Sol Heritage

My mom, Sherri and I co-own and operate Sol Heritage, using a skill that was passed on from one generation to another. Sherri is a newly retired, creative genius. She has spent the better part of her life helping others and assisting however and whenever she can, whether it is for her career or a friend. She is a crochet mastermind, if you can dream it up; chances are she can crochet it. Sherri is also an avid reader. She enjoys cuddling up on the couch with her black lab, husband and a crochet project to enjoy a good movie.

I am her youngest child, Heather. I have a degree in Forensic Science and dream of opening a boutique with my mom one day, filled with delicious crocheted scarves and cowls, toasty hats and mittens, fresh local coffee and sweet treats. I am newly married and became a bonus mom (aka step mom) to an adorable and bright 9 year old boy. When I’m not working my 9-5, you can find me running a crochet club with my mom, crocheting in my favorite vintage chair, creating all natural bath and body products (I also own Blue Grass Lucy – an all natural, retro & pinup inspired bath and beauty shop), partaking in fun activities with my husband and bonus son, reading, planning craft shows and attending leadership meetings with Etsy Team Columbus, watching just about any sport or playing in a co-ed soccer league with my husband. I am told I drink obscene amounts of coffee and really, I’m okay with that.

We are both from the Kissimmee, Florida area. When I was 10 years old, we moved to Columbus and while I’ve lived in other states for college, I always come home.

Sherri and I both crochet out of our homes. I have a designated “crochet” chair in my living room that often gets stolen by my 50 lb. boxer mix. We work independently but also very closely together. I keep tabs on the business end of things (etsy, blog, website, facebook page, twitter, instagram, etc.) as well as crochet, crochet, crochet. I also handle the shipment of items, packaging, and prop acquisition for craft shows. Sherri is constantly crocheting. We discuss what items are selling, what colors are popular for upcoming seasons, what sales we should run, what products we should feature and so on. Recently, we re-branded our business. Formerly, we were “We Are Something Else”. We seemed to out grow the name and we needed a cohesive brand. So, with the help of my marketing writer husband, we are in the process of completely re-branding. We’re almost there but just have to nail down a few more details.

Sherri has been crocheting for 53 years and I have been crocheting for 5 years. When I started bringing finished projects into work, my co-workers would ask if we could make them one or ask if we could crochet a completely different product. I had been urging Sherri for years to sell her crocheted goods at craft shows but by this time I had been shopping on Etsy. It was an easy decision.

So, we started with just yarn, crochet hooks and very little knowledge of owning a business. Together we have navigated the world of on-line selling, craft/art shows, consignment and have discovered just how much hard work goes into owning a business. Our passion and love has driven us forward because we are creating so much more than a business. We are creating a life of crochet.

Everything inspires me. Fashion, nature, architecture, colors, the list goes on. Often, I get inspired by my previous project, whether in texture so I use a different yarn, color or just a whole other spin off. But truly, my main source of inspiration is Sherri. She is so creative and talented. As I said above, she can crochet anything. Just a few weeks ago, I asked her how to crochet a certain stitch, it looked like broomstick lace but I could tell it wasn’t done the same way. Hours later she emailed me a photo with the caption “Like this?” It was perfect. Sherri inspires me to try the hard projects, to get out of my comfort zone.

Sherri was taught to crochet by her grandmother when she was just 9 years old and then Sherri taught me to crochet when I was 23 years old. (I had a brief lesson when I was 16 years old but that didn’t go well. I needed a few years to learn some patience.)

Many times I have a project in mind so I sketch it in my idea book. From there I think about the season, yarn and the color(s) that would best fit that particular item. When I have everything decided, I brew a piping hot cup of coffee or tea, settle into my vintage “crochet chair” and either watch a show or sporting event with my husband or pop in an old movie and get to crocheting.

Sherri’s process is similar to mine. She graphs out her more intricate patterns and then picks a yarn and color she feels is best for the project. She then gets comfortable on her couch (which is often shared by her lab) and watches movies with her husband or if she’s alone, she prefers Murder She Wrote and Poirot movies.

Our products tell a story. If you listen closely you can hear the stitches whisper. You can hear the faint memory of a crochet hook humming through the yarn, creating a calming song. You can hear the laughter of its creator. You can see the pride in every carefully planned stitch. You can feel the warmth of the creator’s love wrap around your neck like a hug from a familiar friend.

Our items are memories. They create memories. They are front and center and yet a subtle piece of the background. They keep you warm during the blustery days of winter. They are with you at the bon fire where your eyes meet with that special someone. It is our item that you shyly pull your lips into to hide your smile. It is our item that you wear as you briskly walk down the sidewalk, window shopping at Christmas time. It is our item that holds the smell of the one you love after a long embrace. It is our item that you purchase for that special loved one in your life as a perfect gift. It is our item that is delicately woven into your routine each and every day. They are our memories and our legacy that you carry with you as you create your own.

I have the perfect gift for… I want to say everyone! But most of our items cater toward women. We do create unisex hats and scarves as well as baby hats. Sherri crochets adorable pumpkin and buckeye hats and this year I’ll be rolling out a few snowman hats!

We will have gorgeous and soft scarves, neckwarmers, cowls, hats, fingerless gloves, clutch purses, pins and so much more. We will also have our special Soigne Collection which features neckwear in the most beautiful mohair and silk yarn. It is the softest thing that will ever touch your skin.

Why should you shop local?

Not only does shopping local help our local economy, it supports our artisans and creators. For many artists, myself included, these shows are a supplemental income. Not only do I use the money I make from these shows to fund future crochet/body product endeavors but I also pay my bills with them and even Christmas shop.

You are getting an item that has been made with someone’s two hands. Someone has thought of an idea, brainstormed how to make it an actual piece that you can touch and feel and then they have sat down and accomplished just that. There is something amazing about that, I think.

For me, knowing that people are running around Ohio with my OSU Helmet Scarf keeping them warm, is still something that I cannot wrap my head around. It is an amazing feeling and it makes me proud. So, when I sit down to crochet my items, I think of my potential customer (or if it’s a custom order, I think of that very person) and with every stitch, I crochet in peace and warmth. I think of my favorite memories and I whisper little wishes and secrets. Every item is truly a labor of love. And if it’s an Ohio State item, I try to crochet them during games so your item has a winning streak, a good luck charm if you will.

So, while it’s possible, I just don’t think big corporations have this creation process. But artists, we’re a unique bunch and while our creative processes are different, I believe other artists pour in just as much love and quirk as I do into mine. And isn’t that a wonderful thing?

Sherri Mash- Sweet Annie's Vintage

Sherri Mash- Sweet Annie's Vintage

If you would have told me 3 years ago I would be making a living sewing I would have laughed in your face! I went to school to study portrait photography and eventually opened my own studio which I ran successfully for 26 years. When the economy took a dive, many people needed to find alternatives that were cheaper than the professional studio. Digital opened the doors to many amateurs wanting to play around with portraiture and they filled this need. Subsequently most of the full time full service studios could no longer make their expenses with the loss of clients. I was forced to close my studio and took 3 different jobs in 1 ½ years just to keep food on the table. My husband, who was also self-employed and hurt by the change in technology and economy, finally got a job with the FAA. I was laid off from my last job so I decided to take a break and play around with the vintage quilts and linens I loved so much.

I could not stand to see well loved quilts and tablecloths etc.., getting thrown away or languishing in drawers forgotten. Women and girls put hours of hand work into these beautiful pieces of fabric. They needed a new life, a chance to be appreciated and loved again so I started making pillows and bags out of these vintage linens.

When I look at each piece I acquire, I just marvel at the time and love these ladies put into their work. It’s weird but it is almost a spiritual experience but I honor the woman who made each piece as I cut them and remake them into new items. I appreciate each hand stitch in the quilted parts I use, the embroidery stitch in the table scarf. My favorite and actually an obsession is Feed Sack fabric prints! I love the colors, the graphics just everything about that time in American history. If I could afford to just collect feed sacks and display them I would! I am also inspired by the fact that I try to incorporate used fabrics in a lot of my projects. Sustainability is important to me.

My Mother was a professional seamstress who worked from home. I was surrounded all day with my Mom cutting, sewing, altering clothing for many women in our town. I was in 4H and learned to sew but I never loved it. Actually, when my youngest Daughter was in 4H and chose to take sewing I could not really help her much because I hated it so and REALLY HATED patterns and instructions! When she stopped sewing I was starting to want to play with some stuff and found her machine was so easy to work with it was fun and my addiction to fabrics, prints and creativity just lead to more and more projects.

We were able to move into my Grandparents 1800’s farm house when we lost our businesses so I am now surrounded with a vintage feel which really inspires my creativity. I am using the bedroom where my Mother grew up as my craft room. I have slowly been working on organizing my fabric stash with old furniture pieces and wood boxes as well as some industrial drawers to keep my art supplies in. I don’t want a clean modern studio. That is to sterile for my taste. I need a bit of an eclectic look to my art space. I did copy a Pinterest cutting table idea which is the best thing I ever have done. I also do paper crafting as well as mixed media and digital art so my space is divided into sections to keep my spaces separate. Hahaha, I really don’t have a process. If I am sewing, I just let the piece of fabric talk to me and then I repurpose it into something beautiful!

I am different in that almost all my products are made of repurposed and vintage fabrics. I realize this is not everyone’s cup of tea and because I am addicted to color and design I have ventured into [had an excuse to buy ;)] new fabrics that will appeal to a broader market but still work with the bags and pillows styles I make.

I will be focusing most on my new Carry-All bags/Diaper bags. I carry this bag myself and love the size and the pockets. It’s a great bag design. And I have a great clutch/ wallet design that has been really fun to modify according to the fabric prints I am using. I hope to also have several pillows made from 40’s and 50’s tablecloths. These are a lot of fun and very Retro.

There are so many talented local people who need to make a living and really want to do what they love to do. The craftsmanship is usually far better than something manufactured, the items are usually unique and you are helping someone fulfill their dreams. Also you are keeping the money local.

The Boutique Truck

The Boutique Truck is Columbus' first mobile fashion truck offering unique and affordable apparel and accessories to the trendsetting woman on the go! Owner, Catherine Shadeed, has always had that entrepreneurial itch, and after discovering similar fashion trucks along the West Coast she believed this was an up and coming concept that would be received with open arms in the Midwest (and the perfect way to finally own her own boutique…a lifelong dream!!!). So…nine years and four jobs later, it had finally clicked! Catherine realized this was what she was looking for, this was her dream…and The Boutique Truck was born! The Boutique Truck carries the latest in women's fashion apparel and accessories, introducing numerous unique designers to the area, as well as showcasing talented local designers.

The Boutique Truck is constantly on the go! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or check out our Events page on our website to find out where we are popping up next! Also, check out how to Host a Party with The Boutique Truck at your home or workplace – and learn how to earn Hostess Rewards! Don’t worry if you can’t make it out to the truck, The Boutique Truck offers many of its unique styles online so you can shop now!!!

This dream truly would never have become a reality without the amazing support and love of The Boutique Truck’s wonderful family and friends who have been there every single step of the way…thank you all so much for your continued support - we couldn’t have done this without you!!!

The Unique Bird

Hi there! My name is Sarah Canitano and I am the owner/ designer at The Unique Bird.

I was a Garage Sale Girly from the start and spent many a happy summer day cruising Kettering, Ohio with my Grandma looking for treasures at garage sales. Always on the hunt for all things Barbie, I loved finding original 1960’s Barbie clothes, not owned by the other girls on the block. My love for Barbie clothes grew into a passion for fashion. As a graduate from Kent State with a degree in Fashion Design, I worked as a designer for Abercrombie & Fitch. It was exciting to infuse vintage detail, fabric patterns and graphic techniques into the designs that I was creating. After seven years in this industry, I soon discovered that I could combine my design skills with my love for collecting vintage home décor. When I started my online business, The Unique Bird, about four years ago, I was trying to figure out a way to enhance my selection of vintage home décor pieces with different prints, patterns and textures. My collection of vintage fabrics and clothing were not doing anyone any good just sitting in a pile on the shelf. I started pulling from my collection and repurposing the vintage into a few pillows at first. I really loved how the pillows turned out, but wanted to find another way to make use of so many great vintage fabrics! I was trying to come up with a smaller giftable item though, that could be used again and again, and eventually my reusable vintage fabric wine bottle wraps, reclaimed vintage sweater wine bottle cozies and reusacle vintage fabric coffee cup cozies were born!

All of my handmade items are designed and sewn by me, using vintage and reclaimed fabrics that I find garage sailing, thrifting and at flea markets all over the great state of Ohio and beyond! Since I use vintage fabrics in my designs, quantities are limited. I can’t exactly hop in the old silver flea (a.k.a. my car) and head to the fabric store for more. I think that using vintage and reclaimed fabrics really does make my handmade pieces unique and often one of a kind!

Sew I hope that you will come and check out my unique handmade designs at Not Your Mama’s Craft Market on November 30th!

Women of the Wildwood

Women of the Wildwood - Sisters: Ashley, Amber and Rachael

We are sisters committed to growing a company that provides natural products, using pure ingredients, processed to preserve their quality, free from unnecessary chemicals ; and providing a true customer-company relationship by selling, buying and growing local.

We get our passion from our own daily needs. We started as unhappy customers, battling our own skin woes. Between Ashley's artistic soul, Amber's love of all things nature, and Rachael's thirst for knowledge we really created something great.

It's impossible to be an expert on every product, we are obligated to trust the companies that make the products we use, especially those we use on our skin! Everyone's skin is different and that journey down the skin care aisle is a long one. We have put in the time, and the research, and we'd like the opportunity to be your guide.

We are right next door, and our ingredients come from down the street, we are your neighbors, and a family, sharing the good stuff.

Free to print!

A free little print to get you in the spirit! Enjoy!

Jessica - Trash to Treasure Creations

My name is Jessica. I’m a 23 year old who is obsessed with all things arts and crafts. Although I was not born in Ohio, I grew up here and graduated from The Ohio State University in March of 2012. Currently, I work for Nationwide while pursuing my true passion of crafting in my spare time!

Trash to Treasure Creations was started in 2010. I started out making purses and wallets out of Capri Sun pouches (remember those?). Next, I tried out candy bouquets using recycled containers as bases. I started selling at a few craft shows here and there just as a hobby.

Things got more serious when I started making string art. Originally, I made a large piece for my living room based off of a tutorial I saw on Pinterest and a piece of upcycled wood. When guests would come over, I almost always would receive compliments on the piece and requests for me to make one for others! One night, I was at Tuttle mall with my mom when we came across Simply Vague. I showed the owner a picture of my string art and was selling in their store the following month! Additional stores and an Etsy shop came soon after!

I’m inspired by everything. My brain is literally always ticking. I’m constantly thinking of new ways to use old items and bouncing ideas off of anyone who will listen. I can spend hours in a thrift store, reimagining the furniture and fixtures I find there. I see beauty in everything, no matter how old or used it might be.

Do you need a unique gift? Is there a guy in your life who is impossible to shop for? Or maybe you’re looking for a conversation piece to complete a room in your home? You’re in luck! I’ve got you covered!

The great thing about what I do is that each piece is 100% unique. Your design is hand strung and no two pieces are exactly the same. I can even do custom orders based on the state, city, or team that is meaningful to you or the person you’re shopping for. You can choose your board size, color, string and accents to make a piece that is truly your own.

These are perfect gifts for students or alumni, the man cave, and any room in your house that needs that one piece of art to bring the room together.

And that’s just the string art!

T-shirt pillows make a great gift for students or sports fans in your life. These super soft and durable shirts and prewashed and preshrunk, and then sewn and stuffed with the coziest polyester fiberfill. Great for dorm rooms or cuddling on the couch. These are also available in custom orders, especially if you have a few shirts that you just aren’t wearing anymore but can’t bear to get rid of! Sports shirts, concert tees and shirts from special vacations make amazing and meaningful gifts.

This November, you will be able to purchase your own unique string art piece or t-shirt pillow from the Not Your Mama’s Craft Market just in time for the holiday season!