Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maria McKnight. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Maria, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
Hello, my name is Maria McKnight and I am the sole proprietor of 2 Birds No Stones LLC. I would like my legacy to be one where people will say “She never gave up and she truly cared about her children and the emotional growth of her community”. As the ultimate Curator of JOY!! I design travel ready experiences that are joy filled creations to holistically support anyone coping with existing feelings of anxiety, and add beauty where it often is not. Being an entrepreneur has not always been an easy journey and there are days when you ask yourself ~ Is this worth the struggle and am I doing the right thing by sticking it out? The answer to this is yes indeed.
You just have to surround yourself with likeminded people and find resources to support you in areas you lack knowledge. When I am gone people will surely say “Maria made life better for so many people of young and old; she brought hope and JOY at a time when many felt hopeless and unsure. She inspired families to invest in their children beyond the physical by tapping into their naturally creative spirits. She recognized a need and generously shared her gift of artistry through play with the world”. Maria existed with the sole intent to recognize then break the cycle of trauma and how we unconsciously pass it down, by showing us how to heal ourselves and heal others through art and play.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I grew up in Boston Massachusetts and I as far as I can remember I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. In my 6th grade woodworking class, I had convinced my teacher to allow me to trace and cut out Christmas ornaments after completing a required toolbox project. I distinctly remember him yelling across the room “Maria don’t cut off your finger”. I responded “I won’t!” What I didn’t tell him was I had a plan to paint then sell them (laughing). I officially started my business in 2018 after thinking about it for about 10 years. Not knowing what to do or how to start, I entered and completed a summer cohort program named TLE Center for Urban Entrepreneurship. That same summer, I began tinkering with the idea of doing pop-up playdates and activities for children in local parks. Then in 2019 came COVID. Now I have no space and even if I did, how would this work when people are avoiding the indoors. Simultaneously, my son was diagnosed with extreme anxiety as a result of the existing world circumstances. So, I became his teacher and therapist, and to make learning at home interesting I began to design sensory play using sand modalities. I also create fun and interesting learning environments using art projects. My time as a surrogate teacher also included an abundance of time spent in nature. We enjoyed exploration during walks around ponds and lakes, picking up rocks and collecting leaves. It was in these very places where I saw his smile returned, and I am convinced that nature truly heals. At the time, I didn’t realize that I was building the protocol for my business. As I collected items outdoors, I decided to preserve their beauty and began to put everything in resin. Which included adding positive quotes to inspire and I have named these products: Sensory Ponds.
In addition, I decided to bring this creativity outdoors to help other families and children (designing playful gardens in nature; both a Wellness & Gratitude tree where people could gather and share their JOY without fear). It was a way of giving back and making a selfless impact. My favorite playdate was hosted with the aim of establishing a support group for parents with children on the spectrum. It was such an amazing day! A few of my closest friends joined me to do clean-up of a sandbox and we installed a Native American inspired fairy garden in an existing raised garden. I assigned care duty to a wonderful woman that happened to be at the park with her child. “Do you live close by?” I asked her if she could water it when in passing and she graciously agreed. I went back to leave a watering can for the children, so they too could care for it. It stayed all summer and I went back in the winter to install a scenery I called ‘Antarctica’. The intention was to give children a visual of a beautiful landscape we are all unlikely to visit and to see what animals actually live there. I believe children need access to unique and creative experiences in all seasons. https://www.instagram.com/p/ClcQt2TvPIW/
In July of 2023, I joined another cohort called EforAll Roxbury and I worked with two mentors to help me think about how to turn my sensory creations into a platform that would bring in income. One of the hardest questions I had to ask myself was “How can you be a play space without a space?”. Thus, the plan was to pivot and figure out HOW to bring sensory experiences directly to perspective clients. Today, I am prepared and confident as a business leader when I speak on panels about the importance of sensory play. The clientele is growing and the meaningful work I do is rewarding. The beauty of discovering myself as an artist, is that I have been successfully able to marry my artistry into my business, by designing unique sensory experiences and hosting them at non-profit or community events. I engage all ages and both children and adults and love to learn through touch; sight; sound. It is part of our innate human curiosity. I hope to one day be able to return to the outdoor installations, as I am now putting most of my focus on my art and either exhibiting or selling them online.
On my website you can find these offerings of products or services.
– Resin Sensory Ponds: customizable art designed for any personal occasion; birthdays-weddings; pet memorials.
– Resin Nebulas: 3-dimensional resin art envisioning the space cosmos and exploration.
– Science Meets Sensory: Sensory play designed to support a love of space explorations.
– Sensory & Professional Development: available for non-profit fundraisers/events and PD for team building in corporate spaces.
– Other Specialties: Designing customized fairy garden installations.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
As an artist I love to meet a complete stranger that knows about what it is I do. Some may have seen my work outdoors and will speak about how it touched their lives. Just last week, I dropped off one of my ‘sensory ponds’ for an exhibiting show and I naturally started talking to the young man minding the store. WE talked about my art and why I started putting sensory stations in parks. He is a violin teacher and remembers a music station I placed outdoors in Dorchester Park. The best part for ME is he is soon to take me onboard as a new student. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CQESLeLnPg0/
I remember on the day of the install vividly, as a music teacher was passing by and stopped to inquire. He was perplexed and stated “You’re just going to leave this here?” Yes. “You actually trust us like that?” I laughed and responded “I guess I have too”. I’ve heard several stories of children stopping and playing the instrument for their families, although I never had the chance to see it for myself. I hope I’ve inspired a future violinist or concert hall master. That’s the true measure of success for me; making a difference through my art and ‘Making It Make Sensory’.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I would have loved to had known more about applying for artist grants, to use as capital when starting out. I believe I had enough information for the time, yet the programs that are out now are much richer with resources and have more hands-on direct support or guidance. You also have to do your research and look for programs in which you might be a good fit. One thing I do well is find opportunities per-diem. If I think and organization would benefit from what it is I can offer; I will do the introduction and outreach in real time. As an entrepreneur, it is import to be resourceful and fearless, even if it’s not your preferred nature. Yet there is value in lessons learned, as I am able to use my mistakes and experiences to guide those whom are coming behind me. Secondly, I would slow down and enjoy the process more. The only real competition is yourself. “Thank you CanvasRebel Magazine team for giving myself, entrepreneurs and artists alike, a platform to share and truly be celebrated!!”
Contact Info:
- Website: 2BIRDSNOSTONESSENSORY.COM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twobirdsboston/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-mcknight-45b1a6132/recent-activity/all/