Today we’d like to introduce you to Theresa Ravens.
Hi Theresa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Welcome to my little corner of the bookish world! By day, I work a full-time job — but by night (and most weekends!), I’m pouring my heart into creating items inspired by the stories that light up my imagination. I’m especially drawn to epic fantasies, spine-tingling thrillers, and everything mysterious or haunting. You’ll feel at home here if you’re as obsessed with fictional worlds as I am.
This shop was born from a lifelong love of reading and a passion for creativity. I’ve been a maker for as long as I can remember — I started sewing as a little girl alongside my grandma, and I spent over 20 years in the costuming world before deciding it was time to take a break and explore new creative outlets. That’s when I began making simple bookmarks and stickers for myself and a few friends. Their encouragement pushed me to try selling my creations, so I dusted off my old Etsy costume shop and listed a few items.
It started small — bookmarks and stickers — and sales trickled in from Facebook craft groups while I slowly grew my Etsy presence. Those early orders helped me reinvest in the shop, buy new equipment, and expand my product lines. Almost four years later, I now offer a wide range of bookish products, all centered around the genres I love most, with a special focus on fantasy. Today, my items are carried in 13 bookstores across the country. I am privileged to create custom merch for local authors here in St. Louis, white-label products for other small businesses, and exclusive items for fantasy balls and bookish event production companies here in St. Louis and all across the country. I also have two physical locations in the STL area where readers can find a curated selection of my products regularly; I have booths at the Saint Louis Antique Mall and the West County Antique Mall.
Every day, I’m blown away by how this all started — with a tiny cutting machine I bought while visiting my mother-in-law in Texas — and how it’s grown into a real business that reaches readers all over. I’m endlessly grateful to my customers, friends, and family for their support and encouragement. It’s been a fun ride, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
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?
Like many small business owners, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges — and if I’m honest, one of the biggest has been fear. Fear that my products wouldn’t resonate, fear of pouring time, energy, and money into something that might not succeed, and fear of ending up in debt chasing a dream. It’s a vulnerable place to be, but it’s also where passion lives — and I’ve learned that stepping into that fear and allowing yourself to accept and embrace these fears is where growth happens.
Another one of my biggest challenges has been learning to quiet my inner perfectionist. I have a vision for how I want things to look — whether it’s a product launch or a booth set up at a market — and when I can’t bring that vision to life exactly as I imagined, it’s easy to feel like I’ve failed. But I’m learning to embrace the beautifully chaotic nature of small business life. Every pop-up market is different. Setups change. The weather shifts. Plans get tossed out the window. Life happens. And lately, I’ve been working on giving myself grace when things don’t go perfectly.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My lifelong love of books inspires my work. I create handmade gifts and accessories for fellow book lovers, with a special focus on the fantasy genre. However, readers of all genres can find something they love in my shop. From bookmarks and stickers to bookshelf signs, apparel, and custom merch for authors and events, every piece is designed to celebrate the magic of reading.
I offer wholesale options for bookstores and businesses, and I’m always excited to collaborate with indie authors and fellow small business owners. As my shop grows, I’m expanding into custom promotional products for tradespeople, realtors, and other entrepreneurs who want creative, thoughtful ways to promote their work.
My next goal is to open a brick-and-mortar location, hopefully within five years, which would be a cozy space where I can host DIY nights and book club events, feature products from other small businesses, and offer a welcoming spot for customers to shop, sip coffee, and lose themselves in a good book.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was raised in a classic St. Louis red brick two-story in South City alongside my older brother and younger sister, who has since passed away. I also have another brother who came along later after my father remarried. My childhood wasn’t easy — it was filled with instability, especially after my parents’ divorce. We moved often, and my home life with my mother was not safe or secure. But through all of it, I was lucky to have grandparents who loved me fiercely and did everything they could to support me and my siblings.
One of the biggest blessings of my early years was my first friend, Andrea. Her family became like mine, and her mom was the loving, stable presence I desperately needed. However, by age 14, I was on my own due to personal and family struggles — navigating the world far earlier than most.
My path hasn’t been traditional, but every hardship has shaped me into someone strong, resourceful, and deeply resilient. I’ve built a life I’m proud of, filled with creativity, love, and purpose. I know 14-year-old me would be proud, too—proud of the healing, the growth, and the little life I’ve created for myself against all the odds thrown at me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://treasuredtropes.etsy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treasuredtropespaperco/
- Other: https://faire.com/direct/treasuredtropespaperco
