Summerlin moms sell one-of-a kind crafts

Courtesy photo

Hand-made items, such as jewelry, stationary, and baby gifts, will be sold at The Girl Next Door show Nov. 20.

Friday, Nov. 14, 2008 | midnight

Courtesy photo

Some pillows made for The Girl Next Door show where local artists, many of them Summerlin moms, can sell hand-made, trendy items.

Andrea Leaver and fellow creative Summerlin moms are accomplishing what teenagers everywhere think is the impossible: being a mom and being cool.

Leaver's home is adorned with the newest trends in home decor. Retro, white chairs, reminiscent of the 1960s, surround the dining table. A vibrant colored, striped couch sits in the family room. Upstairs are Andy Warhol-sytle paintings of the family, made by Leaver herself.

Leaver's creativity and eye for trends didn't disappear when her kids came around, and she felt most Summerlin moms felt the same way. Six years ago, Leaver and her friend, Kirsten Cram, started The Girl Next Door: an exclusive show where local artists, mostly Summerlin moms, could sell their hand-made, trendy items. Although it started with jewelry, the show now includes stationary, bags, home decor, baby gifts and more.

Like craft shows, the items are one-of-a-kind, but unlike craft shows, the items sold must be approved by Leaver and must fit the theme of being "cool."

"Our style is a big part of the show," Leaver said. "Everything is handmade, tasteful, trendy and modern. It's hip."

The self-evident truths found on The Girl Next Door's Web site says it all:

"That the fabulous do live in suburbia,

That you can strut your stuff behind a shopping cart,

That a minivan mom can wear chic earrings,

And that dinner-and-a-movie can be a red carpet event."

Leaver said she loves it when moms who are busy, yet creative, participate in the show. With three kids of her own, including a pair of 4-year-old twins, Leaver jokingly says that creating things for the show is not just for fun, but necessary for her sanity.

"I've always needed that outlet — it gets a little crazy as a mom, but I realized I have to have this to give me balance, or I'll go crazy being a mom all day."

But staying sane and making money are not the purpose of the show. The purpose is to share.

"I like doing this to have others enjoy my stuff," she said. "The money doesn't really matter, I know I'm underpricing considering the time I put into it, but it's so fun sharing it with other people."

Two shows are put on a year, and if you don't show up within the first hour, the most popular items will be gone. During the May 29 spring show, more than 100 women came eager to buy.

"It's become a crazy thing," Leaver said. "At 6 p.m. there's a crowd waiting at the door. From 6 to 7, there's a huge rush, so if you don't come early, you miss a lot of stuff."

Most of the buyers are nearby Summerlin moms who heard about the event through word of mouth, Leaver said. The next show's date is Nov. 20 in a Summerlin home. For those interested in attending, visit the Web site at www.gndshow.com.

Jenny Davis can be reached at 990-8921 or jenny.davis@hbcpub.com.