Willow & Rose

This past weekend I took part in my mom’s annual Christmas craft show. She’s been doing the craft show for about ten years, and usually I try to make something to sell. This year I was inspired by a hair-piece that my mom bought for me in Halifax. It was a soft pink rose bobbypin with small beads in the middle. I immediately fell in love, and started trying to figure out how to make similar hair accessories for myself! As soon as I started making them, I knew that I was hooked. It didn’t take much for me to convince my mom to hold her craft show so that I could sell them. Throughout the last four months, I have been working to create my first collection of hair accessories and brooches, for my new accessory collection: Willow & Rose.

I scoured my grandmother’s collection of vintage buttons and lace, and started making vintage/antique accessories. It was so much fun making them with my mom, and coming up with new ideas. Throughout the semester, it was super difficult for me to be motivated to do all of my schoolwork, when Willow & Rose was waiting patiently for me! Once the semester wound down, however, I switched into full-on craft mode, and dedicated myself to creating one-of-a-kind pieces to sell and give away as gifts this holiday season.

In a small display in our living room, I sold hairbands, headbands, bobbypins, brooches, and clips. Each accessory came packaged in a small white box with two willow twigs, and a Willow & Rose sticker. I loved marketing the products and setting up the display, which featured willow twigs in mason jars, tied with twine. Gabriel kindly obliged when I asked him to take photos of me wearing some of the pieces, to clip to the willow branches and display amongst the items. I think it’s easier for people to see how they would wear them, if they see them in a picture.

The craft show was a success, and I’m thinking of opening a small online shop to sell the rest of my inventory. The prices range from $4.00 to $8.00 per piece, and I’m having so much fun creating them that I don’t want to stop now that the craft show is over!