Headbands are just some of the products of the Crafty Night Owl.
Sara Brenkman, aka the Crafty Night Owl, is a little different from other work-from-home moms. Her habit of staying up all night endured through raising three kids (now in elementary school). “My mom told me that when I had kids I’d become a morning person,” says Brenkman. “That hasn’t happened yet!”
Her late-night habits allow her to indulge her love of crafting. And in doing so, she’s built an in-home business. During the school year, Brenkman stays up until 5 a.m., sewing and creating in her basement workshop. She sleeps while her kids are at school, waking up in time for the after-school deluge.
Brenkman is a self-taught seamstress and crafter. She’d been giving away her works to family and friends until her husband encouraged her to do a little more with her product. Now her hobby has morphed into a full-blown business, complete with a stand at the Dane County Farmers’ Market each Saturday.
Infinity scarves.
Brenkman’s product line has evolved based on her interests. When she first started, her children were babies, so she made nursing covers and baby hats.
Now she makes eyeglass cases and craft aprons. Her popular headbands ($6-$10) have soft, non-slip linings and a bra strap at the bottom that allows for sizing adjustments.
She also makes scarves ($15-$30), varying the fabric from cottons in the summer to flannels in the colder months. Decorative snaps set her infinity scarves apart from others — they keep everything in place, plus add a little flair. Kind of like your grandmother’s broach, updated.
“I’m kind of a dabbler,” says Brenkman. “I don’t like to stay with one product. I’m always looking for what’s the next trend and how I can be on top of it.”
She’s come up with an ingenious design for a car trash bag. She covers a plastic mesh frame in an eye-catching fabric, puts a non-slip grip around the rim to keep a plastic bag liner in place and adds a buckled strap so it can be secured at various places in the car.
Can’t make it to the Farmers’ Market? Crafty Night Owl goods are also sold at Harbor Athletic Club, 2529 Allen Blvd., and Fleet Feet, 8440 Old Sauk Rd. Brenkman is also willing to open her Middleton home up to shoppers by appointment.
facebook.com/TheCraftyNightOwl, For appointments, contact thecraftynightowl@gmail.com
