We are the Gardiner Girls—Laura, and daughters Riley and Tessa—and we founded Daisy Designs, named after our beloved Havanese puppy.  

     

Our journey began five years ago, during the pandemic, when we started crafting jewelry as a way to stay connected and pass the time. We had the supplies and know-how to get started from Laura’s small jewelry business years prior. What began as a hobby quickly turned into a way to share our creations, and we began gifting our pieces to family and friends. Soon, we realized we could sell them locally, both for extra income and as a way to hone our business skills.  

     

With that in mind, we applied to be vendors at the Winnetka Farmers Market—and were thrilled when we were accepted! That first summer, we quickly saw how much our customers appreciated our work, and how unique our brand was in the local community. Our pieces have a special appeal, resonating with people of all ages—from young kids to grandparents—and we have loved seeing how our jewelry brings people together. From there, we expanded to Instagram and participated in holiday markets hosted by local clubs, churches, and more. Both Riley and Tessa, who have gone to New Trier High School, even advocated for our jewelry to be sold at the One Stop Trev Shop at their school.

     

Running Daisy Designs has been a labor of love. From designing and crafting each piece, to photographing jewelry for social media and to getting up early for farmers market days, we have learned more than we could ever have imagined. We have also gained valuable experience managing the financial side of the business. It has been a rewarding challenge, and we are grateful for the skills that we have developed along the way. We are still learning every day what it takes to run a small business—but we have already learned that with passion and perseverance, high school students can make it happen.

     

Our small business has grown steadily, gaining recognition from friends, family, and even strangers in the North Shore area.  From this success and from the requests of our customers, we are eager to take our jewelry beyond our local community and create this website. We are incredibly proud of what our business has become and hope our customers feel inspired from our brand.