My Story
Welcome to Life and Lair; helping generous hearts create cherished memories through thoughtful, handcrafted personalized gifts - from birthdays to weddings, and everything in between!
What is your love language? Mine has always been acts of service with a healthy dose of gift giving. I like to make my loved ones feel special through handcrafting thoughtful, personalized gifts. However, several years ago, I noticed my free-time was dwindling, yet birthdays, holidays, and weddings kept coming! So, I started supplementing my handcrafted gifts with handmade gifts I bought online. But, as anyone who's shopped online knows, this came with a host of problems: the pictures weren’t always great, the descriptions were unclear, and sometimes the gifts didn’t ship on time. It was a hassle that left me with questions and doubt - certainly not the ideal shopping experience when searching for a treasured gift online.
In creating Life and Lair, my aim was to offer the thoughtful, personalized gifts that I love to make WITHOUT the great unknown that can surround buying handmade online - no uncertainty, no second-guessing and no hassle. Five years later, I continue my efforts to offer an elevated shopping experience where you can buy with confidence.
My Promise to You
👉 OPTIONS! >>> I offer a wide variety of personalization and customization options on all of my items: so you can be sure to get a custom gift in their favorite color with their name, or wedding date, birthdate, etc.
💯 PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS >>> I prioritize quality. Gifts are an expression of love, and I know that the details that go into making a gift special are important. Therefore, you can rest assured that you will always receive the absolute best from me.
🎁 INCLUDED GIFT-PACKAGING >>> All of my items come packaged in a gift bag. Just add your gift card and get gifting! Most even include a message printed directly on the item, so no greeting card needed!
📦 DEPENDABLE SHIPPING >>> I ship ON TIME. Every time. With QUICK turnarounds (most items ship in just 3-5 business days). There is nothing worse than having to trek down a seller who is late to ship your items, especially when your special date is approaching! **Side eyes my last Etsy purchase**
💡 EASY ORDERING >>> I go through incredible efforts to make the ordering process as quick and painless for you as possible. I offer clear pictures with a variety of examples; prompt and professional communication; thorough, complete descriptions; and a simple, straightforward purchase process -- all of which hopefully leave you with a clear expectation of what you can expect from me.
Finally, online shopping for personalized gifts done right. Because less time spent on hassle means more time to celebrate with the ones you love! 🥳
One of my first handmade gifts: a cross-stitch piece that I gifted to my aunt in the early 90s. Wrinkles and all!
And Finally, Here’s 5 Random Things About ME
1️⃣ I am based in sunny Palm Bay, Florida, just 6 miles from the beach where I live with my husband and an unhealthy amount of tropical houseplants.
2️⃣ I am a (part-time) Army wife. My husband has been in the Army National Guard for the last 20+ years. He is also a mechanical engineer, so he sometimes creates useful gizmos for my shop that help me bring you better quality products.
3️⃣ My entrepreneurial handmade journey began while in college in the early 2000’s when I opened an online decorative pillow shop. I won best looking Ebay store in 2005, and my work was featured in Creative Home (a Better Homes and Gardens publication) and Oprah’s O at Home Magazine.
4️⃣ My educational background is in English/Creative Writing, Interior Merchandising and Web Design. I spent several years working as a proofreader, so I have a super-obsessive eye for detail.
5️⃣ I have had a handmade business for over 20 years. (Wow, time flies!) I currently run this website in addition to my Etsy store which has over 7,000 sales and an average 5-star review rating!
