Erica and I have teamed up for a fun event on Saturday, Oct. 13. Read on to learn more, and keep scrolling for a Q&A with Erica! When I was in preschool, my best friend had the coolest toys. Every time I played at her house, I made sure the butterfly finger puppets and her unicorn coloring book made an appearance. To me, they were so special and whimsical, and I didn't have anything like them (until I asked for the same finger puppets for my birthday). So where did these toys come from? Imagination Station, located back then at Towers Shopping Center. When the store reopened in October 2015 in the Grandin Village, Erica Sipes took over and quickly became known as "The Toy Lady." Today that same feeling of whimsy still lives in the store, which is located in a house-turned-shop on Grandin Road. From the fairy lights strung along the ceiling to the unique selection of carefully chosen toys, it's a cozy, magical place for all ages. Recently, I've had the pleasure of getting to know Erica, and she and I have partnered up for a fun event happening at the store on Saturday, Oct. 13. The author and one of the illustrators (both Roanokers!) of the children's book "Thanks, You're Awesome!" will be at store. This beautifully written book teaches everyone about the importance of being a kind, positive person. I will also be there helping parents get to know a little about my business and passing along my own random act of kindness :) I see a lot of similarities in how Erica and I run our businesses. We love meeting families, learning about them in order to make the best recommendations, and we're both passionate about providing the most well-rounded, start-to-finish customer/client experience. Now learn a little about Erica, Roanoke's very own Toy Lady! Laura: What do you love most about being The Toy Lady? Erica: People. I love being around people of all ages all the time and watching families interact in the store. I always thought I was an introvert, but working at Imagination Station has proven me wrong. Laura: What's one thing people might not realize about running a toy shop? Erica: How challenging it actually is to decide on what to buy for the store and to make it all happen. I think a lot of people assume we just go to one or two companies, place an order, and it arrives! But we actually order from at least 40 different companies at any given time, and each company works differently. It's a lot to keep track of, but of course, it's also a great challenge. Laura: What kind of experience will customers get from Imagination Station that they can't get other places? Erica: Early on, one of our customers remarked that we are a curated toy store. I love that, because that's what we strive to be. We know that a lot of our customers feel completely bewildered about what to buy for their grandchildren, relatives, or friends' children. Every day, we hear people say, "They already have so much!" and we understand that. We try to carry toys that you won't be able to buy at big-box stores, and we try to know as much as possible about every item that's on our shelves. We also offer a safe space for children and their families or caregivers to interact. I think a lot of families dread going out shopping to normal stores because of the chaos that can ensue, but folks quickly come to realize that we're not that type of store. Last but not least, we offer complimentary gift-wrapping. It's a very popular service of ours, especially during the holiday season and when someone is late to a birthday party. Laura: What was your favorite toy as a child? Erica: My mom had the most amazing dollhouse that she completely decorated with wallpaper in all the different rooms, furniture, little accessories ... I spent many, many hours playing with it and had fun choosing items to add to it through the years. Laura: What's one thing most people don't know about you? Erica: I think the cat's pretty much out of the bag now, but I consider myself first and foremost a professional pianist. I've been playing for 40 years and still love to perform and work with other musicians. Laura: What's your favorite thing about the Grandin Village? Erica: The wonderful combination of businesses right in the middle of residential neighborhoods. I couldn't have dreamed of a better situation! I love that middle-schoolers will stop by on their way home from school just to say hi and see what's new in the store. I love that families will come to story time in their ballet outfits right after ballet class down the street. I love being able to take a break from work to walk around the neighborhood. I also love being able to take care of most of my shopping in the Village. Clothes, books, food — it's all here. Laura: Who inspires you? Erica: I probably wouldn't have said this a year ago, but I just saw the documentary about Mr. Rogers (at the Grandin Theatre, of course!), so right now he is who inspires me. Especially now that I'm a toy lady, I love to see if I can find the spark in each of our customers — the spark that makes each person unique and special. Even if a kid is a bit of a tornado in the store, and I feel a little harried after he or she leaves, I'm inspired to see the amazing potential and energy that the child has. Mr. Rogers also reminded me of the value of silence. In a toy store, believe it or not, there is room for that silence. Yes, children can be loud and crazy, but a lot of the time, when they are fully immersed in the world of imagination, it's pretty amazing how silent they can be. It's a beautiful place, and I can't help but smile when I spot it. Laura: What does a typical day off look like for you? Erica: I'm a musician, mom, and a wife in addition to being a toy lady, so I don't typically have a day off. But when I do, I can often be found playing the piano for my own enjoyment, reading a book, putting together a puzzle, or chatting with my friends on Twitter. The top 5 toy best-sellers
Laura Richards is a family, newborn and maternity photographer serving the Roanoke Valley. She specializes in authentic, feel-good photographer that tells "the story of you" for decades. Learn all about what makes her different from other photographers here.
0 Comments
I recently heard a fellow photographer say, "Storytelling photography is giving a gift to your family they don't even know they need." As soon as I heard that, I thought of these two sessions, shot in June and July at my client's "forever home" in New Castle, Virginia. Now, while I try to make sure all my sessions tell a story and capture their season of life, these particular sessions take that to another level. They are a true depiction of life at their home, their adventurous little boy and three generations of love. For our first session, I knew they were a little nervous about having a photographer in their home. Anyone would be. But by the time we headed outside to their beautiful little creek oasis, I think everyone felt more comfortable. This family is definitely in their element when they're outside! They're so present, and that's so refreshing to see. For our second documentary session, Jackie's dad, sister and niece were in town. I loved this opportunity to capture a different family dynamic, and I especially love the little moments between Bowman and his grandpa. Jackie, thank you so much for inviting me into your home — and your life — and trusting me to capture beautiful, real moments. Thank you for understanding that the small moments are actually the big ones. Thank you for being such a kind, wonderful person and momma! ”Our pictures are perfect. A true reflection of our life. A handful of moments and beautiful memories to last a lifetime. I just cannot get enough of these pictures! I keep finding myself looking at them over and over again, finding little details in each of them that I adore. They truly tell a story of us, little moments that we share with each other every single day that are really the core of life.” Laura Richards is a family, newborn and maternity photographer serving the Roanoke Valley. She specializes in authentic, feel-good photographer that tells "the story of you" for decades. Learn all about what makes her different from other photographers here.
I'm blogging this a little out of order, since I posted their Fresh 48 newborn session a couple of weeks ago, but their maternity photos are just too pretty not to share! When Heather got out of the car for our evening session in Roanoke County, I couldn't believe how gorgeous she looked in her light-blue maxi. It was perfect for her, and it looked stunning against the green and golden-yellow backdrop. And of course, her boys looked handsome in their complimentary blue plaids :) I had so much fun capturing this time in their lives, focusing on special moments between just Heather and Zach, and as a not-for-long family of three! I love these highlights so much, and their session even inspired me to write a post all about how to treat yourself before your upcoming photos! Laura Richards is a family, newborn and maternity photographer serving the Roanoke Valley. She specializes in authentic, feel-good photography that tells "the story of you" for decades. Learn what makes her different from other photographers in the area here.
I feel very old saying this, but I have known Brittany for more than 20 years! 20 YEARS! We met somewhere around 1995, in our Kindergarten class at Clearbrook Elementary School. Back in our day (OK, wow), there were fewer than 100 kids at our whole school, so we were always in the same class. Through school events, birthday parties and field trips, Brittany and I watched each other grow up. Fast forward through middle and high schools (we also went to those same schools!), college and weddings, we both found out we were pregnant around the same time. She and her husband Taylor were living out-of-state at the time, but returned home to Roanoke just before their daughter Emma's first birthday. I was so excited I got to be a small part of this big milestone, and to do some catching up with Brittany. Emma is one of the sweetest little girls I've ever met. She's so expressive, has the prettiest brown eyes, eats birthday cake like a champ and even shares with her doggie! I was so impressed at how well she was walking (basically running!) at our photo session. She was a girl on a mission for sure! Brittany and Taylor, thank you so much for allowing me to capture your family during such a fun time of your lives! She did such an amazing job! Our daughter was quite grumpy that afternoon, but you would never know that from the amazing pictures she took! They turned out great, I will most certainly be using Laura for future photo shoots! She is very easy-going and laid back, and she did great [with] Emma and captured all the best moments on her special day. Laura Richards is a family, newborn and maternity photographer serving the Roanoke Valley. She specializes in authentic, feel-good photography that tells "the story of you" for decades. Learn what sets her apart from other photographers in the area here.
Here's a family that really means a lot to me. They were one of my first "official" clients when I launched LRP in 2016 and have stuck with me through lots of growth (mine and theirs!). Our first session together was a 1-year-old session for their son Harrison, and recently, I was able to document Heather's maternity (see a couple from that session) and their new son Graham just hours after his birth. The joy of being a small part of my client's lives and capturing their unforgettable milestones has been such a beautifully unexpected aspect of my career. Zach and Heather, thank you so much for inviting me into your lives once again. It is always such an honor, and your appreciation of my photography does not go unnoticed. Laura Richards is a natural-light family, newborn and maternity photographer in Roanoke, Virginia. She specializes in turning her clients' images into heirloom-worthy albums, wall art, folios and fine art prints. Read the top 7 reasons for hiring her for your next photo session.
|
Hello!Welcome to the blog! I'm Laura, and I specialize in authentic, natural-light photography and heirloom print art. Hope you'll explore my little online home and reach out if you have any questions! Archives
March 2023
Categories
All
|