Our Story, Mission, and Team

Our Story

We were truly blessed to have had an amazing influence in our lives, Dolly, my Grammy. She was one of those people who treated each and every person in her life as a gift. She was supportive, caring, smart, and fun. When she became ill with Alzheimer's, the entire family (all her children and grandchildren) worked together to care for her. When she passed away, she left a hole in our family that we try to fill by following her example.

That Christmas, we gave all the members of the family angel ornaments created from her favorite red and white pjs. Since we had all helped care for her, everyone recognized the fabric. Decorating the tree at Christmas had always been a family affair with Grammy and now, each year, when that special ornament is hung, we smile and remember the joy she brought to our lives.

Our Mission

What's in a name? Since the beginning of Once Upon a Time Creation, we have been creating new things from old. Sometimes it wasn't obvious how life stated for our creations, so our tags read "Once Upon a Time, I was a ..." As all things do, our business has evolved into custom creations made just for you. We believe our name holds a new meaning as every piece we create tells a story. What story will your creation tell? Your childhood journey? Your love story? The history of a lost loved one?

Our mission is to help you celebrate memories in a new way. You save clothes for a reason, they hold special memories for you. They are not meant to be stuck in storage. They are meant to be enjoyed every day in a meaningful way that brings a smile to your face and warmth to your heart. The possibilities are endless and we love the whole process...getting to know you, designing each piece, and sharing your memories.

Our Team

Doris and Jen are the mother daughter team that founded Once Upon a Time Creation to build on their love of repurposing, family, and memories.

Jen is the one you will speak to when you call or come in for your consultation. She also preps and coordinates your project, shares our work on social media, sews whenever possible, and keeps the business humming. Jen loves spending time with her husband Chris, her two kids (living in Philly and Nashville), and furry friends, PJ and Jefferson.

Doris is a master with a sewing machine and utilizes her innate talent for style and design to create keepsakes you will love. She is a devoted wife to Gordon, mother to three grown children, George (the pup), and grandmother to four children and five fur grand babies.

Kim joined our team because she loves to sew and create. Her passion shines through in every stitch as she treats each project as her own.

When not with us in the shop, Kim can be found hanging out with her dog, Lucky, and husband, Dave. She is the loving mother of three grown children.

Jeannine is the newest member of our team and has a background in fashion design. We are so excited that she is sharing her talents with us.

Outside of the studio, Jeannine loves hiking, leading a Girl Scout troop, and most importantly being Mom to two teenage girls. The girls’ dance and sports schedules keep her and her husband, Mike, busy when she’s not in the studio creating your keepsakes.

We are expanding our team! If you live near Malvern, PA, have a love of sewing, and a desire to help others preserve their memories, please email jen@onceuponatimecreation.com.