In 1971, Cheryl became a first-time mother to a baby boy (Jay) and was given a gift that left a lasting impression: a blue, glass-blown stork with a bundle attached. That stork would later serve as the inspiration for Stork News. Years later, when a neighbor had their baby, Cheryl was unimpressed with the typical pink bow on their mailbox. Determined to create something unique, she grabbed a piece of paper and sketched out her own stork design. With only $25 to her name, Cheryl purchased a sheet of plywood, drew her design, and with the help of her husband (John) cutting wood pieces and daughter (Kim) contributing her cross-stitch expertise, Cheryl brought her vision to life.

Cheryl poured her heart and soul into Stork News, working tirelessly to make her business a success. With a limited number of storks available, she sometimes had to hand paint a pink store blue and vice versa, depending on the client’s needs. Her first storks were sold for just $35, and Cheryl manually recorded every order in a green flight book that is still in her possession. The early days were full of hustle, with oil paints drying in her garage and dining room, as Stork News slowly began to take shape.