Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lauren Patterson . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lauren , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I honestly just start. I have a bad habit of staying in planning mode rather than executing. So, nowadays, I really try to act on the idea while it’s still fresh in my mind. No matter where on the spectrum, artistically, I have to visualize before anything else.

When I did my first ceramic drop there were a lot of late nights and early mornings. I feel as if my creativity has no true timeframe because I have to feel it. I have to tap in right then and there. Call me crazy lol. I took a few months as I knew I wanted to drop around the holidays. I do have my own wheel to throw but I don’t own a Kiln and because of that I worked with many mom and pop shops throughout the area as a great amount would happily allow me to fire for a reasonable price. I then had to consider structuring my business around firing cycles, but I honestly did not mind it. It was nice because I got to learn about many different techniques and awesome ceramicists around the area that I would not have found if I would have instead invested in my own kiln and worked alone. It’s a very sweet and giving community so I think that’s what also helped my execution. I couldn’t be more appreciative of that.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a full spectrum artist but my specialties are in ceramics, writing, and beauty. I’ve been writing my whole life and doing ceramics for years now. However, I have just recently tapped into the beauty industry as I enrolled in beauty school to be a Full Specialist in Nail and Skincare October of last year. I am due to graduate in July of this year and I couldn’t be more ecstatic. I have always done my own hair, makeup, lashes and even nails. My life is beautiful, I feel. I made the decision to enroll because my ideals and goals are becoming much more clear in my adult years. I am now working to prepare for my future and building a structure for my future family. I now see life through a bigger scope. As a woman, especially, that is important to me.

As I take this time training I get to experience exactly what I want as well as what I don’t. As I will now be managing two businesses that are not too far away on the spectrum, so there are parallels in how I will structure. I am still working on my beauty page itself but I am having so much fun working on logos and concepts. That is so exciting to me. It’s like giving birth to a new baby lol my baby.

I named my business Baubo Beauty. Baubo in short means “belly”. This was perfect to me because it creates a parallel between my ceramic and beauty business intentions. They are both honoring the source of creation. With my beauty business also honoring the beauty of creation. Baubo is also a goddess of female sexuality and the healing power of laughter. The Belly being associated with her name indicates the laughter in the belly she provoked in Demeter. In a way I see myself doing that. Creating a safe space for everyone and seeing how that beauty manifests in what may be press on nails, mani/pedi sets, waxing, lash & brow care, and face/body masks. The power of beauty and how it can truly transform someone’s spirit. I think we should all experience that, the amplification of our own energy. I don’t even wish to set myself apart from others but more so create a space for us to all coexist. There is enough room and I cannot wait to share more in my expansion.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

In short, I personally feel like everything in my life leads back to art in some weird way. As of right now I am working in the cannabis industry full time as I work on my personal business projects in-between and free time. However, I still get to meet so many amazing individuals in the cannabis industry as well. I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit that cannabis has helped me greatly in my creative process so It’s cool to see others benefit from that as well.

Ideally, I would love to just live off of my art and that is something I am working towards. My goal is to manifest my own building to turn into a salon that would also provide enough space to sell my ceramics, a two-in-one. It sounds simple so I know I would need a team for this, but I am optimistic as this is still generally just an idea that I know won’t be overnight. So when that time does arrive, all of this will be worth it in the long run, ya’know? As for now my businesses are as fluid as I am and I think people see and honor that, especially fellow artists. We do what we can, when we can. I had to get out of my head about that often and still do.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Actually getting to know people past a transaction. I believe in letting people know that you are there with them. I see, hear, and feel you in this moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://inthebellyof.bigcartel.com/
• Instagram: @INTHEBELlYOF
• Other: l7weenie607.wordpress.com – poetry

Image Credits
Special thanks to Eva ( @naveszn on IG) for capturing me for the Harlem Renaissance short film/photoshoot and Ralph ( @shotsbyralph_ on IG ) for photographing me for Le Onyx’s recent drop “The Woman Who Loved”.