Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Local Women Turn Motherhood Into a Business

Story by Heather Langston

In keeping with the High County’s partiality for local products, mothers Rainy Crawford and Dusty Washburn recently began selling handcrafted goods for mother and child in their booth on the third floor of Farmer’s Hardware in downtown Boone.

“We try to sell different, unique gifts,” said Washburn. “The price is about the same, but the stuff is better quality.”

As every mom knows, motherhood is a juggling act, and the two entrepreneurs took this into consideration when they began their business in early March.

“We were both looking for a way to make money without taking more time away from our children,” Crawford said.

Crawford’s booth items include handmade blankets, baby slings, burping bibs, dream catchers and mother and daughter matching bracelets, as well as tie-dye and Bolivian fair-trade children’s clothing.

Crawford, working mother of a 22-month-old daughter, enjoys her new role.

“For me, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” said Crawford. “I felt like I could do things well in the past—jobs, hobbies—but I’m best at this. It gives me the most satisfaction.”

Washburn, whose booth items include handmade wooden and metal wall hangings, embroidered and framed nursery rhymes, picture pillows and quilts, journals and kids’ aprons, said she has her motherhood to thank for the business she shares with Crawford.

“I would have never done this if I didn’t have kids,” said Washburn. “I work for my husband, doing accounting and book work, so it gave me something else in life to do.”

Just as Washburn credits her children for her newest endeavor, most children have their mothers to thank for many of their first learning experiences, and both women are quick to express their hopes that their children appreciate the positive side of life.

“I want to show [my daughter] to remain hopeful and optimistic about people,” Crawford said. “It’s easy to get jaded when bad things or things that you have no control over happen.”

“Teaching [my children] to have love and compassion for others and to not stereotype others is a main concern,” said Washburn.

Along with these lessons in love, most mothers would agree with Crawford and Washburn when they list patience as the number one virtue of motherhood, whether inherent or learned.

“An open mind is important when things don’t go how you thought they would, especially when you’re a new mom,” Crawford said.

With Mother’s Day on Sunday, families have a chance to make sure mom and her patience get the recognition they deserve—recognition that often takes the backseat, when up against the fast-paced shuffle of modern life.

“On Mother’s Day, I don’t like to receive gifts,” said Washburn. “Just spending quality time together is what I want.”

Whether a day at the zoo, a picnic on the Parkway, playing games together or decorating rooms together, showing an appreciation for motherhood is best displayed when time is spent together as a family, and for Washburn and Crawford, their new business helps not only them, but other families, to do just that.

Sunday Is Mother’s Day

Ask any mom about her favorite Mother’s Day present and she’s likely to name the handmade cards and simple gifts her children made when they were young. While Mother’s Day has become a big flowers, cards and gifts day, a phone call, a visit or some other kind of sharing is tops on many moms’ preference lists.

So be sure to set aside time on Sunday, May 13, to connect with your mom and share some memories and smiles.