LT Designs grows from hobby to family business

by Tina Cole-Mullins

LT (Little Touches) Designs is an upcoming business that crafts custom designs into a variety of items – signs, shirts, mugs, tumblers, sippy cups for babies and even personalized charging ports for electronic devices. The business now brightens a storefront at 123 Main St. in downtown Stockbridge.

The small family business includes mom Lesley Wadkins, children Tyler Gipson, Brooke (Gipson) Hart and Tylee Gipson, and Lesley’s husband Al Wadkins.

LT Designs has been in business just more than a year, recently expanding to include weekly live do-it-yourself crafting parties at 9 p.m. Fridays via Facebook. In that short time, the business has gained followers and crafters from across the country.

According to Lesley, the business started last October, with a “brilliant, yet risky idea.”
Family members had been posting some things they were making as a hobby for family and friends.

“As we were posting some of our stuff, our friends, and even people that we barely knew asked us to make it for them,” she said.

Once the business idea took off, “we got our brains together and started to brainstorm, then we got to work,” Lesley continued.

The family made a logo and started learning the Cricut machine. They also added a Glowforge laser machine that Al Wadkins and the others use to create their wood designs for the ready-made crafts and DIY craft kits.

“We have also learned to engrave, score, burn, and cut. (We’re) making ornaments, tumblers, mugs, signs, shirts, and anything else you can think of,” Lesley said.

Each sibling plays an active part in the business. Tylee, the youngest and a senior at Stockbridge High School is 17 and does the Facebook live DIY party tutorials and makes the  tumblers. Tyler is the tech guy, does some live feeds and cuts designs. Brooke, the oldest of the trio, is married with her own young children. She helps cut the designs, does some live DIY feeds and hosts the craft fairs around the state.

Live DIY events and parties will be hosted at the store. You can purchase the DIY kit and join other guests in crafting it, while in a relaxed adult social setting.

Once each month, the business will hold a craft day at the store with light snacks. Guests will be able to choose from four or five options based on a theme, for $30, or customized for $35. The next craft day will be at 5 p.m. Feb. 19 at the store within the Foxy Rebels store. Message or join the Facebook group at LT Designs or contact Lesley Wadkins for information.

LT Designs also focuses on family time. It offers DIY craft kits for kids, hosts craft parties for kids, birthday parties and even bridal parties.

LT Designs merchandise can be purchased locally at the downtown store and online through the Etsy store Little Touches Finds.

Store hours will be posted on its Facebook page LT Designs. Items also can be purchased during store hours of the Foxy Rebels discount store, whether LT Designs is there or not. Typical store hours at Foxy Rebels is noon to 5 weekdays, with adjustments for special events. Further information can be found its Facebook page.

An official grand opening for both businesses at 123 W. Main St. will be held at a future date.

Author’s Note: Follow us next month for a feature on the Foxy Rebels, another new brick-and- mortar business opening and filling a storefront in downtown Stockbridge.

Merchandise that can be found at the store and on the LT Designs website. Photo provided by LT Designs

DIY Craft Kit – Seasonal Gnome sign. Photo from LT Designs Facebook page

DIY Craft Kit – Tier tray decorations. Photo from LT Designs Facebook page