All of us here at Farm Hippie love celebrating our vendors, and when our vendors start their passion business at such a young age as this month’s recipient, it’s even more special! This month’s winner of Farm Hippie’s Vendor of the Month is Doodle Day Crafts, operated by 10-year-old Madelyn and her business partner (you know, Mom), Chrissy, a former art teacher is a force to be reckoned with as an ultra-talented team marketing Madelyn’s creations including recycled crayon, bookmarks, sensory items, desk crafts, and so much more. To see what new products they bring in is such a treat. Below, the team answered a few questions about their business and why they love doing what they do:
Farm Hippie: What do you love most about what you get to do with your business?
Madelyn: I enjoy crafting fun things for kids and using my imagination to come up with cool stuff.
Chrissy: As a former art teacher and full-time parent, I love being able to provide families with quality, educational, and engaging play activities for kids young and old. All of our products are things that have been designed with kids in mind and are things we use in our own homes. Our Doodle Dough Activity Jars and activity mats are pulled out daily for lil sis (3) and Madelyn, myself, or Dad often joins in on the fun and play with her. Our toys and activities are simple but open-ended which provides little ones with opportunities to explore and engage with the toys in different ways which keeps them fun! I love getting to spend time with my daughter while we create together.
Farm Hippie: What do you find to be the most rewarding part of working with your local community?
Madelyn: I like that I have made friends as I have started my business. Most of my customers are kids like me and it is fun to share what I have made with them and see them get excited about the products we make. I also liked making friends with other vendors and their kids, especially if they sell freeze-dried candy!!!
We have met the most amazing and supportive people in our local community! It has been fun seeing Madelyn tell people about her business and seeing folks say, “Oh yeah, you’re the crayon girl, I saw you on Facebook!
Farm Hippie: Tell us a little more about your business.
Madelyn: I started selling recycled crayons because I wanted to give crayons that were broken or unused a second chance at being useful and fun!!! Since we started my mom and I have had lots more ideas of things we can create for kids that are fun to play with and help kids learn. We make Crayons, Coloring Posters, Doodle Dough (Play Dough), Play dough activity jars and mats, Pencils, Pens, and bookmarks, and I have lots of other ideas that kids can have fun with!
Chrissy: Madelyn is our crayon maker/”dough girl” and she has developed her process and learned how to be more efficient as she keeps up with the demand for those products Mom/Chrissy is the designer and I illustrate and design all of our coloring posters, playmats, and stickers. I draw all of our artwork myself and love coming up with fun themes for posters and mats. We plan to have at least one new themed poster, activity jar, and play mat each month. We have two Jars for January, one is a snow-themed jar where you can build a snowman and our other is a Birthday Jar with scented dough and supplies to make your little cake.
Congratulations, Doodle Day Crafts, on receiving Farm Hippie’s Vendor of the Month award, and thank you for being a part of the Farm Hippie family. And to all of our customers who continue to support the entrepreneurial spirit inside the Farm Hippie family of vendors, including Doodle Day Crafts, thank you!