Throughout it all, I have always enjoyed taking the responsibility of putting together creative ideas and bringing my vision to life. Being a stay-at-home mom, I found my love and passion for art all over again! Especially with my twin girls- from making hair bows from scratch, accessories to tutus and redesigning trendy outfits, to décor in nurseries—I am loving every part of being hands-on to craft everday essentials.
The very first name plaque originated from the girls' 1st birthday cake smash. I really wanted to make things myself to incorporate a personal touch for their photoshoot and as a keepsakes for them when they got older. As time went by, I had friends that started to have children and one day I decided to make a name plaque for one of my good friend’s son’s birthday. She suggested I use superheros - as her son and husband were huge fans! I was doing this out of love, passion and a thoughtful gesture that would be a birthday gift. I never anticipated that this would turn into a business opportunity. The people that surrounded me were constantly giving me suggestions and pushing me (in a positive way) to continue doing this. My husband and my close friends have always supported me and noticed my creative talent before I did. The day of the birthday party, I presented the superhero-themed name plaque and the reactions were priceless! Guests attending the party viewed my work and were in awe. I got order requests that day. It was a really cool moment, because I realized that I could potentially share my passion and creativity, while making money.
Eventually, I decided to post a picture of the plaques I made for my twin girls and the superhero one I made for my friend's son on my personal Instagram page. The positive feedback and encouragement I received from my loved ones was the final push I needed to make this real. With the help of my biggest supporter (my husband) and my amazing friends, I officially launched. It has brought me a great deal of satisfaction each time I need to mold and create plaques for clients (for any occassion). The gratitude expressed by clients is amazing for me and makes me wish I had followed my passion for the arts sooner!
In school, I did a degree in ECE and Business, and was working at a foreign exchange bank prior to having my girls. I thought this was my long-term career path. Life is full of surprises and my career outlook changed when we found out that we were having twins. It was a hidden blessing that I become a stay-at-home mom because I was able to use my academic/work experience as an early childhood education in my day-to-day activities with my girls. Of course, it also sparked my love and passion for art.
If there was a piece of advice I should share with my own daughters (or anyone really), is to follow your heart in terms of what you want to do. I know you probably hear it all the time in the media, but it's true. Follow what gets you excited, gives you a sense of happiness and is something that you enjoy. There is always the fear of the unknown, but you will always regret the things you don't do. Take that leap of faith! The first step is the biggest one, as it's a step in the right direction. I started with plaques, but now I do custom dream catchers and belly casting. I feel like the possibilities are endless, but I will definitely enjoy the journey while sharing my love for the arts through my products.
