Meet Our Lake Anne Craft Vendors!

By Sarah Golden, Staff Writer

This summer, The Reston Letter is highlighting some of the vendors that participate in its The Reston Farmers Market at Lake Anne. This month, we’re featuring two women-owned Reston businesses that are bringing their unique products to Restonians.

Kim Ibanez – Harlow’s

Kim Ibanez, started her baking company after the birth of her second child, Harlow. Although the namesake of her company is her second child, Kim says Harlow’s is a whole family business with simple origins. Ibanez’s husband encouraged her to take up baking as a hobby. She quickly fell in love with the art of baking, and decided to

take her passion to the people of Reston.

Harlow’s features traditional, yummy treats like triple chocolate chip cookies and Tahitian vanilla cupcakes. Ibanez also likes to experiment with fun, unique flavors like champagne raspberry, inspired by the flavors of her own wedding cake. However, where Harlow’s really shines are the Filipino bakes. Her Pandesal – Filipino dinner rolls – come in both original and Ube flavor. Ube is a purple yam that has semi-sweet, nutty flavor and makes baked goods a beautiful, vibrant purple color; they are a Harlow’s fan favorite. Ube lovers should check out the Ube angel cake and Pandesal.

Those visiting the Lake Anne Harlow’s stand shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to try out Harlow’s Halo-Halo, a Filipino delicacy which means “mixed” in Tagalog. Typically, the dish features shaved ice, evaporated milk, and toppings like coconut, ube, and diced fruit. It’s a sure-fire way to keep cool during these unbearably hot Reston summer days.

Ibanez appreciates the sense of community at the Lake Anne Market, and the strong support Restonians give small businesses. She hopes to open her own store front some day, but for now, be sure to catch her at the market each Saturday. Check out her bakes at HarlowbyKim on Instagram, Facebook and her website: Home | Harlow’s (harlowsbykim.wixsite.com)

Karyn Knueven – Knueven Soap

Several years ago, Karyn Knuevan, a long-term Reston resident, was feeling unfulfilled in her job. She had been declared legally blind in her 20s and, although she went to college, she ended up in a field for which she was overqualified, in part due to her impairment.

But that job introduced her to something that would change her life: YouTube. She began watching tons of soapmaking videos and, although there’s an element of danger with a legally blind person working with lye, she thought “I could do that.” and the element of danger made things a bit exciting.

Once she started, Knueven couldn’t stop. She found ways to challenge herself and up her skills, to the point that she felt it was time to take her abilities to market – literally. Lake Anne Market was the first place Knueven sold her soap. She began focusing on natural, plain soaps, and has since expanded to more fun and funky designs and scents, including watermelon soap. Some of her soaps are miniature works of art, featuring beach sunsets and adorable cats.

She also has expanded into candle making, using recycled punch cups and glassware to create eco-friendly candles. She’s so passionate about the environment that she offers candle refills; once you’re done with your candle, you can bring the glass back to her and she’ll fill it back up, wick and all.

Knueven’s love for soapmaking and the environment is matched only by her love of people. She consistently participates in events that allow her to give back to the community. Each holiday season, she takes part in Gifts of the HeART at the Reston Community Center. Ten percent of her proceeds to to Cornerstones, a local non-profit that provides housing, food, and financial support to Fairfax County residents.

Unless there’s a downpour, you can find Knueven at the Reston Farmers Market at Lake Anne each Saturday. She loves connecting with locals, so come say hi. If you’re curious about her products, visit www.Knuevensoap.com, @knuevensoap on Instagram or Facebook.

When we feature businesses in The Reston Letter, we are not endorsing them as a company or speaking to their credibility. We are telling their stories according to them. We want to give exposure to a lot of businesses, but that does not necessarily mean that we have firsthand experience with them as clients. Hopefully you will always have great experiences with them, but our job stops once we've told their story. We cannot vouch for them beyond that.