Ellen’s Story

If you made it this far, you must want to know more about me. Since we’re all busy chasing our tails, so to speak, here’s the Reader’s Digest version of my life:

In a Nutshell: I’m the proverbial soccer mom with two kids, ages 11 and 13, and a household of pets, including two large (and I do mean large) guinea pigs, a yellow lab named Jasmine and Kit Kat, our wily tomcat who occasionally brings us live gifts from the garden. Recently, we adopted a new puppy named Scamp...life is never dull around here! We live in Webster Groves, Missouri, an older suburb of St. Louis, where my husband runs his pet-related business, Fetch! Pet Care.

College & Career: I have three different degrees (journalism, teaching and horticulture) and frequently take advantage of whatever entrepreneurial adventure falls in my path. I taught high school and college English for several years, owned a graphic design business (still do) and published a local magazine during the '90s. In spring and summer, I also do garden consulting/landscape design.

Crafty Beginnings: Remember that kitschy plastic needlepointing that everyone was doing in the 70s and 80s? I must have needlepointed dozens of those Hershey’s Kiss ornaments in high school, thus triggering my love affair with crafts. (Though I’m embarrassed to admit it, we still hang them on our Christmas tree every year…my kids love them, what can I say?)

A Few of My Favorite Things: Plants (don’t get my husband started about the dozens of tropical pots we drag inside for overwintering each year); anything vintage from century-old postcards to my grandmother’s Depression Fiestaware; magazines/books; and, of course, dogs and cats.

Greatest Achievement: Adopting our two awesome kids, Alex and Elena, from Russia. I truly believe we were all meant to be together! Ellen Mrazek