Vendor Spotlight: The Stork House Prop Shop

This week, the spotlight is on Sarah from The Stork House Prop Shop & Two Sparrows Boutique.  Sarah is a 33 year old mother of two (Zack 4, and Sydney 2) and wife of almost 8 years.  We asked Sarah to share a little bit about herself, take a look at what she had to say:  

Sarah: I absolutely love to read, both fiction and non fiction.  I'm reading a very cool novel right now, in parts, because I am editing, giving thoughts and constructive criticism to the author.  This is her second novel.  I thought this was super cool because I feel like I'm contributing to this author's creative process.   

I also write poetry...although, where's the time anymore with two businesses and two kids?  It's been a while. 

The Anastasia Bonnet by
The Stork House Prop Shop

I love spinning yarn, and of course crocheting.  My two Etsy shops are like hobbies because I love creating each piece.  I don't feel like it's work, and I get a rush with each sale because it's validating that my creations are lovely in the eye of someone else.  

MWL:  What are your two business?  Can you tell us a little about those and how they came about? 

Sarah:  I started my first business, called Two Sparrows Boutique, in 2012.  I had been a stay at home mom for almost three years by then, and was feeling that I needed something that was just for me, that was mine, that was separate from me as a mother. I had crocheted as a girl, and loved it, but stopped long ago because crocheting as a teen was "uncool".  I picked it up again in early 2012 and made a few items. My friends and family complimented my items and that put the idea in my head that maybe I should open an Etsy shop.  So after lots of planning and creating, I opened my shop with a product line for women that includes hats, scarves, felted slippers, wraps, and other accessories.  

I opened my second shop, The Stork House Prop Shop, in April of this year.  I found myself looking at my kids' newborn photo albums a lot, and always loved the sweetness that the little hats and wraps added to those precious images.  That is when I decided to open a shop that would offer newborn photo props.  It was around the same time when I absolutely fell in love with handspun thick and thin yarn, so a lot of my pieces are made with specialty artisan fibers, some that purchase from others, but some of the yarn I spin myself!

MWL:  What inspires you when you create? 

A sneak peek at Sarah's first
sari silk pixie

Sarah:  Oh gosh, this is a hard one.  I'm inspired by how things make you feel, like chunky softness, or silky smooth, and I try to craft pieces around that feeling.  I tend to love bright, fun colors, but I have to scale that back, especially for my newborn shop where I find people like more muted neutral or softer tones.  I like to figure out how to put a twist on something classic.  For instance, I felt wool and make slippers in my shop that sells women's accessories.  One day I was in the middle of the felting process and I had an idea... bonnets are traditional newborn props, but I'd never seen a felted wool bonnet before - a new prop was born!   Stemming from the same thought process is something that is in the works and almost complete.  I love working with sari silk ribbon.  It's unique and beautiful and I use it to embellish a lot of my props.  I thought, why not make an entire bonnet out of sari silk ribbon - and so, here is a sneak peek of my very first sari silk pixie.  The texture is amazing! 

MWL:  What is your favorite item that you've created? 
Sarah:  My favorite piece is the Anastasia Bonnet.  It's a sweet little sweater knit bonnet, with a lovely tulle flower and brown satin ribbon ties.  It's understated, but full of texture because of the little "pills" on the knit fabric.  It's got an innocent, nostalgic vibe - reminiscent of the 30's. 

MWL:  Changing gears a little, your crafting space - OCD or organized chaos?  

Sarah:  My crafting space, GAH!  Organized chaos for sure!  I have a corner of our office as my crafting space for sewing.  Crocheting usually happens on the sofa next to my hubby at night.  

A peek into Sarah's crafting space!  

MWL:  Name 3 things you'd like to have in your dream craft room. 
Sarah:  Lots of built-in space with bins to store my supplies. 
A large work table with enough space to have multiple projects laid out at one time - I can't work on just one piece at a time. 
An inspirational vibe, because my husband's Red Sox memorabilia just isn't cutting it!  Something like this! 

MWL:  Oh all that is holy in the crafting world, this is gorgeous!  Any crafters dream for sure! 

MWL:  Are there any crafts you'd like to learn how to do? 
Sarah: I'd love to learn how to knit, but the multiple loops scare me!  And I would love to learn more DIY stuff, such as refurbishing furniture, how to distress paint finishes, etc.  


MWL:  Do you have any vendor crushes?  
Sarah:  Yes, I do.  I love the layer/tieback sets by Simplistic by Sondra, and I love No. 2 Willow Lane, they make the most stunning Victorian-esque bonnets.  


Sarah has recently joined Made With Love, Props & More as a full time vendor.  She is always bringing in new and fresh designs as well as her takes on the classics.  She says, "it's important to make sure your props are crafted with quality materials and great care to ensure that they are well made.  I'm ok with a small profit margin if I need to spend a little more on making sure that the quality is there."  She takes great care in building relationships with customers so that they keep coming back, she does that by making certain her products are well made.  "I don't cut corners, and I don't work quickly - I work diligently and carefully" she says.   You'll want to make sure you follow her pages, The Stork House Prop Shop and Two Sparrows Boutique - we're excited to see what she comes up with next! 

Vendor Spotlight: Aubrey Lee's Bowtique

Kristina, owner of Aubrey Lee's Bowtique with her
daughter and husband.

This week, we're featuring Kristina, owner of Aubrey Lee's Bowtique as our Vendor Spotlight. Kristina is a 33 year old beautiful Momma of one adorable 6 year old sassy little princess. She is married to her high school sweetheart and lives in Reno, NV with her family (almost 3 years now). We asked her to tell us a little about herself, here's what she had to say:

Kristina: I grew up in the bay area, but most recently lived in San Diego for 9 years while I was earning my Master's Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in child neuropsychology, specifically studying the effects of prenatal exposure to teratogens (things that are dangerous to a fetus if a pregnant woman consumes or is otherwise exposed to, such as alcohol, medications, illegal drugs, etc.). My mom's side of the family slowly started moving from California to Reno starting in 1993 when my Grandma won a jackpot in a casino here. We would probably still be in CA if my mom hadn't been in a bad accident 3 years ago, prompting me to quit working as a clinical trials coordinator and move 2 weeks later to care for her. She has had a tough road to recovery, but is now back to work (albeit not the same job as she had before as she can no longer perform those duties due to her injuries).

We said we'd go back to CA when she had recovered, but my daughter has since started school in Reno and I have established clients in my photography business that I started 2 years ago, so we're at odds about staying. Hm, we'll see what happens I guess!

Since I was so used to working full time in a fast paced environment, I had trouble adjusting to not "working" (even though caring for an injured adult who cannot walk is "work" in itself), so I started my photography business. It drives me crazy to not be busy doing something...anything. The money that I make after taxes, supplies, props that I buy from others for my photography projects, ext goes directly into a fund to help pay my mom's medical bills and a college fund for my daughter.


MWL: What made you decide to start making props?

Kristina: I started making hair bows for my daughter when she was a baby and I have tons of extra ribbon, so I started selling bows to get rid of it. I was very successful with Made to Match Gymboree bows especially. Eventually, I ventured into tutus, hot fix rhinestone embellishments on shirts, pillowcase dresses and more. A couple of years ago, I was building my photography portfolio and shooting for free. I didn't have a lot of extra money to spend on props and many of the props i came across while shopping were things I could make myself for much less, so I did. I already have many of the supplies needed to get started. My prop collection was growing, but I wasn't booking many babies to put the stuff on, so I decided to add some of those items to my shop and people immediately started swiping the items up. I don't make many bows etc anymore because I'm way too busy with the prop-making and my other love - photography.

MWL: What kind of props do you specialize in?

Kristina: My upcycled sets are my most popular items by far. They're unique and adorable on babies AND the added bonus i that I'm doing my part to save the environment by re-purposing old sweaters, jeans, shirts etc.


MWL: What inspires you when you're making your creations?

Kristina: Textures and colors. I am drawn to a sweater if it has a neat pattern in the knitting, if it's bumpy, super soft or a beautiful color.


MWL: Your craft area: OCD or organized chaos?

Kristina: A little bit of both. HAHA! It started out OCD, but I ran out of space to store supplies, so shelves and drawers have items together that I would prefer having separate. But it's not the end of the world I suppose. 

MWL: Tell us 3 things that would be in your dream craft room.

Kristina: A super fancy sewing machine/serger combo. A clone of myself so that we can create MORE items. And a massage chair so I can take a relaxing break when my neck starts aching from looking down for too long.

MWL: What is your favorite item you've made?

Kristina: I have lots of favorites, but the one that pops into my mind first is a little teal hat and pants set with suspenders and little shabby patches.


MWL: Are there any other crafts that you'd like to learn how to do?

Kristina: Eventually, I want to learn how to crochet. I'd also like to upgrade my cheap sewing machine to a nicer one and actually learn to sew more than just a fairly straight line.


MWL: Do you have a vendor crush? You can tell us!

Kristina: I have lots of vendor crushes! The "hookers" for sure. I've always been good at just being able to look at something and make it myself, but crocheted items are like my kryptonite. I can't just dissect it with my eyes and figure out how it was made like I can do with other things. I'm sure I could crochet if I gave it a try. I might get addicted to yarn and spend all of my time crocheting though! I don't have space for yarn and I don't have time to crochet!


MWL: What advice would you give other vendors?

Kristina: Advice...as a photographer, I look for items that won't break the bank AND are unique. So my suggestion is to make your items affordable (without compromising the cost of your time, of course) and different from items other vendors are offering. The prop market is heavily saturated, so you have to stand out from the crowd if you want to be successful.

Kristina has done so well selling extra props (she can usually make 2 upcycled sets out of one sweater, so she keeps one and sells the other) on Facebook that she has somewhat put the bow-making business on the back burner and has stopped listing her items on eBay and Etsy. Her business has grown from 129 likes to 715+ in just 6 months and she couldn't be happier that she's providing fun stuff for others to use in their photography projects AND keeps herself busy. She says, "between her props, bows, photography, ballet, Girl Scout Daisies, and both my daughter and I playing softball (and I coach her team), I also work at a flower shop." She did say she likes to keep busy right? Just call her Super Mom... or Wonder Woman. "Because I DO make people wonder... 'Is she a photographer? A crafter? A Psychologist? A floral designer?'" says Kristina. Among all of that, she does have more fun stuff in the works. New concepts and designs will be introduced into her shop soon, and we just can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Auction - Friday October 18 6pm - Sunday October 20 9pm

We're having an Auction! 

Our vendors are ready to destash and make some room for more fabulous handcrafted goodness!   

That means - YOU get to reap the savings! 

Come check it out! 

Bidding starts at 6pm EST on Friday, October 18th 

Hope to see you there! 

Vendor Spotlight: Hopelessly Hooked

Today I had the opportunity to sit down with Shari from Hopelessly Hooked to talk about her little corner of the photography prop industry. Shari lives in Minden, Nevada with her husband and her 5 gorgeous children, ages ranging from 2 all the way to 15. Shari and her family moved out to Minden last year from Southern California, where she was born and raised, for her husbands job. Hopelessly Hooked focuses mostly on crocheted items, but Shari enjoys other crafts as well such as sewing, making headbands and knitting. She’s also quite the accomplished cake decorator!

MWL: When did you start Hopelessly Hooked?

Shari: I have crocheted since I was 9 and last November after my youngest, Addisyn, was in the hospital, I wanted to make a blanket to donate to Project Linus, so I made that as well as a hat for her. The wives of my husbands colleagues encouraged me to sell my creations. My friend Porsche was really a huge driving force behind it. I opened my business in December 2012 and started taking orders.

MWL: What did you make at first?

Shari: Mostly hats and blankets.

MWL: And what do you make now mostly?

Shari: Still mostly hats, but I also make diaper bags, crocheted stuffed animals, scarves, boots and also different photo props mostly for newborn photography. Basically, if I get a request for something, I will make it.


MWL: What is your favorite thing to create?

Shari: My favorite items are ones I have never made before. I LOVE custom orders. I get bored easily and I love a challenge. I like learning how to make something new and mastering that new skill. I love it when a customer contacts me and asks “Can you make me this?”

MWL: What’s the most interesting custom order you’ve ever had?

Shari: The most interesting item I have ever made wasn’t crocheted, but a custom cake. The customer requested a cake with Godzilla chasing a wiener dog who was wearing a cheerleader uniform. Oh and an alien autopsy cake, that one was AWESOME!! As far as crochet, I’d have to say my shark slippers and a goombah hat.
MWL: When you’re not working on custom orders, what inspires you to create something new?

Shari: Boredom. I have to be creating something. I love learning new skills. Everything from photography to spinning fibers. If I’m not actively creating new things, whether it’s cakes, learning to sew, photography and editing or anything else, I literally can not sleep at night, my brain just sits there and dreams up what I can make next.

MWL: If you could give any piece of advice, about life or owning a small business or crafting etc, what would it be?

Shari: Be willing to be flexible, learn new things and don’t be afraid to try something new. But don’t over do it, make sure to always make time for friends, family and relaxation.

Shari is not only the owner and creator at Hopelessly Hooked, but she is also my main assistant here at Made with Love, Props & More. Take a moment to check out her amazing creations and send her some love!

Vendor Spotlight: Lexy’s HandMade Creations

Here’s your chance to meet one of our vendors at Made with Love, Props & More! She took a moment to write up a short hi, hello to you from her plus a little bit about herself and her upcoming events! Take a look – head over and share some love with our dear Lexy!

Hi all. I am Lexy from Lexy’s HandMade Creations. I started my small craft business to feed my crochet addiction, as well as offer quality handmade gifts to others.


As a stay at home mom, I understand what it means to want to buy our little ones something handmade but not have a small fortune to spend on it. So I do my very best to keep my costs down and pass the savings on to you. Some things I offer are Baby-Adult hats, scarves and blankets. As well as Photography Props and charmed BookMarks.


While making each item I do my best to maintain that each order is filled correctly. Before shipping orders I vigorously check for accuracy, quality and random fuzz balls. Because I ship from home orders are shipped faster and receive free tracking information.


Some of the upcoming events on the calendar are:


Fan Fun Contest happening every month on my fan page. Where my customers can enter to win one of three prizes.


Craft Show being held at Craig’s Baptist Community Life Center on September 21, 2013 from 9am-2pm EST. Local customers may place orders in advance to be picked up at the show.


Light the Night Walk being held in Historic Downtown Fredericksburg on October 19, 2013. Which I will be donating 20% of all proceeds from Now-December to.


To stay up to date, or place an order, follow me on Facebook or my blog.


Have a Blessed Day


Lexy