A showcase for 'mom-made' items
By Alexandra Saville - www.gloucestertimes.com
For Heather Mosher, interior designer and the daughter of local artists Don and Christine Mosher, has always considered Rockport home. This is why she chose to move back to the place she grew up to raise her daughter and embark upon a new business venture.
Mosher opened My Sea Baby a few weeks ago, and she has been busy filling the Mount Pleasant Street shop with children's and infant's clothing, toys, books, furniture, and more. She credits the idea to do a child-based store partially on her 2-year-old daughter, Cosima, and partially on her desire to work in an environment where "everything is always fun and exciting."
Mosher said her incentive is to provide "unique, handmade, and organic" products. She supports local artists and hopes that My Sea Baby will give locals a place to go for their children's needs. She said she is also looking forward to getting her own clothing line for children up and running in a few months.
Mosher's move back to n came at a perfect time for her. After working years as an interior designer in Manhattan, she is enthusiastic for the home life. She is delighted to be able to raise her daughter closer to her parents and to give her the same "perfect" childhood Rockport gave her.
Mosher, 37, said she's excited to have her daughter experience the beach and the close-knit community that she has always valued from her memories of growing up.
After high school, Mosher attended The Rhode Island School of Design. She moved to New York City, where she first began working in the film industry through working on set design. Then, she moved into the world of interior design in which she worked with two architectural firms.
She also designed furniture and lighting. She served as the head designer for the Bulfinch Hotel in Boston, and has had work featured in Architectural Digest several times along with Elle Decor and House and Garden. She still has clients in New York and Boston.
"I would like to incorporate my design skills into the shop," she said, "I would love to concentrate on children's rooms and nurseries. I already have a collection of ideas for these rooms right now. They have always been my favorite rooms to do and I am happy to work in any budget.
"My dream," she said, "is that this is a fun, peaceful place for people in the community to shop or just come in and say hi and see what's new."
My Sea Baby, at 17 Mount Pleasant St., is open seven days a week year-round.
Mosher welcomes any local artisans and designers to stop by and see if their work is a good fit for the shop.
"I've had so many local people come in who make the most delightful things and I have ordered quite a lot," she said. "I have handknit sweaters from Rockport, Gloucester onesies, dresses and appliqued outfits from Orabelle baby (Hamilton), blankets, taggies, diaper bags, custom Moses baskets from Designs by Helen in Rockport, and Vermont natural wood toys."
Although she carries a few larger brands like Q Collection Junior and Le Top, she said "however, most of my things are supporting artisans — mostly moms — from all across the country."
"That," she said, "feels really good to me."
