Little Stitches by Laurie Mangieri

Have you noticed how sometimes the most touching relationships that we develop in our lives aren't exactly sought after, planned or even expected?  As an example, you can read here about how Brandy and I became friends and ultimately shared our papercrafting "disease".  From a simple invitation to join her at a scrapbook convention began a friendship that grew over the past decade and is only stronger as the days go by!  Today I want to promote the craftiness, no... maybe the addiction of another dear friend.

Laurie Mangieri was my children's 1st grade teacher.  I had the pleasure (extreme joy I might say) to be able to volunteer to help Laurie in the classroom.  In 2002 my son, Timothy, was in her class and I worked full time outside the house.  I would stop by Laurie's classroom around 4:00 pm and she would give me a stack of papers to copy in the school copy room.  These papers included math worksheets, craft activities and other various and assorted 1st grade work for the students.  I would happily copy for an hour or so and return with a cart full of copies, a smile on my face and receive such gratitude that I desperately wanted to come back.  Laurie's strict, but loving teaching style was a perfect compliment for my hard working, serious first born and I believe that Tim developed his deep love of learning that year in her classroom. 

In 2004, my daughter Katie had the great privilege of joining Mrs. Mangieri's classroom and I wasn't working full time.  I volunteered to be the Friday mom helper.  I was able to enjoy classroom favorites like the spelling test (grading spelling- what fun!), Laurie's cooking time where the kids made a fun math or color oriented snack, and, best of all, ran the reward store.  Each day the children were given opportunities to earn "bucks" for good behavior, completing tasks and on the rare occasion were required to return the bucks to Mrs. Mangieri for unacceptable classroom behavior.  It was a great reward system to teach these young kids about responsibility and accountability.  On Friday, each child was given the opportunity to shop at my store and spend their hard earned bucks on fun toys and candy donated by parents.  I would set up shop and call each child up individually.  I cannot honestly say what else I would like to do if I were to retire immediately than to be Mrs. Mangieri's teacher's assistant!

Laurie, much like Brandy and I, took up a hobby and seems to have caught the bug.  She has opened an Etsy store:

Laurie creates fun, beautiful accessories that are geared for little girls all the way up to the little girl inside of us grown-ups.  Mainly consisting of flowers and bows made out of ribbon and fabric, these adorable accessories are ready to pin in your hair, to your hat, handbag or lapel or even fun adornments for your flip flops.  I recently picked up some pink stuff for my Katie Lynn:



Flip Flop Bows attached to a $3 pair of black flipflops
Katie's new favorite footwear

Ribbon with bling center
Katie mostly wears this in her hair



Please patronize this lovely lady's Etsy shop and bless her with the opportunity to indulge her creativity and continue to make these beautiful adornments.  Visit Laurie at Little Stitches and just see if you can resist a quick splurge.  Your little girl (or the little girl inside you) will appreciate it.

Andie