Pizza and a homemade mask to go

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - We've been getting calls in the newsroom from people wanting to know where they can buy a fabric mask.

Valentino's Take N' Bake Pizza shop at 4421 Hollister Avenue is one spot.

"We have a little sign out there letting everyone know that we have our masks inside," said manager Tyler Olive-Johns.

Customers will find a basket at the counter overflowing with colorful, homemade fabric masks.

"It's been a snowball effect lately. In the last two or three days we probably sold at least 30 of them," Olive-Johns said.

This particular mask-maker is Cari Summer, a local artist known for her unique handmade dog visors. Summer said she's been making and selling those for more than 30 years at the Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show, which is shut down during the pandemic, leaving her out of a job.

Summer's mask-making career is picking up; Olive-Johns credits the sewer's unique fabrics.

"Mine I like for the simplicity but we also have a whole bunch of fun designs," Olive-Johns said. "We have rubber duckies on them .... anything you can really imagine so, a little bit for everyone."

Cari Summer's fabric masks are selling for $11 dollars apiece, about the same price as one of Valentino's sub sandwiches.

For take-out from Valentino's Take N' Bake Pizza, visit: valspizza.com

To see more of Cari Summer's creations, click the following link: carisummer.com