every color under the rainbow, including a rainbow tie-dye print. You can even have your plush personalized with your kiddo’s name. “I love the design aspect, but I also really love the community aspect,” Eden shared. “I feel like we have created this little family and it is so fun to turn their ideas into a lovie or dew.”

Eden is currently working on a “mer-cat” (“a/k/a mermaid kitty”) for an upcoming shop release. I inquired which plush design was her favorite, but Eden responded, “I feel like you can’t ask me that. It’s like asking which of your kids is your favorite.” If you want a Winks + Wildflower Kittycorn, Trash Panda, or Mer-Cat, you better have fast fingers. Winks + Wildflower’s last restock sold out in less than five minutes.

Speaking of cats, Eden has noticed plenty of them, as in the copycat variety, but she shrugs them off. “As with anything in the art world, there will always be someone who sees an idea and takes it. It used to really bother me, but at this point, the copycats will always be a step behind. They’ll always be looking for the next thing instead of enjoying the process of what it truly means to create and be authentic to yourself and your brand.”

Even though the future is bright for Winks + Wildflower, Eden has a solid back-up plan. “If I wasn’t designing, I would be a unicorn. If all else fails, be a unicorn.” I agree, Rachel Eden.

Don’t miss out on the next llama-filled Winks + Wildflower release on February 2nd. More upcoming drop dates are announced in the Winks + Wildflower VIP Facebook group and on Eden’s website located here.

“One of these mornings you’re gonna rise up singing, you’re gonna spread your wings, child, and take to the sky” – Summertime, Janis Joplin.

Amber Willson’s love of music is evident in everything she creates for her small shop, The Wild Bambino. “Music of every genre has always been a huge part of my life,” Willson explained. “My parents introduced me to all the classics of the 50’s and 60’s and my love only grew from there. I knew every word to every song my parents listed to. I found that every season of life can be brought back through music. It’s amazing the memories you can pull out when that special song comes on!” Willson aims to design apparel that evokes the same memories. “My favorite part about the design process is helping create memories for families. Helping families create a new memory for an old memory. A song they connected to, a show, a concert. Bringing the memory back to life through their child.”

In 2015, Willson, mom to two bambinos of her own, left her former career as an emergency room nurse and launched the Wild Bambino, focusing on trendy rompers, hoodies, dresses and jogger sets for tots size 0-3 months up to size 6/7. “I began making things for my son due to the lack of cool boys clothing,” she said. “I was quickly encouraged by family and friends to start selling my creations.” The name originates from Willson’s love for all things wild and free. “I’m a wanderlust at heart,” she exclaimed.

The Wild Bambino “Music Collection,” a personal favorite, features distinctive art work inspired by musicians Johnny Cash, The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and more. The shop also offers designs from beloved 80’s and 90’s movies and television sitcoms like Goonies, Sandlot, and Friends, among others. “Creating a new design for the first time is my favorite part,” Willson shared. “Watching the color and accents come together is so much fun!”

For Willson, “every little things is gonna be alright.” “This job found me, I firmly believe,” she said. “Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined my passion for creating things would bring me to where I am today. It truly found me during a time when I needed a new direction to go.”

Check out the wild rompers and jogger sets on the Wild Bambino website here and join Willson’s VIP Facebook group for upcoming sale drops and discounts. Plus, Willson offered readers a discount with code “bambino.” Keep rockin’!

Say cheese! Halle Ingram has been designing handmade wooden cameras since summer 2017 through her shop With Love, Halle. “‘With LOVE, Halle’ means that each wooden camera, every little thing I put into it, is made with love by me,” Ingram shared. “If you were to write a letter, you would always sign it ‘with love.’ It’s just my way of saying each individual camera is made with love for that special customer.”

As you might imagine, there is a fair amount of detail that goes into creating wooden cameras safe for tiny humans. Ingram and her husband handpick and cut the raw wood she uses for each camera style. “From that point, we sand and round the edges so they are not sharp for the little hands that will hold them,” she explained. “We drill the viewfinder hole and go over them again with a hand sander. It’s quite a long process.” Once the body of each camera is prepared, Ingram paints, designs and decorates the wood in accordance with the shop’s release theme. The cameras also come with an adorable strap made of a soft jute material.

With Love, Halle offers gender-neutral cameras for all different holidays, including a recently-released Valentine’s Day design, as well as various character-inspired themes (think princesses and superheroes). Ingram has designed cameras in every color of the rainbow – even a horizontal stripe rainbow camera, one of her favorites. Customers frequently make custom requests, including one who sought a Chick-fil-A theme!

Ingram’s cameras are such works of art that I hesitate to call them toys, but they are beloved by children. In a world filled with screens, these wooden cameras inspire creativity and unleash imagination. For Ingram, the best part is the feedback she receives from parents who purchase the cameras for their kiddos. “It is pure happiness. Hearing the moms tell me how their little minds work and how big their imaginations are. Seeing them mimic what their moms do while taking photos is amazing.”

Why cameras? Ingram fell in love with photography years ago. “My daughter, CiCi, had no interest in getting her photo taken,” Ingram recalled. “I had seen wooden cameras before and I wondered if I could make them. I remember walking around the hardware store with my husband, picking up every little thing and practically building the first camera there. It was a lot of trial and error.”

Launching With Love, Halle has been life-changing for Ingram. “My small shop has opened so many doors for us. If I didn’t do this, I would definitely find a way to bring happiness to others. Someway, somehow.”

Upcoming With Love, Halle drops include an “All Stained Release” on January 25 and then Ombré designs in pink, black, purple, and turquoise colors in February. Accessorize your next family photo with a wooden camera from With Love, Halle by visiting her website at withlovehalle.com or join Ingram’s VIP Facebook group here.

The exclusive print designs are the star of Hen House Apparel. “There is something so special about those pieces that no one else has, that you can’t find in stores or on someone else’s website,” said Niki Holderman, owner of and chief designer for California-based Hen House Apparel. “We make memories in what we wear and I want my customers to find joy in putting their children in Hen House for all those special moments.”

Holderman launched Hen House Apparel in August 2015 with lots of encouragement from friends, family and even strangers who would approach Holderman about her own kids’ handmade apparel. “Hen House Apparel was definitely not planned but so many good things aren’t,” she recalled. “Hen House launched at my kitchen table and just thinking about where it started to where we are now makes me very nostalgic!”

In the early days, Hen House Apparel focused on apparel for little boys, inspired by Holderman’s then-3 year old and 6 month old kiddos. The brand has since expanded to include apparel for both genders, like rompers, playsuits, cardigans, leotards, bummies and joggers, as well as Holderman’s signature print designs. Her favorite textile print is the “Giza” design, which she described as “timeless, minimalist and gender neutral.” Another favorite is the hand-painted watercolor buffaloes, commissioned by talented artist Victoria Grindstaff and released by Hen House Apparel this past fall. “When customers see our collection in person the first thing they do is comment on how soft all our fabrics are; the second thing is usually how cute they are; and the third is the high quality craftsmanship,” Holderman exclaimed. “I’m proud of every piece that comes out of my shop and I think my customers can see that.” Holderman’s boys also inspired the Hen House Apparel graphic “Make Big Waves” design, which restocks this summer. “My husband is a surfer and a shaper – we actually own a surfboard brand and factory – and we always tell our kids to go out in the world and ‘make big waves.’ So that design was created for them and it seems like other parents like it too!”

Designing apparel is second nature for Holderman, who found her initial interest in fashion and the modeling industry as a child. “I love bringing a vision in my head to fruition.  It is very gratifying to see something in your head, make it into something tangible and then have someone want to buy it,” she shared. “Creating clothing makes me feel good about myself and makes other people feel good; that’s what I am all about.”

Holderman often participates in west coast handmade markets, but if you are not local, you can also check out the latest Hen House Apparel collection online, in select small boutiques nationwide and through her VIP Facebook group here. Plus, use the code “smallshopdrop15” to save on your next purchase. Thanks Niki!

Did you know that the average American throws away 81 pounds of clothing and other textiles annually? According to Greenpeace, more than 15 million tons of used textile waste is generated each year in the United States, and the amount has doubled over the last 20 years.

The eco-conscious mission behind Canadian shop Throne + Thimble resonates with me. Throne + Thimble, launched in spring 2015 by Shay Bulich, focuses primarily on upcycled materials. “I feel that as a society, we produce so much, and such a huge amount of it ends up as trash. I prefer to break that cycle, and divert perfectly good materials from landfills,” Bulich explained. “I also enjoy the creative challenge. Taking a perfectly plush robe, cutting it all up and putting it back together is so much more fun than just working with factory made yardage!”

Although Bulich began her creative journey by crafting on YouTube and selling handmade banners and garlands through Etsy, Throne + Thimble has recently focused on plushes and lovies for children. And, significantly, using sustainable and preloved materials remains a core value for all of Bulich’s designs. Nearly 100 percent of textiles and clothing are recyclable and Throne + Thimble products are made from blankets, throws, bathrobes and related materials, which Bulich combines to create “the most comforting tactile snuggle experience.” Throne + Thimble also promotes good environmental practices and reduces waste by shipping orders in recyclable materials. 

The Throne + Thimble plushes feature hand-embroidered heart-shaped faces and are available in three delicious sizes – dollop, pie and bonbon. Even Bullich’s color selections, like toasted marshmallow and strawberries and cream, sound tasty. “I started off with more abstract designs,” said Bulich. “I love more open-ended toys, so preferred to keep my designs simple.” Another popular Throne + Thimble design includes the “Avocuddle,” a dollop-size plush made of two shades of green and a fuzzy brown for the pit and a sweet sleepy face.

Bulich finds inspiration everywhere and considers herself “fortunate to be surrounded by such an amazing and supportive community.” Her favorite part of the design process is “hand embroidering the face and adding little blushing on the cheeks. That is when they come to life for me. That is the moment that makes me go ‘awww! So cute!’”

What is next for Throne + Thimble? Bunnies! “My new bunnies are my current favorite. They are so floppy and squishable!” Take care of the planet and grab one to fill your Easter basket this spring by joining the Throne + Thimble VIP group or through Bulich’s Etsy site here.

“Don’t listen to people when they tell you the newborn stage is the hardest. The newborn stage is the best. They sleep, they cuddle, their little cry is adorable. Toddlers are savages. Toddlers. Do. Not. Care.”

Meet Anna Schaeffer and Hannah Null of Savage Tots Customs. If you are not familiar, Savage Tots creates custom apparel for boys and girls from newborn up to size 6/7, including shorts, joggers, t-shirts, rompers, cardigans and sweatshirts, among others.

Meet Anna Schaeffer and Hannah Null of Savage Tots Customs. If you are not familiar, Savage Tots creates custom apparel for boys and girls from newborn up to size 6/7, including shorts, joggers, t-shirts, rompers, cardigans and sweatshirts, among others.

Savage Tots, based in North Carolina, is a partnership between Schaeffer and her daughter Null. “I love working with my daughter most of the time. We do have our differences, but we balance pretty well. She’s a very hard worker and we couldn’t do this without each other,” Schaeffer shared. The mother-daughter duo began by casually selling shorts and joggers on Facebook and then launched their small shop by April 2018. Since then, the Savage Tots brand has taken off, and the shop has received over 1,000 orders in approximately six months. Schaeffer and Null are skilled seamstresses. Each piece of Savage Tots apparel is handmade with care. “I love making something new or different,” said Schaeffer. Null’s favorite items to make are the Savage Tots signature “shortie and hooded tank sets because summer is my favorite season!”

Savage Tots offers customers an array of different fabrics to customize their garments and many fabrics sell out immediately upon release. Looking for a hard-to-find fabric design? Schaeffer and Null specialize in tracking down elusive prints. One of the most outlandish requests Schaeffer has received was for a pair of joggers made of contrasting camouflage and stripe patterns for each leg. “A customer once wanted a mash up of three different Disney prints in one pair of joggers,” added Null. This just exemplifies the beauty of picking your own fabric designs!

Savage Tots strives to offer custom apparel at competitive prices, ranging from $15 and up. To customize your own Savage Tots fashions for your kiddo, join the VIP Facebook group here. Schaeffer also graciously offered readers a 15% discount by mentioning the code Viningdrop15.

Welcome to Small Shop Drop! This site is a collection of interviews with the makers, creators, innovators and momtrepreneurs behind some of the most wildly popular small shops. Please enjoy some of their stories behind the seams.