Kozy Carrier - THE KOZY STORY

The Kozy Story

Kelley and 8 month old Piper

March 2003

My inspiration for the Kozy came from the carriers that came before mine. My daughter was a baby that needed to be held constantly (like most babies ;-). After many a day with back, shoulder, and neck pain (from my adjustable sling and 2 pinched nerves in my back) I was ready to try something new.

I don't claim to have "invented" this carrier (hey, I am creative, not brilliant ;-) These types of Asian style carriers have been around for a long time. I was inspired by the first one I saw online and I simply added my own ideas to the more modern versions out there today with the hopes that perhaps I could offer you something a bit "different" that might not be offered in other "asian style" carriers. And when I started selling online in 2003 the Kozy was quite unique ;-)

I am a 32 year old SAHM to four wonderful kids. My husband is pretty great too! I am a Christian and an advocate for breastfeeding and homebirth. We have a "natural" approach to pretty much everything, keeping in mind the way God created things. From the way they are born to the way they are raised and taught, I try to take a gentle approach with my children.

I am not a seamstress and don't claim to be. I just taught myself to sew a few years ago and since then have managed to learn quite a bit. I started out just making curtains and pillows. I got a New Native Baby Carrier when my son was born but in a few months he was getting tired of it. Not having the extra $ to buy all the slings I wanted to try I simply started "winging it" and made my own. I have made many of the slings I have owned and used over the years from wraps, adjustable padded and unpadded slings to pouches and now front/back carriers (The Kozy of course, which is by far my favorite). I have also managed to make many of my own cloth diapers and even leather baby shoes.

When I can squeeze in a few minutes here and there throughout the day to sew it is usually being done while a toddler plays at my feet (or tries to steal my pin cushion :-). My youngest will typically be climbing up my leg or tied securely on my back taking a nap or just chilling.

About Me

About Kristi

Kristi Jennings is 37 years old, and the wife of Chris Jennings. (Kristi and Chris have known each other since the second grade.) She too is a Christian. Since graduating college with a degree in Finance, Kristi has served in a number of capacities both in the private and non-profit sectors, including IBM and the North American Mission Board in Georgia, World Help and Mail America in Forest, Virginia, and her most recent position as the Director of Finance for the Greater Lynchburg Community Trust. She joined forces with me in 2004 and now works full time directing the day-to-day operations of KozyWare LLC, the parent company of Kozy Carrier. I don't know what I would do without her.

Kristi's hobbies include camping, four-wheeling, antiquing, sports and music (she is an outstanding singer, as are all my sisters).

KOZY IS A SMALL BUT GROWING FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS. KELLEY MASON IS THE FOUNDER AND DESIGNER OF THE KOZY. AS A WORK AT HOME MOM (WAHM) MOST OF HER TIME IS SPENT WITH HER FOUR LITTLE ONES. WHEN THE BUSINESS BEGAN TO TAKE OFF, KELLEY BROUGHT HER SISTER, KRISTI JENNINGS, ON AS A PARTNER. KRISTI'S EXPERTISE IS IN FINANCE AND MARKETING, SO SHE HANDLES THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS WHILE KELLEY CONTINUES WITH THE CREATIVE SIDE.

My first carrier was made on a whim in Nov 2002 when I saw a picture of a mei tai on the Internet. What a life saver that was!! The next day I made one from scraps, pretty much just winging it (there were no patterns or instructions out then). Once I learned how to tie it I put her on my back for the first time (by myself). My other carriers started gathering dust. A few weeks later I wore her on my back through several days of packing, lifting, loading and cleaning during a move. I later learned that this style of carrier is Asian and known as a "Mei Tai".

Eventually I developed a carrier that worked best for me (the Kozy that you know now). Through many months of trial and error, I was able to come up with a design I loved. I did some things I had never seen done to a mei tai. I added light padding in the straps, used nice sturdy fabric, made them reversible and added a pocket and a padded head rest etc. When my sisters and my friends saw the carrier, you can imagine what happened next. You guessed it! Soon I was busy making carriers for them. They would usually furnish the fabric and I would sew them for free, as a gift. It was a labor of love and something I felt was very important. I had no intention of selling this carrier. But, upon the strong urging of family and friends I decided to sell them locally (though I really didn't advertise and only sold one or two). Almost a year after making my first mei tai (and due to circumstances in my life at the time) I decided to make them available to others online. There were only a few others out at that time and the Kozy had so many unique and more modern features (mentioned above) that the others didn't. These features made the Kozy so different from what others had tried before, that I was immediately innundated with orders from around the world. And I guess the rest is history.

THE MASON FAMILY

Charlie & Kelley . . . Ever, Xian, Arah and Piper

by Kelley Mason

KRISTI & CHRIS JENNINGS and "General"

About The Family

Kristi is the second and I am the third of five daughters born to Kayward and Glenda Davis. We are Georgia natives but the family moved to Virginia in 1976. Four of the five sisters call Virginia home. Karla (the youngest) works for Turner Network and lives in Atlanta.

The picture at left is of the Kelley Mason and Kristi Jennings families. It was taken at the annual Thanksgiving feast in Buckingham County Virginia, home of my oldest sister, Kim Zeh.

Thanksgiving is a very special time for our close knit family. Having dinner at the Zeh farm is a long-standing tradition, and one that we hope continues for a long, long time. Everyone was there, with the exception of Kim's husband, Capt. John W. Zeh, who is deployed with the Virginia Guard to Iraq. We are very proud of John.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE FOR A FULL SHOT OF THE ENTIRE DAVIS CLAN!

The children....top to bottom and left to right are: Arah, Ever (snug in his Kozy), Piper and big brother, Xian.