Angie Blocker at the front desk of her new store Angie Blocker Designs, surrounded by her creations. PHOTO BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS

If you haven’t been uptown in Toledo lately, taking a stroll or checking out the farmer’s market, then you might have missed it – the new addition to the community skyline. A little store called Angie Blocker Designs, operated by, you guessed it, local woman Angie Blocker at 103 W. High St.

T-shirts, tumblers, pens, clipboards, keychains, fans, air fresheners, earrings, are just the tip of the iceberg of the list of things that Angie makes. It all started back in 2021 as a hobby by making some tumblers, and then it started to grow when she got a Cricut and moved on to shirts.

The shirts are actually Blocker’s biggest local seller, but on her website, the number one seller is tumblers. Depending on the size of the order, Blocker can get a shirt done fairly quickly. It’s the bread and butter of her business and has led to some of the strangest orders, as some of the shirts have been adorned with rather risque and naughty sayings.

It was happenstance and an abundance of glitter that led to Blocker opening up her new store on High Street.

“Honestly,” Angie said, “I never planned on opening a store. I was just scrolling Facebook one day and noticed Mark’s post for the open house. My basement was very full, and my husband was tired of all the glitter everywhere. So, we looked and instantly fell in love with the space!”

The shelves filled with Angie’s hand made products. PHOTO BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS

The building was previously the site of Gwendy’s Next Chapter, owned and operated by Gwen Doland, wife of County Supervisor Mark Doland.

The newest thing that Blocker has to offer is 3D printed items.

“3D printing is really fun! The sky’s the limit, really. You can make so many cool things! I have a lot of things that I would like to make, but printing takes a long time,” Angie said.

The biggest item she has made to date has been an iPad stand, but this is just a stepping stone to all the divine, wondrous creations she is soon to have printed up.

New items are constantly being added to the shelves of Blocker’s store, from 3D doodads to double-entendre emblazoned shirts. Blocker is soon to get a UVDTF printer and a laser engraver/cutter. These new machines will give Blocker the opportunity to make a whole new range of products. Blocker is constantly expanding and looking forward to the future with what she can do and create.

Angie Blocker Designs in downtown Toledo. PHOTO BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS

The store hours are Monday through Thursday 9 to 11 a.m. and 12 to 5 p.m.. Fri. 9 to 11 a.m. and 12 to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. However, if you can’t make it in for any such reason, Blocker is flexible.

“You can come in or message me to place an order. I am set up to take credit cards as payment. I also have Shop Pay through Shopify, as well,” she said. “So that is really convenient for my customers that want to make payments.”

Although Angie Blocker’s Designs has only been open for a limited time, Angie has already seen the benefits of having a store.

“Since I have been open, I have met some really nice members of our community! I have gained so many new customers, and I am so grateful for everyone that supports my small business,” she said.

So, the next time you want a funny shirt, custom tumblr, cool keychain, or something 3D printed head up to High Street in Toledo. If you walk in the door and you don’t see Angie at first, don’t worry, she’s probably just in the back working on something new.