Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Blake.
Hi Emily, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always loved creating…ever since I can remember. As a kid, I would go door to door selling drawings I made and set up a card table at the end of my driveway selling items I made or didn’t need any longer. I’ve always enjoyed meeting and talking to people.
After my wedding, I grew passionate about creating wedding accessories and started Bella Maria Creations in 2011. It wasn’t long after I added handmade baby headbands and entered the world of boutiques and craft shows. I expanded my creations into crocheted Ear Warmers, Mug Hugs, and Mitten Scarves, always trying to create something new and unique. I fell in love with watching customers browse, select and purchase creations I made with my own hands and heart.
In 2020, a time when we are unsure if we will be able to sell in boutiques and craft shows anytime soon, I came up with the idea to open Bella Maria Boutique. Here you will find an online shop filled with handmade items from local artists mostly from Minnesota. My mission is to promote and support these amazing artists and keep the art of handmade creations alive!
In 2021, I opened my first retail shop located in Downtown White Bear Lake, MN! As the shop grew throughout the year I moved just down the hall to a larger space and reopened in July 2022 with amazing space! I now offer many different craft classes, workshops, and events.
In October of 2022, my shop was voted “Best Specialty Shop” in White bear Lake by the readers of the White Bear Lake Press. This is such an honor for not only me but all of the artists I represent!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggle is filling all of the positions of a business: Marketing, promotions, sales, inventory, website design, accountant, payouts, shipping, etc. There are many hats to wear as the sole owner of the business.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love to work with fabric and yarn. I find crocheting to be very stress-relieving and therapeutic and try to create useful unique items. I am probably most known for crochet wristlet purses which are made with liners of recycled fabric I have leftover from when I was making face masks.
I am going to start offering a personable section at my shop where customers can design their own wristlet purses that I will make just for them. They will be able to pick everything from the yarn color, liner fabric, zipper color, hardware, and button embellishments!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
We have a large group of people who appreciate handmade items and love to support small businesses. Most of the people coming into my shop are doing so knowing they are supporting others. I can’t think of anything I don’t like about the city.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bellamariaboutique.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellamariaboutiquewbl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BellaMariaBoutiqueWBL
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmcreations
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeGCDjeIrMoovp7cOkEBi0w
