Though she's pregnant with her second child, Kiesha Baker doesn't slouch. She's busy as a bee at her family's new store, The Laughing Willow, which opened just a few weeks ago inside the Bishop Arts District. The store, which offers affordable vintage-inspired fashion for all body types, is Baker's passion project.

Her family owns Emma's Bridal Boutique in Red Oak, where she worked previously, and her father crafted all of the shelving from reclaimed materials. Baker's the buyer and manager of the Bishop Avenue store,  which is just a hop, skip and jump from Eno's Pizza, where her husband, Robert, is the manager.

Baker, who works hard to balance business with motherhood, loves the Oak Cliff for it's small-town feel and big city attitude. She took a few minutes to humor us with a couple of questions about family life and her love of the Bishop Arts District.

— Jo England

The Laughing Willow is relatively new to the Bishop Arts District. Why did you decide to set up shop there?

We were approached by Matt Spillers, owner of Eno’s about opening in a space next to them. My husband and I love the small-town feel of the area and loved the idea of being a part of it. It’s so great to walk down the street and wave to people you know. I have always wanted to live somewhere like that, but with culture like this area.

You said your husband works at Enos, which is just a few stores down from your business. What's it like working so close to your spouse? 

We love it! We have worked together before and it’s so nice to run over for lunch and see him for a few minutes.

What's your favorite thing about being in the apparel industry? How do you choose the pieces in your store? 

I love how quickly the industry changes its style — you never have a chance to get bored! When we go to market, my mom (the owner of both Laughing Willow and Emma’s Bridal Boutique), my college-aged sister, and myself all pick the pieces. We want the versatility of all our ages, but everything has a vintage touch. Our goal is for every age and size to find a look for under $100.

What inspires you? 

I love vintage and unique. Anything from the '20s, '30s, and '40s, especially if it can be repurposed or reclaimed. 

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

Homemade chocolate chip cookies and raw milk straight from the farm because I am pregnant and that’s what I want every night!

What is the most challenging thing about being a working mother? 

Balancing my time can be pretty hard at times. I seem to miss out on “normal” activities over the weekends since the store is open. We just have to be creative with our time.