06/23/2026
10 years ago today I opened the doors to Half Mile Handmade for the first time! I remember pushing to open on this particular day because Bay City was hosting River Roar that upcoming weekend and I wanted to try and catch all the visitors I could!
If you zoom in on the page with the newspaper article you can see that there was barely anything on the walls of the shop, just shelves running down the middle and a very small card area on the back wall. It is wild for me to look back and see the very modest beginnings compared to what I was working with at the end.
None of this would have been possible without all the makers who trusted me to showcase and sell their work. I saved every single note you ever sent or gave me, it was truly a pleasure to work with each and every one of you! It is still one of my greatest joys to witness all of the beautiful things that people make with their own two hands, and I am grateful for social media that allows me to see what you all are up to!
My dreams could have never come true without support from everyone who ever manned the shop, friends, and family too - especially my dad. He built every display piece I ever asked for, installed it, moved it two streets over (and to/from City Market), reinstalled it a second time 😂🙈, and was there when the time came to tear it all down for good. My hero!
If you’ve read this far, my birthday gift to you is a 10% off coupon to use online. Just put in the code 10YEARS when you checkout. I am looking forward to packaging and shipping all of your orders with love and gratitude 💚 www.halfmilehandmade.com