Two stay-at-moms are really in the swing of things as they sling their wares in downtown Rochester.
Melanie Crum and Kate Thompson-Jewell of Rochester make and sell colorful baby slings and other helpful family accessories through their business, KaMela Creations.
This is the pair's fourth season selling slings and things at the weekly Thursdays on First & Third street festival.
It started with slings they created to carry their own babies about five years ago.
"People kept asking, where'd you get your sling?," says Thompson-Jewell. "Then we started making them for other people and it just took off from there."
ADVERTISEMENT
Now KaMela Creations have expanded beyond slings.
Their booth at Thursdays on First also has car seat covers, draw-string bags that toddlers can carry, reusable snack bags, fleece baby booties and "Boo-boo Buddies" to hold ice on bumps and bruises.
"We do really well out here," says Crum as she looks around at a recent Thursdays on First crowd. "It really gets good for us in the evening."
Thompson-Jewell and Crum do not set up every Thursday. The next time to catch them downtown will be July 8. Look for the sling booth on First Avenue Southwest near Newt's.
Being a vendor downtown has a side benefit beyond selling their creations.
"It is a chance for us to get out of the house," says Crum with a chuckle.
KaMela Creations is one of more than 100 craft and food vendors at the weekly Thursdays on First & Third street fair from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. each Thursday through Sept. 2.
