Custom Projects

I’ve said it before, but I will say it again- I love to create custom gifts.  I love to sew and I love to make things, but knowing that the item I’m working on is for someone specific brings a whole new level of enjoyment.  There is something about the opportunity to create a personalized gift that gets me excited!   It is not just a gift.  It is a gift that has been created with a specific person in mind, a gift that is going to be given to someone with love, from someone with love. 

I love getting an email from someone- often a person I don’t even know- with a request for HankOrange to help create the ‘perfect’ gift.  I almost thrive on this sort of email!  I get myself caught up in the story, in the ‘why’ behind the gift and what makes it special for the giver and the recipient.   Sometimes I find myself getting a little too caught up and I spend too much time making it perfect.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat staring at my sketch pad (which is often times a piece of scrap paper, or post-it, or the back of one of the many ‘works of art’ done by my son (…shh, don’t tell him) thinking “I could to this, or this, or maybe this…OR what about this…”  I probably waste a lot of time in the thinking stage.  But I want this personal gift to be perfect.  I want the giver to love it just as much as the recipient will.  I want the giver to be glad they choose HankOrange to create this special gift. 

I recently got an email from a lady who wanted me to create some kitchen towels using the same candy corn idea as I’d used on this onesie.  The towels were going to be for her daughter- who happens to love candy corn- who was moving into her first apartment.  Her mom wanted something personal and special to give her daughter as a house-warming gift.  So sweet!  What a great idea!  Why didn’t I think of that? :)  So, I made these kitchen towels for her.  

And now I have a 'sweet' version for sale on Etsy!  

It is all a process.   Sometimes I wonder if the process is more for me, than for the actual gift.  The process of creating the gift can be just as fun as giving the gift itself!  Whether it is a gift I’m making for someone I love or a gift I’m making for a person I’ve never met, I enjoy the process of creating (usually!) from start to finish.   Often times, because my business is mostly done through ETSY, I don’t know the giver or the recipient.  I just wrap up the finished product and mail it off, left to wonder how the gift was received. Is the recipient enjoying it as much as the giver (and the creator!) had hoped?  Did the gift get a huge smile or laugh from the recipient as they opened the package?  Or, was it ‘just another gift’?  I might never know, but either way, getting the opportunity to make those special gifts is an honor, and I enjoy the process from start to finish!

Well, enough of my ramblings ;)  Onto some of the projects I’ve done and loved!      

Custom Bibs and Burp cloth sets:

For the little one who was born on St. Patrick’s Day: “Born Lucky”

For the new baby of a professor at Kansas State: “Future Wildcat”

For the son of USC Alumni: USC burp cloths/ bib  “Future Trojan” bib

 

For my cousin who loves Zebra print and hot pink (her thoughtful mother ordered these for her shower!)

Custom Chenille burp cloths:

Custom Onesies:

A former bible study leader of mine had a daughter who was pregnant with their first.  They always referred to the baby as “sparky”; until she found out she was having a little girl!  Then, the baby’s nickname became “sparkle”…

A good friend of mine found out she was having a little boy.  I wanted to make her something special, but since she didn’t have a name yet, I wasn’t sure what.  I thought I’d make her a ‘little man’ onesie.  But then I had a better idea- “little Guy” Her husband’s name is ‘Guy’ so I was extra excited about this idea!

Another friend was pregnant with her first baby.  She hadn’t yet found out what she was having.  When I asked her names she said she was hoping it was a girl because her husband was convinced that if their baby were a boy his name would be Bruce Wayne!  As funny as that idea is, she was not thrilled!  But, she is having a girl!  So, I had to make this little onesie for her baby girl.  Now her husband can have his ‘baby Batman’ after all ;)

 More photos of 'custom items' to come soon!