CreationsbyMayomay was created from my love for crafting and creating. From a very young age, I have loved coloring, scrapbooking, and crafting. My parents always encouraged me to make and create personalized items for my children, my classroom, parties, and gifts. My mom often bought me party decorating and scrapbook layout books and my dad always made sure I had the newest and largest box of Crayola crayons.
The sudden and unexpected passing of my parents left me in a very depressed and inconsolable state of being. I was on antidepressants which I felt, didn’t help me, and I hit rock bottom. As much as my family, friends and coworkers tried, it was very difficult to cheer me up. I spend many days and nights locking myself in my bedroom with the lights off, crying and trying to sleep through my heartache. One day, it became clear to me that I could lose everything; my husband, my children, and my friends. I knew that I had to do something to help me through this difficult time in my life, so I made the decision to get off the antidepressants. I went to counseling, I started going to yoga, and I got back into scrapbooking.
I would take out all my crafting supplies and begin working on my children’s scrapbooks and new craft projects. My favorite craft project was making ears for an upcoming Disney trip. I spent hours in my kitchen and dining room creating these so called “mickey ears,” which I didn’t even know was a thing. I’d get so lost in my crafting, that my depression became nonexistent. Each time I finished a new set of ears I’d admire them and just think of what parents would tell me if they saw my creations. My heartache and sadness, turned to smiles and happiness thinking of how proud they would be of me for creating something new and different. This little hobby of mine eventually caught the eye of a few of my family members, coworkers and friends. They asked me to create ears for their upcoming Disney trips. This new hobby of mine kept me busy and distracted from even thinking about the heartache and pain of losing my parents.
With the love, support, and encouragement from my family and friends, I decided to make and sell my ears through my Etsy shop named CreationsbyMayomay. Weird name, I know, but the name “Mayomay” is very dear to my heart. My dad would always call me “Mayo” or “Mayomay,” he even created my first email on America Online (AOL) using the name “Mayomay.” So as odd as the name may be, I just can’t let go of it.
I turned my crafting hobby which has helped me mentally and emotionally, into a very small business. Since the opening of my Etsy shop, I have branched out into making and selling banners and party decorations, wreaths, diaper cakes, garden flags and shirts. I am constantly looking for new projects to work on and new items to create for my home and family. My love for arts, crafts, and DIY projects the last 5 years has helped me overcome a very difficult time in my life. If I am ever sad, depressed, stressed, or anxious, you can often find me crafting my pain away.
