Sweet Meats - In 2004, Fleischer constructed a small ham out of fleece as a personal art project, after seeing an exhibition of soft sculpture by artist Jennifer Lew. Everyone who saw the ham wanted to commission one, and a business was born. For the last two years, Fleischer ran Sweet Meats as side business while teaching middle school Computers and Home Economics. She constructed each plush toy by hand in her tiny home studio and sold them on the web and at the occasional craft fair. Despite only telling friends and family about her business, people began to find her web site--everyone from Canal+ Television in France, to CoolHunting.com. In 2007, eventually unable to keep up with orders alongside full-time employment, Lauren resigned from teaching to pursue Sweet Meats full-time.