March Customer Spotlight :: Laurel Shepherd of LaureLeaf Creations

 

Our March Customer Spotlight is about Laurel Shepherd of LaureLeaf Creations. Laurel's love for sewing started when she was pregnant and wanted the cutest outfits for her soon-to-arrive-twins. When it got to a point that strangers would ask where she bought her children's clothes, it was clear that she was on to something great, and she turned her passion into her business. Here is more about Laurel and her journey to LaureLeaf Creations.

About Laurel ::

A few years ago, if you would have told me that down the road I would be sewing in my spare time, I would have laughed. Then, if you told me not only was I sewing, but I was enjoying it, I would have looked at you like you were crazy. Finally, if you told me I was sewing and enjoying it AND people were paying me to sew things for them, then I really would have know that you had completely lost it!

Growing up, I never enjoyed crafty things, and I certainly didn't have the patience for sewing. My mother and grandmothers were excellent seamstresses and tried many times to teach me how to sew and to help me see the joy in it. With much dragging of the feet on my part, I did complete some simple projects like a pillowcase and pajama pants. My mom would tell me that one day, I would wish I could sew and that it could be a great blessing to my family. I would tell her sewing was old fashioned and I wouldn't need to know how to do it. Well, as with most things in life, it turns out my mother was right!

When I found out I was pregnant with twins, I immediately started searching online for cute things to buy them. I saw so many adorable outfits and knew I couldn't buy them all, but I began to wonder if I could actually make them. My mom had given me her old sewing machine when I got married. (I think I had used it a grand total of three times since then.) I took it out of the closet, dusted it off, and realized I didn't even know where to begin! By this time, I lived more than a thousand miles away from my mom and grandmas and didn't know anybody else who knew how to sew. My solution? The internet, of course! I started pouring over sewing blogs and tutorials, trying to learn all I could. There are so many excellent bloggers that became my teachers. I found some simple patterns, bought some fabric, and took the plunge! At first, I made many mistakes, unpicked a lot of seams, got frustrated and nearly gave up on sewing, but then I slowly started to get better. I actually ended up with cute clothes! It was amazing! I started making more and more of my twins' wardrobe and it seemed everywhere we went, people were asking me where I got their outfits. I started gaining confidence in my sewing abilities and actually began to look forward to starting another sewing project. The more I sewed, the more I fell in love with it! One day, while looking at my massive stash of fabric I'd collected, I thought, why not turn my passion into a business?

In October 2014, LaureLeaf Creations was born! I opened an Etsy shop selling baby and toddler clothes. I had no idea what to expect. I thought, I might sell a few items here and there, but I was shocked to have such a positive response. The orders started coming in, and then around the holidays, they started pouring in! The favorite item in my shop was Christmas leggings made from the reindeer fabric from Girl Charlee. I was so busy with orders for Christmas leggings, that my husband stepped up to be my assistant, doing things such as cutting, ironing, and packaging while I did the sewing! We make a great team! I attribute a large part of my success to having quality, affordable, and adorable fabric! Most of my products are made with Girl Charlee fabrics, and I always get compliments from customers on the cute prints I carry. LaureLeaf Creations has become a dream come true for me; a dream I didn't even know I'd had! Just as my mother said, sewing has become a blessing to my family.

Visit Laurel's Etsy Shop, Facebook, and Instagram today!

We hope you have enjoyed reading about Laurel. If you would like to be featured in our next Customer Spotlight post, email gcblog@girlcharlee.com and we will get in touch.

~ Heather & The Girl Charlee Team