September comes, nature shifts, and creators find inspiration everywhere..
Trellis Marketplace is a collaborative boutique marketplace located in a historic building in Elizabethtown, PA, one block from the main square! We have the pleasure of working with 30+ local business partners and artisans! We would like to start sharing about the hardworking boutique partners and artisans that bring us much unique design and decor to the central Lancaster area. They make our shop special within our small town!
Without further adieu, Laureli Cottage, is our first ever Boutique Partner of the Month of September! Laurel Vargas has been part of Trellis Marketplace for a year now and we still “ooh and awe” every time she restocks and changes up her boutique space. Not only is she super talented with her leather jewelry designs, she also has a killer eye for display! You’re guaranteed to be amazed with her nature inspired themes.
Get to know her like we do!
Where are you from?
I grew up in the countryside of central PA and have lived in the Hershey/Lebanon area for the past 6 years.
How long have you been in business?
I began designing leather jewelry to sell after my first daughter was born 4 years ago and I decided to stay home with her. What began as custom orders for friends turned into an Etsy shop, which transitioned to my own website and retail partnerships one year ago.
What inspires you to create?
My whimsical childhood established in me a love for elegance and the unspoiled nature of the outdoors. Autumn leaves became my first inspiration as I collected them along forest paths and wished their beauty could be preserved for adornment. Thus began my venture of designing lifelike leather leaf earrings, and as seasons changed, so did my designs, all drawn from nature, intended to celebrate the natural beauty of women with the nature around them.
What famous person would you like to have an hour long conversation with? Past or present?
There are many I would be intrigued to meet and learn of their inner strength and process, but the one that springs quickly to mind is Harriet Tubman, a hero of mine since childhood. I think I would have very little to say, and very much to listen to.
What challenges you in your business?
I enjoy the art of designing, it is fun and therapeutic, but I was especially stretched outside my comfort zone when I first began approaching retailers to sell my jewelry. That was intimidating, until I began to see the success of my items. On a daily basis, I am challenged to rise in excellence and originality for superior quality in my designs.
What is your favorite plant or flower?
This is a difficult question for someone who loves all flowers and trees! Sweet peas are a fragrant and very romantic summertime flower that has a very special place in my heart. My aunt grew them beautifully, and created the most stunning floral arrangements with them. She taught me to always plant them on St. Patrick’s Day in March for the most successful growth each spring.
Do you have any favorite quotes or motto?
A wise friend once told me, “Live your life the way you would like it to be remembered,” and I have held that in my heart ever since.
Thank you for supporting locally crafted, American made artisans!
Your support to the local creative community means more than words can cultivate. Because of you, people like Laurel can support their creative lifestyle by creating content that customers love.
Connect With Laureli Cottage:
Website: https://www.laurelicottage.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaureliCottage/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurelicottage/