We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marymarie Scarbrough. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marymarie below.
Hi Marymarie, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
Growing up, my grandmother, Mary Lou, whom I am half named after, always had a hook or needle in hand; be it an afghan, a blanket, a sweater for me, a shirt for my grandfather, a dress for a cousin, she was constantly making something. Fiber arts and handmade love is in my DNA! When 2020 came along and forced everyone to stay in, I taught myself how to crochet and fell totally in love with fiber arts. I did my first market with Vibe Artisan Markets, then Texas Artisan Markets, in April of 2021 and I’ve been able to grow my hobby into a thriving small business since.
My vibe is 60s/70s revival with rich textures, bold but muted colors, and groovy and funky shapes. I love being able to bring a unique, catered, vintage feel to things that are one of a kind. When I pick up my hook and yarn, I am creating something that will be loved and cherished for decades, so I ensure to produce only the highest quality my hands can possible provide.
Marymarie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I have been a medical assistant for 12 years, so helping others in a huge part of who and what I am. I live to serve , comfort, and give. Being able to make and create something that provides a moment of comfort, a smile with a completed decor theme, a pregnancy announcement, a cuddly buddy in the car, makes my heart sing. My makes are for the folks that love to be cozy and different and that love to appreciate the finer details. I have always adored the vintage feel and look, like chunky heels, bell bottom pants, handmade tops, daisy flowers on everything, and I realized I have the ability to create the look I want and put it out there in the world. If you are wanting flower or heart pillows, sassy shirts, handmade baby blankets, and yummy cozy hats, I’m your maker!
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Participating in local markets has been the greatest decision I’ve ever made with my business. I get to meet customers face to face which means I get to see them light up when they feel and squish my makes. My whole tagline is “yummy coziness” and the reactions I get truly live up to that. I have regulars that will follow me from location to location and will message me on my socials asking for custom makes. I love getting to engage with new customers and showing them the amazing world of crochet and how much love and time and planning goes into each item.
Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?
I have been an Etsy seller since 2020 and I have done quite well. These days though, it does seem a bit harder to draw in as many new clients as I have previously. I find I have more luck with markers and selling my items at stores in town, like Space Montrose, than online e-commerce. That doesn’t stop me though, I am constantly posting, creating, sharing, tagging, and uploading new and fun things. Etsy has been a great outlet to sell on simply due to the high traffic and great search algorithm it possesses.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LavenderAndRaine
- Instagram: @lavenderandraine
- Facebook: LAVENDER + RAINE
- Other: TikTok: @lavenderandraine
Image Credits
N/A, I take all my own photos