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

Teralyn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

When the world shut down during COVID-19, I wasn’t thinking about starting a business. I was simply trying to survive my own thoughts. As a veteran living with PTSD, isolation was heavy, and I needed an outlet that felt safe. Art became that place.
I started creating at home, painting sneakers, jackets, canvases; not for profit, not for attention, but for peace. Colors helped me process emotions I didn’t have words for. Each design felt like a quiet conversation with myself, a way to release things I had been carrying for years.
When the world slowly reopened, people began noticing. Strangers would stop me and ask, “Where did you get that?” and I’d tell them, “I made it.” Their reactions surprised me. What I saw as therapy, they saw as something rare and meaningful. That’s when I realized I wasn’t just creating art, I was creating one-of-one pieces that carried emotion, story, and identity. In a world full of mass production, people were craving authenticity.
The logic behind turning it into a business grew naturally. I wasn’t just selling products; I was offering connection, healing, and self-expression. My approach felt different because it wasn’t trend-driven. It was truth-driven. Every piece is like a journal entry I’m brave enough to share.
What excites me most is the vulnerability. Sharing my art is like opening a diary to the world, and that can be intimidating. But I’ve learned that when I create with honesty, it gives others permission to do the same. If my journey shows someone that a small idea, born in a quiet, difficult moment — can grow into something meaningful, then this work is more than a business. It’s purpose.

Teralyn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For those who don’t know me, I’m a small-town girl from Citra, Florida. It’s a quiet place now, but it carries a deep sense of history and roots, and that grounding has always stayed with me. I joined the military because I wanted to continue my education and explore the world beyond what I knew. I’ve always loved learning. In the Army, I studied water purification, which kept me connected to nature and working outdoors most of the time. Being outside became a form of peace for me, even in a structured environment.

That structure shaped me, but it also made me crave creative freedom. The Army requires discipline and uniformity, and while I respect that deeply, art became the space where I could express everything I had to hold in. Many of my early pieces carried military influence. I would sew my name tapes onto shirts and incorporate elements of my service into my designs. People were often surprised to learn I was a veteran because my personality is colorful, expressive, and full of life. Art allowed me to merge both sides of who I am.

Today, my work includes customized sneakers, hand-painted apparel, mixed-media canvas art, and creative workshops. I offer one-of-a-kind pieces that are built around personal stories and emotion. I love sitting down with clients, hearing their vision, and transforming their ideas into something visual and meaningful. I guide the creative direction, but I also encourage people to tap into their own imagination. That collaboration is powerful.

What sets my work apart is that it is not just about fashion or decor. It is about identity, healing, and self-expression. I am most proud of creating a space where people feel seen and inspired to stand out rather than blend in. I want potential clients and supporters to know that this brand is rooted in authenticity. Every piece comes from a real place, and my goal is to help others discover that their voice, their story, and their creativity truly matter.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One of the biggest moments of resilience in my life came when I moved to Atlanta. I believed it would be the perfect place to grow as an artist, collaborate with others, and connect with brands. It was a big step, and I went there full of hope and ambition. Atlanta was full of opportunity, and I did meet incredible people and take part in exciting collaborations. But somewhere along the way, I started to lose myself.

Being in such a large, fast-moving city, I found myself surrounded by strong opinions, outside expectations, and constant noise about what I should be doing or who I should be. I slowly drifted away from my own voice. Instead of creating from the heart, I was trying to keep up, trying to fit into spaces that didn’t always understand my vision. I was working, networking, and moving, but inside I felt disconnected and unsure.
When I made the decision to move back home to Florida, it felt like everything went quiet. The fast pace stopped. The outside voices faded. At first, that silence was uncomfortable, but it became exactly what I needed. With fewer distractions, I had no choice but to sit with my own thoughts again. I leaned on my family, my faith, and the stillness that surrounded me.

In that season, my creativity returned in a deeper way than before. In the presence of God, I found a peace that helped me rebuild from the inside out. What once felt like a loss turned into a rediscovery. I didn’t just find my art again. I found myself, my confidence, and a clearer understanding of who I am and why I create. That experience taught me that sometimes resilience is not about pushing forward in noise, but about having the courage to step back, be still, and listen to your own spirit again.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Funding my business has been a journey of creativity not just in art, but in resourcefulness. In the beginning, I reinvested the profits I made from selling my artwork. Every pair of customized sneakers, every canvas, every wearable piece helped fund the next supply run or project. It was a slow but meaningful process because each sale represented someone believing in my work.

As my vision for the business grew, I realized passion alone wouldn’t sustain it long term. That’s when I made the decision to go back to school to study marketing. I wanted to understand how to position my brand, reach the right audience, and build something that could truly last. During that time, I also took classes in grant writing, which completely shifted the way I saw funding.

Learning how to apply for grants opened new doors for me. Instead of relying only on sales, I began securing funding that supported my mission, especially the parts of my work focused on community, youth, and healing through art. Grants allowed me to think bigger, plan more strategically, and move my business toward a more stable financial foundation.

My next goal is to open a storefront that reflects everything my brand stands for. I want it to be a creative space where I can sell artwork and curated secondhand pieces, while also giving other artists a place to showcase and sell their work. For me, funding has never just been about money. It has been about learning, adapting, and building a foundation that allows both my art and my community to grow together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shoptcustomz.myshopify.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teralyn_x?igsh=cXFyNTd0YzRnNWl4&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CXUA6RxDQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: Teralyn Ann Legall
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@teralynlegall2918?si=89N2g99bJ3BIX2Hc

Image Credits

Ty Pleas