Tina Ames envisioned having her storefront in downtown Plano long before the space became available for her.

Making bath and body products began as a hobby for her family and friends and quickly grew into a way for her family to raise money for charity.

Later, it became its own business, with wholesale production, online orders and a need for storefront space.

“I knew that’s where my heart wanted me to be,” Ames said. “So I just kind of waited.”

The foundation of Ames’ business is her soaps, she said. She began by making soaps and still finds them to be her favorite thing to make.

“I wanted to create something that was gentle for my skin and gentle for my family’s skin and didn’t have a bunch of harsh chemicals,” Ames said. “I think [in] my other life, I was a scientist because it’s just really interesting to learn how all these different butters and fats and oils and then additives can be customized to different needs on your skin.”

Now, Sweet Home Bath + Body fits into a downtown Plano storefront. Ames spends her days filling orders in the center of her storefront, where a large glass window allows customers to see her at work.

In the evenings, she hosts Pinterest-inspired classes for the community and often invites nearby and other local artists to teach in the workshop space near the back of her store.

“My goal is to get people to try something different and see that they can create something with their hands and maybe [find] a passion for them to continue doing that,” Ames said.

Ames’ products range from bath bombs and shower steamers to facial care, with items such as foot scrubbies—a unique foot loofah—somewhere in between. Through creating all her products and fulfilling her goal to be nestled in Plano’s historic downtown, Ames’ intentions remain the same.

“For me, it’s being a part of the community and offering something I’m passionate about, that I love creating, that other people love using and sharing,” Ames said.