Meet The Queens
Nina Skic & Missy Cayley
Hi, my name is Nina Skic. I am the co-owner of The Crooked Queen. My husband of 38 years, Mark, and I have 4 married children and 9 grandchildren. Being a mom and "grammie" has been the most rewarding accomplishment of my life. It has always been a passion of mine to create a warm inviting living space in my home to entertain and serve family and friends. In 2014, I took my passion to the next level and called the only person I wanted to share this dream with, my niece, Missy. Her drive and unique creativity fills the restored sheds on my hilltop property, The Crooked Queen came to life! It has been a privilege to share our fun finds and our new and vintage-inspired decor with so many! We could never do this without our good friends and close-knit family.
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We are truly humbled and forever thankful!
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My name is Missy Cayley. My life has been centered around helping people. I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Family Studies from UW-Eau Claire. I worked in the business/human resources area for several years before getting my Masters Degree in School Counseling. I was a High School Counselor at Wausau East for 21 years before transitioning into my current part-time position at Wausau East as Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator. The Crooked Queen started as a side hustle that was conceived from ongoing conversations between myself and my aunt, Nina. We shared the dream of starting a home décor business that brought people together. Nina and I come from a long line of strong women (many of these women are working at our markets) who love to shop, “nest”, clean, collect, rearrange furniture, create, and shop for home decor.
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So, in 2014, Nina and I decided to start this business with the flea market, estate sale, and repurposed finds we had collected. If no one came to our store, we could incorporate all of the stuff we had collected into our own homes. Our business skills were limited, but our eye for home décor and our love of working with people pushed us to take the leap. We both bring a different perspective to the decorated table, but our mission aligns…create a shopping space people gather, and meet friends and family members for girls shopping trips, “therapy”, or celebrations.
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We strive to make people feel like we do when we spend time with loved ones (which is many times at Nina’s house). We are learning and growing with every market, have met hundreds of people from all over the Midwest, are grateful, humble, and want to do more for the market we serve. Our side hustle continues to grow. None of this would be possible without the support of my many people. John is my husband; you will find him in the field parking your car at every sale! He supports my dreams, encourages me to take risks, willingly hauls treasures, and always keeps me centered. We have three boys, Ben, Jack, and Charlie. They have grown up helping with different seasons of The Crooked Queen. These boys know how to “pick” something from the side of the road and appreciate the scent of a Black Crow candle. Family is my core…..the four men in my house, my parents, and three siblings encourage me to grow outside of my comfort zone.
Putting my dreams into motion with Nina is an accomplishment I am very proud of. We will continue to create a gathering place and inspire people through The Crooked Queen.
Featured in...
We were interviewed by Wausau Pilot and Review and Merrill Foto News, both local publishers.
Click the Buttons below to view the articles!
The Crooked Queen was highlighted by Wausau Pilot and Review as the October 21st-28th, 2022 Business Of The Week. The article includes our story, more about us, and why we do what we do.
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Merrill Foto News wrote about The Crooked Queen and highlighted what we do and how we do it. The article also talks about how The Crooked Queen got started in comparison to where we are now.
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