Our Starter Company Plus program is funded by the Ontario Government and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, grow, or buy a business. Participants receive mentorship from experienced business professionals, valuable training and networking, and the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in micro-grant funding.
The Small Business Centre team is excited to share the companies they had the chance to work with this past spring.
Meet Sabrina and Hearts and Crafts
Sabrina and Hearts and Crafts Fashion Art Studio offers art and fashion design programs for children and youth, as well as sewing classes for adults. Their programs help kids build confidence and creativity by meeting them where they are developmentally, emotionally, and artistically. Unique to the region, Hearts and Crafts takes students through the entire fashion design process; from sketching and pattern drafting to sewing and showcasing their work in a year-end fashion and art show, all while emphasizing sustainability through recycled and repurposed materials. Drawing on Sabrina’s lifelong passions for teaching and creativity, the studio is rooted in inclusivity and heart-first values. Looking ahead, Hearts and Crafts is expanding into collaborations with local partners, exploring full summer camp programming, and creating even more opportunities for children to explore and express themselves through art and fashion.
Interview with Sabrina
1. What inspired you to start your business?
I’ve always been a teacher. That’s been at the core of who I am for as long as I can remember! At the same time, I’ve always been really creative. At one point I even wanted to go into fashion design, and while I didn’t follow that exact path, I taught myself through books, practice, and from others who were self-taught too. For years, I dreamed of finding a way to combine those two passions—teaching and fashion design, along with art. Opening my own studio became the way to bridge them, and to bring that combination to young children in a way that’s both creative and confidence-building.
2. What services/products do you offer?
We offer quite a lot! For kids ages 4 to 14, we have art programs that run during the school year, including drop-in art classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. We also run specialty art classes and art-and-fashion workshops throughout the year. On the fashion side, we have programs for our “minis” (the little ones learning to sew), as well as fashion design classes for ages 7 to 16. Those classes take them through everything from the basics of sewing to designing collections. We also offer adult learn-to-sew classes, which are really fun. Looking ahead, I tested out a one-week summer camp this year, with the plan to launch a full summer camp program next year.
3. What makes your business unique?
The biggest thing is how individualized our approach is. I don’t use a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Instead, I meet each child where they are developmentally, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. Every class is shaped around that, so every student essentially has their own personalized lesson plan. That makes it really inclusive, because students with different needs or special needs are able to participate fully at the level that’s right for them.
Another unique piece is the fashion design program itself. There are plenty of art studios in Simcoe County, but I don’t know anyone else offering fashion design for young children. And we go from sketching designs and creating mood boards, to learning about fabrics, drafting patterns, and then producing full garments! The process ends with a big year-end fashion show, which this year we combined with our art students to create a full fashion-and-art showcase.
Sustainability is also a huge value for us. We reuse and recycle materials as much as possible, and I teach the kids to see how something old can be transformed into something new. It’s about creativity, but also about being resourceful and thoughtful. And finally, having a qualified special needs teacher leading the program adds another layer of inclusivity that’s not common in every art or fashion program.
4. How did you come up with your business name?
My daughter came up with it! She’s kind of my little helper in the business. The name Hearts and Crafts just felt right because it reflects what we do in so many ways. On the one hand, we’re a family of crafters, and crafting is a big part of the art side of our programming. And on the other hand, everything we do is through a “heart-first” lens. Inclusion and kindness are central to the way I teach, and I always think: how would I want to be treated, or how would I want to be taught? Every student is capable and has value, and that’s the lens we bring to everything in the studio.
5. What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself through your entrepreneurial journey so far?
I’ve learned not to be afraid. For a long time, fear held me back, even though I’ve always had big visions for where this business could go. I have so much passion for working with kids and helping them build confidence through creativity, but I doubted whether I could really make it work. Through this journey, I’ve realized I already had strong roots. I just didn’t always see them.
It’s like planting a tree. For a long time, you don’t see the branches or the leaves, but all that time the roots are growing strong underground. And that’s what I learned I’ve been doing! Building a foundation with the support of mentors, my community, and my own persistence. Now I feel like I’m finally ready to grow above the surface, to let people see all the work that’s been happening, and to step forward with more confidence.
6. If you could offer one piece of advice to others thinking of starting their own businesses, what would it be?
Believe in yourself and what you have to offer. I don’t think anyone becomes an entrepreneur without having a dream and something special inside them that they want to share. If you feel called to start a business, that means you already have something people will need and want. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about trusting the process, believing that your gift is valuable, and knowing that there’s a place for what you bring.
7. What is a dream opportunity or collaboration you’d love to have come your way?
There are so many things I’d love to do, but I’m especially excited about some collaborations I’ve started recently. For example, we’re working with Symbols and Things, a clothing shop here in Orillia. They’ve always been so supportive, and it felt natural to partner on a workshop that combines building and fashion.
Another dream project I’m working on is with the Orillia Music Centre, which is already a studio partner. Some of my students take music there, and we thought it would be incredible if they wrote and recorded their own songs to be played during their fashion show. That way, they’re not just designing the clothing, but also creating the music and the entire atmosphere of the event. I’d also love to help kids start printing their own fabrics with their own artwork. For me, the dream collaborations are about giving kids even more opportunities to create something fully their own, from start to finish.
8. What did you hope to achieve from the Starter Company Plus program?
As someone without formal business training, I wanted to gain confidence on that side of things. I know how to teach and build curriculum, but business strategy was new territory. The program really gave me confidence—not just with business development, but also in connecting back to my purpose—and gave me tools like understanding my ideal customer.
One of the most impactful guest speakers for me was Amanada Wilson-Ciocci. Her talk especially helped me align my work with my “why,” and through the exercises in her book, I even came up with a tagline for my business: “Where creativity flows and confidence grows.” Now I feel empowered to fully own and share that purpose.
This program helped me refine my vision, recognize that I was already doing so much, and gave me the courage to step into owning it fully. I came away not just more informed, but more excited and confident about what I’m building.
Explore Hearts and Crafts Today
To learn more about Sabrina and Hearts and Crafts, you can head to heartsandcraftsstudios.com. Follow Hearts and Crafts on Instagram (@heartsandcraftsstudios) to stay informed about their services.
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Learn More About the Starter Company Plus Program
To learn more about the Starter Company Plus program, reach out to the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County & Orillia today at smallbusiness@barrie.ca or 705-720-2445, or visit the program info page.