DeShawn Marie

It is my distinct pleasure to introduce you to DeShawn Marie! If you have not had the pleasure of going to her shop, please go after you've read a bit about her, I'm sure you'll find something of interest there.

I am so excited to do this profile because I have the pleasure of actually knowing DeShawn! We are both part of the Boston Handmade team so we've done shows together and attended a few social gatherings where we've had the opportunity to talk. I first met DeShawn in December when the Boston Handmade team was doing a holiday shop. She wasn't part of the team yet, but she was very enthusiastic about what we were doing and we were excited when she applied for membership. That was also the first time I was introduced to her soaps, which I loved so much I purchased for my son's daycare teachers (he had two at the time) as holiday gifts. They loved their gifts!

However, before I get carried away, I'll let you read the interview and check her out for yourself. I'm sure you'll be hooked.

Tell us a little bit about yourself
DeShawn Marie, I grew up mostly in the South and Midwest, but have been a wandering stone most my life. I've moved around a lot and traveled a lot. I was in the travel industry for 10 years prior to discovering soap and candle making.

What inspires you to your craft?
Nature, different cultures, traveling, architecture. I enjoy creating products from natural ingredients that make people feel pampered and relaxed.

How do you promote your items? Online, online, online! (links below)

What is one piece of advice you'd give to new artists?
Persistence, dedication and a true love of what you do pays off. In other words "if you love it, stick to it and don't give up"

How do you see yourself evolving in the next 5-10 years?
I have really focused most of my business online now and I like the fact that I ship to Singapore, Portugal, France, the Netherlands and Italy on a regular basis. I enjoy the freedom of working from home and being in contact with every person who purchases from me. I love global business and hope that the options for online businesses selling worldwide expands. I'd like to continue traveling and learning about other cultures and doing business with them.

What are some of your favorite things?
freedom, music, a good cup of coffee, my cat, port, cheesecake, seafood, a nice glass of wine, flowers, the movie "The Princess and the Warrior", gourmet cooking, fresh baked goods, Italy, the ocean and mountains.

What is your favorite quote?
Take life by the horns and ride it like the unpredictable, bucking bull ride it is!

You can find DeShawn online at the following places:
Her Website
Her Blog
Her Etsy Shop
Her Artfire Shop