Guess what NEXT BIG THING is having for breakfast today?? Why, we’re feasting on a dozen donut magnets handmade by April Delacruz Rongero! This 27-year old from Arlington, VA is all about laughter, good food and, of course, buttons! Read on to learn how she started her biz with a mere $50!

How old is your company and how did you get your start?
I began making buttons five fabulous years ago. It was 2003, and I was a junior in college with a major button addiction and a penchant for crafts and design. That year, after spending a small fortune on tons of buttons from various places, I made one of the most life-changing purchases of my life - a $50 prehistorically manual button press. Since then, what started out as this funny little hobby took on a life of its own and manifested itself as Molebaby Buttons LLC.

What does “Molebaby” mean exactly?
It’s a nickname that I gave myself. I was a pragmatic little girl, and when I set out to create my very first email address oh so many years ago, my formula for creating a screenname and the limitations of my internet service provider brought me to “Molebaby”. I used that email address for years and to this day, my own mother sometimes refers to me as “Moley Baby”!

What inspired you to make this fun set of donut magnets?
One of the very first ideas I had for a set of 12 magnets was to make red roses for Valentine’s Day. That got my friends and me thinking, What else comes in dozens? Why donuts, of course! The rest, as they say, is history. My graphic designer BFF Joanna helped me create this fun little set. The coup de grace was the addition of googly eyes. Surprisingly, this thought didn’t strike me until recently, but I’m so glad it did!

There’s definitely a donut scene out there in the craft community, probably the most famous being those of Heidi Kenney that we’ve carried on our site. What is it about donuts that make them so iconic?
Wow, tough question… There are whole books written on this subject! I think that donuts, along with cupcakes and ice cream, really rank up there as the quintessential childhood sweet. They’re seen as a real treat and/or indulgence, and there’s such a wide variety of them that there’s a donut out there for everyone. Donuts in the craft world were an inevitability; they’re something we can all identify with and enjoy… AND crafting gives us a new (grown-up) way to play with our food! My other theory is a lot more simple: Homer Simpson. Mmm… donut!

I noticed on your blog that your company is involved in raising awareness about lupus. Can you tell us more about that? How has lupus touched your life?
I was diagnosed with lupus and lupus nephritis in July 2005. Since then, I have been on a steady schedule of medication and doctor’s appointments, and have learned the hard way that current lupus treatments can be as damaging as they are helpful. This realization, along with my diagnosis itself, was the impetus for my commitment to raising awareness about lupus and the need for a cure. In addition to my own personal involvement, I designed and offer assorted Molebaby Buttons lupus awareness products, ranging from buttons to t-shirts, and donate certain portions from the sale of these products to the Alliance for Lupus Research. I really encourage everyone who doesn’t know about lupus to at least Google it and find out what it’s all about. Chances are you know at least one person who has lupus, and since you know me now, you probably know at least two!