Hi, we’re Liz and Ryan, founders of Mellow Fidgets.
If you’ve stumbled along your way to Mellow Fidgets, we thought we’d properly introduce ourselves and share how this little sensory business came to life.
Some of you may already know us from Loonar 3D, our family-run 3D printing business where we create gifts and accessories for bookworms, gamers, fantasy fans and geeks. From fantasy book nooks and bookmarks to gaming accessories and shelf decor, we’ve spent years bringing people’s favourite hobbies and fictional worlds to life through 3D printing.
But Mellow Fidgets actually started by accident.
It Started With a Few Fidgets for Ourselves
Like many people, we’re both natural fidgeters.
Ryan has always preferred doing something with his hands while working, concentrating, or sitting through long meetings. Liz has struggled with chronic hand and finger biting since being a little girl. So when we first started experimenting with sensory products, it wasn’t because we planned to launch a new business.
We simply wanted to create a few fidgets for ourselves.
A textured stim here.
A clicker there.
Something satisfying to fiddle with whilst working at the computer or watching television in the evening.
The kind of products we wished existed when we needed them.
The Unexpected Response
After making a few designs for ourselves, we decided to add them to our Etsy shop alongside our usual 3D printed products.
To be honest, we didn’t think much would happen.
After all, our customers mostly came to us for keychains, gaming gifts, bookish accessories, and fantasy decor.
But then something surprising happened.
The fidgets started selling...
And then they kept selling internationally...
And then we started getting custom requests...
Before long, they had become some of our most popular products and our designs started to expand.
We started seeing repeat customers returning for different textures and styles and receiving bulk orders from schools, support organisations, and sensory groups. We decided to make our fidgets a completely separate business from Loonar 3D. Somewhere, we can focus on helping people who need that sensory input to feel calm and regulate.
Members of the autism community told us they appreciated having more options available that felt fun rather than clinical, the texture of the PLA plastic we use was something they enjoyed and having the option to customise colour, design and intensity (especially for the pain stims).
That’s when we realised we might be onto something much bigger than a side product.
Building a Community
As orders continued to grow, we found ourselves shipping sensory products all over the world. What started as a handful of fidgets on Etsy quickly expanded into orders across the UK, America, Australia, and beyond.
The more customers we spoke to, the more we realised that sensory needs come in all shapes and sizes. Some people love textured pain stims. Others prefer smooth worry stones. Some enjoy rolling fidgets, articulated flexi toys, or pocket-sized sensory tools they can use discreetly throughout the day.
There wasn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but to be honest, that’s what makes the sensory community so interesting. Everyone’s needs are different, and we can provide that service.
Why We Created Mellow Fidgets
Eventually, we reached a point where we asked ourselves a simple question. If these fidget toys are helping so many people, shouldn’t they have a home of their own?
That’s where the idea for Mellow Fidgets came from.
Rather than being mixed in amongst our Etsy, which is more targeted towards readers and gamers. We wanted to create a dedicated space focused entirely on sensory products and fidget toys.
A place where sensory seekers could browse collections designed specifically for them, continue experimenting with new textures, new ideas, and new products. Also an easier place for customers to request custom designs and help shape future collections.
Where We’re Heading Next
Our goal is simple.
We want to create a growing range of tactile, textured, satisfying fidget toys and sensory tools for anyone who enjoys keeping their hands busy.
Whether you’re autistic, have ADHD, experience anxiety, enjoy stimming, or simply like having something to fiddle with whilst you think, we want to create products that feel good to use and are built to last.
We’re constantly testing new ideas, experimenting with new textures, and listening to customer feedback to improve what we offer.
And because everything is made by us, we’re always happy to explore custom requests and wholesale options for businesses running tradeshows, events or teachers working with special needs. (Enquire here if you're looking for custom or bulk orders)
Some of our favourite products have actually come from customer suggestions.
Thank You
Every order, message, review, and recommendation has helped us grow from a few personal fidgets into a dedicated sensory brand.
We’re incredibly grateful for every customer who has supported us along the way.
Whether you’re here for a textured pain stim, a worry stone, a flexi animal, a desk fidget, or something completely unique, we’re excited to have you here.
Thank you for being part of the Mellow Fidgets story.
We’re only just getting started.