Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Stagi Jones.
Hi Olivia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Makeropolis started in a closet, years ago, it began as a small Etsy shop where I sold vintage sewing patterns. Life soon took over with part-time jobs and the busy chaos of active-duty mom mode, which paused my business for a while. I eventually, found my way back to making. For me, making is more than just a hobby—it has been a vital anchor for my mental health. There is something incredibly grounding about touching different textiles, working with your hands, and building something unique from the ground up out of scraps. I noticed that while creative reuse centers were thriving in other areas, our local community didn’t have anything like it. Growing and Finding Our People For the first three years, I ran Makeropolis strictly as an online shop. When I put the word out that I was looking for gently used craft supplies, the community answered. Donation calls started rolling in, and suddenly, our inventory grew into something truly special. I knew it was time to take the business out into the world. I tried various markets and shows, but nothing felt like the right fit. That changed when I pitched the concept of a gently used, eco-friendly craft supply booth to the Turlock Farmers Market. In the beginning, we faced a lot of, “Wait, what exactly are you talking about?” responses. A secondhand craft supply booth was a brand-new concept for a lot of people! But over the past year, the message has truly clicked. What started as a quirky concept has bloomed into a beautiful, supportive community of local makers. Where are we going next, we are so proud of how far we’ve come, but we are just getting started. We are actively working towards opening a dedicated, physical craft space. Our dream is to create a vibrant hub to host creative classes, small parties, and a permanent home for eco-friendly shopping.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are two ways to look at the struggles I’ve faced along the way. The first major hurdle was getting my community to understand the concept of creative reuse. In the beginning, people literally saw what I was doing as collecting garbage. I frequently get calls from the adult children of deceased makers who tell me, “Come take what you want, because the rest is heading straight to the dump.” Knowing how much love went into accumulating those supplies breaks my heart, but it drives my mission. To date, we have saved over 11,000 pounds of materials from the landfill. We are making a tangible difference, one pound at a time.
The second struggle was entirely internal: I got in my own way. Overthinking is the single most common trap I see among myself and other small business owners. We paralyze ourselves trying to make everything perfect before we launch. My biggest piece of advice to anyone starting out? Just stop overthinking and start doing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At my core, I am a textile artist. While running my creative reuse business takes a lot of my time, creating is what truly fuels me. I am a self-taught maker with over 40 years of hands-on sewing and crafting experience. Over the decades, I’ve made everything from intricate Halloween costumes and custom jeans to crochet work, witch hats, and fine art dolls. Currently, I collaborate with a dedicated doll-making group where we push our creative boundaries, learning new techniques. What sets me apart is this deep, lifelong connection to the material medium and my commitment to giving it a second life. I don’t just understand the supplies I sell—I know the joy and solace they bring to the person using them. What I am most proud of, however, is a deeply personal victory: through this work, I found myself and reclaimed my value. My worth is stitched directly into the act of making. There is nothing more rewarding or fun for me than connecting with other makers, talking through their creative visions, and helping them find exactly what they need to bring their projects to life.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
If you have a closet full of craft supplies you no longer use, please don’t send them to the landfill—reach out to us! Every donation helps us keep a maker’s creative legacy alive. And if you are local to the Turlock area, I’d love to meet you. We are now officially hosting private, one-hour studio shopping appointments at my home studio where you can browse curated fabrics, trims, and patterns in a relaxed setting. You can find us at the Turlock Farmers Market or book an appointment directly through our website at makeropolis.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.makeropolis.com
- Instagram: Olivia_makeropolis
- Youtube: @makeropolis
