Cottonwood mom heads to Hollywood

LAURA WALKER

A Cottonwood mother of two who operates Fruit, a high-end baby boutique, from her home will be hobnobbing Nov. 7 in Beverly Hills with Hollywood celebrities who are parents during the "Celebration of Babies" luncheon organized by the March of Dimes.

Laura (Eckley) Walker's on-line business, billed as a source of modern hand-made baby goods and found at www.fruitbabygoods.com, was chosen as one of only 15 businesses to showcase her unique and fashionable line of merchandise at the elite fund-raising event.

Why the name Fruit?

"We believe that 'Children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward,' Walker quotes from Psalm 127:3. "We want to celebrate the little fruits in our lives and yours ... using the talents and resources we've been given. We aim for simplicity and functionality in design, while utilizing stylish fabric that appeals to the modern-day mom."

Looking to grow her business and have her wares featured as often as possible, Walker is eager to take advantage of this opportunity.

"Owning a small business in rural northern California can be pretty risky, so owners have to be more creative than ever," she said. Keeping overhead low and controlling costs are two of the biggest reasons why the West Valley High School graduate chose to operate her enterprise from her home in Cottonwood.

"The ability to have my customers view items in a variety of fabrics has been invaluable," Walker said of her Web site storefront. "Shipping orders all over the country has made it possible to depend on more than just local patrons."

So far, her successes have exceeded all of her expectations, said Walker, who designs and sews all of her own creations.

Helping Walker prepare for the big weekend is former school-mate Kendra Schubert of Redding, who owns Posh Mama Boutique.

"I am excited to be working on my wardrobe with Kendra as I prepare to head south," Walker said.

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