Artist Profile: Happy Made Goods

Our Artist Profile for July features a group of artists from our partner organization, the Myers-Davis Skills Training Center.

Sidney and Kelly mixing lotion.

When Director Heather Keirn joined Myers-Davis in 2024, she set out to create a learning environment for individuals with disabilities that would teach them real job skills. Her goals were to prepare students for employment, provide opportunities for independence, and encourage meaningful participation in their community. From that vision, Happy Made Goods was born.

From the beginning, the students were heavily involved in developing the program. They helped create the name and logo and came up with ideas for the products. Today, Happy Made Goods operates as a fully functional online store selling handmade body care items where students are involved in every area: production, packaging, sales, customer service, graphic design, and social media. The summer program meets three times a week with up to nine students so that each person receives individualized support. No prior skills are required, only the desire to learn and grow. Students rotate through tasks to discover what they enjoy most, while also being pushed beyond their comfort zones.

The Happy Made Goods team.

Happy Made Goods has quickly earned community support. Their tallow-based skincare remains a top seller, along with seasonal favorites like the Sun Recovery Cooling Gel, Sun Recovery Tallow Repair Lotion, and the popular Bug Off Botanical Body Mist. They also recently started working on a line of dog shampoo bars inspired by the students’ love for animals called the Happy Paws line. Every purchase directly supports the students who make the products and the continuation of the program.

We are excited to welcome Happy Made Goods as a new member of the Blue Umbrella family as we continue to support artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities.