If you had told me five years ago I would be a stay at home/work at home mom making hair bows,   I would have told you I thought you were nuts.  I was on a career track with a new MBA hanging on my wall thinking of bigger and better positions; however, thankfully that was not how things worked out. In 2005 I had two young sons, a daughter just about to make her way home from China and a job that was about to be eliminated.  The company I worked for was sold and I was suddenly a stay at home mom.  Many times things that appear to be the worst in life turn out to be the greatest blessings. Since we were just about to head to China for our daughter I decided to stay home a year and get her settled before looking for a new position.

To make the story short, it all came down to my daughter needing a hair bow to match a Tinker Bell outfit for Halloween in 2006.  I searched and couldn’t find anything that matched but there was ribbon at Michaels Craft store that matched perfect.  I purchased instructions and made my daughter a korker hair bow.  The directions also came with jewelry instructions so I purchased a few beads and also made myself a bracelet.  I found it to be fun and put about $800 in starting a business called A Crystal Garden making bracelets from Swarovski Crystals.  I thought my little hobby would keep me busy enough that I could keep my sanity and actually be a successful stay at home mom.  The business took off much to my astonishment and I started making hair bows as a side business.  The hair bow business grew much faster than the jewelry and in the beginning of 2009 I closed down the jewelry side to focus solely on hair bows and here I am today.  A happy well adjusted MBA holding hair bow maker mom and I wouldn’t have it any other way. :o)