We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carolina Tovar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carolina below.

Carolina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had started sooner?

If I could go back in time, I honestly believe I would start my creative career at the exact same moment I did. My life has unfolded in a way that feels intentional, almost as if every stage prepared me for the next. Creativity has always been part of who I am—not something I chose, but a language I learned to speak from the very beginning.

I started creating when I was very young. I was five when my grandmother taught me how to sew clothes for my dolls. The very first thing I made was a tiny pair of doll underwear, and from then on, I never stopped. I knitted, painted, stitched, and experimented with anything I could get my hands on. Art became my way of expressing myself. At thirteen, just by observing someone use a sewing machine, I taught myself to sew. Soon I was making quilted bags and selling them to classmates—my first entrepreneurial adventure.

For a long time, I believed that would be my path. But my love for architecture grew stronger, so after high school I applied to study it. Life had other plans. I didn’t get in on my first try, and instead I was offered the chance to study graphic design. Those three years gave me the visual foundation for everything I create today. Later, I did enter architecture—and I loved it. But once again, life redirected me.

Becoming a mother changed my priorities completely. My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD when she was very young. I spent years navigating therapies, decisions, and countless moments of uncertainty. When medication was suggested, I knew I needed to pause and truly understand her needs. Those five or six years taught me how she learned, what supported her, and how to advocate for her. That experience shaped my way of seeing children, learning, and creativity.

And then, through a mix of coincidences and opportunities life placed in front of me, I entered the world of education. I was invited to work at a school—even without a formal teaching title or experience. Or at least, that’s what I believed. Once I started, I realized how much of my creativity, intuition, and life experience had prepared me. I fell in love with the work. I gave everything I had, learned on my own, studied constantly, and immersed myself in this vast, beautiful world of education.

A few courses and a specialization in education helped me grow further, but it was the day-to-day experience—working with children with disabilities, supporting students in preschools and schools, observing how they learn and what they need—that shaped me the most. Each new opportunity added depth to my practice and clarity to my purpose.

And here I am now: creating educational material full-time, designing stories, activities, and resources that come from real experience and genuine understanding of children. My work blends creativity, pedagogy, observation, and a bit of every technique I’ve learned along the way.

So if I could choose to start sooner or later?
I wouldn’t change anything. Every step—even the unexpected ones—led me exactly where I needed to be. My creative career began at the perfect moment, shaped by everything I lived, learned, and loved

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I usually say that I didn’t choose this path… it chose me. My creative and educational journey began almost by accident, through an unexpected opportunity that changed the entire direction of my life. Years ago, I was invited to work in a school even though I didn’t have a formal degree in education at that moment. I remember thinking, “I don’t have the experience,” but what I didn’t realize was that creativity, teaching, designing, and connecting with children had always been part of who I was.

The moment I stepped into a classroom, something clicked. I felt at home. That experience opened a door I didn’t even know I needed, and from there I immersed myself in learning — studying on my own, taking courses, earning a specialization in education, and discovering the depth and beauty of how children learn.

Throughout the years, I’ve worked in diverse educational environments, including early childhood centers, elementary schools, and spaces where I had the privilege of supporting children with disabilities. These experiences profoundly shaped the way I create today. They taught me to observe closely, to listen without judgment, to understand different learning profiles, and to design tools that feel accessible, comforting, and truly effective.

Today, all of that experience comes together in my work as a creator of educational materials, stories, visual resources, and guides for teachers and families. I use my background as an architect, designer, illustrator, and educator to craft materials that are both beautiful and functional. My work includes children’s stories, literacy programs, guided activities, comprehension resources, printable tools, and original characters that help children enter the world of learning with joy.

I’m especially proud of two types of resources that were born directly from my hands-on experience:
• Guides for working with children with disabilities, created to support teachers and families in understanding diverse needs with empathy, structure, and clarity.
• My leadership guide for educational coordinators, which reflects years of real work in schools — managing teams, supporting teachers, navigating challenges, and building inclusive environments.

Both resources come from lived experience, not theory alone, and they represent my commitment to sharing what I’ve learned so others can lead, teach, and support with confidence and compassion.

What sets me apart is the way I combine creativity, pedagogy, design, and emotional insight. I don’t just illustrate or write; I build learning experiences that honor each child’s uniqueness. Everything I create has intention — from the color choice to the story line to the structure of the activities. My materials are designed to feel safe, engaging, inclusive, and genuinely useful.

What I want people to know is this: my mission is to make learning accessible, magical, and meaningful. If a teacher feels supported, if a child feels seen, or if a family finds peace through one of my tools or stories… then my work has fulfilled its purpose

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One story that truly reflects my resilience began many years ago, almost por casualidad.
I entered the world of education without a formal degree in the field. I remember walking into my first classroom feeling excited but completely unsure if I belonged there. I thought I had no experience, no titles, and no “real” preparation… but life had a different plan.

Very quickly, I realized that what I did have was curiosity, empathy, creativity, and a deep desire to learn. Instead of stepping back, I stepped forward:
I studied on my own, observed everything, took courses, completed a specialization in education, and absorbed every opportunity that crossed my path.

A key piece of that resilience came from home.
My journey with my daughter—learning to see the world through her eyes, connecting at her “size,” slowing down, listening, and truly understanding her—became one of my greatest teachers.
At that time, I didn’t realize it, but those everyday moments with her were shaping my sensitivity and intuition. Later, when I started working with children with special educational needs, I understood why the work felt so natural to me. I had already been practicing presence, patience, and attunement for years.

Then came one of the most defining moments of my career:
I was assigned to support children with disabilities—something I had never formally trained for. Many assumed I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I could have stepped away, but I didn’t.
Instead, I committed myself fully. I learned, I asked questions, I researched, and most importantly, I listened to the children. Those experiences transformed me. They taught me compassion, adaptability, and the art of meeting each child where they are.

From there, doors kept opening: leadership roles, opportunities in Montessori environments, collaborations with families, and eventually—creating my own educational materials, books, guides, and programs. Today I design content that helps children learn, teachers teach, and families feel supported.

Looking back, that journey taught me that resilience isn’t about “being strong.”
It’s about staying open, curious, and willing to grow even when you don’t feel prepared. It’s about saying yes to opportunities that scare you a little. And it’s about trusting that every challenge—every unexpected turn—will eventually become part of your purpose.

That blend of personal experience, professional growth, and deep emotional learning is the resilience that has shaped my path and continues to guide everything I create today.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a creative is seeing how my work goes far beyond me. Every time I’m recognized, or someone reaches out asking for advice, guidance, or even access to my materials, I feel deeply grateful. It’s a beautiful confirmation that what I create has real impact.

Knowing that my own guidelines for teaching or understanding children with special needs are being applied in different schools and programs is incredibly meaningful. My books are being used as references in inclusion initiatives and even as support tools for coordinators — something I never imagined when I started creating.

For me, that’s the true reward: watching ideas born from my personal and professional journey grow into resources that help others teach better, understand children more compassionately, and build more inclusive learning spaces. It’s not just creativity — it’s contribution, and that fills me every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://catoni-crafts-creations-handmade.my.canva.site/?fbclid=IwAR13GvgZXtPalZ9H9vw92CtMwSrZPKU5fG4d7Y-SAox6Dmwe2LTUMty-t3Y_aem_th_ARXlBGZfAd3Mx-fVTl2op1KgAUd7_SseUvSl6tpM1BJCZd6Sr0UK-KrAHGyN6-tcXIM
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caro_crafts?igsh=Nzc3MWJhOHR0bmp0&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17LRZM4b3Q/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-carolina-tovar-n-777814373