We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tamara Velasco. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tamara below.
Tamara, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hello! My name is Tamara (Tammy) Velasco and I am the proud owner of “Leon + Maeve.” This small business focuses on upcycling secondhand clothing (adult and children) and giving it new life by adding patchwork and embroidery.
I’ve been a long-time thrifter and advocate for slow fashion. When I entered the role of motherhood, my interest in preserving the environment (in big or small ways) became stronger as I knew that I wanted to be a role model for my children, Leon and Maeve.
My business was born when I was pregnant with my second child, Maeve. Prior to my pregnancy with Maeve, I suffered a miscarriage on September 11 (already a very tragic day of sorrow). Paired with severe anxiety as a K-8th grade art teacher during multiple school shootings in our country, plus burnout from my teaching job, as well as other personal and health issues, I suffered from perinatal depression for many months. A couple of months before Maeve was born, I took a leave of absence from teaching as my depression was debilitating and I found solace and peace in sewing. As an art teacher and mother to Leon, my energy and time was focused on children and art-making had been a thing of the past. However, during my time of recovery, I rediscovered the healing power of slowing down, sewing every stitch, thinking carefully and appreciating every artistic choice I made for each garment. I truly found so much peace and childlike joy during that time as I had forgotten what it was like to create for myself.
For a while, my business was grassroots and very small. I was working from a small desk in my bedroom and thrifting weekly from secondhand stores and consignment shops. When I received a grant from JOANNs, I was able to purchase more materials and equipment. A couple of months later, I had the honor of being interviewed by Chapel Hill Magazine for their May 2024 issue- elevating my presence within my community and online. My business was noticed by locals and friends and I’ve been slowly growing my clientele. When I started to work at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design at NC State University, I was also able to connect with the local artists, musicians, dancers, and creatives in the area and on campus.
We live in a time now where social media is an incredible tool for sharing and inspiring others. I have found so many thrifters, sewers, and small business owners that share my passion for upcycling and patchwork aesthetics. For me, I want people to hear my story, to hear how art saved me in a time of deep sorrow, and to provide inspiration and raise awareness about mental health. I didn’t know how many women in my life suffered from miscarriages, until I felt brave enough to share my experience and story. I also want to provide a garment that is made with love and intention. Every Leon + Maeve item is one-of-a-kind, and it also stemmed from a desire for me to find clothes that I liked and wanted my children to wear.
During my busy days as a full time working mother, I find that the only times I can commit to sewing and focusing on my business, is in the early mornings or late evenings. Sometimes when it is nighttime, I will be sewing in my studio, and I will hear the quiet patter of my son’s feet enter the room. He’ll lie down on my bed while watching me sew. Some weekends, I am able to sew with him in the studio and that has been a wonderful bonding experience with my son. I hope that “Leon + Maeve” will not only be a family business that started from a place of pain, but become a shining example of hope- for my children to experience the healing power of art, as well as for countless people who hear my story to also feel inspired and seen.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I was taking my leave of absence from teaching during my pregnancy, it occurred to me that I may not return the next year as a teacher. I had known for awhile that my teaching career was no longer sustainable, yet I continued on because of the relationships that I had formed with the children as well as a financial responsibility to my family. When I finally made the choice at the end of the school year to decline my contract for the next year, I felt guilt and shame. Guilt for closing the chapter as an art teacher and leaving the families and students that I have worked closely with over the years and shame for following my heart and choosing my mental health. It was in this time, that my husband reminded me of how much he loved me and how proud he was of me for listening to my needs and that our family would be okay. I found that alot of my guilt and shame also came from a desire of having complete control of my life. It was in this season of my life that I realized how beautiful and unexpected life can be when you open yourself to the possibilities that exist. I spent the summer recovering from my birth to Maeve and enjoyed the first couple of months as a stay-at-home mom with her while continuing to work on the “Leon + Maeve” business. Around the fall, an educational position opened up at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design. While scrolling periodically for jobs, I came across the job posting and I realized this was a new window for me. It was a chance to return to my calling as an art educator. I never envisioned myself working at a university museum, but it has not only opened up a new career path, but also a new community of creative souls that I dearly call my friends and supporters.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
For me, I have found the best way to connect with people is through word-of-mouth. After my magazine interview with Chapel Hill Magazine was released, there were a couple of new clients that discovered my business through the article. However, I have found that having one-on-one conversations with people, enjoying coffee and sharing stories and interests, is how I’ve been able to share my story on a personal level.
Social media is an incredible platform, especially in reaching people far and wide. However it has changed so much since my earlier days in high school and I made a conscious choice during my early adult years to step away from social media as I wanted to focus my energy on in-person relationships. I have always resonated with forming intentional relationships with people in my life and it my earlier years, social media was a space of comparison and toxicity. Now I have a new perspective of the platform and see it as a tool to elevate others and share my story. While I see the benefits, I still enjoy sitting across from a person and having a face-to-face conversation as the story of my business is a personal and difficult experience but one that I feel is important to share in person.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leonandmaeve.com
- Instagram: leon_and_maeve
- Facebook: Tamara Velasco
- Linkedin: Tamara Velasco
