We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Corey & Sara Grapevine. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Corey & Sara below.

Corey & Sara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

It all started as a hobby to pass the time, especially during COVID when there wasn’t much else to do. We have always enjoyed being creative, but rug making quickly became a fun outlet. As we got better, more and more friends and family began asking us to make custom rugs for them. Then, as they shared their creations on social media, the requests really started to pour in. We were getting flooded with orders and realized I needed to come up with a plan to keep up with the demand. Sara started making the rugs the most while I worked on expanding our reach and creating a website and social media accounts.

Turning it from a hobby into something professional happened kind of naturally. We were spending long hours making pieces and buying supplies, and it made sense to start being compensated for that time and effort. That’s when I started taking custom orders, shipping rugs all over the globe. It wasn’t long before we began premaking popular designs based on frequent requests. From there, I started doing weekend markets, which eventually opened even bigger doors—vending at conventions. The journey from hobby to profession felt organic, and each step pushed us further down this creative path.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Corey, and I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit since I was young. My wife, Sara, has always been the crafty type, so together we form a pretty dynamic team. During the COVID lockdown, I stumbled across a TikTok video of someone making handcrafted rugs, and it looked like something fun to try. What started as a simple hobby quickly grew into something much bigger. We began making custom rugs that were unique and personalized—things people couldn’t find in stores.

As we honed our craft, we realized our customers weren’t just putting our rugs on their floors; they were displaying them on their walls like art. So, we adapted our designs to be easily hung, embracing the decorative side of rug-making. We love seeing the reactions of our clients when they receive their custom pieces, especially through unboxing videos. Experiencing the joy and excitement of people who feel we’ve exceeded their expectations is the best part of what we do.

What sets us apart is the amount of time and attention to detail we pour into each piece. Every rug is handcrafted with care and precision, ensuring it’s perfect. We hear it all the time at markets—people are blown away by the quality and intricacy of our work. It’s those moments that make the long hours so worthwhile. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and look forward to creating even more custom works of art for homes across the globe.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For us, the most rewarding aspect of being artists is watching each piece come to life. Every time we finish a rug, I’m genuinely mind blown that we actually created it. Some pieces turn out so well that I never want to let them go. One, in particular, was a rug I made of the late rapper Tupac in the WPAP style, which is a colorful geometric pop art technique. I even built a custom frame around it. I was so amazed by how it turned out that I convinced Sara that if it didn’t sell, we’d keep it for ourselves.

However, while setting up for a market—before it even opened—someone walking by with their dog saw the Tupac rug and immediately wanted it. It sold before we even officially started! Moments like that are both exciting and bittersweet because it shows how much our work resonates with people, but it’s hard to let go of pieces we’ve grown attached to. Still, the joy of seeing others appreciate our art is what keeps us going.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

If you like an artist’s work, support them any way you can. If you can afford to buy a piece, do it—and show it off! But if it’s out of your budget, interacting with their social media posts is completely free and can have a huge impact. In the age of algorithms, engagement helps artists get seen by more people, some of whom might be able to buy their work. A simple like or comment on a video can go a long way. And if you see an artist in person, compliment them on their work. We all love hearing it, and it inspires us to keep creating.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Llamamamarugs.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/llamamamarugs
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/llamamamarugs