This month’s entrepreneurial mama is Lisa Will, co-founder of locally-based Stonz. Known for their cozy booties which keep little one’s toes toasty warm while out and about, Stonz was born in 2004. Outdoor-oriented Will and her business partner Tracey Von Dehn bonded on a trip to Whistler over their mutual inability to find warm footwear that stayed on their kids’ feet while in the stroller, front carrier, backpack, bike trailer and ski trailer. Von Dehn had made some fleece booties to combat the problem, Will loved them, and the two stood in the village square for hours planning their company – it would specialize in creative innovate quality kid’s gear that was both functional and stylish.

This month we’re profiling local entrepreneurial mama artist Lori Joy Smith, whose career as an illustrator and greeting card designer took a turn towards customized painting and fabric pieces when she had her daughter Sophie, who’s now two-and-a-half. Her illustrations have been licensed for everything from bookmarks and greeting cards to baby shoes for Jack & Lily.