Tommi Lawson creates ‘Stuff N Things’
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
Chrisman resident Tommi Lawson has always loved anything that allowed her to be creative. “I’ve always had a crafty side,” Lawson told us. “I got into cake decorating in High School and did it competitively. A few years ago, I got into making my own melt and pour soap bars using essential oils and different additives.”
It wasn’t until handmade jewelry caught her eye that Lawson’s creativity blossomed. “I’d come across the latest hip cool thing or stumble across something on the internet and would think to myself, I bet I can do that. Then the idea came to me about trying to sell some of these items.”
Together with her friend Kelsey Middlemas, the pair created ‘Stuff N Things’ on Facebook where they sell their homemade items.
Lawson also continues to make cakes, but right now, her favorite thing to make is a toss up between leather hair bows and snow globe tumblers.
“The first hair bow I did came together perfectly and I love the idea that I can make things for my daughter,” she said. “The snow globe tumblers are something I had never seen before and decided to try my hand at. It’s been a challenge, but they are extremely fun to make.”
Eventually, Lawson plans on getting into custom cups, tumblers and even shirts. Right now, she has a long list of things that she’d love to try eventually and is always open to suggestions and requests. “Right now, I’m trying to fine tune the things that I have tried so I can offer the best quality items I can.”
Tommi currently has a collection of jewelry, soaps, key chains and hair bows available. She has also done a few wooden door hangers and a few car decals. Depending on what the time is, it can take a short time or days to be finished. “It can be anywhere from ten minutes to several days,” Lawson said. “Smaller things can be done in a day, but anything that requires a drying time or anything like that will take a couple of days.”
Out of all her items, her custom soaps are her best seller. With all her new creations, Lawson is continuing to do her first love, cake decorating.
“I am still doing cakes and desserts. The ultimate dream is to one day have some sort of store front where I can provide not only the handmade creations, but offer a cafe type menu of food items and custom cake orders.”
Around Christmas time, Lawson has participated in vendor events and sets up at the local farmers market. “I hope one day to have enough of an inventory that we can do something like regular vendor events and take custom orders on the spot.”
Her inspiration for creations comes from all sources, but Lawson tweaks it with her own creative style. Items like shirts, signs and cups are widely made, but each crafter has their own unique way to set them apart from others.
“Somethings are inspired by little things like quotes or even a need for something. One of the key chains I’m currently working on was inspired by a car decal requested by a friend,” Lawson said. “I feel like I have a call to create and really the inspiration can be found anywhere.”
Prices for Lawson’s creations vary depending on the item, but she does her best to keep things reasonable. The price depends mostly on the availability of supplies and items tend to cost anywhere from $5.00 to $30.00.
The creation of some items are harder than others and throw a curve ball into the process, but Lawson doesn’t give up.
“I joke around a lot about being a ‘jack of all trades and master of nothing’, just because I’ve got so many things going on. I wouldn’t say that I have anything mastered, at least not yet,” Lawson said. “There’s always something to tweak or do better. I would say however that if I set my mind to it, I can have something new figured out in about a day.”
If you would like to see some of Tommi’s creations or purchase an item, search ‘Stuff N Things’ on Facebook.