Dunlap Love

SMALL BATCH toys with a story to encourage emotional intelligence through connection and play www.dunlaplove.com

09/17/2026

THIS WEEKEND!!
I am excited to be in Greensboro for the weekend at the North Carolina Folk Festival in the Maker's Tent with 70 North Carolina made vendors and creators!

This is a FREE festival full of really amazing music, family fun, food, and supporting your local small businesses!

SCHEDULE:
FRI: 5:30-10
SAT: 11:30-10
SUN: 11:30-7

Find me in the Maker's Tent near Church St + Hughs St. 🎉✨️

09/16/2026

Art inspires art.
This past weekend at Indie Craft Parade l Makers Collective I was given a gift. Ava had bought a Larry pigeon on Saturday. She came back on Sunday to give me an art masterpiece of Larry eating his cheese pizza like a true New Yorker. She told me how much she loved Larry and to be frank: this is my why.

I make toys.
But actually, I am making connections.
With self, with others, with art.

Thank you, Ava, for reminding me of why I am a toy maker. Your gift will be framed in my studio.

And listen, anytime you want to bring me a gift like this you will actually see me cry. 🥹

09/10/2026

Gilbert the goat has been helping me pack up all the friends for Indie Craft Parade l Makers Collective THIS WEEKEND!!!!

Find me in the Annex! Booth A9!
Can't wait to see you there!

09/09/2026

I just really hope you know how much I love getting to connect with you, share my story, listen to yours, and giggle and sometimes cry in the little booth space I call home at each event. These moments are why I keep creating.

I get to hold space for so many that didn't expect a toy's story to bring back a memory, a feeling, a moment of connection. I get to be there with you in it and that is truly the most amazing part of this adventure for me. I am grateful for how art can do that, connect us this way.

I am very excited to see you at an event this fall/holiday season. ✨️

09/03/2026

Hiii! Let me re-introduce myself!
I am Kaylyn, maker and small business owner run by lots of imagination and whimsy.
I live in Charlotte, NC with my five incredible kids (okay, mostly young adults now). I am passionate about imagination and storytelling, and how they can encourage children and grown ups to know their own value in this world and experience connection to self and to their community.

I started making one of a kind plush toys in 2007 when I was looking for unique toys for my own daughter and needed a creative outlet. My Dunlap friends have evolved greatly over the years as I have learned new techniques, discovered my favorite fabrics to use, and decided these toys needed their own personalities and stories. Creating these modern heirloom keepsakes has been a great source of joy for me and has become a big part of my life. Your stories of how my art has impacted your lives and created comfort, meaning, and joy keeps me going each day!

I am living my best life when I am doing epic made-up bed time stories and whisking my children away to made up lands full of unlikely characters. I am a wannabe New Yorker and a future Disney Annual Passholder that enjoys traveling to new places and to come home feeling more inspired to create and dream. You can also find me with a diet coke in hand telling you all about my love for otters and pigeons.

Thanks for being here and a part of the story of Dunlap Love! You can get the deep dive by heading the the MEET THE MAKER highlight. ❤️

[Photo by the amazing Meg(an) | Editorial, Brand & Interiors Photographer ]

05/26/2026

You may have heard the news... I got to recently collab with and bring some of their emotional support characters to life for Mental Health Awareness month! MEET HAPPY, SAD, AND AWKWARD.

You can grab one for yourself at the Dilworth location of this very fun ice cream shop that has ice cream for ALL. Truly!

I love Jess and Garrett so much and have loved getting to team up to remind you that feelings are meant to be shared and they teach us what we need!
No feeling is bad. They are each a part of our human experience and give us information. I hope you pick up one of these emotional support pals and that they remind you to get to know those feelings as they come up....and I hope they make you giggle. ❤️

Visit for location and hours info!

05/03/2026

THANK YOU, BALLANTYNE!!
It was a cold and rainy start to May and I wasn't sure how the day would turn out....and you guys showed up and supported small business and brought home some Dunlap friends! You kept me smiling today, Thanks for all the love!

It might have helped that was right behind my booth, I saw you all head there first! And now I know why!! Currently obsessed with that salt bagel and truffle butter. Life changed.

Thanks so much to for another well organized and fun event! 🩷

04/16/2026

This week has been one of those weeks.
News of more small businesses closing doors, taxes, needing to scale and needing resources to do so, Painted Tree just stops existing and leaves small biz to pick up the pieces. Costs have gotten higher. All of them. It all feels like a lot and I know I am not the only small business feeling it all right now.

I am trying to think positive and also think long term and how it can be sustainable. I have some ideas, and I am trying not to let fear get in my way. All part of the process.

Today I will focus on the fact that I did choose to be brave and it really is extraordinary that I have built this little dream from the ground up.

Now more than ever, support small business in your communities!

Address

Charlotte, NC

Website

http://www.dunlaplove.com/

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