An idea. That’s all it takes. It is an idea that grows from discipline, time, effort, and often a little bit of money…or sometimes a lot depending on what/how big the dream is. Either way, it’s exciting when our ideas delicately coat our minds like snow until finally the flakes begin to stick to the surface causing us to want to collect them into snowballs and bring them from an idea to reality. An idea is all it takes for some to step out and take hold of the world around them. The amount of passion and desire that leads the way of the winter festival, causes our landscape to be graced with small, local businesses for us to glean from and enrich our lives. Often priced at a steeper incline than our typical locations where we scour for the best deal, they are undoubtedly worth the investment due to the craftsmanship, time, energy, follow-through, and quality of which each item or product is created. Although I live on a rock in the middle of the ocean, there are several businesses that should catch everyone's attention and deserve a spotlight.
The Art Of Crochet
One of my very close friends has a knack for taking something simple and crocheting it into a work of art that isn’t only beautiful, but useful. She recently launched her website for her company, Homespun, where she sells her world of colors, fabrics, and yarns that swim together, infusing themselves into useful, everyday clutches and tops. She has an art of making something simple, into a necessity that cultivates a cozy and homey feel. She shows off her desire for creativity through her pieces and has a heart for teaching those her craft. Each of her pieces is one of a kind and can lure you into a different world through different colors and patterns. She keeps us up to date with her projects via her Instagram page. Her clutches are diverse and elevate any outfit. The hand crafted items cover many different bases for those who share contrasting styles. She is worth checking out and I highly recommend supporting her. Not only are her products beautiful, but she surpasses them and is a kind, warm, funny, and generous person whom I am lucky to be friends with. I’m excited for you to see all her amazing creations!
Carry the Sea
Another friend of mine uses the elements of the sea and the land, welding them together to produce intricate pieces of jewelry. She has a passion for working with her hands and tapping into her realm of imagination to create artwork that gracefully ordains those who are lucky enough to wear it. Each piece is thought about, hand-selected, and gracefully crafted. She has recently opened a little shop in Old Koloa Town here on Kauai called Orchid Moon. She not only creates in-house an opportunity for those to carry the sea wherever they are, but she also sells a collaboration of other artists' work such as painting, clothes, and other forms of self-expression. She showcases her journey on her Instagram page @OM_Jewelry_Kauai and she has a link in her bio for her Esty shop so people from all over can showcase the amazing treasures the sea contains. Each of her pieces is not only great for gifting oneself, but also are perfect individual one-of-a-kind birthday and Christmas gifts.
Art Is Self-Expression
I have many talented friends. The next small business is a friend of mine who teaches art classes to a variety of students. She is a mom of two and has a passion for teaching others how to embellish a white canvas into a tropical landscape. She directs her students to bring their personalities through each wave of the paintbrush. The art is captivating and creates a fun activity to do with friends, and family, or for an afterschool activity. It’s a way for kids to grow in their creativity. Learning new skills without the daunting task of figuring it out on their own. Art can sometimes be a looming experience. Where do we start? What colors do we mix to receive that perfect shade? What should we paint? All questions that can taint the experience that art can twirl around us like the fall wind. Although I don’t have a company website or official company Instagram, she is a busy mom who enjoys sharing her passions when she has a free moment. I am sure that she would accept bookings over her main account if you were looking to broaden your horizon and take on the paintbrush. She is sweet, calming, and encouraging. She’ll make you laugh and want to try your best even if it is an experience that is a little further out of your comfort zone than normal. She provides the materials, so all you would need to do after booking is show up and try your best.
Honorable Mentions
I know so many others who have taken steps to showcase and share what they have been blessed with with the world. Another friend is a master at florals. She can transport her clients into different dimensions with her eye for and love of plants and flowers. She did the flowers for one of my good friends' weddings and they exploded off of the backdrop making a statement and tying the day together with a colorful bow. She thankfully showcases her art on her Instagram page @Bloomsbykim. Whether you're looking for leis, haku's, centerpieces, bouquets, or a full-blown wedding ceremony, I couldn’t recommend her enough.
Another amazing artist is @Surfandpineco. She is a creative who flourishes in branding and design. She has the eye to elevate your company and create a world that is daunting to those who are unfamiliar with how to promote their work in a way that catches attention and draws a new range of clients. She is also a fantastic photographer who has that special eye to see the mundane and bring life to it. She has a soft and calming way of causing you to want to see what she is working on and having curiosity tap you on the shoulder to follow along to be excited at what she is promoting. If you need to rebrand or are starting to feel lost in a world of where to begin, she is someone I would encourage you to follow and message.
Another amazing artist and creative designer is @Shianne. Her ability to capture moments via camera and paint is remarkable. She has an amazing talent for murals that ordain several locations across not only Kauai but other islands. She has an amazing ability to promote different products for different companies in a tropical and almost delicate way. She causes you to feel like you are in Hawai’i through her photos. And her eye for detail is highlighted in the way she designs and paints. If you want to be transported, go look over her Instagram page.
Another photographer who has recently joined the game is @Boharleecreative. She also can bring life to different situations. To savor little moments between families, friends, and couples. Based on Kauai, she captures not only the amazing world God created but the moments in time we can look back on, bringing a smile to our faces with sweet memoirs. She is a kind and wonderful person who would make you feel comfortable. She captures moments that we would want to last forever like graduation/senior photos, weddings, engagements, and moments spent with family. If interested in finding a person to freeze time for you and share those special moments, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out.
Lucky
It is such a special thing to be able to have a desire and a passion to cultivate it into something that can be enjoyed by so many others. We as supporters have a remarkable position of being able to support, lift up, encourage, and recommend the hard work that these people have put in. As someone who decided to take a leap of faith into doing something that might have the ability to fail or might seem scary, it is the support of those around us that continues to motivate and bring forth the courage to continue. I am sure that trying to start or keep up with a small business can be hard, daunting, and exhausting, but we are thankful for creatives who push through and showcase their imaginations and abilities. If you know someone who has stepped out and put their heart and energy on the line to try and share a little bit of themselves with the world around them, make sure that you encourage them, support them, and tell others about them. What an exciting role we get to play in so many people's journeys by helping them carry out what they feel they are called to do.
I am surrounded by so many creative people and am so happy to share some of them with you. Please make sure to look them up, follow them, reach out, and support them. I am anxious to see what upcoming projects and ideas they have. I hope this past week was relaxing and that this weekend is even more. Please feel free to support me by leaving a comment, following on Instagram, sharing this with someone, and subscribing. Thanks for reading Allie-cats.
Dru Allie
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