Find out how women like you are living the work-from-home dream, and how you can too, with these success stories.

Meet the Mompreneur of the Month: Jennifer Ostwald, age 39 Chesapeake, Virginia; mother of two.

My Business: Vintage Fashions by Buttons. (Buttons has been my nickname since birth.) I recreate and design garments and accessories from past eras. My patterns ranges from the cloches and snoods of the '20s and '30s to the "Jackie O." styles and bell-bottoms of the '60s.

Business Birthdate: July, 1999

How I Got Started: I've been sewing since the age of seven and have always enjoyed making my children's clothing. The turning point came when my daughter started ice-skating. Skating outfits were expensive and patterns hadn't yet hit the market, so I checked out thrift stores for older patterns. The store owners said I should consider sewing vintage costumes for people who want an alternative to originals, which are often not wearable.

Top Start-Up Strategy: I spent a great deal of time thinking about the image I wanted to create, the eras I wanted to focus on and the market for my products. To stand out, I focused on everyday wear from the early 1900s through the '50s and '60s, with a special emphasis on the '40s. Many people reproduce fancy gowns (such as those from the Titanic era) but forget about the beauty of everyday items.