Oakley and Vonnie
OAKLEY'S ULTIMATE MINKY
Meet Oakley. She is so excited to embark on this journey. She is pictured here with Vonnie. Oakley's "fun grandma", Ellen Schreder, met Vonnie years ago. Vonnie and Ellen's shared love of sewing caused them to cross paths again. Ultimate Minky was born of Vonnie's love of sewing and her love of the softest of fabrics. Ultimate Minky was Vonnie's "baby". So here is baby Oakley ready to carry on in the minky business. Oakley's mama and Ellen's daughter, Lizzie, is a seamstress as well. Vonnie, your baby, Ultimate Minky, is in good hands and will live on for many years.
The following entries were made by Vonnie Folsom who created Ultimate Minky Pillowcases:
1/1/2019
Ultimate Minky Pillowcases is in transition. A retirement hobby grew into a business that became my life's priority. Life is now requiring that I retire. We are seeking a buyer so this wonderful product can continue to bless the world!
~~~
1/1/2016
I LOVE soft fabrics! Years ago I told my kids that when I get old and senile, they should give me a piece of velvet, put me in a corner, and I wouldn't bother anyone. Since Minky fabric has entered my life, I don't have time to bother them at all!
When I retired from my career as an admin/legal secretary, I began sewing purses, chenille hotpads, quilted vests, decorator pillows, embroidery runners, etc. to sell at arts and crafts fairs. I quickly learned that shoppers wanted my creations in colors and sizes other than what I had so although it kept me busy, I wasn't selling a lot.
In 2012, I bought and slept on a Minky pillowcase and it was like sleeping on a cloud! The fabric is so luxuriously soft and comforting I wanted to hug it all night! The surprise was that I didn’t wake up to flip my pillow because it wasn’t warm - and I woke more rested and relaxed because my sleep wasn’t being interrupted - and a bonus was that I wasn’t spending as much time in front of the mirror in the morning as my hair was suddenly “brush and run”! I was loving my new pillowcase and I wanted everyone to experience sleeping on Minky so naturally, I needed to see if others agreed.
My husband, Dave, and I did the math, I got some fabric samples, made a plan and started sewing up a storm - and did the fuzz ever fly around here! Minky is an interesting "animal" to sew but customers were so happy with the product and I was having such fun choosing fabrics (it's sort of addicting). Soon friends and family were encouraging me and we knew this was going to be a business. In 2012 Minky Pillow Cases by Vonnie Rae was launched and I've been very busy ordering fabric, sewing, selling in five states at arts and crafts shows, seasonal boutiques, through magazine and newspaper advertising, and our website has been successful too. At shows I am known as "The Pillowcase Lady" and "The Minky Lady" and that makes me smile.
As the business has grown I have had to hire help to meet the demand for these luxurious, yet practical pillowcases.
We are grateful to God and to our wonderful customers for the amazing growth and success of our business - and with just one product. In 2016 we realized it was time for a new look so we launched our new name Ultimate Minky Pillowcases and website UltimateMinky.com.
In 2016 we added travel size and in 2017 we added king size in six colors.
I love my business because of the wonderful feedback customers share (Testimonials) about why they love sleeping on Minky and the joy they get from gifting them – it’s a product that loves to be shared. Seeing and hearing them tell me that not only are Ultimate Minky Pillowcases comfortable, they improve sleep despite the type of pillow they sleep on.