'Crafting is my therapy': Cork mum gearing up for busy season

Alex Foley is very enthusiastic about his mum’s thriving business.

“Why don’t you open a shop, mum? I can help out!” he says.

Laurane Foley’s other children, Lauren, Harry, Ryan and Jacob, aren’t as keen .

“The kids told me, ‘Please don’t go on TikTok!” says Laurane, laughing.

She runs With Love From Laurane, making personalised gifts and party banners. She can literally personalise anything.

How or why did Laurane take the plunge and set up her own business operating from her home in Midleton?

“Alex, 14, has cerebral palsy, and I cannot work outside the home due to the constant appointments he attends. I always take him to those myself,” she explains.

She and her husband Patrick, along with family, friends and the community, successfully fund-raised for Alex to travel to the Children’s Hospital at St Louis, Missouri for FDR (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy) surgery in 2015.

“We are really grateful to those who helped Alex get his surgery at the time in his life when it could be most effective,” says Laurane.

“They helped him fulfil his wish to walk. People were so good who fundraised and donated for his wheelchairs,” says Laurane.

“€84,000 was raised in less than a year.”

The people from Midleton and the staff of the ESB were hugely ive.

Alex has returned to St Louis for further surgery since 2015 and for check-ups to monitor his progress.

“Sadly, Doctor T.S. Parks, who performed Alex’s surgery ed away,” says Laurane. “He had done 5,323 surgeries all over the world; a brilliant man.”

Alex, who attends the School of the Divine Child in Ballintemple, is now doing brilliantly.

“Post-op, we bought all the equipment to do Alex’s therapies at home,” says Laurane.

“We got trained up to use the equipment.”

Alex progressed and thrived.

“Life changed for all seven of us when Alex was able to walk. Before Alex had surgery, he could only commando crawl and he would get frustrated,” Laurane says.

“Now he can walk, and he uses a wheelchair for distance.”

Alex has a full schedule all week.

“He has five to six days of activities and therapies,” says Laurane.

Alex is a busy boy.

“He does gym work, strength and conditioning,” says Laurane.

“On Tuesdays he has massage at home. He is free Wednesdays. Thursday, he goes for physiotherapy and on Friday he goes to Sarah for horse therapy called free rein therapy. There is a lot of driving involved!”

Alex is a typical teenager.

“On Saturdays, he loves going to the youth club at the Crann Centre, Ballincollig,” says Laurane.

What else does Alex love to do?

“He is a real chatterbox!” says Laurane. “He loves cooking.”

He loved his nan.

“My mam ed away six years ago,” says Laurane. “Alex loved his nan, and she loved him and his sunny personality.”

Setting up the business 

Alex’s mum loves crafting and now she has a successful business up and running.

“I began making things for people as a hobby,” says Laurane.

Good news travels fast.

“My personalised gifts became more popular, and I got busier,” she says.

“I officially ed the business in 2021, and I ed with the HSE, providing personalised chocolate bars and other treats.

“I started off with a table at Market Green, Midleton, selling my personalised gifts; but I found one table wasn’t enough. Now I work from my little studio in my back garden.”

What does Laurane like about crafting unique personalised gifts for people?

“I love crafting,” she says. “I put my heart and soul into it.”

Laurane indulges in her own personal therapy.

“It helps me switch off. Crafting is my therapy, and I would do it all day if I could and if I had more time.”

When can Laurane spend time in her studio creating wonderful things?

“When the kids are at school; I can get down to working,” she says. “I grab time whenever I can.”

She has a neat workshop.

“There are an incredible number of machines in my little studio!” says Laurane.

“The machines consist of three types, sublimation, laser, and printing with heat. Alex loves turning on the laser machine for me!”

Then the magic happens.

“The personalised mugs are the most popular item I make,” says Laurane.

“My memorial pieces, clocks, and teddy bears for special occasions are selling well. I have a loyal customer base here in Midleton.

“My customers come back again and again which makes me really happy,” says Laurane. “The repeat business is great.”

She is a serious businesswoman.

“I do everything,” says Laurane. “I do the sourcing, the making, even the packaging. Coming up to Christmas is a very busy time.”

Laurane is astute.

“As yet, I have incurred no loans,” says Laurane.

Nor has she yet taken a wage for herself.

“It was important to get everything set up and then make money,” says Laurane.

Her work/life balancer makes makes sense.

“I feel many people who have children like Alex feel they are forced to end their work life when they have a child with additional needs. But they don’t.”

'Crafting is my switch-off'

Laurane is a doer who sees no obstacles in life.

“I still felt after completing and doing many workshops and courses such as the Wren programme with Secad, and Start Your Own Business with Leo, that maybe I couldn’t do it.”

But she did.

“I won an award in 2022 when I was awarded the Best Personalised Gift maker in Munster in the Irish Enterprise Awards.”

From small acorns, oak trees grow.

“Small businesses working from home can work and people can still take care of their children with additional needs while also taking care of their own mental health,” says Laurane.

“Crafting is my switch off and I absolutely love what I do.”

Alex loves what she does.

“He likes pitching in,” says Laurane.

Patrick, who is very ive and proud of his wife’s successful business has only one reservation. He doesn’t see much of Laurane when her busy period kicks in.

“In November, I say goodbye to Patrick until early January,” says Laurane, laughing.

See With Love From Laurane on facebook/Instagram.

Call Laurane on: 087-7989853