Small Shop Drop - Sharing the small stories behind the seams of small shops
Small Shop Drop - Sharing the small stories behind the seams of small shops
Interviews

Zooguu

May 31, 2019 by Jaime Vining No Comments

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart” – Winnie the Pooh

“My most unique custom would have to be a two-part Winnie the Pooh for Burr Productions, a company that worked on the recent Christopher Robin movie,” said Jennifer Gubicza of small shop Zooguu. “The front end of Pooh is sticking out into one room of the office and the back end is sticking out in another room. It is inspired by Pooh getting stuck in Rabbit’s house when he eats too much honey.” Oh, bother!

Jennifer Gubicza

Based in Massachusetts, Zooguu handcrafts faux taxidermy as wall décor – think stuffed dinosaurs, unicorns, sloths and llamas hung in a baby nursery or child’s bedroom. The plushies are made of suede cloth, stuffing and love, and then mounted to a stained or painted wooden base for wall hanging. Rest assured that no actual (stuffed) animals have ever been harmed in the making. The whimsical designs range in size from 3.5” x 5” (size 1) to 12” x 16” (size 5) and prices start at just $35 for the small size.

Zooguu

“The most popular animal styles are unicorns, narwhals and dinosaurs,” head zookeeper Gubicza shared. “Dragons may be one of my favorite things to make because they are all one of a kind. I love the end result, but I have to be in the right mindset to work with my most difficult pattern and fabrics.” Each of Zooguu’s designs and sewing patterns are original and unique. “I love simple, elegant designs, bold colors and anything funny. With Zooguu, customers choose the colors that their faux taxidermy is made in. This makes it custom and personal,” explained Gubicza. “Everything I make is done to make people feel happy. Involving them in the process should add to that experience. I know I love when I get to have something special made just for me.” The shop name is a quirky combination of “zoo” (for the animals, of course) and “guu,” the beginning sound of the maker’s surname. “It is sort-of like saying I have a personal collection of creatures. Also, it is short, fun to say, and the domain name was available,” Gubicza laughed.

Zooguu’s mythical creatures

Gubicza found a passion for design early. “I started sewing as a hobby in the early 2000s and sold under a different name on Etsy until 2008,” she recalled of the shop’s early origins. “I changed the name to Zooguu in 2008 when I left my graphic design job to pursue sewing creatures full time.” Now, Gubicza reimagines her two-dimensional designs as three-dimensional works of animal art. “I love being able to hold a finished product in my hands that started as raw materials and was transformed into something completely different.”

Zooguu birds

You can regularly find Gubicza and her designs at various craft shows and handmade markets, but check out all the zoo (and mythical) animals from Zooguu on its website, Etsy shop and Instagram page.

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Reading time: 2 min
Interviews

Whimsy and Wool Shop

May 29, 2019 by Jaime Vining No Comments

“Oh that’s alright. He can call me a flower if he wants to. I don’t mind.” – Bambi

Whimsy and Wool Shop

Everything’s coming up roses for Jessica Storey Wackermann. “I find design inspiration through real flowers. I love looking at a live flower and how its petals are formed and shaped to improve my own flowers,” she shared. “I also get inspiration from felt florist classes where I learn new techniques and incorporate them into my personal style. Flohra Design is my favorite felt florist.”

Whimsy and Wool Shop

Based in Georgia, Wackermann is the “budding” floral designer behind Whimsy and Wool Shop, known for its girly hair accessories and pretties. “My personal favorite are the flower crowns,” she said. “They are detailed and unique and beautiful.” She uses soft nylon bands and a rainbow of colors to handcraft headbands, hair clips and bows. Whimsy and Wool Shop also offers custom macramé bow holders constructed from felt flowers and an embroidery hoop, which also double as wall décor. While her “most popular items are smaller clips that are more versatile,” I especially love the vibrant Spring colors of the shop’s “Secret Garden Crown.”

Whimsy and Wool Shop

Wackermann, a labor and delivery nurse, launched Whimsy and Wool Shop in March 2018. “I started making felt flower headbands after my daughter was born in 2016. I loved it and wanted to expand to have my own shop,” she recalled. “My sister pushed me to open finally by posting my items for sale on her Facebook, which forced me to finish up my Etsy shop and make it live!” The name is play on the small shop’s specialties. “Whimsy because I feel that flower crowns remind me of fantasies and imaginative play, and wool because I use primarily felt as a medium.” The shop has continued to blossom over the last year. “I’m proud of my growth. I am always learning new techniques and getting better and better at what I do. My shop is still very small but I’m proud of my commitment to always strive to learn and improve,” said Wackermann.

Whimsy and Wool Shop

If you want a particular shade of flower, Wackermann happily accepts custom orders. “I offer made to match, which I personally love. Finding the perfect colors and designing something to match an outfit is a challenge and it is so fun to see it come together,” Wackermann said. “My favorite part is coming up with something new and beautiful. I love piecing together new combinations of flowers and colors to create a new piece.”

Come hand pick your own felt flower creations on the Whimsy and Wool Shop site or in Wackermann’s Facebook group here.

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Reading time: 2 min
Interviews

Joy Fiordalisi Fine

May 27, 2019 by Jaime Vining No Comments

“I just love to play and experiment,” exclaimed jewelry designer and mixed media artist Joy Fiordalisi Fine. “And I also want to make art accessible to everyone. To not take it too seriously. Anyone can be an artist – it’s fun! If I can make someone feel something (pretty, confident, etc.) in return, that is an extra bonus.”

Joy Fiordalisi Fine

As her name suggests, Fine infuses this “joyful” spirit in her Joy Fiordalisi Fine jewelry designs. She uses natural and semi-precious stones, glass beads and silver links to create fashionable and affordable necklaces, bracelets and earrings. “My favorite pieces are the more minimal designs. I love working with river rocks. They feel very zen,” she shared. “And I have just started to get back into precious metal clay. It is fine silver powder mixed into a binding agent. You can make anything that you could with clay and after you fire it, the binder burns away and you are left with a higher grade silver than sterling.” I think there is such beauty in the simplicity, particularly when it comes to jewelry. Fine draws inspiration from everywhere. “I carry a sketchbook with me and will write things down that I find. I also surf Pinterest often for some new techniques.”

Pink Czech Glass Dangle Earrings

Fine opened up her Etsy shop in 2011, focusing primarily on handmade beaded jewelry. “I had been taking new jewelry making classes and living in a small town in Wyoming, but I didn’t have a lot of outlets to sell my work.” With diverse design interests, she dabbled in various art forms first before landing on jewelry. In fact, many of Fine’s mixed media and original photography prints are still available at online shops like Society6. “I always wanted to be an artist, but it took me a long time to find my ‘thing.’ I took every art class in high school and was terrible at all of them. I made beaded and hemp jewelry with a friend in my teens, but I never considered it an art,” Fine recalled. “Then after high school, I took a photography class at the community college and I was hooked. And since then, I have taken classes in so many things, like jewelry making, printmaking, and mixed media painting. I think that I finally let go of comparing my artwork to others and just played. If it made me happy, then it usually made others smile as well.”

Green African Trade Bead Necklace

Come smile and check out all of the “fine” jewelry on the Joy Fiordalisi Fine Etsy shop or on Instagram here. 

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Reading time: 2 min
Interviews

Park + Willow

May 24, 2019 by Jaime Vining No Comments

“The willow is my favorite tree. I grew up near one. It’s the most flexible tree in nature and nothing can break it – no wind, no elements, it can bend and withstand anything.” – Pink

The willow tree often symbolizes balance and strength. The tree is one of few capable of bending in the face of force without snapping, which serves as a metaphor for adapting with life, rather than fighting it. “The willow is a tree of special significance for me and my husband,” shared Carissa Park. “On our wedding day, our first look was under a willow tree. We have always loved the regal and whimsical look of willow trees.”

Park + Willow

Park is the designer behind Park + Willow, a small shop with big fashion. “I tend to be drawn to neutrals – black, gray, oatmeal, bone and charcoal. I like to accent with gorgeous florals and fun neutral prints, like camo and stripes,” she explained. “I like to make mostly staple pieces with charm: sweaters, hoodies, joggers and shorties. Camo has always been my biggest seller though.” Sounds like things I would wear myself. Park described the shop’s apparel style as cozy and neutral. “I wanted to see more items in the small shop world that do not have a gender assigned to them. I have seen people sell a pair of plain toddler jeans and customers ask, ‘are these for boys or girls?’ Clothes are for everyone,” she exclaimed. “And, I want kids to wear what makes them happy. If a girl loves stripes and camo, perfect! If a boy loves flowers, I love that too.” Park’s own children frequently influence the Park + Willow offerings. “I think 95% of my items are described as ‘soft.’ I am a huge texture person, and so are kids. I want all kids, my own included, to feel comfortable and cozy in the things they wear,” she said. “I also want their clothes to be for play and regular childhood life. My own boys wear the items I make for them nearly daily.” Shoppers have started recognizing Park’s distinctive constellation logo design. “I am so proud of my logo and it is fun to display it on every piece I make.” Each Park + Willow apparel item also comes with one of the shop’s leather tags. “It elevates even my most basic pieces to feeling more professional.”

Park + Willow

Park launched the shop in August of 2018 while working full-time as a registered nurse. “I started my youngest as a brand rep for small shops when he was a few months old. It immersed me into the small shop world and I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” Park recalled. “My full-time job in the hospital comes with a significant mental and emotional health toll. I needed to find a way to decompress. This turned into a creative outlet for me. I love having this hobby outside of work.”

Park + Willow

Like the branches of a willow tree – flexible and strong, bending without breaking – Park has found a way to balance it all. “I work full-time, night shift as an RN and I am a mom to a 7 year old autistic child and 2 year old,” she shared. “My life is so busy and I never have downtime! I schedule my drops around my work schedule and sacrifice lots of sleep in order to get the sewing time I need.” Beyond the creative outlet, Park + Willow also provides Park with a sounding board of other like-minded mamas. “I love connecting with my customers and it makes me so happy seeing customers share photos of their kiddos in my items. I, in turn, relish those same connections with other small shop owners who have become friends of mine.”

Park + Willow

Park + Willow restocks regularly on its website, so join the shop’s VIP Facebook group here for details on upcoming releases.

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Reading time: 3 min
Interviews

The Little Bubble

May 22, 2019 by Jaime Vining No Comments

Bella Corrente is proving that age is nothing but a number. She may not be able to drive yet, but, at fifteen years old, she is the young business magnate and head soap maker behind small shop The Little Bubble.   

Bella Corrente

Corrente caught the entrepreneurial spirit when she was only nine. “The Little Bubble started as a homeschool project in 2013. My mom, ‘Momma Bubble’ gave me an assignment that included math, science and writing all in one,” she recalled. “I started by first making lip balm and sugar scrub, which helped me learn measurements and simple math, and then I made a tiny batch of soap.  My mom set me up a fake Etsy account, we designed business cards and I ‘sold’ my products to my family, which helped me learn money skills and writing. A couple of our family friends really loved the soaps and scrubs and asked me to keep making more for them. Soon enough, I had a few orders! Then a friend set me up with a booth at a kids festival and I made a dozen scrubs and 40 bars of soap. I sold out that day and had a local gallery ask to carry my products. It has been pretty much nonstop since then!”

The Little Bubble

In the early days, the kidprenuer impressed small shoppers with her business acumen and high quality products. “But now that I’m a little older, I think the ingredients we use and our fun branding help us stand out from other handmade bath and body shops,” Corrente shared. “We have grown so much that we had to officially hire my older brother to work part-time, so I’m not only my mom’s boss, but I am his boss as well. We start every work day in the studio by blasting Jump Around by House of Pain!”

Bath Bombs

The business powerhouse in the making splits her time between school and suds. “I really love making soap. Creating soap is like making art with a little science mixed in,” Corrente exclaimed. “It is so calming to mix together oils, colors and fragrances and watch something magical happen. My very favorite part is the cut. You never really know if the design you planned is going to work or be even better than you thought. It is like painting and each bar is unique.” I really enjoy all of the creative product names, especially “Unicorn Farts,” inspired by Corrente’s father. “Unicorn Farts is hilarious, right? My dad comes up with lots of the fun ones,” she laughed. “And we also find inspiration in the fragrances themselves. Sometimes a fragrance just says…‘Name me Mermaid!’” The Unicorn Farts scent is actually the shop’s most popular product line. “Bar soap, bath bombs, lotions, scrubs, candles – it doesn’t matter what it is, Unicorn Farts wins hands down.” Corrente also suggested the Full Moon fragrance. “It is the perfect mix (in my opinion) of blood orange and patchouli. It smells so good.”

Unicorn Farts

The Little Bubble is lathering up to release a new skin care line. “My mom and I recently launched a few new products in that line and have had the best parts out for testing with our brand reps. They are loving everything. It covers all bases: teen skin issues, ‘aging skin’ (I hate that term, by the way) and everything in between,” said Corrente.

Pop over to the Little Bubble website for a Unicorn Fart-scented bath bomb or subscribe to the shop’s monthly “Bubble Boxes,” which include soap bars, bath salts, bath melts and more. Use the code SMALLSHOPDROP to save 10% off your next soapy purchase. Thanks Bella!

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Reading time: 3 min
Interviews

The Materials Design Co.

May 20, 2019 by Jaime Vining No Comments

“The materials that make up our world have a huge impact on our daily experiences. It is the difference between sitting at a salvaged wood table or a shiny marble counter, the difference between wearing a crisp linen shirt or a soft fluffy sweater,” explained shop owner Arielle Salkin. “Materials impact the way we feel, move, think, and function. The Materials Design Company uses a ‘materials first’ approach, by letting the materials lead the design process.” As a pretty tactile person, I was immediately drawn to New York City-based The Materials Design Co. 

The Materials Design Co.

Salkin designs totes and handbags sourced from eco-friendly materials, organic cottons and textile remnants. “I love to share materials with a story – whether the story is the process used to weave, embellish or dye the fabric, or if it is about the backstory and intention of using repurposed or remnant materials,” she said. “I look for organic fabrics and buy trims like zippers and thread from small local shops. I’m excited to be making the One of a Kind collection from production remnants from the first collection, as well as unused dyed fabric samples. These may seem like major creative limitations, but I believe that limitations actually encourage creative design thinking.” Salkin lets the materials, colors, and techniques guide her designs. “The end result feels good and the customer can feel great about their purchase. When people use a bag they bought from The Materials Design Co., they are taking a small part of our brand and our values with them throughout their day. Handmade with great values – It’s a modern kind of luxury.”

The Materials Design Co.

The shop’s Original Tote is perfect for everyday use. Crafted from sturdy, certified organic cotton canvas, the bag comes in various colors and has pockets to hold all of the contents of your purse and diaper bag. “I love the simplicity of the Original Tote and that it has all kinds of hidden unique details, like the funky patterned linings and the invisible external pocket. The Original Tote in the black and caramel combo is by far our best seller from the first collection,” Salkin shared. Salkin also hand-embroiders certain of the limited edition totes in Japanese Sashiko style. “I am so excited about the new Sashiko versions of the totes because the embroidery elevates the bags to something so unique and they have been tremendously popular across our social media,” she exclaimed.

The Materials Design Co. 

The Materials Design Co. officially opened for business late last year. Salkin, an embroidery designer by trade, was looking to start a product-based business. “I was six months pregnant, and I would work on sketches and business plans sitting in coffee shops between freelance gigs. After a chat with a friend, I decided to base my first design on a tote bag I made a few years ago that had been so popular among friends who saw it on Facebook,” she recalled. “Of course, being 2/3 the way through a pregnancy is not the ideal time to start a business. It took a few months postpartum before I was able to get things up and running, but six months later, I was launching my website and starting my first presale.” From the outset, Salkin was committed to making sustainable choices in her designs. “The unfortunate reality of the fashion industry today is one of incredible waste and carelessness. The unimaginable amount of pollution from chemical fabric dye and fabric waste from the cutting and sewing process, as well as consumer habits of regularly buying and subsequently discarding cheap, poorly made garments and accessories, is shameful reality of our society and something that needs to be addressed,” she professed. “As someone who feels a drive to create, it is my responsibility to make sure my impact is as low as possible.”

Check out all of the eco-conscious bags in Salkin’s current collection on The Materials Design Co.’s website and Instagram page.

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Reading time: 3 min
Interviews

BooBooLoveys

May 17, 2019 by Jaime Vining No Comments

“She kisses my boo-boos, she braids my hair. My mother is beyond compare. We love you mothers everywhere.” – Despicable Me

BooBooLoveys

Angie Benita Preissner named her Wisconsin-based small shop BooBooLoveys after her daughter, who she affectionately calls “Boo Boo.” “When my daughter was born, I became a stay at home mom, but I felt like I wanted to help to provide for my family in some way and contribute to society,” she explained. Since opening up shop in September 2018, Preissner has been hand-sewing minky loveys and patchwork security blankets for littles. “BooBooLoveys is definitely my creative outlet that I am otherwise lacking as a busy mom. I love knowing that something that I created brings fun and comfort to so many little ones.”

BooBooLoveys

The sweet loveys are approximately 14.5” in length and come in a variety of animal designs, including the popular unicorns, bunnies, farm animals (like cows and pigs), cats, foxes and deer. The animal heads are lightly stuffed with hypoallergenic poly-fil and each face is hand-embroidered by Preissner. “They are all like my little babies,” she joked. “Each character has something special about it, but I have always been a huge fan of the bunnies. The long ears are perfect for little hands to hold on to.” Preissner uses silky soft fabric and luxe fleece to comfort baby-smooth skin. “The downside of working with minky fabric is the huge mess it makes, but it is so soft and perfect for little ones to cuddle with.” The shop also accepts custom lovey orders. “The most meaningful was a bunny for a rainbow baby,” Preissner shared. “The mom had lost three babies prior to her current pregnancy and I felt honored to be able to create something special for her.”

BooBooLoveys

It is well-known that the small shop lovey business is competitive, but Preissner has been working to carve out her own niche. “Having a small business is tough! Sometimes it is hard to compete with big online retailers, especially when it comes down to the price,” she said. “When customers purchase from me, I hope they know that I pour my heart and soul into my products. They are not being manufactured in a factory overseas by the hundreds. All of BooBooLoveys’ plushes are handmade by me in my sewing studio and every single one is unique. My to-do list is always super long and it takes around 3-4 hours to create one lovey. No two loveys are ever alike and I think that makes them extra special.”

BooBooLoveys

What is BooBooLoveys dropping next? “I am trying my best to create new and exciting stuff and my customers always have the best ideas and suggestions. All my loveys have been animal-inspired so far, but there might be a few different items coming to the shop in the near future (wink).” Check out all the loveys in the BooBooLoveys Etsy shop and join Preissner’s VIP Facebook group here to keep up with future releases.

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Reading time: 2 min
Interviews

Millie + Roo

May 15, 2019 by Jaime Vining No Comments

“My personal style is actually very similar to the style of the shop,” shared Amber Sepulveda of small shop Millie + Roo. “I identify very closely with what I create for the kiddos. I wear a lot of basics that almost have a capsule wardrobe feel to them. I like being able to pair anything I own with anything else. This is exactly why we created the ‘Mama Tanks.’ That is my style 100%. A cute racerback tank, pair of jeans, Birkenstocks and some cute jewelry.” Sepulveda just described the contents of my closet.

Amber Sepulveda of Millie + Roo

I found Millie + Roo by happy accident. A friend passed on a pair of outgrown shorts for my youngest and the inner label identified the maker as “Mama Sew Happy,” which, according to my investigative digging, did not exist anymore. This led me to stumble upon Sepulveda and Millie + Roo. “I first opened shop in January 2014 as ‘Mama Sew Happy,’” she recalled. “I received a sewing machine that Christmas and my son was six months old. He was teething hard core and a slobbery, wet mess. I didn’t like the look of the traditional bib, so I created the ‘bibdana.’ I had never seen any on the market at the time. I went through quite a few prototypes and finally nailed it down to the right fit, absorbency and style I liked.” Sepulveda later created an Instagram account and then an Etsy shop and the shop’s popularity grew. “I went to a fabric store and spent $100 on fun fabrics. After a couple months on Etsy, I realized it was time to create my own website and the rest is history.” After her daughter was born in 2016, Sepulveda transitioned to Millie + Roo and expanded her shop offerings. “I was primarily known as a ‘boys shop’ and wanted to start including more girly options as well. The name stems from both of my children’s nicknames. We call our daughter ‘Millie’ and our son ‘Roo,’” she explained. “It is very special to me because they are the main inspiration for the line and it only seemed fitting.”

Black Splatter print

Operating as Millie + Roo, the shop now features trendy harem shorts and pants, hooded tank tops, hoodies, bloomers, twirl dresses, and my personal favorite, the racerback Mama Tanks, in coordinating fabrics. The apparel items are staples for any wardrobe. Think weathered camo, monochrome stripes, splattered black prints, and the extremely popular peacock blue color for spring. With the tanks, I appreciate that Millie + Roo gives moms the revolutionary option to match their daughters and sons. “My background is interior design and I have always loved the design process,” she said. “There is something so rewarding about starting with a vision and seeing it come to life.” Each piece is handmade in San Francisco, which is important to Sepulveda. “With growth, comes change. But, I am not willing to sacrifice the quality,” she professed. “I now work with a local team that does all the cutting and sewing. I also work with an amazing patternmaker who helps me with all the patterns for the new items. This gives me time to focus on the backend of the business. I am so excited to see this brand continue to grow. It has been such an amazing and rewarding experience. The quality of our products is unparalleled to any other and we stand behind everything Millie + Roo sells.”

Dusty Black Camo Twirl Dress

Keep an eye out for new collections coming soon. “We have quite a few things up our sleeve for this coming year! I don’t want to spoil the surprise just yet,” Sepulveda teased. The newest Millie + Roo designs are available now on the shop’s website and Sepulveda shares photos of upcoming releases in her VIP Facebook group here. Use the code “smallshopdrop” to save during the next drop. Thank you, Amber!

Millie + Roo
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Reading time: 3 min
Interviews

Hello Sweetie Pies

May 13, 2019 by Jaime Vining No Comments

There’s always room for pie, especially when that pie comes on a stick! Meet Jess Filippi of Hello Sweetie Pies. Based in Southern California, Filippi is the head baker and pie maker extraordinaire behind Hello Sweetie Pies. “I had been baking for years and dabbled with selling our hand pies and cookies, but Hello Sweetie Pies really started when I made my first pie pop in April of 2015. I was eight months pregnant and made 20 of them for our very first market,” she recalled. Filippi knew she was on to something tasty, but her husband was initially doubtful. “I mentioned that I wanted to try to put them on a stick and my husband said there was no way they would stay on the stick and probably would not be that popular. Now he says all the time that he is so glad he was wrong,” she laughed.

Hello Sweetie Pies

Hello Sweetie Pies offers small shoppers bite-sized portions of classic desserts and no fork is required. “Our most popular flavor year round is Apple. It’s just a classic. Strawberry and Blueberry are very popular year round too,” Filippi explained. “In the fall, we can barely keep Pumpkin in stock. We roast fresh pumpkins and make our own puree on-site, so it’s a lot of work to get that filling. We have to limit it because it’s so popular! I personally love Strawberry Peach. It is the perfect mix of summery and sweet flavors for me. It’s seasonal from July through September and I look forward to it every year.” Sounds like pastry perfection.  

Chocolate Strawberry Pie Pops

While the pie pops are the obvious star of Hello Sweetie Pies, I would be remiss if I did not mention the shop’s cookies. “We are kept quite busy with our pie pops, but our cookies are our best kept secret,” Filippi exclaimed. “If you know, you know, and if you don’t know…well then you should try them and join the club!” Also, no pie problem if you reside outside of California. Hello Sweetie Pies ships boxes of pie pops all over the country every week. I ordered a specialty box to serve over Thanksgiving last year and they were a huge hit. “Over holidays like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, we send hundreds out in gift boxes,” said Filippi. “We regularly cater weddings and corporate events as well.”

Brookies

Baking brings Filippi a joy you can literally taste with every bite. “I love taking a brand new crust from the fridge and rolling it out for the first time. It’s always so fresh and clean, like freshly fallen snow. Rolling it out before cutting into it always gives me that small moment of zen while I’m up late baking every night.” And, in these zenful moments, Filippi still marvels at everything she has built – and baked – from scratch. “We are a family run business and our customers love to connect with all of us. We love to share lots of what we do on our Instagram stories and recommend things to do and other shops that we know and love,” she shared. “Five years ago, I could not have imagined us here. It wasn’t even a concept to me. It went from co-workers saying things like, ‘You should have a bakery!’ to actually having one! I never would have believed it possible.”

Order a box of pie pops for your next get-together (or just keep them for yourself!) and drool over all the deliciousness from Hello Sweetie Pies on its website and Facebook page here.

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Reading time: 3 min
Interviews

Little Wilders

May 10, 2019 by Jaime Vining No Comments

“And Max, the king of all wild things, was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all.” – Where the Wild Things Are

Meghan Ashmen of Little Wilders understands that we need to let kids be little. “Little Wilders means living in the day, embracing the wildness of tiny humans, and allowing them to have fun, be creative and learn about things around them,” explained Ashmen. “I named my shop after my little girl, who is quite the wild child at just 1 year old, but as a mama, I have learned that you need to embrace each day and live it to the fullest. One day, they may not be so little and not so wild anymore.”

Little Wilders

North Carolina-based Little Wilders is a newbie and I love discovering new small shops. Ashmen officially launched in January this year, focusing on minky plushes and loveys for little hands. “It is always difficult to start a new shop, whether it is finding your own style or learning to market or just picking a name for your business,” she shared. “I have found it difficult to market myself and connect with my customers, but I am starting to learn how to do that. I believe it just takes time to really establish yourself in the lovey community.” The shop has already gained a growing following with small shoppers who appreciate her tasty ideas. “I think since I have been doing a lot of food plushies recently that has made Little Wilders a little different and unique to the lovey world.” Ashmen has released limited collections of colorful beverages, marshmallows, pie slices, toaster pastries, fruit and vegetables of almost every variety, popsicles and sushi rolls. “Oh, please don’t go—we’ll eat you up—we love you so!” 

Little Wilders

The shop also recently dropped precious little ladybugs, bumble bees, moons, clouds and rainbows to brighten any nursery or playroom. “I love bright colors, so I try to pick colors that I love most because it helps me inspire myself to create more. I also love looking at my daughter’s children books. I find such awesome inspirations because most of her books are filled with colors,” she said. Most of the Little Wilders plushes range in size from about 3.25 inches to a little over 7 inches and Ashmen prefers to use “minky fabric, especially the rosette style” to handcraft her designs. “I love being able to draw up ideas and then see the finished product next to my sketches,” she exclaimed. “It is always so fun when I get to see it truly take shape and become a plushie when it once was just a drawing in my sketch book.”

Little Wilders

Ashmen is currently working on “Hubby Helps,” a line of more masculine plushes with design input from her husband (obviously), and she often consults with the members of her VIP Facebook group for feedback on designs, product names, giveaways and future releases. Join the “wild rumpus” in the Little Wilders Facebook group here and view photos of all the new minky creations on the shop’s website.

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Reading time: 2 min
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