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Karma Chameleon
New local boutiques, businesses and
brands you may not know — but should.

By Lynne Konstantin

f there's any truth to karma,
Darcee Hope Matlen is in luck.
Vivacious, genuinely eager
to help anyone she can in any
way she can and brimming with
creativity, she tries to live her life
while unifying all these assets.
Which means she's very busy
— but that's the way she likes
it. A wife and mother of two
young boys, one of whom has
special needs, Matlen, 34, is an
author, blogger (darceehope.
com), brand consultant, certified
personal development coach,
certified aquatic fitness and
swim instructor — and business
owner.
"When my first son was 3
months old, I realized I had ac-
complished my lifelong goal of
becoming a mother," Matlen says.
"But I no longer had a creative
outlet, or really, my own identity."
She bought a heat press and
began making bibs and burp
cloths with designs on them,
then added children's jewelry,
including Bestie Buds (adorable
matching best-friend charm
necklaces), and other items, sell-
ing them on her website,
Violetgumdrop.com . As she add-
ed more diversified products, like
Karma Grams (postcards sending
well-wishes), she re-incorporated
as Darcee Hope Inc.
"Whenever I get an idea for a
new product, I really love creat-
ing it and making the brand a
reality," Matlen says.
In addition, Matlen has recent-
ly been helping her mom, Fern
Wallach (an artist and decorator
whom Matlen credits for her
creative talents), with her new
sample-clothing shop, Sample
Wearhouse in West Bloomfield.
And within the last month,
Matlen has launched two new
brands of her own, excitedly
received by an eager fan base
which knows to always look to
her for something fun, stylish
and, of course, with her inherent
positive spin on it. Inspired by
her own love of layering differ-
ent necklaces and expressing

I

k

fi

•
e
0. 0

Darcee Hope Matlen's
Lucky Wishes include
mini buddhas and
Jewish stars.

Stickee Designs
lets kids create
their own
T-shirts.

herself with charms, without
a huge financial commitment,
Matlen created Lucky Wishes,
a collection of fun, whimsical
and meaningful necklaces and
bracelets, from peace to love to
magic wands and more, each
packaged in a small bag filled
with "good karma" confetti and
priced between $12 to $25.
"The idea is based on wearing
your wishes and watching them
come true," she says. Popular
with all ages, Matlen has sold the
pieces to young girls and tweens
to moms, like herself.
Also launched last month,
Stickee Designs was inspired
by the huge popularity of logo
T-shirts and hats. Always think-
ing first about what her own kids
would love, Matlen created a
way for kids to make their own:
Available in pre-packs with T-
shirts (small through extra-large;
$6 to $13 or more for custom
designs) or hats and a group
of stickers in fun, kid-friendly
designs, Stickee Designs lets kids
decorate their shirt or hat, mess-
free and without help from mom
or dad, and wear it proudly.
Stickers peel off, and refill
packs are available. Matlen will
also heat-press a name or logo
on the item, so they make great
birthday-party giveaways (for
guests to decorate at the party
or an activity at home).
"I am a huge fan of online
businesses," Matlen says. "There
is nothing more amazing than
waking up in the morning to
new orders, then filling them in
my jamnnies. I get to be a full-
time mom and a business owner,
and keep exploring the things I
love. I feel like there is this whole
big life to conquer, and I want to
keep seeking and creating new
things!'

Lucky Wishes and Stickee Designs are
available at Sample Wearhouse in West
Bloomfield and online at luckywishes.com
and stickeedesigns.com.

lor

Epic Cafe's popular Designer's House Salad

A

fter undergoing a three-month
renovation, Michigan Design
Center's on-site eatery — Epic
Cafe by Design — has officially re-
opened with a remodeled kitchen
and dining room, and a delicious
updated menu. Epic Cafe boasts
a great selection of chef-inspired
menu items with a variety of small
plates, soups, salads, sandwiches,
entrees and pastries to satisfy every
palate. Its relaxed ambiance and
convenient location just off MDC's
main "D" lobby make Epic Cafe a
perfect place to stop in for a work-
ing lunch or unwind and enjoy a
leisurely meal or coffee with friends.
Epic Cafe by Design is open Monday
through Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Daily
lunch specials and carryout services
are also available. The MDC is located
at 1700 Stutz Dr. in Troy. (248-649-
1540) ... Tuesday is free popcorn day
with the purchase of a movie ticket
through Aug. 26 at area MJR Digital
Cinemas. On Tuesdays, all popcorn,
all sizes will be free and includes one
free refill, same-day purchase only ...
Looking for something fun to do? On
Wednesday, Aug. 13, the "Pinta" and
the "Nina," replicas of Columbus'
ships, will open in Wyandotte. The
ships will be docked at Bishop Park,
2802 Van Alstyne
St., until their
departure early
Tuesday morn-
ing Aug. 19. Both
ships tour to-
gether as a new
and enhanced
sailing museum
for the purpose
of educating the
public, which is
invited to visit
the ships for a
The Nina
walk-aboard,
self-guided tour.
Admission charges are $8 for adults,
$7 for seniors and $6 for students
5-16. Children 4 and under are free.
The ships are open every day from 9
a.m. to 6 p.m.

tor',

30 August 20141

RED THRUM

www.redthreadmagazine.com