Siso Rose’s handmade specialties
Emily Patron is a mother of three, a registered nurse and an early childhood teacher. As if that’s not enough to keep her busy, she’s also the creator of a business: Siso Rose (named for her daughter Sophia’s nickname), which sells handmade gifts and art.
Her designs start from hand-drawn colored pencil sketches, which are used to create “cute and useful products and gifts,” she says.
The hobby began as a sort of therapeutic way of dealing with the trauma of Hurricane Katrina; in 2006, Patron and her family were renovating an Old Metairie home after losing their Lakeview home to floodwaters. “I started making bag tags, calling cards, stickers and note cards,” she says.
“When I started doing Art Markets across New Orleans, I noticed that people really liked to walk away with their purchase rather than order personalized gifts that would be mailed to them,” explains Patron. “That’s when I started offering childrens’ clothing, hand towels, kitchen towels and more. These have been a big hit, especially the New Orleans drawings to give as shower gifts, wedding gifts, teacher gifts, hostess gifts, or just to have for yourself.”
Patron says that she has many return-customers because “all they have to do is call me and place their orders – I do the rest: Create, package and deliver.” Patron has plans to further expand her business. “I’m starting to design Halloween and Christmas clothing,” she says. She is working on creating T-shirts, dresses, rompers, diaper covers, boxers, hand-towels and kitchen towels.
Information, 451-5458, www.sisorose.com.
Total Woman
Total Woman offers a mix of classic and fashion-forward clothing for women of all ages, explains Cindy Conde, owner and manager of financial and marketing operations.
The store has been in business for 30 years – it originated in Covington and expanded its operation to Uptown New Orleans 10 years ago.
In those 30 years, the shop has stocked all kinds of fashions and has drawn in a loyal customer base with a wide range of tastes.
“The Total Woman customer is a college student, a young mom, a professional career woman and a retiree,” says Conde.
“Each season our customers trust that we’ll seek out new designers and bring them the best that fashion has to offer to keep them on-trend while knowing that what we bring to the store isn’t in today and out tomorrow,” says Debbie Friedman, buyer and manager of store operations.
While each woman’s style differs, the store continues to appeal to those seeking a high-quality wardrobe. “We wardrobe customers from work to play, and from day to night,” says Conde. “Our goal is to give each customer a fun and comfortable shopping experience that empowers them with confidence … Every woman has the right to feel beautiful.”
Information, 3964 Magazine St., 891-3964, www.totalwomanla.com.
