Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lori Gravink. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lori, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had started sooner?
I spent too many years working what is often referred to as a “real job”. I exited Art School at age 21 and honestly was a bit lost. I’m those days no one taught the business side of being a creative and entrepreneur. So, I got a job and created in the side. I excelled at dining jobs that either gave me flexible time for creating or allowed me to be creative. I advanced in my corporate career and at age 50, I was self supporting and doing ok, till I wasn’t. Two lay offs on three years almost destroyed me financially. I was older and found it difficult to fond a lucrative corporate job. Making things was what saved me. I created and sold, and created more and sold more, and month by month, I paid my mortgage and found joy again. I also reflected. If only I had stuck with creating as a career. I can only imagine the heights I would have reached, if only I hadn’t caved to the “get a real job” philosophy.
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
My background is illustration. An art that did a 360 degree turn with the advance of computers. Having left creating for many years, when I returned it was different. This is when I changed from fine art and illustration, to creating, crafting and I now call my self an Artisan. An Artisan because everything I create has a function. I now create Clothing, Home Decor and one of a kind Refinished Furniture. LaDeeDa Design grew out of a need and has evolved. As my tag line says, LaDeeDa Design is and I am “Eclectic and Unexpected”.
I also co-lead and co-own, The Artisan Markets Furniture. We are a collective of Furniture Artisans who have come together to create and sell. I believe in the synergy created by like minded people and the philosophy of “collectively we are better together than alone”. When one has success, we are all successful. I teach, mentor and cheer for all of the members of my team and am proud of our creative accomplishments and website we’ve created and sales we’ve made. Each of us has our own style, techniques and goals and we meet our individual goals collectively. It’s a beautiful and sometime magical thing to collaborate.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I consider being an Artisan to be financially stressful but emotionally, rewarding beyond measure. When I create I have no sense of time, I don’t hear what’s happening around me and I I am laser focused. It is the only time that I am in the moment. I have a physical redone when creating. I experience something beyond my 5 senses.
Creating keeps me relevant, engaged, interested and interesting and sits made my journey on earth remarkable.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I believe my opening paragraph describes my journey of resilience. When faced with financial devastation, I returned to what I knew to survive. I created, and packed my vehicle with my creations and knocked on boutique doors and asked to sell. I showed up an every free craft event to sell and inch by inch, dollar by dollar I learned. I continually improved my product, changed where I sold and grew and eventually lead a creative community .
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/LaDeeDaDesign
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ladeedadesign?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LaDeeDaDesign/?ref=share_group_link
- Other: My storefront on The Artisan Markets Furniture. https://theartisanmarketsfurniture.com/seller-collection/ladeedadesign And, The Artisan Markets Furniture – The collective I co own and lead, https://www.theartisanmarketsfurniture.com/