Creative Entrepreneur
Candlemaker Gloria Young is the spark behind Hudson Avenue Company, a New England-based business. In her interview, Gloria shares her unexpected beginnings, noting the chance events that led her from making candles as a hobby to selling them in retail shops. Continue reading Gloria’s story below. How did your
Creative Entrepreneur
Founder Lucie Voves’ journey into the custom framing and art world began not with a business plan but with a sentimental search. Her company, Church Hill Classics, makes bespoke diploma frames, and it all started in her basement. Let’s hear from Lucie on her highly successful foray into handcrafted
Creative Entrepreneur
Have you ever felt as if your creative path was just meant to be? That’s precisely how Sonali Dixit feels about her foray into jewelry design. Growing up in Kathmandu, Nepal, a city famed for its rich artistic traditions, she was immersed in creativity practically from birth. “It’s
beauty
When you think of artisan goods, you probably don’t think about hair extensions or wigs, but Nikia Londy, hairstylist extraordinaire and owner of Intriguing Hair in Boston, is an artist. She and her small team sew wigs and hair extensions by hand from ethically sourced and fair-trade human hair,
art
Alexis Avery creates original paintings that empower, uplift and inspire with oils and acrylics. Additionally, she loves to explore different mediums and dabbles in mixed media art, candle making and designing jewelry. Read our interview with Alexis, and you’ll find amazing tips for your own journey as a creative
art
A Conversation with Kent Stetson This year, Kent Stetson, an artisan handbag designer, is celebrating two decades of creative entrepreneurship. His niche is handcrafted handbags that double as art. Initially, the artist explored selling his paintings, but the endeavor wasn’t for him. Here, Kent shares why he cut up
creative business
Rachel Frank and Lori Berlinghof launched their handmade luxury jewelry brand, Elements Studio NYC, in 2015. With designs influenced by the earth’s elements, it’s no surprise that Rachel and Lori cast their pieces in recycled gold and only use ethically sourced stones. The design duo’s Bowie Collection
creative business owner
We chatted with Chau Sáenz, a skilled leather artisan who designs and creates luxury handbags and accessories. The designer’s love for bags and purses inspired her to enroll in a leatherworks school in San Francisco, where she trained under a Hermès leather artisan. The designer’s passion for her
art
After Natalie and Julian Dion bought their first home, they needed to furnish it—but the couple spent all their savings on a down payment. So what would they do in a few weeks when they were hosting family for Christmas? Julian was a carpenter and designer. Natalie had a
artisanal food
Carol Gancia is the founder of Kokak Chocolates, an artisanal chocolate company in San Francisco. The creative entrepreneur has an incredible story—Carol, an Irish-Filipino immigrant and LGBTQ member, moved to the United States from Manila, Philippines in 2004. In the same year, she founded Ripplemakers, Inc., a video production
Creative Entrepreneur
Canadian creative entrepreneur Stefanie Henderlin founded the award-winning Mangata Apothecary, which offers a range of botanical bath and body care products. Stefanie shared how she began making her products. “My background was midwifery, and I originally created all these products for clients,” the maker said. Stefanie received plenty of positive
artisans
Seeds & Stories empowers women artisans in rural Uganda Social enterprise entrepreneur Margarida Vasconcelos co-founded Seeds & Stories, a non-profit that empowers women in rural Uganda. After working in law for many years, Margarida followed her passion for social justice and began a second career. In her interview, the creative
Creative Entrepreneur
Minnie Erickson is the founder of Minnieology, a gift box business. Before launching her endeavor, Minnie loved to curate gift boxes to give friends on their milestone birthdays. The presents were a hit, and friends began asking to purchase Minnie’s creations. That was her cue to begin Minnieology. “I
art
When artist and illustrator Louma El-Khoury couldn’t bear to give away her daughter’s precious baby clothes, she created a way to display them as DIY keepsakes. Her friends and family spotted the artwork and asked Louma to create pieces for them. That’s when the artist knew it
artist
Lynn Woods is a content creator at Back to the South, a blog about DIY home decor and party planning. She is also a home decor stylist and founder of Back to the South Bling, where she sells sparkly goods. We chatted with Lynn to learn more about her maker
creative entrepreur
As a child, Rachel Reinhardt made necklaces from her grandmother’s vintage button collection—she was drawn to the colors and loved creating. As an adult, Rachel worked in the fashion jewelry business learning the trade. But a day out with her late mother changed the course of her career.