Welcome
Fiddle Threads is a women's collective, two generations of friends and family, featuring artisans and retailers offering a wide variety of merchandise under our individual shops.
Our Story - Doe's Dream
Our Story
It isn't easy to start a new venture. It can be scary at times and easy to find excuses to not do it ("I don't have the time", "I'll do it tomorrow"). You get wrapped up in your thoughts, trying to talk yourself out of it ("What if it fails," "It's a stupid idea anyway"), and continue to put it off. This website began as the brainchild of my mother, Doe Hart. Mom was one of the most creative people I have ever met. She made jewelry, dolls, Christmas decorations and whatever else popped into her head to make. She was a singer and a healer, known in her community as a gentle, loving soul with a beautiful voice and big heart. She wanted a place where family and friends could share their creativity with the world. She wanted us all to have a way to help make ends meet by using our talents. She passed away from bone cancer a couple of years ago, the day after Thanksgiving, ever the thoughtful soul trying to wait until after the holiday so as to not ruin it for everyone. It would have been easy for my Aunt Deb and I to forget about this concept that mom spoke so passionately about, but we couldn't shake it. It was as if she were still with us, pushing us to continue. We've had many conversations on the logistics of making this website a reality, going back and forth on the whats, and hows, and whens... and, as life often does, it will continue to change and grow. We are making my mother's dream a reality, and hope you find something you love while browsing our items. Whether it be a pair of earrings to match your favorite outfit, a sarong for the beach, a sugar scrub to soothe your body, mind and spirit, or any of our other offerings. We hope you continue to come back to see what's new and different and become part of our circle of family and friends. Most importantly, we hope you never give up. If you have a dream, follow it and make it come true. Remember, only you can make your dream a reality.
-Stephanie
Our Collective Shops
Doebee Designs, new, vintage, upcycled and handmade jewelry
Stephanie, the owner of Steshahla Body Care and Home Goods, Artisan Soaps, Body Care Products, and Candles is on hiatus while spending time with her family and working her full time job. She will always have a home with us and will return at some time.
Deb, owner of Dee Dee Mama's Closet, a shop selling new, Fair Trade, gently used, up-cycled and repurposed clothing, home goods and gifts. She also sells politically correct and thought provoking postcards, and manages Doe Hart's merchandise in her shop, DoeBee Designs. Reevaluating how to proceed with DoeBee Designs and my clothing shop while laid up with a broken heel, sprained ankle and injured ligaments/tendons. I store all listed merchandise in our loft which is reachable only by climbing a ladder, something I can not do at this time. So sales on our website, Postmark, and Etsy are temporarily on "break", literally. I'm sorting through my personal closet and other clothing that are not yet listed, photographed and stored away. Fresh merchandise is coming and our shops are soon to return!
Heather, owner of Studio Halo (formerly Peace by Piece), is the owner and artisan making beautifully handcrafted artwork and wire-wrapped jewelry.
Our Mission Statement
Creative time is not wasted time, it feeds our souls and touches all who experience the end product. One's persons trash is another's treasure. We have a personal responsibility to be living examples of human spirits who cause no unnecessary harm to anyone or anything, anywhere at any time.
Meet the Women of Fiddle Threads
DoeBee Designs
Doe was born and raised in Southern Ohio where she attended Ohio University. She spent most of her adult life in Central Ohio where she owned or worked in a variety of retail and consignment shops and raised her two children. Once her kids were grown, she became an explorer both inward and outward. In addition to her jewelry and other creations, she became a reiki master and healer, began performing as a vocalist and even gave theatre a try. Her adventures took her where she needed to be calling New Jersey, Florida, Alabama and North Carolina home before returning to Central Ohio. Doe passed away from bone cancer in 2018 leaving behind a treasure trove of her creations.
SteshaHla Body Care and Home Goods
Stephanie grew up in Delaware, Ohio raised by strong women, including her partners on this website. She received her BA in Communications and Theatre from Heidelberg University and a Masters of Humanities in Art and Visual Media from Tiffin University. Creativity has always been an integral part of Stephanie's life. Whether it be performing or visual arts, she has to always be creating, otherwise she begins to feel stagnant. She lives with her husband, beautiful daughter and two borzoi dogs. She has worked in retail, special needs case management, technical support, customer service, training and sales. At the moment she is taking a hiatus from our website. We hope and look forward to her returning and joining our creative group.
Dee Dee Mama's Closet
My retail bug began over 40 years ago when I went shopping in a second hand store in Delaware Ohio while home visiting. The owner of Helping Hands, Judy DeRosa, and I hit it off immediately and she asked me if I would be interested in being her partner. I accepted, moved back to town with my husband and began a new life in my old home town. Not long after, Judy decided to move on and pursue other passions and sold us the business. We changed the name to Gypsy Rose, worked hard, had loads of fun, I had a baby boy, and started dabbling in import clothing, jewelry and accessories all while serving the community with our consignment and second hand store. This was the most rewarding work besides raising my own children and working with numerous other children(family and others) over the years, that I have ever done. We expanded to a second store across the street opening an import clothing store, Sunflower. Doe Hart (known to many of you as Dottie Mowles) was a part of it all. She married my brother, but was more like a sister and we remained close, even living together off and on over the years until she passed away in 2018. She had been a big part of my life since I was 15 years old. A life time! She had a passionate dream before she passed to start an online business and create a side income doing what we love. It took a while after she passed to begin creating Fiddle Threads, but here we are. I am once again working retail, this time without Doe, but following through on her dream with her daughter/my niece, Stephanie. Doe has been with us every step of the way as we have muddled through learning this online process, working through a few kinks and disappointments; but continuing to learn so much along the way. With a year behind us now, we are moving ahead with minds and hearts full of ideas and dreams of our own. My particular focus and passion is in ethnic products supporting ethical companies who sell unique handcrafted items while fairly supporting their local women artisans and communities. I also am passionate about reselling, reusing, re-purposing and up-cycling items as much as possible.
Studio Halo (formerly Peace By Piece)
Heather grew up in Delaware, Ohio with her four siblings (three brothers and a sister) and has been one of Stephanie's best friends since they met way back in sixth grade. She was also like a second daughter to Doe. Heather was very active in her high school art program, and attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh after graduating. She still lives in Delaware with her husband and two sons in the house that Stephanie grew up in.
She is a kind, creative, retro soul and enjoys rollerskating, art, nature, friends and family, and life in general, and is always able to find the humor in whatever comes her way. Heather is an artist that enjoys working in different mediums including wirewrapping, macarame, mosaic, painting, photography and anything else that strikes her fancy. She is constantly trying new things and expresses herself through her creations. You can't help but feel her vibrant personality in everything she makes.