Local moms learn value of home businesses
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers BUSY MOM--Diana Turk of Agoura Hills operates a home-based business making personalized decorative plates. Turk says she averages about 45 hours per week working on her business, in addition to raising her three children.

In between driving school car pools and helping kids with homework, an increasing number of Conejo Valley stay-at-home moms are running unique businesses from their kitchens and garages. These multitasking mommy entrepreneurs use their talents to earn extra cash for their families while still being able to stay at home.

Diana Turk of Agoura Hills and Dawn Stillo, Lauren Kellenberger and Connie Balke of Oak Park have found success with unique endeavors, counting celebrities as well as friends, neighbors and family among their clientele.

They're in good company. Women, including those with children, are starting businesses at almost double the rate of men. According to the Center for Women's Business Research, there are 1.4 million privately held, women-owned businesses in California that earn approximately $300 million in revenue.

But it's not always easy balancing family and work.

Turk's business, which is called People Platters, has taken over the family garage with organized rows of shelves and drawers filled with materials used for her creations. Turk designs personalized ceramic platters featuring three-dimensional custom clay characters, clever charms reflecting hobbies and interests of recipients, their names and significant dates. Turk is busy year-round with orders for birthdays, weddings and anniversaries, bar mitzvahs, Mother's and Father's Day, coach and teacher gifts and awards. She also offers parties where guests create their own plates.

"I love seeing how people feel good when they get one of these plates," Turk said. She counts basketball star Shaquille O'Neal among her clients. She estimates that she's made more than 1,000 plates since launching the enterprise in 2003.

A law school graduate, Turk prefers being creative while at the same time earning some income.

"I don't think I could work for someone," Turk said. "It's not my personality."

The business has taken her to China several times, away from her husband, Greg, and three children, Shayna, 15, Andy, 13 and Talia, 10. Sometimes when the work hours are long Turk feels guilty. But she said she likes doing something beyond being a mother and wife and feels she's a good role model for her children.

"The kids have to be more independent, self-reliant and responsible than other kids who have everything done for them," Turk said.

Through helping their mom with People Platters her kids have learned about business and marketing.

"It's been a good experience for all of us," Turk said.

Business scents

Dawn Stillo calls her kitchen a science lab. That's where she formulates her line of natural skin care products called La Femme Boheme.

A certified aromatherapist, Stillo avoids chemicals, using essential oils distilled from therapeutic plants to create skin cleansers, moisturizers and aromatherapy sprays. She has a fair-trade agreement with tribal women in Ghana for their pure shea butter. Stillo has a high-profile clientele that includes film and television stars and professional athletes.

Although she has been approached by large department stores to expand her business Stillo has resisted, for now.

"I feel the timing isn't right. I want to keep my schedule free and available for the kids," Stillo said. "Later when they're older I'll expand."

When her sons, Trey, 11, and Gianni, 9, go to school, Stillo plays tennis in the morning, then works until the boys come home.

"I try to touch my business every day, whether it's marketing, manufacturing, researching, learning or making labels," Stillo said.

The winter holidays are especially busy, but her family understands, Stillo said.

"I have products all over the kitchen," Stillo said. "We don't cook during that time."

The added income helps pay bills like Stillo's car payment as well as extras.

"The boys love that I'm able to buy certain things with my oil money, as they call it," Stillo said.

House painting

As a gift for her father, Lauren Kellenberger painted on a platter a portrait of his newly remodeled home. After friends began asking her to paint their homes, she formed Home Portraits by Lauren. Using special nontoxic paint, Kellenberger captures and preserves the exterior of a home on large glazed ceramic platters. The platter, which is usable, is displayed on an ornamental stand.

Kellenberger works in her kitchen while watching TV or listening to music. She meets with clients in her home or in their homes or workplaces.

"I work when the kids are at school or whenever I feel like it, which is nice," Kellenberger said.

Before getting married, Kellenberger owned a sports equipment store in Westlake Village. She stopped working to raise sons Brett, 16, Kyle, 12, and Eric, 9. When painting, she often asks the kids for their opinions.

"Originally this was just for fun. Then it became more of a necessity because it does make a difference in the family budget," Kellenberger said. "It helps supplement our income for the extras like a nice vacation."

Batting eyelashes

After her two children were born, Connie Balke returned to work as a hairdresser. A licensed cosmetologist with a degree from the Vidal Sassoon Academy in Santa Monica, Balke enjoyed the job and income. But working evenings and Saturdays at the salon put stress on her family.

"I love my family too much to put them through that," Balke said.

Over the years she earned licenses in gaming, construction and real estate, and worked as a notary and as a manicurist. Balke said she enjoyed learning new things that she hoped could translate into lucrative home-based businesses. Then she heard about Xtreme Lashes, an eyelash extension company.

She underwent training to become a certified eyelash technician, operating out of a home office.

Using a special tweezer and glue, it takes two hours to put 40 to 60 lashes on each eyelid and also lengthen them and thicken them. The extensions last one to two months, with no mascara necessary. Clients can choose different color lashes or have crystals applied. Balke has provided eyelashes for a number of movie stars and was the Xtreme eyelash provider for presenters at the recent Golden Globe awards.

"It's tedious but I don't mind. I'm crafty, and I prefer to do something like this," Balke said.

She works during the day when her children, Hannah Rose, 8, and Carson, 5, are at school. Once when Carson was sick, Balke kept him upstairs while she was able to work downstairs.

"It hasn't disrupted my family at all, and I'm able to bring in income, which helps if we want to buy something or go on vacation," Balke said. "It's all about working around my kids' schedule."