Why I Pivoted My Handmade Business and What I’m Doing Now
I started my handmade business during nap time.
Back then, I had just become a mom to my first son, N, and was in that foggy postpartum stage where your identity feels like it's slipping through your fingers. I loved being a mom but I missed creating. I missed using my hands. I missed feeling like me.
So I started small: painting earrings. Intricate little things I cut and hand-painted while the baby slept. I’d work late into the night, hoping to turn this creative outlet into something that could grow, a side gig with heart. I wanted flexibility. I wanted to make something beautiful. I wanted to make something mine again.
From the beginning, I was drawn to the intricate beauty of Middle Eastern art and architecture. I’ve always carried this quiet pull toward arabesque design and geometric patterning. During college, I studied abroad in Egypt and completely fell in love with the architecture, the carved screens, tile-work, arches, and symmetry.
Later, while completing my master’s degree in London, I traveled through Europe and the Middle East and was surrounded by design that made my heart feel at home. I knew, even back then, I wanted to create something inspired by that part of the world one day.
Eventually, I bought a laser machine (impulsively, might I add) and then promptly regretted it. I didn’t realize how steep the learning curve would be, or how little time I’d have to learn it with a baby at home. The machine sat mostly unused for a while, and I felt so guilty about it. I eventually worked up the courage to start back up again, I started small. I focused on stud earrings, keychains, simple things that were portable.
Fast forward a bit, and I had my second son, S. And something shifted.
My neck hurt constantly from bending over and painting tiny earrings. The profit margins were razor thin. I had so many ideas, but not enough time to make them real, or make them sustainable. One day, mid-paint-session, I just paused and thought: “I can’t keep doing this like this.”
And then I remembered why I bought that laser in the first place.
I didn’t just want to make earrings. I wanted to create art. Art that’s inspired by the architectural beauty I fell in love with while studying abroad. Art that’s meaningful, functional, and memorable. Something you can gift someone on their wedding day, display in your entryway, or use in your home that reminds you of who you are and what you love.
So now, I make custom trays, wall panels, wedding keepsakes, mirrors, and more- pieces with story and soul.
Everything I create now is rooted in joy and intentionality. I want you to look at one of my trays and feel something. I want it to spark a memory. A moment. A milestone. Whether it’s your wedding date, a phrase you cherish, or just a design that reminds you of home- this little business of mine is here to hold it with you.
I’m still learning. I’m still tiny. But I’m proud of where this is going.
If you’ve ever felt like you had to put your creativity on hold because of motherhood, life, or just everything, I see you. You’re not alone. You can still make something beautiful, even if it’s during nap time.
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