From Journey to Joy: Why I Started My Etsy Shop (Custom Gifts for Every Stage of Motherhood)

By sarahkowalski@gmail.com | March 24, 2026 |

Motherhood is powerful—*and* it’s complicated and that’s where Etsy and an online store with custom gifts for mom is coming in.

As a women’s coach and a mother myself, I’ve seen how rarely the journey to motherhood is linear. For some of us, it arrives easily. For many of us, it doesn’t. It can include waiting, worry, appointments, losses, breakthroughs, and decisions that don’t fit the “traditional” script.

And yet, the moment a new life path becomes real—whether through pregnancy, IVF, adoption, surrogacy, or single motherhood by choice—there’s also so much wonder. There’s ho

pe. There’s a fierce kind of love that starts long before anyone else can see it.

That is the space this shop was born from.

The moment I knew I wanted to build this

I started this Etsy shop because I wanted to create *something tangible* that could meet women in the middle of real life—not just on the highlight-reel days.

The days where you’re:
– waiting for news
– holding your breath during the two-week wait
– learning how to be your own support system
– feeling wildly grateful and deeply overwhelmed at the same time
– navigating a path to family that doesn’t always get understood by the people around you

I’ve been there—through unexpected hurdles, moments of doubt, and the kind of joy that changes you forever. My goal is to offer products that feel like a small exhale. A reminder. A celebration. A “me too.”

What you’ll find here (and why it matters)

This shop is a celebration of motherhood in all its forms—and of womanhood in all its becoming and all its forms.

Here you’ll find meaningful, supportive, and joy-sparking items for:
– women navigating fertility journeys and IVF
– expectant mothers, new moms, and first-time Mother’s Day moments
– women building families in nontraditional ways (including single motherhood by choice)
– friends celebrating life milestones—new homes, new jobs, graduations
– teachers and caregivers who give their hearts daily
– and yes—dog moms, because love is love and sometimes that collar is the little joy you need right now

I also design fun, celebratory pieces for the lighter seasons of life—like bachelorette weekends and girls’ trips—because joy matters too, and you deserve to mark the moments that make you feel *alive*.

What sets these designs apart

A lot of products are cute. A lot of gifts are trendy. But what I’m creating here is rooted in something deeper:

– Lived experience. I understand what it’s like when your path doesn’t match the script.
– Emotional truth. Some days you want hope. Some days you want humor. Some days you want both.
– A wide, inclusive definition of motherhood. You belong here whether you’re parenting solo, parenting with a partner, a lesbian mom or moms, longing to become a mom, or mothering in other meaningful ways.

This shop exists to say: *Your journey counts. Your love counts. You count.*

A little about me

I’m Sarah Kowalski—single mom by choice, author, women’s coach, and mom to an incredible 12-year-old boy.

I love design, honest conversations, and helping women feel empowered in the bold choices they make—especially when those choices don’t fit the mold of what motherhood is “supposed” to look like.

Thanks for being here. I hope you find something that speaks to your heart and brings a little extra joy to your journey.

With love,
Sarah

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