Cottage Plates was started in 1978 by family friend, Kay Cooper, after a trip she took to Europe. She was inspired by the quaint welcoming door plaques on many of the cottages. Upon returning home, Kay designed and produced her own personalized door plaques out of her shop/studio on Balboa Island. By 1997, Kay was ready to retire, when my mom, Cindy Kupper and her friend, Mary Hardesty-Clayton, bought the business. Cindy ran the day-to-day operations, with Mary providing valuable advice, handling the advertising and new designs all while working her real estate business from the other room. I have been with them from the beginning. After a rough last year Cindy is ready to enjoy retirement, and with my own girls in middle school, it’s my turn to run Cottage Plates full-time.