Honor & Grace by Eugennie Yoon

Happy Friday folks!! We made it! I don't know about you but, this week has been an absolute whirlwind so, I am ready for a very relaxing weekend w/ loved ones. I am thinkin' movies, books, blankets & naps are all on the agenda!

Today we are doing something a bit different on Snapshots of Wellness. I don't think I have ever talked about gift giving on the blog before. I personally love giving & receiving gifts that are well thought out & personalized specifically to a loved ones taste, needs & lifestyle. I also lean towards gifts that enhance an individuals health & wellness!

So today, you are all going to sit in on a coffee date that I am hosting with Eugennie Yoon, Owner of Honor & Grace! Eugennie is also the Curator of the popular & whimsical Etsy Shop, Honor & Grace. Eugennie hand makes the most beautiful & intricate Honor & Grace quits for little ones. And so much love, time, care and creativity goes into each quilt style, pattern & design.

I'll let Eugennie fill you on what Honor & Grace is all about but, if you have a baby or toddler and/or know someone with a baby or toddler (which we all do), you'll want to join us! Grab a cup of coffee & let's get started below:

Are you ready for your heart to melt? I thought I'd share a photograph of Eugennie w/ her two adorable daughters, Avery Honor & Olivia Grace, so you can 'see' who she actually is along with the cutie pie inspirations for this business venture, Honor & Grace!

Eugennie Yoon w/ her two precious girls, Avery Honor & Olivia Grace

Hi Eugennie! Thank you so much for joining us and sharing all about Honor & Grace with my readers. So would you mind telling SW readers a bit about how Honor & Grace came to fruition?

I’ve always loved making things. It’s so satisfying. But in this particular season of life as a stay-at-home mom with 2 young children, “making things” is relatively limited to quick meals, simple art projects with the girls, and the occasional Pinterest “experiment.”

In the spring and fall of 2015 we experienced back-to-back family losses & it was pretty natural for me to turn to “making things” as a source of comfort, a relief from mourning, and a way to get my mind thinking about other things, hopeful things, creative things. In my loss I was more keenly attuned to all of the wonderful blessings in my life. I was especially thankful for the support of my loving husband and for my 2 beautiful and joyful daughters who are daily reminders of how precious and miraculous life is.

So, I decided to open a shop on Etsy selling handmade, customizable baby quilts. Why baby quilts--because I wanted to celebrate the miracle that a baby represents and I also wanted to create warm and beautiful blankets to wrap around these amazing little bundles of delight. I started making quilts almost 20 years ago and returning to that craft brought me solace. I found the process of selecting the fabrics, creating a pattern, cutting the pieces, and sewing them together to be both therapeutic to my soul and a challenging and sharpening activity for my mind. Each quilt that I create is thoughtfully designed, in pattern and fabric, and lovingly stitched with precision and care. I love making these quilts and I’m excited to share them with others.

Olivia Grace helping mom organize fabrics for quilt making!

Clearly, these quilts are made with such care, heart, thought & love. How long does it take you to make one?

It usually takes me around 5-7 days to make a quilt, depending on the intricacy of the design. I generally plan the design and select fabrics on Day 1, cut the fabric on Day 2, sew pieces together on Days 3 and 4 (and 5 and 6 for a more complex design), then sew the “sandwich” of quilt front, batting, and quilt backing together on the last day.

How do you choose the palette and patterns for each child?

Because each of my quilts is made-to-order, I work with the customer to decide on the design and colors for the quilt. I ask questions about colors and themes in the nursery, whether a traditional or more modern/contemporary design is preferred, and other interests or details that could be incorporated.  For example I made a quilt a few months ago where the parents of the baby were big foodies. I was able to find a fun food truck fabric to use as the backing--it worked out really great!

Patterns are customized & made-to-order at Honor & Grace.

Did you always have an artistic & creative mind?

I’ve always loved making things--whether it was as a 4 year-old rolling out homemade noodles with my grandmother, or the lamp I made in 6th grade shop, or the teacups I made in my high school pottery class--there is such a wonderful feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment in working hard to make something and then taking a step back to appreciate the fruits of your labor.

Do you make quilts for adults?

I have made larger quilts for the beds in our home, but I generally don’t make them to sell to others--it just takes too long. However, if someone were looking for a smallish lap quilt for the couch or a chair, I could easily do that.

I shared my perspective (above) on how giving a loved one a personalized handmade gift contributes to our overall wellness. What are your thoughts on that?

I think a handmade gift is so special in that the recipient knows that there was a bit more thought and care in choosing the item. Because these quilts are made specifically for each customer I’m able to incorporate unique colors, special memories, or even custom fabrics. One customer asked if I could use the fabric from her twin sons’ coming home outfits in their quilts--what a special way to create a keepsake for her baby boys. And because such lovely memories can be incorporated into the gift, it definitely contributes to the overall wellness of the recipient and the giver!

Boldly designed gorgeous print for a baby boy.

If someone wants to purchase a quilt, what's their first step? How can they contact you?

Come visit my Etsy shop--https://www.etsy.com/shop/honorandgrace
I have a number of different designs listed, but I can certainly work with a customer to create a unique design if he or she has something specific in mind. After the order is placed, I’ll reach out to the customer to determine color scheme, design, etc., and once those details have been finalized, work begins on the quilt.

I personally love the purpose & heart behind Honor & Grace. There is so much God driven purpose and integrity behind your business venture. Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Oh gosh, I would hardly call myself an entrepreneur--I like to try things, figure things out, grow things, make things, but making a business of it is not natural for me. There are so many aspects of a business that I need help figuring out, but I’m taking a step in faith, and so far it’s been such an amazing and humbling learning experience.

This is my personal favorite design by H&G! A feminine pastel palette for a baby girl.

What is your ultimate vision for Honor & Grace?

I would just love for an Honor & Grace quilt to be a special memento for a baby and his or her family--something that celebrates the tenderness of a new life and brings comfort to the baby. I also hope that as my girls watch and sometimes help me work on these quilts that they would be inspired to explore and reflect their own creativity in ways that bring life to their souls.

Eugennie, thank you so much for sharing so much about Honor & Grace! I think a handmade personalized cozy Honor & Grace quilt for a newborn or toddler is truly an ideal gift. It will remain a keepsake for the rest of that child's life. And they can pass it along to their own children one day or the quilt can be used to swaddle every newborn coming into a family! This entire venture of yours is just so special.

Wrapped w/ a bow & ready to warm the hearts of your loved ones.

Everyone, if you'd like to have an Honor & Grace quilt made for any little ones in your life, you can contact you Eugennie at any of her social media handles:
Honor & Grace Etsy Shop
Honor & Grace Facebook Page
Honor & Grace Instagram

Eugennie Yoon resides in the city of Chicago with her husband, Markus and their two adorable children- Avery and Olivia - with another baby on the way! Eugennie is the owner of start-up venture, Honor & Grace, and  the curator of the Honor & Grace Etsy Shop. She loves entertaining, creating, baking, gardening, and especially being a wife and mother.

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