DK Designs Featured as 2014 Woman Entrepreneur in Victoria Magazine

Back in September, I was contacted out of the blue by the editorial coordinator for Victoria Magazine. They loved my work and asked if I would like to be in their January/February 2014 issue featuring Women Entrepreneurs. I almost thought it was spam and was about to delete it and then I read it. I contacted the editorial coordinator and told them that I'd love to be featured. Their staff was amazing to work with and it was a very easy process. I actually had to have a friend who had a degree in PR/Journalism help me rewrite my bio because it was so outdated.  It was a simple process of picking several photos and head shots, answering a questionnaire and viola.

The most amazing thing is that I started getting phone calls from people who are subscribers and get the issue before it hits the newsstands. It was awesome! As I mentioned in the previous blog post, I've been blessed with several orders because of this article and I'm so happy for the opportunity to share my art with Victoria Magazine readers.

The issue is beautiful and a must see. Granted, the March/April issue is already out, but I'm sure you can order the back issue online. If you're interested you can learn more about Victoria Magazine at www.victoriamag.com. In case you don't get a chance to see the magazine in person, here are some images I took of the issue I have. Thank you again to the editorial staff at Bliss Victoria Magazine! I am so honored to be one of the selected entrepreneurs to be featured in this issue!

Custom Flowers for a Client

I am so behind in blogging that I haven't even talked about the feature article on my company in the Jan/Feb 2014 issue of Victoria Magazine, but I will get to that this week (I know, a LITTLE late!). At any rate, because of that article, it has brought me awesome exposure in the home decor business. While my clientele has been predominantly brides, this article really helped people make the connection that these could be home decor pieces as well as works of art to showcase in their homes.

This one client in NY, had this beautiful lead crystal Baccarat Gingko vase that she wanted to fill with my flowers! The vase was so gorgeous and heavy. She wanted to have white hydrangeas, light pink peonies and I added in some pink ranunculus as well. She was so happy how they turned out. I'm sure with all the snow storms the East Coast has gotten, this will be a welcome bright and Spring like arrangement to cheer up the dreary cold snowy days!

It's been a while...Why I haven't been blogging!

 

(Photo Courtesy of Chung Li Photography)

Shortly after my last blog post late June, my father became very ill. He finally agreed to go to the doctor and run some tests. Long story short, he was diagnosed 2 weeks later with Stage 5 cancer known as adenocarcinoma. My life and my family's life was turned upside down. Since early July, I basically spent every day with my dad, helping to take care of him. The really crazy thing is that he never smoked a day in his life and he ends up with lung cancer. Sadly, my father passed away after deciding to go on hospice at the end of September. The above photo is one of the images of him while he was still healthy.

My dad was a man of strength until his very last breath of life, he lived it with strength, honor and dignity. It's hard to believe he is gone, but we know he is in a much better place, in heaven with God, our Creator. While from time to time, tears are shed when he comes to mind, for the most part we usually laugh at something he would say or do and we think of him with happy thoughts.

I was so blessed that my clients were so patient, thankfully my workload was somewhat manageable and those who didn't have a wedding order were willing to give me some leeway to take care of my father and the funeral. After his passing, we sold our property in Hawaii and decided to look for a new house in Southern California. We were lucky enough to find a lovely home in a great community and we're happy with the change.

While I don't recommend you ever have to go through what I've been through in short of 6 months time with the amount of changes that have transpired in such a short amount of time, I know that the only reason I got through it was because of God's amazing grace, lots of prayers, and the love of my family and friends. 

I hope to blog more regularly and share with you what I have been working on the last couple of months. The wonderful thing is that 2014 is off to a GREAT start for DK Designs! It's hard to believe how long I have been doing the clay flowers and wedding stationery, but I'm so blessed to be able to call this my full time job!

Stay tuned for more blog posts and photos!