Miss Malaprop

This week, let’s head on down to New Orleans and meet Mallory Whitfield of Miss Malaprop!

Tell us about your shop and how you got started.

My goal is that Miss Malaprop can be your favorite source for unique, handmade and eco-friendly products that you can feel good about buying.

I’ve loved art, crafts and making things for as long as I can remember. I began documenting my love of all things handmade in 2006 with my blog. My dream from the start has been to create a shop where I can share all of my amazing handmade finds with you. (Seriously, around the time I launched my blog in 2006 I was already writing early business plans which included both an online shop and brick & mortar boutique for handmade goods. The online store launched in March 2010 and the brick & mortar is still in the works but hopefully coming soon in the next couple of years!)

I know it sounds cliché but it’s really hard for me to pick favorites! Honestly, I work closely with all of the featured artists in my shop, and I hand-pick everything, so I really do love all of the products I carry. There are a couple of local artists I work with who are also in the New Orleans Craft Mafia with me, and whom I’ve known in person for a long time, so those girls and what they make have a special place in my heart: the handmade soaps by my friend Emily of Sweet Olive Soap Works are a big hit and a personal favorite, and I love the work by my friends Margaret Coble of art by mags!, Tressa Procter-King of Flambeaux Design Company, and Rebekah Apotre of She Loves Me Not Clothing Company. Really though, I don’t want to choose favorites, because I’m truly honored to work with a ton of amazingly talented, kind and generous artists!

I’m always adding new products and new artists to the shop (you can stay up to date anytime by checking out my new arrivals area). I recently added a couple of amazing local artists: Brandi Couvillion, who creates beautiful jewelry from antique skeleton keys and key holes salvaged from old homes that have been demolished here in the New Orleans area, and Taslim van Hattum of Abiqutie, who crafts beautiful earrings and other jewelry from lightweight wood that she cuts herself and then paints with themes inspired by the Middle East and other cultures from around the world.

I also just added a couple lines of fun handmade toys designed to get kids back to using their imaginations and away from the electronic world for a bit! Claspy Kids makes a portable, pocket-size entertainer for toddlers that will keep them busy when you’re out and about, and Pixiekids Toys creates play food sets made from Eco-felt (made from recycled plastic bottles).

Moms might enjoy some of the back to basics toys mentioned above, but Mother’s Day should also be about pampering the mothers in your life, right? Moms will love the beautiful designs and thought behind the personalized teapot-for-one sets by Jeanette Risco. Mothers-to-be will also enjoy the belly bands by Haramaki Love, which can be worn anytime but are especially great as maternity wear.