Community Highlights: Meet Hannah Butterfield of Nazareth Handmade Boutique

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Butterfield.

Hi Hannah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Growing up, I had always loved art and creating things. I loved drawing, painting, crafting, and decorating. So of course one day I would have my own small business where I could do all of those things! But Nazareth Handmade Boutique did not come easily or quickly.

I suppose being creative was always a passion of mine. Music and singing have always been close to my heart as well. Art and choir were my best and favorite subjects all throughout school. In middle school, I started to become super involved in my church and youth group, which helped to provide me with an artistic and musical outlet besides school. As well as at church, I was able to do the things I was built for at the annual AG Fine Arts Festival. Church and Fine Arts helped to give me a way to direct and hone the abilities I had been given in a very positive, constructive way. Not to mention my husband Matt and I first started dating on a Fine Arts trip. (And yes, I married my high school sweetheart!) I entered paintings, a sculpture, t-shirt designs, vocal solos, and human videos throughout the years. I also grew into a leadership position in our youth group, leading worship and directing the drama team for what went on to be 7 years and a job as the Youth Pastor’s Assistant. Our drama team even advanced to the National Fine Arts Festival in 5 of those years.

Did I mention I was painfully shy growing up? I absolutely was! I could hardly even ask for extra ketchup at a restaurant let alone use my abilities in front of people. But I got involved in youth group, with the help of friends and fantastic leaders, and slowly but surely found confidence in myself and my God-given talents. During those years my faith flourished and grew as well.

During college and shortly after getting married at 20, I was in school for a fashion design and merchandising degree and interned for the visual team at Anthropologie on the Country Club Plaza. I loved it! Crafting together displays from ordinary items and making them extraordinary was right up my alley. I love taking something seemingly useless by itself and creating something beautiful and unexpected. I learned a lot from that internship!

I was still going strong leading worship and the drama team, but I started wondering what was next. A definitive moment in my life happened when I was in that place. One day I was given the name Nazareth. I knew it didn’t mean I was supposed to go there, but it was meant to be the name of my business someday.

By the age of 28, I had served with 4 different youth pastors, my husband and I led our church’s children’s ministry for a couple of years, we had bought our first house and then our next one, had a 4-year-old and a 2-month-old, and I had my first vendor booth ever. It was the initial launch of Nazareth Handmade Boutique!

Nazareth Boutique is all handmade faith-based items made by my own two hands. At that time, I made shirts, baby onesies & blankets, jewelry, wall signs, and throw pillows. In several of those items, I prefer to use reclaimed materials and give them new life. And to say I was nervous then may have been an understatement. This tiny “business” was something I had started crafting when my firstborn was a baby. I knew I was meant to do it, but I felt pretty intimidated and it felt so personal. Almost like if I didn’t sell anything, then that meant no one liked the things I made and I wasn’t good enough or was a failure (which was totally something I would have to face & overcome in the coming years). I knew God had put this on my heart to do, but it was still scary to step out and do it. But I was so blessed to have friends and family who showed up and supported me. They have been there for me through every stage of this journey and I am so grateful!

From then on, I have kept on going with my business little by little. My husband and I were hired on as children’s ministry pastors about 7 years ago, and we had our third son (who was a total surprise!) in 2018. So life keeps us pretty busy.

In Nazareth Handmade Boutique, I now do mostly custom wooden wall signs, sublimated t-shirts of my own designs and custom, door hangers, a few shirts for kiddos or babies, and use reclaimed materials as much as I can. I love creating and making the things that I do! And I love trying my hand at new things. I will have a booth at events whenever I’m able, but a lot of my contact comes from social media. I post what I’m up to and any new stuff on my Facebook page @nazarethhandmadeboutique as often as possible.

As a kids’ pastor, I get to use my creativity as well. Matt & I love the kids and have so much fun teaching them! Plus, I get to do a lot of decorating, we make videos, plan fun events, play crazy games, raise money for missionaries in fun ways, and all the kids’ pastors things. Growing up, I honestly thought children’s pastors were a little crazy or weird. I never imagined that I would become one! Haha! But we never really know what God has in store for us, do we?

My family has always been and will be my first ministry. I was blessed with them for a reason. I am blessed to get to be a stay-at-home mom with my three little boys. I remind myself almost daily that these are the times that memories are made. We don’t get time back, so we should never take it lightly and should use it wisely. I admit I haven’t always followed that wisdom, but I try. I do my best with my family, my little boutique (which is also a ministry to me), and our children’s ministry. In the end, I just want to hear “Well done”.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I can’t say that it has been a completely smooth road. Everyone has some type of struggle in life.

Starting in high school and into much of my adult life, I struggled with self-confidence and whether or not I was “good enough”. I had let some of the mean things that others had said (you know, the “mean girls”) and the media sink in and take hold when they shouldn’t have. I grew self-conscious. I believe that I let the lies of fear and self-doubt creep in and keep me back from my full potential. When I became an adult and later a mom, I felt a whole different pressure. The pressure was that I wasn’t being a good enough mom, wife, ministry leader, or homemaker. The pressure that comes from other moms, wives, Pinterest, and the media is tough! And parenting is hard. Ministry can be hard. Starting a small business while having small kids is hard. But I’ve come to learn and finally accept that I am who God made me be, and others are who God made them be. As long as I’m doing my best and putting my trust in Him, I am enough. I can do hard things!

Although it is so easy to compare yourself to others’ family lives, homes, successful businesses, Instagrams, and even ministries, you have to remember that the world needs who you were created to be; yourself. I’ve always liked the quote, “You were born an original, don’t die a copy” (John Mason). I have finally learned not to let the world have such an impression on me. I will be me, and do what God has created me to do.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am the owner and designer of Nazareth Handmade Boutique. It’s a very small faith-based business in which each item is handmade by me. That makes every product beautifully unique in its own way. I specialize in hand-painted wooden wall signs and door hangers, in which I do most of my custom orders. I started making sublimated t-shirts this past year and love it! It’s so amazing to be able to create whatever shirt design that I dream up and print it myself!

My quality items are made to encourage and inspire. To share love, hope, and joy in the lives of those who may see them every day. To speak life into those who need it. And sometimes a little humor too!

I’m proud of how far this little business of mine has come, even if it has grown slowly over the years. I am thankful for the beautiful space that I have to work in (thanks Matt!) and for encouraging, supportive family and friends.
I’ve built a brand that I love, and was even asked once if it was a direct sales company! Haha!

I offer several things in my boutique and am trying different things whenever I can. I like to keep it interesting! I use upcycled materials in most of my wall signs. I make them in just about any size with endless possibilities of colors and stains, with hanging hardware included! Some of the most fun wall signs I’ve created were custom ordered. If you have an idea, we can work together to make it happen. I make arm-knitted scarves in the fall and winter with only the prettiest, coziest yarns I can find.

My Message in Bottle necklaces are non-allergenic and are very customizable. This includes any string color on the bottle that the client likes, and any verse, saying, name, or date in the bottle that they like. My shirts are available in a variety of sizes, colors, and designs. If I don’t have the color or size you need with one of my designs that you like, just reach out and I can likely make it!

It’s important to me to support charitable causes that I believe in as well. One of my shirt designs is for Project Rescue; an organization based in Springfield, MO with a mission to end human trafficking. All proceeds from those shirts go to support them. I look forward to supporting other causes in the near future as well.

I do not have a brick-and-mortar store, but to see my shop in person you’ll have to catch me at vendor events in the Kansas City area. My events and all items that I have to offer, as well as custom orders I have done in the past, are all on my Facebook page (Nazareth: Handmade Boutique). I am most active there; posting about upcoming events, new products, etc. I am also on Instagram (@nazarethhandmade), and more recently, TikTok (@nazarethboutique). I am planning to do more Live videos across the platforms and more frequent updates! Come on over and say hi!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nazarethhandmade/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NazarethBoutique/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nazarethboutique?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Image Credits
Sarah Wright Photography