Meet Diana & Haley | Fiber Artists

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diana & Haley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diana & Haley, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We both enjoy crocheting as our hobby. Haley learned knitting from her Aunt but after watching YouTube tutorials about crocheting, taught herself to crochet and was hooked!. Diana started crocheting at the age of 8 after her grandmother taught her how to crochet her first beanie. Over the years, we have both improved our skills by using free patterns and looking through books. From there, it was trial and error. Haley has always had the idea of selling her items in the past but it was harder to commit to it alone. Diana on the other hand, had always had an entrepreneurship spirit and had sold some of her crafts in the past before moving to Colorado. We met each other here in Boulder and found out we shared this hobby which led to getting together at coffee shops to crochet for fun. One day we started talking about selling our products since we love crocheting but were running out of space to display our crafts at home. We were so excited about the idea and it snowballed from there. We came up with our name, designed the logo, filled up our inventory, and started looking into markets. The idea started in early October so we were targeting markets in December for the Christmas season. That was when we found the NoBo Art District First Friday Markets where we set up our first booth to sell our plushies. It has definitely been easier for both of us as we keep each other motivated. Currently we are still participating in a few First Friday Markets this year and working on looking for ways to expand and try to get personal requests.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
At You Make Me Plush, our handmade plushies are more than just charming keepsakes—they’re soft, huggable companions designed to bring comfort and a sense of calm. Whether displayed as whimsical decor or gifted to someone special, each plushie is created with intention: to remind people they are loved, seen, and valued. We carefully select soft yarns to make them extra cuddly and aim to give every piece a unique personality, turning each one into a warm, heartfelt friend.

For us, crocheting is more than a craft—it’s a deeply rooted passion that soothes the mind while offering creative challenges through new patterns and designs. Though navigating the world of local markets can be daunting at times, the encouragement we’ve received from our community has been a constant source of motivation and strength.

Running a small business often means facing vulnerability head-on. Putting our handmade art out into the world can feel exposing, but we’ve come to see risk as a gateway to growth. Each moment of uncertainty has taught us something new, and the joy our plushies bring to others reminds us why we started this journey in the first place. Every smile, every kind word, reaffirms that we’re creating something truly meaningful—one stitch at a time.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Activities:
Chautauqua Park & Flatirons (Haley’s favorite)
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Boulder Creek Path
Pearl Street Mall
Mount Sanitas Trail
NoBo Art District (Come see us at First Friday!)
Boulder Farmers Market (Diana’s favorite)

Coffee Shops
Cassiopeia Coffee (Diana’s favorite)
Skratch Labs Café
Suiti & Co. (Haley’s favorite)
Laughing Goat Coffee

Restaurants & Food Stops
The Buff
Rincon Argentino (Haley’s favorite)
The Sink
Blackbelly Market
Rosetta Hall
Zoe Ma Ma (Diana’s favorite)

Bars & Nightlife
The Bitter Bar
Rayback Collective

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We want to thank Amir, Haley’s husband, for providing many great ideas, helping us at each market, and for streamlining our operations throughout this endeavor. We also want shoutout Diana’s partner, Matt, for being a great emotional support system and for testing the cuteness level of every plushie. We have made it this far because of their support.

Website: https://msha.ke/youmakemeplush

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youmakemeplush