FAYETTEVILLE, WV (LOOTPRESS) -Heather Sanchez, owner and founder of Mariposa Hollow in Glen Morgan, will be exhibiting a large selection of her handmade polymer clay jewelry, including the Mountain Mama Collection, which celebrates West Virginia, at the WV Hive booth at the 46th annual Bridge Day 2026 on October 17.
Sanchez said she will also showcase her geode-style pieces and other Mariposa Hollow designs. She will also offer handmade bookmarks and other handmade jewelry that reflects what Mariposa Hollow is all about.
“For a business that creates so many West Virginia-inspired pieces, Bridge Day is our ultimate event,” said Sanchez. “It brings together thousands of people who love West Virginia, so I really can’t think of a better place to showcase my Mountain Mama Collection and Mariposa Hollow. Being part of Bridge Day has been a goal of mine, and getting this opportunity through the West Virginia Hive feels like a pretty big milestone for such a young business.”
Mariposa Hollow officially launched in May 2025, and Sanchez is excited about the progress and potential of her business.
“I’ve always considered myself a serial crafter,” said Sanchez. “For a while I made jewelry and lampwork beads, which I absolutely loved, but the amount of time it took to create a single piece made it hard for me to stay interested. I started working with polymer clay in late 2022 and finally felt like I had found my medium. There are so many different things I can do with it, so I can constantly try something new without completely changing what I’m doing. That creative freedom is really what led to Mariposa Hollow.”
Sanchez will be joined at the Bridge Day booth by her “Mariposa Girls” — Renee Harless, her best friend, and Megan Bragg, her cousin. “These two are literally my righthand women when it comes to Mariposa Hollow,” Sanchez noted. “They’re always there to jump in and help wherever I need them, and I couldn’t imagine tackling Bridge Day without them.”
Sanchez said her entrepreneurial journey has evolved over time. “Our business is growing in a different direction than I originally pictured,” she said. “When I opened the storefront in November 2025, I thought classes and building that community connection would be a much bigger part of the business. I still love that side of Mariposa Hollow, but my jewelry has kind of taken on a life of its own. Between moving into wholesale, Tamarack, and now preparing for Bridge Day, I’m realizing that part of the business may be turning into something much bigger than I originally planned — and I’m embracing it. I’m learning to follow where the business wants to go instead of being so attached to what I originally thought it would look like.”
Sanchez said the West Virginia Hive, the entrepreneurship program of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, has greatly assisted in her success. “The WV Hive has been a huge part of Mariposa Hollow’s growth, and I have to give a special shoutout to Devon, our business advisor,” noted Sanchez. “Devon has always been there to answer questions, talk through ideas, connect me with resources and opportunities, and sometimes just reassure me that I’m headed in the right direction. She’s definitely played a vital role in helping me grow Mariposa Hollow. The [WV] Hive also provided technical assistance for my website redesign and, of course, this opportunity to take Mariposa Hollow to Bridge Day. I’m incredibly grateful for all of the support,” she added.
More about Mariposa Hollow is available at its website: Mariposa Hollow
The West Virginia Hive will also showcase five other clients at its booth – The Wooly Gorge in Oak Hill; Hinton Outfitters in Hinton; Sunbeams & Moonshine Creations in Talcott; Kraken Glass N Crafts, also in Talcott; and Wild & Untamed Things in Alderson.
Devon Fitzgerald, Regional Business Advisor with the West Virginia Hive, invites Bridge Day visitors to stop by the WV Hive booth to meet the entrepreneurs and learn more about their unique products and services.
Booths are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during Bridge Day 2026 at the New River Gorge in Fayette County.
The WV Hive Network serves Raleigh, Fayette, Summers and Nicholas.
To learn more about the WV Hive or become a client, visit https://wvhive.com.
