It has been a while since I have done a Feature here at This Mamas Dance. Like a few years kind of while. Well today, all of that changes! I am so looking forward to introducing you to a lovely Etsy Shop Owner named Shara. I first came across her shop via instagram, and bought some booties for Fin. They look a lot like these, but with primary colored rainbow yarn:
Aren’t they precious? I adore them, and the quality is just lovely! Without any futher delay, here is the creative behind Ivory and Wool. Enjoy!
AK: Tell us a bit about yourself!
SC: I was born and raised in Alberta, Canada. I moved to Hawaii after dropping out of my second year of pre-med. I wanted to see the world and needed a change of pace. Little did I know, I would travel the world doing humanitarian work with a missionary organization called Youth With A Mission, and end up in Montana teaching the Bible for 6 years. It was there that I met my amazing husband Matthew and I couldn’t be more thankful for the path God put me on. We recently moved to Florida (TOTALLY SICK OF THE SNOW) and I love the fact that I have the most amazing beaches at my fingertips. I am now a chiropractic assistant by day. At nights and on the weekends is when I get to create for Ivory and Wool and make things I love.
My husband always teases me that I’m a grandma trapped inside a young person’s body. My favorite evening looks like putting on some comfy pants, sipping on a yummy glass of wine with a fun project I’m working on, while watching my favorite shows on Netflix 🙂
AK: Coffee or Tea?
SC: Both. I prefer coffee in the summer and tea in the winter for some reason.
AK: How did you get your start in crochet and the love of all things yarn?
SC: {I LOVE YARN. When I walk into a craft store and they have a yarn isle, well let me tell you, it’s very hard to pry me out of there.} Due to the fact that Matt and I were “poor” missionaries, I wanted to do something that would help bring in some extra income. I had learned how to crochet a couple years prior taught by a friend and some YOUtube videos, but had only really made some blankets for my nieces and a few not-so-pretty scarves. I decided to try my hand at selling a few items I’d made once I had more practice. To my delight, it wasn’t long before I had many people asking for more stuff so I decided to start an Etsy shop. That is when Ivory and Wool was born.
AK: Top 3 passions in life?
SC: Jesus and the Bible. My husband and family. YARN!!
AK: I love your shop name! What inspired you to start Ivory and Wool- and how did you come up with the name?
SC: Thank you. My shop originally started off as Shara’s Creations. I really didn’t put much thought into it at first and just picked the first thing that wasn’t taken. After about a year, I knew that I wanted something less lame. haha! So I thought about something that would be pretty and related to what I was selling. I loved the name Ivory and Wool and luckily, no one else had thought of it !! 
AK: How do you carve out time to create and keep inspired?
SC: That is definitely a challenge. Since I work days as a chiropractic assistant, there are many times I come home and all I want to do is NOTHING. But I also love creating and making things for my shop, so I push myself to at least try and do a bit each night. The weekends are always the most fun. I love waking up and going into my office, with the sun shining in the windows and getting to work. The light in my room is perfect for taking photos, plus my hubby was so nice and set up a tv in there for me so I can watch the Hallmark channel (or FoodNetwork and HGTV) as I work. 
AK: Any advice or words of wisdom for fellow creatives who have the dream of opening their own shop?
SC: If you love to do it, then Go for it! Make sure you are willing to work hard and try and create things that are unique. We are living in a time where DIY is all the craze, and it is incredibly difficult to sell things that are original, but as long as you put your own spin on it, and do your best, then why not? It’s so much fun to do what you love, and I think working from home is the best.
AK: You have such beautiful {and adorable} products: Blankets, booties, cuffs, rugs, slippers and more! If someone were to commission a custom item, what would that look like?
SC: It’s actually pretty easy. You just contact me, and let me know what you are wanting. I can make almost anything crochet, as long as I have a pattern for it. If there is a pattern I need to purchase to get what you are hoping for, I include that in the price of the order. The more detail I have the better! I always ask people to send a similar photo of the item they are hoping for as it helps me out a lot.
AK: Are there any future goals or plans in the works for Ivory and Wool?
SC: To keep growing and selling more items. My hope for the future is to sell more than just crochet items. I was recently given a sewing machine and have many ideas once I brush up on my sewing skills. I also know how to knit, so I could incorporate that as well. I love card making and have always wanted to learn how to weave and embroider so that’s on my to-do list also. The one thing about handmade, especially a craft like crocheting, is it takes SO MUCH TIME.
I am a huge fan of supporting small handmade shops. I am so thrilled to have one of my own, and I hope you love the items you find at Ivory and Wool.
Connect with Ivory and Wool:
P.S.- To view some past features just click here. If you are interested in being featured on This Mamas Dance please feel free to contact me.
all photos courtesy of Ivory and Wool.
Shara is my wife and I am so proud of her! She has worked so hard at building Ivory and Wool from the ground up. There has been times she has wanted to quit but she has never given up! Thank you Ashlea for seeing in Shara what I have seen from the beginning, a beautiful and incredibly talented “old lady in a young person’s body!”
-Matt Chapek
So happy to get to know her a bit more! And to celebrate all that she has accomplished so far. 🙂
Very proud of you Shara. Have always watched you grow from afar. You have developed a wonderful skill.
Great Aunt Barb