The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Seamstress finds niche with PPEs for Santa’s helpers
MIDDLETOWN — The small, red elf dolls that have thrilled children internationally for 16 years, hidden throughout the home by parents in the weeks before Christmas, can now sport a matching face mask during the pandemic.
These teeny red felt masks that can be affixed to the face of Elf on the Shelf dolls, just as humans use for protection during the COVID-19 outbreak, are the creation of Middletown dental hygienist Regina Salafia, who has had a penchant for sewing since she was young.
Her business is called scrub_caps_etc.
The Elf on the Shelf company co-founder Chanda Bell and her mother wrote the eponymous children’s book in 2005. Since then, countless families have been following the tradition of hiding Santa’s elves each night. These little “spies” are said to watch kids throughout the daytime, then “disappear” to the North Pole to report back to Jolly Old St. Nick whether they have been naughty or nice.
Salafia, who said she rediscovered her love of sewing in April, just as the pandemic forced big changes in everyone’s lives, came up with the idea of quarantine masks for the dolls when they first arrive from Santa’s workshop. Just like their human counterparts, a two-week period of isolation is “required,” a feature that also helps young people understand the concept of quarantining.
“Some of my best memories come from crafting,” Salafia said. “I would always go through phases of sewing — put it on the back burner, and then sell again.”
She began by sewing bonnets for people she works with. It was then that Salafia remembered how much fun her hobby was.
Soon, she was making masks. “I feel so content because I’m doing something I really enjoy. It’s so rewarding,” she said.
She learned how to sew as a child from her grandmother as a child. In high school, she continued that passion while working in a tailor shop for a seamstress that has since become a “dear friend,” Salafia said.
Alocal day care owner reached out to her with the idea of making these for her Elf on the Shelf. “It started taking off,” so Salafia created an Etsy shop. Since then, she’s sold over 1,000 using her trusty Singer sewing machine to create them.
“I can’t believe it. It’s shocking. It’s like a little factory here,” Salafia said of her work area.
In the past, she created breast cancer-themed items, as well as scrub caps for a nurse at a Bridgeport COVID unit.
The doll masks are very tiny — about two inches in width — and require a rotary cutter to mark the cut lines. She then employs very small scissors to shape the felt.
Lately, Salafia has been driven to block out any free time she has for crafting, which consumes a good chunk of her days. She awakens at 4 p.m. to sew, goes to work, does a little more on her lunch hour, and sews until it’s time for bed. “I love it. It’s not work.”
One customer asked her to make masks for her children made of satin material so they’d be more comfortable, and their faces wouldn’t break out from wearing them for long periods, Salafia said. They’re very comfortable, she said.
Besides her very popular elf masks, Salafia sells handmade scrub caps and bonnets, as well as hair scrunchies, key fobs, and a host of other handmade items via her Instagram account and Etsy page. Each is “elegantly” wrapped for gifting.
The caps are fitted, and bonnets are a little larger to allow for people with have longer hair. There is an array of choices, and can even be custom made in an array of 200 different fabrics. Others are made in a cone shape so they don’t directly rest on the face, and some with stiff flannels.
Soon, she’ll be selling lanyards for health-care workers and plans to branch out into dog bandannas with matching masks for their humans. All her products are hand-washable.
Salafia is on Instagram, and has has a Facebook page and Etsy shop. For information, visit facebook.com/Scrubcapsetc or etsy.com.