Handmade Finds for Cute Tots

Looking for a something unique and stylish for a baby or toddler? Check out H.C.I.T. - How Cute Is That! - a new company from Shelly Berger, sewing fanatic and mother of two.

Laid off from a corporate job just over a year ago, Shelly had had her fill of Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. But reality–”being married, having two children and a passion for eating out and being born to shop ” meant that Shelly would need to contribute financially. So she decided to take a bad situation and turn it into an opportunitiy to fulfill a lifelong dream to start her own business. “What turned out to be a blessing in disguise was quite painful the first few days”, she says, but “I’ve always had a burning desire to do something and be something creative, and for me, that outlet is fashion and design.”

H.C.I.T. produces “super cute baby and tot necessities” including swanky blankies, retro quilts and ribbon tie bibs, two-toned raglan tees, lounge pants and onesies — all of which are handmade - designed, cut and sewn by Shelly herself.

Clever Parents caught up with Shelley to chat about her world revolving around a needle, thread and bobbin, not having a clue about starting a company, and the bib-of-the-month club.

Clever Parents: How impressive that you taught yourself to sew with a toddler under-foot. How long did it take?
Shelley Berger: I began sewing in January of 2005. I started taking sewing lessons from the Hallelujah Sewing Boutique in January and continued weekly for almost a year straight. At the time, I didn’t own a sewing machine and could barely mend a shirt if a button went missing. I was hooked immediately and ventured out to buy my first sewing machine so that I could begin practicing at home in addition to my weekly lessons. My sewing instructor, Miss Lilly Triplett, had to teach me how to thread the machine and all in the beginning. My first project was a v-neck blouse and knickers for myself but I quickly moved onto baby doll dresses and accessories for both babies and tots! I logged more sewing hours in one year’s time than possibly imaginable. I was addicted the instant I learned how to turn the machine on and my world now revolves around a needle, thread and bobbin!

Clever Parents: Have you always been entrepreneurial?
Shelley Berger: Wow! Not always but I can tell you that I was always told so according to books such as ‘What Color Is Your Parachute’, ‘Work Types’ and several other personality/career tests that I’ve taken through the years. I was always taking these silly tests because I just felt in my soul that I wasn’t living up to my greatest potential. Indeed, I always laughed at the idea of running my own company any time the job description appeared in the results–I didn’t have a clue as to what starting a company meant, let alone running one. After losing my job in the corporate world (and taking a few more personality tests!) I finally started looking into the possibility. I enrolled in an entrepreneurial course, began reading books, books and more books on the topic…one thing led to another, and thus, it all began.

Clever Parents: What are your hottest selling items?
Shelley Berger: Definitely my ribbon tie bibs. Next in line: retro quilts. I mix unusual (but always soft) materials with funky prints that make for truly unique baby and tot necessities.

Clever Parents: Tell us about the bib of the month club.
Shelley Berger: The ‘bib of the month club’ was thought up on an airplane trip to the Southern Caribbean! I was jotting down in my ‘business-to-be’ journal, all of the fads out there that have really taken off and Oprah’s Book Club made the list. There’s so many ‘of the month’ clubs out there that I wanted to get in on it too! Because bibs are used so frequently during infancy, this seemed like the perfect product to fit the mold! A combination of ribbon tie and Velcro bibs are sent to the recipient on a monthly basis for as long as the subscription is purchased. You can choose between 6, 9 or 12 month subscriptions. It makes for a fun, exciting baby shower gift or to simply shower your own self with!

Learn more about Shelly’s story, her great line of bibs, clothing and accessories… and how to become an H.C.I.T. “addict” at www.hcitdesigns.com!

Use code ‘cleverparents’ at check-out for a 10% discount off any H.C.I.T. purchase!