Liberty Twp. mom living her dream making teething jewelry

A Liberty Twp. mom and artist has unanimous five-star ratings from customers for her teething and “fidgeting” jewelry she creates and sells on the online marketplace Etsy.com.

Amy Schelfaut started selling her new line of products on the Internet in September and has sold about 165 items. The 2003 Ohio State University graduate, who has an art degree, has been making and selling jewelry for about a dozen years, but she just started making chewable bracelets and necklaces and soaps for children. She calls her company Calming Intentions.

“The teething jewelry, the mom wears it so when the baby is nursing it gives the baby something to focus on and touch,” she said. “And also when they start teething, it’s a great thing because this is all food-grade, it’s non-toxic. Also, when babies are little, they like to pull on things, they like to pull on your hair and your earrings, this gives them something to do.”

She has created necklaces with flower motifs in fun colors and beads of all shapes and sizes. She orders the beads and strings them in a little workshop she has set up in her home. She also makes “fidget” bracelets for kids who have trouble concentrating in schools.

“The fidget jewelry, this is for kids who have stress and anxiety,” she said. “They are sitting in school and they need something to fidget with, something to touch that’s going to calm them down and feel better.”

Heather Cameron, another Liberty Twp. resident, said they are not certain if their daughter has Tourette Syndrome but she definitely has “ticks” — voluntary or involuntary behaviors like constantly clearing one’s throat or sniffing — and Schelfaut’s fidget beads or sensory beads as she calls them are wonderful.

“With my daughter it helps with her ticks, but really a lot of kids can benefit from them, because it’s hard for a kid to just sit still and listen,” Cameron said. “So a lot of times if they are fidgeting or playing with something with their hands, it helps them focus on what the teacher is saying, because they are not thinking, ‘ooh I really need to move.’ ”

Schelfaut has also branched out into making kids soaps, in all kinds of shapes and colors, everything from hedgehogs to Lego mini-figures, that make hand washing fun.

Her price points start at $3.50 for kid friendly soaps up to $13 for the necklaces.

Schelfaut also teaches art one day a week at her daughter Megan’s preschool. She said Megan will be moving on to kindergarten next year, but she has been invited to keep her Doodle Sprouts art program at the Faith Community United Methodist Church Preschool. She hasn’t decided if she will stay at the preschool or move up to older children.

One thing she said she is sure about, she is ever grateful to her husband Tim for allowing her to live her dream.

“It’s partly thanks to my husband because I get to do my art business and do this. It definitely doesn’t make enough to pay the bills,” she said.

Schelfaut's products can be found at: www.etsy.com/shop/CalmingIntentions

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