indie & Friends was born out of Kara Lesondak’s lifelong love of toys, children's products, making stuff, and all things sweet- and cool-looking. Kara grew up in a suburb of Chicago and spent most of her childhood drawing cute round characters and creating little creatures out of bought and found objects. She attended Northwestern University for undergrad and spent four years trying to figure out what she wanted to be when she grew up—she had a really great time doing that! When all was said and done, Lesondak knew that she liked toys, television and movies, making stuff, and working with kids.



“I moved to San Francisco after college where I worked with autistic adults and spent several years teaching special education in Oakland, California. I moved to New York after working at The Fresh Air Fund one summer. There, I ran a summer camp for kids with and without special needs. Always wanting to do something visually creative, I went back to school to study toy design. Since then, I've been exploring how to combine my background in urban education with my interest in toys. Lindie & Friends and Crafty Kids do just that.”

"Lindie is a stuffed bear whom I have loved for many years. She was a character in the imaginary worlds I created as a child. She's traveled the globe, made friends as well as enemies, and is better dressed than many of my friends. She is old enough to drive, vote, and drink legally."