My very first business was selling handmade sun bonnets around age eight—the Little House on the Prairie kind—I set up shop in the neighborhood—and mostly sold them to friends. It didn’t last long, but it did give me the maker’s experience of creating and fulfilling orders, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Before Etsy, I sold handmade jewelry and initially created the Love From Lily shop, my dog Lily’s namesake, for selling upscale jewelry for pets and their guardians.
But in 2008, I had to switch gears—because life happens!
So, just for fun, I created an Instagram for my two cavaliers (@lovefromlilyxo) and quickly discovered that pets are more fun than people on social media! However, the idea for the Love From Lily shop still niggled at me—I wanted to try again.
Fast forward to 2020
and suddenly, I was baking and crafting like some kind of pioneer woman. The mask-making effort by seamstresses nationwide rekindled my sewing spark. I sketched and noodled ideas for a few months, then retired my Kenmore 395 for a more modern sewing machine. I used my dogs and my friends’ dogs as guinea pigs, then finally started to sew in earnest while pulling together all the details for creating a new business.
Handmade
Everything in my shop is handmade by me in my smoke-free home studio. I cut one piece at a time to take advantage of the best print pattern placement and enjoy using designer textiles. I love whimsy, kitsch, and vintage designs.
Giving back
One of my goals is to support a rescue or a research organization specializing in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Lily passed in 2018 from Chronic Degenerative Valve Disease, a genetic condition that most cavaliers inherit. A portion of every sale is donated to a cause supporting this goal.