I have always had a passion for crafting and over the years I have explored many different hobbies. My sewing journey began in the late 90’s when my grandmother bought me a Pfaff Hobby sewing machine. I created curtains for a friend’s van and some cute tops that I wore in the summer as my husband and I attended musical festivals in Colorado. My husband, Andy, would walk around the festival parking lot selling “Tops & Pops” and my little patchwork tops sold quite well helping us make a little extra cash for traveling and exploring during our summers away from teaching.
As time went by we had two beautiful boys Matthew (13) and Michael (12) and my life literally revolved around raising these two amazing boys. My days were consumed with teaching preschool children with Autism during the day, raising my boys and spending time with my husband. I honestly think the first 10 years of our boys lives were the most challenging and rewarding years of my life. As Matthew & Michael continue to grow into young men I have found my role as their mom evolving. The boys need me in their life just as much as they always have it is just now in a different way. My boys are seeking independence, involved in various school activities and sports. My first instinct was to hold on to my little boys as hard and as long as I could, but I have realized I need to embrace their growth and support their independence while continuing to be their soft place to fall… Believe me, easier said then done.
Fabulous Fobs was born from many different things and if I could put my finger on the one thing that pushed me to dust off the Pfaff Hobby machine to build my own small little business it was my attempt to become a better mother by giving my boys the space to grow. Crazy as that may sound to some of you, I needed too lean in to building my business to embrace this new stage of motherhood. In the process I have reignited my love for creating things and sewing. I am proudly following in the footsteps of many incredibly creative and talented women in my family that were small business pioneers and artists. My great grandmother Hazel Chase (Chase Co.), my grandmother Patricia Hazzard (Fabulous Frames), my grandmother Virginia Howard (artist) and my mother Barbara Howard (R2K).
Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for being part of my journey.
Kimberley Chase Wojtalewicz
Fabulous Fobs & Other Fixings 