Made by Mom Gift Guide: Screamin' Peacock

Smith has been sewing since she was eight; crocheting since she was 12. The mom of two boys has been creating things for as long as she can remember. And she's always been a collector of fabric and yarn.

But Smith, who has a day job too, hadn't turned her passion into a business until her husband gave her an ultimatum: Do something with all the fabric she'd been collecting or get rid of it.

Smith started making bags for friends about five years ago. And her business really grew by word of mouth. Smith hates to throw things away. So many of her pieces use recycled fabric. It might be jeans her sons have grown out of or a favorite old sundress. She also turns her customer's favorite fabrics, perhaps from Grandma's old tablecloth or a baby blanket, to create custom bags. Each piece is unique.

"Everything deserves a second chance," she tells me. "And no two are exactly the same."

Smith creates bags of all sizes. From tiny purses for little girls (and matching ones for mom if you want) to diaper bags and large beach bags. She's included special pockets for Kindles and iPads, for instance.