Do you know of any shops that are owned by folks with a debilitating chronic illness or disability? Do you own one?!
I've gone to Etsy myself and saved a tonne of specific related shops but I'm trying to find the gems, the artists that I can't find through a regular search.
Each week I plan to shop at a different store to try and support my fellow spoonies, especially in times of extreme lockdown conditions. So far, I’ve found some amazing gems and tonnes of stickers to adorn my wheelchair!
The Spoonie Business Database; An Easy Way To Support Chronically Ill & Disabled Business Owners
Every saturday on Instagram you will seeing me sharing my purchases, tagging the biz owners and promoting this wee database because it’s so important for us to support each other in these times.
If this is your first introduction to me, please know that I am a spoonie myself. I've been housebound for the last 11 years due to Eds and additional chronic conditions.
You can read more about me here. I have a wonderful Patreon page with a small but mighty chronic illness community striving to achieve things in life and not get completely overwhelmed.
My Goal With The Spoonie Business Database
I then hope to have enough businesses in certain locales to create a more organized directory that everyone can use! It would also be amazing if it included services offered by spoonies and even bloggers etc.
I want to know shops/independent sellers like these (not just these, these are examples for you):
- Artists
- Graphic Designers
- Gifts for men
- Print sellers
- Badges/Stickers
- Gifts for ladies
- Christmas Decor
- Craft supplies
- Jewellery designers etc
⚠️ Important Information About The Spoonie Business Database Submissions
Obviously, information about sellers living with chronic conditions is going to be necessary and if a business isn't owned by someone with chronic illnesses or disabilities, the tag will be removed and any spammers (folks without illnesses consistently tagging themselves) will be blocked immediately.
It needs to be very easy to verify that the owners have a chronic condition or disability.
Please also LOOK at the Database before adding your suggestion as everyone has to be manually verified which requires time & energy - a non-renewable resource. I've added an easy reference list below to make it easier for you - thank you!
The Spoonie Business Database; List Of Businesses Already Included:
- Heart Handmade UK on Patreon (for spoonies who want art therapy techniques, self improvement & self development for healing)
- Our Digital Downloads Shop
- Abi Stevens Art
- QuirkyNook - rebranded to The Joy Finery
- Tamsyn - Velvet Volcano
- Rachael – Fused With Love
- Sam – Chronically Divine
- Caoife – WildFlowerYarn
- Stacy - Fine Art Of Waiting | if you're in the UK you can buy the workbook here and nominate someone to receive a workbook free via the website - Activity book for hospital visits and rest time
- Laura – Yarnistry & Woah Dude
- Natalie – The Unchargeables
- Wear A Rainbow – Not Open Yet
- Autumn Aurelia
- Ileana – Happy Yamms
- Jacqui – The Crook Of My Hook
- Stacey – CraftyLilMouse
- Sally – Hand Over Your Fairy Cakes
- Grace – MsPaperLover (Photos above)
- Alex -VibeDotCrafted
- Collettey’s
- Sophie Leigh Art
- Claire K – Paw Prints By Claire
- Emily – Emily Stahl Designs
- Lizzie – Daisy Chain Makes
- Hollie – Achy Shaky Art (photo above)
- Nikky – InnABox (photos above)
- Christine - Quirky Nook
- NiftyNotebooks UK
- Electric Wheelchairs for sale
- The Kitty Boutique Etsy Shop
- SlappinVinylOnIt Etsy Shop
- Just Jude Polymer Clay Jewellery Etsy Shop
- Endo Queen Bath Crystals & Self Care Etsy Shop
- Cut Cut Craft
- Lotties Little Crafts
- Chronic Creations
- Noggins Gifts
- Iconicolor
- Jen T - Stampin’ Up
- Emotional Respite - At Home Disability Counselling Service
Spoonie Saturday Features October 2020:
First Spoonie Business Database Feature: Holly Achy Shaky Art:
My husband bought me this badge as a wee surprise gift which sparked the entire idea!
This was one of the first stores that I found in my quest to find spoonie owned businesses and a few of her badges really made me laugh.
Of course, I showed my husband and immediately turned myself into that Leo Meme:
After I received the badge, I took this photo and got in touch with Holly to say how much I loved it.
Turns out she’s a flipping mini me and such a lovely lady. Show your support for fellow spoonie Holly and her fabulous Achy Shaky Art store by hearting, sharing, following, etc.
We will all get through this if we keep lifting each other up.
Second Spoonie Business Database Feature; Innabox Designs:
I’ve shopped with Nikky before and actually used some of her ‘Invisible Illness’ ghost pins in a Giveaway last year for my Patreon group of chronically ill ladies.
Innabox is owned and operated by Spoonie Nikky and based in the United Kingdom, super fast shipping and overall great service. I shared all about my experience in this Instagram post.
Spoonie Saturday Features November 2020:
Third Spoonie Business Database Feature: Ms Paper Lover:
When I first shared my post about the Spoonie business database on Instagram a few weeks ago, Grace was one of the first people to comment.
I was so thrilled because I love discovering the stores and sites of my audience, friends and fellow spoonies!
Of course, I bought things immediately because I’m an art journal obsessive and........
she had stickers of cat butts. What more could I possibly want in this world?
Claire DB talking about MsPaperLover.com
Grace doesn’t just sell butt stickers. I want to make that very clear. Her shop is full of stickers, die cut sticker flakes and sheets, all hand drawn and the print quality is incredible.
Fourth Spoonie Business Database Feature: The Yay Makers!
I was thrilled to discover @theyaymakers and I subscribed to a 3 month T-shirt subscription to add a little more colour in my life.
This is me. Being brave and sharing myself without make up. Taking strides in self acceptance and supporting my spoonie community (spoonunity ?!?) as a huge thank you for the enormous welcome that I received when I discovered this community on Instagram.
I’ve been a lonely zebra for over a decade and dealing with all this on my own with maybe a couple of other chronically folks but finding that there are so many of us has really helped me feel like I belong.
I also feel very passionately about disabled & chronically ill people being able to own businesses and provide for themselves because that’s what we want.
Fifth Spoonie Business Database Feature; ColourBlind Zebra
showcasing a fabulous young lady called @colourblind_zebra I was so excited about the store opening and I got more stickers for my chair & a glow in the dark pin.
Since most of the businesses at the moment sell stickers & badges, I’m already getting a pretty big collection!
The badges are on display & my chair is going to be covered in stickers - I just need to find some space to do it all.
Sixth Spoonie Business Database Feature; FineArtOfWaiting
Stacey has created the most amazing book for hospital visits & stays to help you cope with the enormity of it all. If you're in the USA, spiral bound versions are available because obviously those wee hospital tables only have so much space.
My absolute FAVOURITE thing about this book is that when you buy it - you can go to fineartofwaiting.com & nominate a friend in need to receive a copy free of charge.
If you're in the UK, we can get this version on Amazon and still nominate a friend in the USA who needs a copy.
Seventh Spoonie Business Feature; More US Based Spoonies!
If you are in the United States, please remember to support your local businesses and artists!
These gals have some incredible products and kits available in the USA, I just can't afford them due to extortionate import fees but I do want to support them in any way that I can!
As this page is getting rather large I may need to split up the features
Add Your Suggestions For The Spoonie Business Database:
Visit the Spreadsheet here and use the comment option to offer suggestions.
Again, I must reiterate that it must be easy for me to confirm that people suffer from a hidden illness.
That doesn’t mean it has to clearly say “chronically ill”, or “spoonie”, it could be something as simple as a hashtag or abbreviation of a condition; e.g, #pots #eds #endo etc.
Us spoonies are pretty woke when it comes to familiarizing ourselves with other conditions.
As the spreadsheet gets updated and as I share my purchases each week, I will also add the images and updates to this post as I want it to be easy for everyone to suggest their favourite spoonie owned businesses and not everyone has an instagram profile.
Thank you for getting this far you trooper!
Shop, Share, and be Kind. xo.
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