The little black Labrador nestled in the crook of Lisa Shepersky’s arm is nearly life-like: pink tongue, perky tail, and authentically compelling puppy eyes. The little puppy is Lisa’s latest crochet creation, joining a menagerie of cute plushies: a long horned steer, a calf and cow pair, seahorse, sloth, and giraffe. “I change it up all the time so I’m never sure exactly what plushies I’ll have with me,” Lisa says. The variety is part of the fun, with new and whimsical animals taking shape under her fingers.

Lisa grew up in Pope County, learning her craft by watching her mother and grandmother. As a little girl, she’d tag along for trips to pick out yarn, standing by when a new hook was put to the test, and slept under blankets crafted with love. “They were both so very talented,” Lisa says, “Sharing their love for the same craft is special.” Lisa is now passing a love of crocheting down to her own daughters, who “hug test” each plushie, trying its tensile strength before the toy heads to its new home.

You’ll also find a variety of customized tumblers in Lisa’s stand at the Starbuck Vintage & Artisan Market. “I came across a video online one day and thought, ‘I could do that myself!’” Lisa laughs. Lisa takes custom orders and now makes videos of her own, posting humorous and endearing videos of her plushies on Tik Tok. She also maintains Facebook, Instagram, and Etsy pages.