We recently connected with DeShawna Ladd and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, DeShawna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

I really do wish I would have started my creative career sooner. I spent many years working for other people, doing stuff I hated, just to pay the bills. Often, I found myself in some “soul crushing”, boring, 9-5. It got to a point where I couldn’t do it anymore! Several times during that season of my life, I found myself daydreaming of “what ifs”: “What if I studied art like I wanted to?”, “What if I didn’t go to college, worked in retail, and did my art on the side?”. “What if I worked for myself?”, “What if I pursued music seriously?”. By the time I was 30, I wasn’t in a good place mentally or spiritually. It was time to break out of the matrix!

Seeing as how I was 30 years old when I had this revelation, I felt I was “too old” to accomplish and start certain things in life. As these thoughts plagued my mind, it came to my memory that I told my Mom she was “never too old to get an education”. When I was in high school she wanted to go back to school to get her degree. But, she kept saying she was “too old” to go back to college, I encouraged her continuously, and in December 2004 (six months after I graduated high school), she got her AA in Criminal Justice. Upon recalling this, I knew I was definitely still young enough to accomplish my dreams.

I had a lot of “shoulda, coulda, woulda” moments in my mind when I first got into my creative career. I didn’t allow it to set me back though. With prayer, inspiration from some creatives I had met over the years, and guidance of The Lord, I finally am doing what I dreamt of for so long!

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 DeShawna, Owner/Artist of Celestial Intentions LLC, and also known as DJ Daisy Chains!
Art and music has inevitably been an emotional/physical outlet for me since I can remember. I didn’t feel good if I didn’t express myself in some sort of artistic fashion. So I grew up taking lots of art classes, buying lots of d.i.y craft kits, finding the newest CDs to play on my discman, and drawing on most of my belongings! Art was also my favorite subject in school.

My senior year of high school I was given a wire jewelry making kit. I wore rings I made with the kit to school, and started getting compliments from classmates. Soon after my classmates were offering me money to make them rings! I had a nice little side hustle until graduation. I wanted to study art when I went to college, but had a change of mind after being told it wasn’t “wise” to study art, and that I’d be a “starving artist”.

While studying psychology at Michigan State University, I stopped creating to “fit in” to my environment. I took one art class, but it didn’t inspire me to do art again. After graduating college during the 2008 recession, it was very hard to find and keep a job. It made me depressed for a while.

In 2011, I decided to pick up a hobby to get out of the rut I was in. Making jewelry again was my hobby of choice. I made earrings etc. for myself and as gifts. However, it still didn’t cross my mind to sell my work.

At the beginning of 2017 I was still making jewelry as a hobby, and getting back into doing art. I met my now husband at the time, and he just so happened to be a professional artist! He saw my talents and asked me why I wasn’t selling my work, and taking my art more seriously. With some brainstorming and encouragement, I started my own business, Celestial Intentions LLC!
Celestial Intentions LLC offers a variety of original artworks: Handmade Jewelry, Paintings, Digital Drawings. Logo Design, Crafts, and Photography.

I’ve definitely always had an interest in music. As a child I took a few piano lessons, and played the trombone in the sixth grade band. My grandma also had a Yamaha digital piano when I was growing up. I found myself making tunes with the sound board and sample music from floppy disks. It was very fun for me, but that was the only time I had access to anything like it until adulthood.

In 2021 I discovered a pretty cool soundboard/drum pad app. Immediately I began playing around with it. It was exciting to be able to make music again! By early 2022 I had produced several electronic/techno/dubstep songs I felt were fit for putting on an album. I came up with a “DJ” moniker, and after finding the proper resources, in May 2022 “Let Your Light Shine: An Experimental Album” was released!! In the last year I have since released 3 more albums and 4 singles, available on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music! DJ Daisy Chains supplies some banging beats for any occasion!

I think what sets me apart is: Just being me, not trying to fit in a certain category of art! As well as my use of “celestial” (funky) colored beads in my jewelry, sparkly and holographic backgrounds or overlays with my paintings; symmetrical and futuristic design; giving each piece of jewelry or art a unique or fun name! As well as, using beats I produced in the background of videos of my artworks and photos. Being able to do things I never imagined is what I’m most elevated about! I want people to know that I’m not trying to impress anyone, just do what I love and have fun doing it!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist would be the ability to express myself to the fullest extent. Not only am I able to do this in my work, but also in my dress, and in my persona. The freedom to constantly be able to pursue new creative endeavors.
It’s also been a blessing to bring joy to people with my art and music.
Over the years I’ve had many people tell me my work puts a smile on their face, or makes them feel good!

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The Bible. Reading The Bible has motivated me to be where I am now, and keep going forward. There are many stories that made me realize I should do God’s will and not my own in life.
I feel a part of his will for me is to use the gifts he has blessed me with.
The Bible has several chapters teaching us how to conduct business, manage money, and be bold.
I feel like had I not started reading the Bible,
I wouldn’t have been wise in certain matters when it comes to using my gifts as an entrepreneur.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://msha.ke/celestial_intentions_llc/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dj_daisy_chains/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCizfqO9pLUZd-_9vnKq6b4w