It was just a small family endeavor with one product for sale!

A male family member saw ladder yarn necklaces and thought they were so pretty he decided to learn how to crochet them. Seriously, how many men will do that? So he found the yarn and crocheted about 8 or 10 necklaces and they hung around in his home for a while. His adult daughter is a talented artist and had sold some of her art while in high school. She married right out of college. With two young children, finding time and motivation for painting and drawing is an understated challenge so her mother (me) and dad decided to give her a boost in being creative again. She liked to crochet so the three of us built up a modest inventory of necklaces. Right away, she added crocheted ruffle skirt tutus. In October, 2014, we participated in our first craft show at a small local church. We were surprised at our sales and positive feedback, and were contacted for custom crochet orders (mostly the tutus). We were hooked! (pun intended)

Four years and 28 shows later, with a Web presence and online sales, we are happy to say we are achieving our goals. Susan has branched off her own Etsy site, SleepyRaincloud, with her exquisite crocheted rugs, hats, scarves, dolls and custom orders. I, too, have branched out, buying a serger to accompany the sturdy Italian-made Amica sewing machine I purchased in 1974, and adding practical and pretty sewn items as fast as I can. I make things I like and want to use. The pullover bibs came about as I babysat for five little grandchildren (oh, no, not all at the same time!) I had forgotten about the caked-in baby food on high chair straps, the Velcro that stops sticking after lots of washings, ties that catch hair, and toddlers that had no patience for sitting still while you put on the bib. The adult bibs were the result of people asking for them at craft shows. But I didn't want to make a traditional adult bib. Sitting with my 90+ year old mother in the Assisted Living dining room, I was moved to make a bib for adults that didn't look like a bib. I wanted these folks to dine with dignity. The grocery bag holders are attractive recycle organizers for "bags of bags" that clutter up cupboards. I started making the Flaxseed pillows and eye masks because I often have neck aches from degenerated discs, and allergies in my eyes - itching, burning, computer strain. I like the moist heat on my neck and shoulders, and the cool comfort from a chilled eye mask. Recently I fought off only the second migraine in my life (my heart goes out to chronic migraine sufferers) and I was wishing I had a flax seed pillow stored in the freezer to cool the back of my head and neck where the pain was most intense. (I have one double freezer-bagged in there now, for sure!) I added bowl cozies in 2018 and they were my best seller as Christmas gifts. There are more new projects on my work table and I can't wait to get started on them! Taking the photos and posting on Etsy and Facebook have eaten up a lot of my time, but my heart is in the sewing and crocheting. Ladder yarn necklaces will always be available on this site, and be sure to check out and favorite SleepyRaincloud soon!