When I was 5 years old I had a little playhouse and a bunch of beads, so I was pretty much living the dream. After painstakingly sorting every little fish bead from every plastic heart, I would string together bracelet after bracelet and sell them to my family for 25¢ each. At the end of the week I would get them all back, cut them up, re-sort the beads and begin again. My playhouse jewelry store had quite the profit margin.

After high school I began working at the local bead shop- also my dream job at the time (why flip burgers when you can sling beads!)- and going to school for business. I would sell my accessories at local shows and to my most loyal customers, my friends and family. When I heard about etsy I jumped at the chance to start a website that I could use as a gallery of my work. I never imagined that in just a few short years (and after quite a few long nights of shipping orders!) I would be my own boss, working from my home studio and fulfilling my dream of starting my own business. I am so thankful to etsy and to all of my wonderful customers for allowing me to spend every day doing what I love most- creating beautiful things to share with the world.

In 2011 I planned my wedding and shortly after we bought our first home, two more big design projects that kept me very busy. I loved every minute of it. In my next life I just might be an event planner, or an interior designer, or maybe a stylist for magazine shoots- I haven't really decided yet. What I do know is that whatever you are happiest doing when you are 5 is what you will be happiest doing when you are 26.

In January 2014 we welcomed our Mini-Mia (otherwise known as Andi) and I began making fun bohemian and tribal print headbands for my adorable and bald baby. You can check those out at www.LoveMiaKids.etsy.com although I should mention that they're not just for kids!

My next project is to finally open the Love, Mia Storefront that I have been dreaming of since I was a kid in my hometown of Clarence, NY. I imagine a charming little building on Main Street with creaky hardwood floors and displays full of pretty vintage finds, lovely paper goods, and of course many, many bracelets. After all, you can never have too many bracelets or too many dreams.

www.LoveMiaShop.com
www.LoveMiaKids.etsy.com

++ facebook ++
www.Facebook.com/LoveMiaShop

++ instagram ++
@lovemiaxoxo #lovemia #lovemiashop
++ tag us and you could win free jewelry ++

++ email ++
info [at] lovemiashop.com
lovemiashop [at] gmail.com

++ faq ++
www.etsy.com/shop_policy.php?user_id=582

++ as seen in BRIDES magazine ++
Love, Mia hair accessories are "impeccably crafted and intriguingly offbeat"