I was copy editing college textbooks up until 2008 when my fifth pregnancy made me unusually sick. I decided not to pick up copy editing again and found myself looking for another way to fulfill myself that would complement my role as a mother. I had made simple hooded towels modeled after a baby gift I received for my first son, but certainly hadn’t thought of trying to sell them. In 2009, my sister-in-law encouraged me to try a craft fair, but I was hesitant. I had been to craft fairs and seen hooded towels; if I was going to do it, my towels would have to be unique.

I stood in the store among all the different colors of towels with my then 11-year-old daughter taking notes. We filled the cart with what would become a dinosaur, ladybug, dog, monkey, frog, duck, pig, and flower. I went home and started sketching patterns. I sewed. And sewed. And sewed. RubaDub Buddies was born.

It seems everything I do involves creating — whether it’s my hooded towels or a home with some semblance of order. Breakfast begins at 6:30 with family prayer, followed by scripture study. My four kids still at home, ranging in age from 17 to 10, begin their jobs around the house while I head out the door to work out with a friend who teaches me how to be a better woman, wife, and mother. I come home and then homeschool begins.

I’ve never really considered myself an artist. But I guess if an artist is someone who makes something to express their creativity in a unique way and bring joy to others, I’m an artist. I receive such satisfaction when I create. I just imagine the smiles and happiness shared when my creations are given as a token of love. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to bless and enrich the lives of others.

When an idea comes to add another Buddy to the family, nearly everything else goes. I’ve caught myself scheming while standing in the grocery store line, making dinner, or listening to my first-grader read. How to make the caterpillar’s stripes? Where to place the ladybug’s spots? How to make the shark’s dorsal fin stand up? After I’ve schemed in my mind, I begin sketching on paper and cutting out the parts.

I sew and package orders in the afternoons and evenings. And with this business comes unpicking, although it’s especially challenging with the terry cloth! But it’s worth it when I figure out the perfect placement for ears or crowns after sewing, unpicking, sewing, and unpicking again.

Sometimes the creative process can be a bit overwhelming. But I’ve learned that one of the challenges of embracing this creative streak is keeping a balance between it and my ultimate responsibility of cultivating a happy home. You’d never guess by looking at the final product that it was created amidst phone calls and mothering.

My most cherished handmade possesion would have to be the plaster molds of my newborns’ hands. They’re lined up in their birth order, each in its own glass dome on top of my television armoire. I clearly remember the unique experience of making each one. Some took several attempts and others came out perfectly on the first try. They signify what a miracle life is — such a creation to be cherished.`