Meet Samantha Lightbody | Teacher & Mum Maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Samantha Lightbody and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samantha, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It started as a hobby really. I love to craft and create. I always made my own homecoming mums in high school, so when I got to college, friends would ask for help with ones for siblings. Once I did at least 10 a year, I figured I might as well make a business out of it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a high school Architecture teacher by dah and a mum maker by night. Even though I own a small business, I do still have a career. It sometimes gets hard to juggle both. But every season I make it work.

I got my start making my own mums in high school with our family friend Julie Davis. She goes ALL OUT including dancing, animatronic bears, dresses to match her daughters’ dresses, and anything else you could even think of! With her help and her wisdom that “everything gets a bell and a bow”, I started learning how to make them on my own. That is also where my business name came from. But I would watch YouTube videos on braids and just use my creativity. I started like most mum makers started by buying my supplies at big stores. But once you get to more than about 10, it gets really expensive. And I really wanted to stay budget friendly. So I started looking around the internet for ways to get ribbon cheaper. And that’s how I stumbled upon the Mums, Inc. Group. I waited till I thought I was ‘worthy’ to request to join. It was the best decision I ever made professionally. Being in a group of likeminded people who are there to help and not hurt, is a complete game changer. Besides having friends understand how exhilarating it is to finally get a ribbon to lay the way it needs to go look right is just fantastic! And understanding how great it feels to get a good stapler!

The crafting part is easy for me. That’s what comes natural. But the running a business side, that’s where I struggle. But thankfully I have friends to help me understand all of the back shop stuff.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Some of my favorite places to check out are No Label Brewing on a Friday night to enjoy their food trucks. We spend most of our sundays paying beer league hockey. And I usually take people who visit town down to Galveston, the Galleria, and Town Lake. We love to go to our local breweries and have a cold one to relax!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband is a huge supporter of my small business. He is always willing to help me when I need things glued or cut. My family is also very supportive in sharing my posts and helping however they can. But really, I owe a lot to the Mums,Inc. Professional Organization. Being a part of Mums, Inc. has really been a blessing and I have gotten help and encouragement from them over the years! Our motto is #BetterTogether and we truly embrace it!

Instagram: @bellandbowmums

Facebook: Bell and Bow Mums

Image Credits
Cypress Woods Crimson Cadettes Cypress Fairbanks ISD