At the CNU’s farmer’s market, you might see a familiar face of a bright eyed and smiling girl with a series of different products that look like they’re straight out of a designer’s Pinterest board.
Major: Communications
Minor: Studio Art
What organizations were you a part of when you were at CNU?
“My freshman year, I joined Greek life when I became a member of Alpha Phi. Joining the Greek Life community provided me with more opportunities to be involved on campus, whether it be helping raise money for philanthropies, or giving a helping hand to students on campus. I encourage current students who are not already in Greek Life to join because it will help you grow as a person and open many doors you would not expect. Since I became a member of the Greek community, I have made many long-lasting friendships who have become a huge support group in my life today as I continue pursuing my goals.”
Favorite memory from CNU?
“I have so many favorite memories at CNU that it’s hard to pick one, but a memory that I won’t forget is when I went to one of my favorite art professors, Professor Henry, when I needed help creating a giant picture frame. He spent almost 4 hours teaching me the proper woodworking techniques to create the frame. It ended up looking better than I expected. This is one of my favorite memories because Professor Henry was always supportive and willing to help when it came to my art business.”
Tell me about your store. How did you get started?
“Camilla Creations started in 2014, my sophomore year at CNU. I started selling canvases to friends and family, and as time passed, I found myself selling more and more paintings. I realized how much I loved making customized paintings for people and wanted to start making things other than canvases. My sorority that year has a silent auction event called ‘Red Dress Gala’ to raise heart health awareness. I decided to build my own corn hole boards and paint them as well to be auctioned off at the event. The reactions from guests there were beyond amazing, and many people came up to me and asked if they could have me make them custom boards. This is how I started my custom woodworking part of my business. My store has a variety of products: Corn-hole boards, coolers, embroidery, wood signs, wedding decor, stickers, watercolor and acrylic paintings, drink caddies, bottle openers, and many more products. All of my products are custom made, meaning the customer can request any size, color, text, etc. My favorite product to make would probably be my embroidered hats because they are so fun to make, and it’s an awesome feeling to see something I designed on the computer turn into an embroidered product.”
How did you learn?
“Everything I’ve done thus far has been self-taught. I grew up always loving anything to do with art. I utilize the internet heavily when it comes to learning new techniques or how to use new power tools/saws. The only way I improve on my craft is by making mistakes and learning from them.”
Where can interested readers find you in person and online?
“Readers can find my products through my website or following my social media accounts: Instagram, @Camilla_Creations, or Facebook, Camilla Creations. I recently was asked to sell at the CNU Farmer’s Markets on Thursdays. I will hopefully be a regular vendor there for years to come. I am planning on also selling at other craft shows and markets in the future.”
Where do you get your creativity from?
“My creativity stems from other artists and entrepreneurs who inspire me to create new and meaningful work. Growing up, I’ve always had a creative mindset and perspective on life, so it’s awesome to be able to apply that to my job.”
What are you most proud of in regards to your store?
“I am most proud of my decision to take the leap of faith and pursue Camilla Creations as my full time career. It was difficult to balance growing my business and focusing on school work, but I knew that if I worked extra hard and put 100% into everything I do, then I would be successful. In the long run, I am hoping to grow my business to eventually hire or have interns help me with creating products. As for short-term goals, I am constantly trying to grow my customer base and attend new craft shows.”
What advice would you have for students wanting to open up their own creative businesses?
“My advice for students who dream of opening their own shop or work as independent creators: work your butt off and don’t doubt your ability to create. I knew I wanted to grow my business, so I knew that I had to put in A LOT of work every day. Balancing school/adulting and your passion can be extremely stressful, but knowing that the hard work will pay off in the end is something that needs to constantly be in your mind. Also, having people around you who support you constantly really helps, especially in times when you start to doubt yourself. I struggled with doubting my ability to create good products and my ability to start a successful business, but with a strong support system and enough passion, I was able to pursue my dreams. The most important thing to remember is if you love what you do, keep doing it no matter what obstacles come your way.”
What are you up to now that you’ve graduated?
“I graduated in May 2017, and I am working full time creating new Camilla Creations products. I am planning on moving to Richmond in the near future and continuing to sell as a vendor or different craft shows and markets. Maybe one day I’ll have a small shop of my own, but that would probably be in the far future.”
What’s one interesting or weird fact about you?
“An interesting fact about me is that I was born in Sydney, Australia! I was only there for about 6 months before I moved to Virginia where I’ve lived ever since! Since I still have my Australian citizenship, I will definitely be visiting there in the future.”