Mama’s Memories and Tot’s Treasures is a business that designs and creates handmade soft toys that have a sensory and educational purpose for babies and toddlers as they develop and learn through play. The business also turns babies and children’s outgrown clothing and precious items into keepsakes to cherish, such as soft animals and cushions. We currently sell via social media and the craft marketplace, Etsy. My business aims to grow online by having its own website within the next five years, attending large baby events in local areas and eventually outside of Leeds. I also want to see my toys being sold in stores that showcase handmade products.

Originally Danielle's Sock Animals, the business started of creating monkeys out of children's funky socks. Don't worry, they hadn't been worn! My love for sewing was found again whilst on maternity leave after having my first born, Stephen. I soon got bored of the monkeys though and the thought of having to CE test them terrified me.It all just came across as expensive and was too much to handle.
Danielle's Sock Animals then became Made For You, as I begun to create cushions, pillows and blankets. The business really began in late 2014, when my passion for sewing just kept growing. I returned to work, which meant that the business was slightly pushed aside and although I had many ideas and things I wanted to do, it just wasn't happening. I wasn't happy in my job, so I left and started a new one, only to find that the job wasn't the problem. The problem was that I just wanted to stay home and sew loads of lovely things.
In September 2015 enough was enough and I added my own name to my business name, becoming Danielle's Made For You and left my job to focus full-time on the business. It was then that my love for creating keepsake animals from children's clothing developed and I realised that I had made the perfect decision.
Then I got brave! I begun looking into the CE testing process, after a LOT of reading and learning about how much it would cost and how I could do it, I decided to begin making toys. In January 2016, the first CE tested toy was made, a personalised soft block. After that I did some research, gained many ideas and was testing new toys regularly, until June, when I decided that I really wanted to turn the business around.
I went and took the Exploring Enterprise course with The Prince's Trust and decided that a lot of changed needed to be made. I started researching, planning and saving money. Danielle's Made For You was over and in September 2016 Mama's Memories & Tot's Treasures (shortened down for Etsy) was born! A new name, a new look and loads of new toys. After many many months of 'I don't want to do this' and 'I can't do this', something just changed and my little business was finally the way I wanted it to be! This is where you are now...no more many changes and no more giving up. This is me, I am the 'Mama' creating Memories in those precious keepsakes and toys that your tot's will treasure.

New shop now open;
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DaniqueKeepsakes?ref=s2-header-shopname#