I’ve been sewing since my mom taught me as a pre-teen, but I really fell back in love with it during COVID (starting with quilts). After making way too many quilts for one household, I wanted something smaller (but still fun), so I tried sewing a plushie.

My very first one was a giraffe, and even though it was very ugly, had one ear sewn on backwards, and couldn’t stand up, I was completely hooked on the magic of turning flat fabric into a handmade plush toy - something 3D that could sit on my desk or be carried around.

Within a few months, I had about ten giraffes piled up on our living room couch, and my then-boyfriend (now husband) asked, “So what are you going to do with all of this?”

That question became Simple Joy Toys: a small collection of handmade plushies designed to bring a little calm and happiness to everyday spaces...