How did Shirley Grand come about?
In March of 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic I realized that in order to stay sane, and not get bogged down in the apocalyptic feel of New York City, I decided to throw myself into a hobby that I had recently re-discovered about a year prior. In doing so, I started building up a stash of yarn and enough completed projects to open my own shop.
After weeks of doing nothing but binging a variety of streaming services and listening to about 2 dozen audiobooks while crocheting, I decided that the sane thing to do would be to start an Instagram account for my items so if someone liked them, I could sell them. While this was helpful in getting some of these items out of the pile that had slowly engulfed the area under the tv, it did not assist me in getting rid of even a fraction of the items that I had made.
 |
| A fraction of my stash |
Why is it named Shirley Grand?
Many years ago when I was a young lass, I spent one of my family vacations visiting my mom's aunt (my great aunt) just outside of Chicago. Aunt Shirley made crochet hair scrunches and they were the coolest! She taught me how to crochet and even gifted me with my first crochet hook, which I still have all these many years later.
After several years of hanging onto this crochet hook, and never really picking up the hobby, my Grams (Grandma Shirley) crocheted me a sweater, an afghan, and several other small items that she gifted me through the years.
These two women taught me how to make these amazing items, and how to gift them in the best way, with love. And I just think that's "SHIRLEY" a GRAND thing!
How can I get my hands on a Shirley Grand item?
I am so excited you want to know this answer! I do accept commissions (please see the commission page) and you are more than welcome to message me about any item you see on my Instagram or this site. I will do my best to keep the items on this site updated with what is available and take off the sold items as soon as possible. However, please send me a message or an email (or a dm if it's on social media) about possibly purchasing and arranging shipping or a hand-off. I must add that all items are one of a kind and often I do not have replicas because I do not have enough yarn to make multiples. That being said, I can absolutely attempt a custom order (again, see commissions).
 |
| Commissioned Baby Blanket + Tote Bag |
Can I see the items in person? I don't want to waste all this money and not like what I purchase.
YES! I completely understand! We've all been tricked by online shopping at one point or another. Either the measurements are off, or the color is weird, or something just doesn't translate from real life to our screens. I actually do most of my sales at local craft fairs in and around Great Falls, Montana. I will do my best to share what fairs I will be at on this site, but I would highly recommend checking out my Instagram or Facebook page for the most accurate and up-to-date info on where you can see these items yourself!
 |
| Indiemade Craft Market 2023 |
Wait, tell me about you!
Holy Moly! I haven't introduced myself!
My name is London and I grew up as an Air Force brat moving across country multiple times, spent my 20s living, working, and trying to "make it" in New York City as an actor/theater professional, and have decided to venture out to do new things. I ventured into the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania for a bit, and recently made the trek back to my hometown of Great Falls, MT where I plan to stay for the time being.
 |
| Enjoying a cozy beverage that sets off my crochet shawl oh so nicely! |
Crocheting is only one of my many hobbies (and some will say talents) and if you want to know more about those, feel free to check out my
Substack where I post fictional musings, memories, and the occasional revelation. Also, feel free to chat me up at a fair!
