Meet Sandra Rozsypal | Dreamcatcher Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sandra Rozsypal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sandra, why did you pursue a creative career?
I always wanted to bring Czech Traditions to the United States, so I started to bake Traditional Ginger bread cookies with traditional decorating. But I had difficult time with shipping, keeping it fresh and edible.

After a few other failures, my mom, Hana, came up with BRILLIANT IDEA: “Why don’t you sell dreamcatchers like me?” She inspired me. Crochet art is handed down in our family for generations, so it felt right. I didn’t have to invest a lot of money, but it took some time to keep it rolling.
One year later – December 2020 I came up with idea of creating custom DIY DREAMCATCHER Kits as Christmas presents. It was a big success! So what will I do next? I started my website, blog, new look of instagram – shared more personal stories about me, my family, process of designing, why it is more expensive than other dreamcachters you can find in retail stores…
So here I am, specializing in custom designs and event rentals.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Our dreamcatchers are inspired by Native American legend = which we adore and love. The biggest difference is that instead of putting a tradition web we fasten handmade crochet doilies. Our doilies are made of organic cotton which means it is not artificially bleached. So you may noticed that our doilies have an off-white color. Other materials we use are Earth Friendly, no plastic. I hand make clay beads, or we use glass or acrylic beads.

The most challenging part came when pandemic hit and I wasn’t able to visit them and vice versa. Because me and my mom live on different continents and we depend on postal services. I live in Westminster, Colorado and she lives in Ostrava, Czech Republic. With increase of postal services and craziness in the air, they lost many of packages with doilies that my mom handmade. It was very frustrating and heart breaking, because one doily may take up to 8 hours to crochet.

Last year was very difficult for all of us, but once we flipped the page and celebrated a New Year 2021, a lot of has changed. I believed in Chinese New Year of Ox. The year of the Metal Ox brings career advancement, success in business, prosperity, and wellness for all zodiac signs. So lately everything has been pretty simple and it feels like meant to be. My customers come back to me, word spreads quickly and I didn’t have to over come many issues, accept one = I don’t have enough doilies for custom designs 😀 Which is good problem to have. haha

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.
We always go to Boulder to show my friends or family a CU Campus. It means a lot to my husband, because he studied there and he knows a lot of the history. I love his stories from College even I know he doesn’t tell them all. haha. We always go to The Buff breakfast place also in Boulder. they serve the best breakfast burrito with and you may choose from $0.99 Bloody Marry or other cocktails. it is soooo goooood. After a good meal it is always time for good ice cream and espresso on Pearl Street. And shopping time! Where is the best place to purchase original handmade gifts other than Bliss Boulder?

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to thank my husband and his patience for my home decor collections; beads and strings are in every corner of the house, a glue gun and glue on everything and color all over the place. He knows that my passions change like the weather, but this one will probably last a little longer! So thank you for supporting my dreams, because I was BORN WITH DREAMS!!!

One of the most important women in my business career goes to Kate Martin Wehrly. She is also from the Czech Republic and great photographer. She helped me with my website, took the first professional photos of my dreamcatchers. She gave me so much emotional support and encouragement, I couldn’t even believe. She always gave me so much energy when I needed it the most. Thank you Kate, you are amazing woman and soul.

I also met Hannah on my first ever Wedding Photo Shoot in Colorado Springs and we clicked immediately. Hannah Elizabeth Wisely is an amazing make up and hair artist. She supports me and promotes me everywhere she goes, she is my emotional to go person, very honest and loyal friend, that is hard to find. Hannah and I have the same family beliefs and work ethic so we decided to start a small wedding collective to support start up businesses, owned by women (preferably moms). We want to help each other grow and be successful!

I met many great women in a last year and it is amazing to see the support and encouragement they give without asking for a favor. And it is also what I try to do.

Website: www.bornwithdreams.com

Instagram: born_with_dreams

Facebook: bornwitxhdreams

Other: www.etsy.com/shop/bornwithdreams

Image Credits
Photographer Valeria Moonch / Company Wild Wild Weddings https://www.wildwildweddings.com ig @wildwild_weddings Photographer Kate Martin LLC https://www.photographerkatemartin.com ig @katemartin259
Lyndsey Leach Photography – @lyndsayleachphotography