GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
Check out these small local businesses owned by fellow Royals
Alice O’Toole Marleaux ’07, MBA ’12 and her sister, Grace Walz, started Oliver Darby Handmade in the fall of 2017. Named for their children (Alice’s son is named Oliver), the business makes custom cross-stitch ornaments and hoops of families, friends, pets and homes. Though her sister has moved on to other
projects, Alice is still at it, as she has stitched close to 50 portraits a year for the past four years.
Alice O’ Toole Marleaux ’07, MBA ’12 of Oliver Darby Handmade captures the tiniest details in her cross-stitch pieces.
“I love being able to be creative. Every family or person has some fun detail about them that I get to include—cats in sweaters, Harry Potter fans, sand snakes and pet turtles, coffee mugs, cigars, lovies—I’ve included them all,” she said. “I love that aspect of being able to imagine and stitch it. I also love the sentimentality of the stitches and the ability to capture a moment in time. Find Oliver Darby Handmade on Instagram @oliverdarbyhandmade.
A one-woman operation, Kia Love is the brainchild of Kia Jones ’15, who majored in architecture and design. Her business offers unique and fashionable hand-knit women’s accessories and home décor for the individual who loves bold color and texture. “A lot of my work is custom, so I’m able to work one-on-one with clients and take them through the whole design process from selecting the yarn, to choosing color combinations to customizing a knit pattern,” she explained. “I find that I am able to educate my clients and build a genuine connection with them.” To celebrate Black History Month, an urban
knitting project by Kia Love was displayed at Linear Park in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Titled Innerwoven, Jones dedicated it to the African American women who have used fiber art as a way to heal themselves.
Innerwoven at Linear Park in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
This one-of-a-kind installation highlights the importance of textiles and craftsmanship in Black culture. For more information, visit
www.kialove.com.
Anne Irwin Ward ’92 opened Flour Power Rea Farms in June 2018 to a full summer camp season. From preschool to teens, Flour Power Rea Farms creates amazing cooking experiences during its weekly classes, private cooking sessions, camps, Kids’ Night Out events and birthday parties. It also offers something for the “young at heart” with its adult classes, parties and team-building events. “I had been working in corporate America for many years and
had a good role with a great manager but was wanting to shift to a career that brought more joy and meaning to my life, and one that could allow me to have more connection with my children,” said Ward, who majored in psychology at Queens. “It’s so gratifying to see our young chefs develop cooking skills that grow over the years. Plus, I love celebrating milestones and holidays with our families. It’s a happy place and an incredibly fun job.” For more information, visit
www.flourpowerstudios.com/reafarms.
Anne Irwin Ward ’92 and her daughter, Fiona, on WBTV’s Morning Show during a Mardi Gras segment with Kristen Miranda. Tey fried beignets and made a quick king cake.
If you’re a Royal who owns a small business, let us know about it by e-mailing
editor@queens.edu.
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