Orlando Mama Penny loves dark chocolate & coffee and is a self-professed extreme introvert. She’s a mama to one sweet little boy and a maker of all the things. Her unique gifts are perfect for the holiday season and truly all year long.
How do you describe your shop?
Penny Jean Studio is a little shop on Etsy that provides customizable gifts and home décor primarily made from wood and paper. My shop is built on creating products for people who have the desire to have something unique made for themselves or as gifts for others. I have a love for creating paper flowers and have recently started to do wood working so combining the two mediums has been fun to add to my shop.
What’s your inspiration?
Being creative and making things has always been a passion of mine. Growing up, I was surrounded by so many makers and artists. A few years ago, I found myself constantly being asked to make something unique for family members, friends and even work clients and I thought, why not start a little side business? Aside from my family, who is my number one inspiration and is always cheering me on, I find myself creatively inspired by my surroundings especially by nature and architecture. I love examining real flowers and leaves to see how I can create the same look with paper. I know I still have a lot to learn, not just in paper flowers, but in all aspects of being a maker and the desire to keep creating is inspired by all of these combined. With all of this said, starting Penny Jean Studio has been fueled by the desire to work for myself and have the creative freedom to bring joy to people by making something meaningful.
How can people purchase from you?
People can find me on Etsy under Penny Jean Studio!
How long have you been in business?
I officially opened my shop in January of 2019.
How have you pivoted during the pandemic?
I have been furloughed from my full-time job since March and I am currently taking this time to really work on my business with the goal of being able to continue to work for myself full-time. Having this time to invest into my business and being able to put myself out there more has been a huge blessing and because of this, I have definitely seen an increase in my sales during this pandemic. Until I am able to go back to work, you can find me working at home finding ways to expand my business!
What’s next for Penny Jean Studio?
Once the craziness of the holiday season is over, I’m looking forward to expanding my reach by launching my very own website. Creatively, I’m looking forward to expanding my product offerings. I was fortunate enough to be able to invest in a laser machine which has already given me the opportunity to enhance and expand my products just in time for the holiday season. Along with what I currently offer, I have plans to start creating larger pieces such as wooden signs for the home. I’m also looking forward to learning how to use the scroll saw my dad has given me, which will open so many more opportunities.
What should people look for at Penny Jean for holiday gifts?
Something I offer that would make great gifts are my customized engraved wooden ornaments. These ornaments are perfect for new homeowners or pet lovers. I turn the photos of their actual homes or pets into ink renderings and engrave them onto ornaments that can last a lifetime. I can also create custom ultrasound and wedding/anniversary ornaments. You can find great stocking stuffers as well, for the upcoming holiday season, such as wooden engraved earrings and keychains!
How does your family help with the shop?
They help more than they know! My husband is creative as well and is an extremely talented artist. I know I can go to him to bounce ideas off of him or for artwork that I can incorporate into my shop. My son, is always willing to lend a hand. He’s five, so when I know it’s something he can help with, I’m sure to ask him. One of his favorite things to help with is organizing my scraps and pushing the blinking buttons on my Cricut and Glowforge machines!
You’ve made philanthropy part of your shop, tell us about that!
Every month 10% of my profits get donated to Project Learning Tree. With the help of Kentucky Association of Environmental Education, these donations go directly to Project Learning Tree to help educate students about the importance of sustainable forestry. It’s so important that our children, our future, are given the proper tools and education to help them make more informed decisions about the overall care of our environment.
So along with recycling, using less plastics and planting gardens, you can shop with me knowing that your purchase gives back to our children and the future of our environment!
