Today we’d like to introduce you to Cecilia Alvarado.
Hi Cecilia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have always gravitated toward creating and crafting. As a mother, I can’t even count the number of school projects I helped my daughter with and the birthday parties I decorated. As a friend, I’ve been the unofficial baby shower organizer or wedding decorator on numerous occasions. As an educator for 14 years now, I’ve created countless activities for my students. I am particularly proud of the school district in which I work, Alief ISD because we have the privilege of working with students from all backgrounds and where more than 80 languages are spoken. Working here has helped me develop as a creator in all aspects. Creativity is definitely essential in the classrooms here.
The start of my business came out of one of the toughest times in my life. In late 2019, my then 17-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Epilepsy. As a mom, I felt helpless. With her type of Epilepsy, her seizures occur during her sleep. I felt that the only thing I could do to feel useful was to monitor her while she slept. This changed my life. I began getting my sleep right after work to be able to stay up as late as I possibly could, monitoring her and rushing to her bedside when she had a seizure. This was my routine for many months. Before this time, I was already making some trinkets just for fun, but I would mostly give these away as gifts. Family and friends always suggested that I start selling some of my creations. With so much time on my hands at all hours of the night, I began to learn online how to create a range of products from jewelry and cups to home decor. Crafting while monitoring my daughter helped me cope with this difficult time.
Mix N Things did not officially launch until late February in 2020 about a week before the global pandemic. Fortunately, though, I was able to use this time at home to familiarize myself with different software, various crafting techniques, and even try different materials to create other items.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Things have definitely not been a smooth road. One of the first struggles was launching right in the middle of a pandemic. This threw the playbook out the window. Luckily, in the beginning, I had two close friends help me get the business side started. I have definitely learned a lot along the way.
Another of my struggles has been the ability to be open with others. I am a very private person and, when trying to launch a business solely online, letting your customers know you play a big part. I simply offered my items and hoped for the best. I quickly learned there’s a lot more to it and it’s essential to make a connection both personally and professionally. By doing this interview, I feel I am taking a step toward overcoming this.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My favorite items to make are earrings. I love getting custom requests for earrings when the customer gives me the green light to create them in whatever way I think looks best. I offer other accessories and some custom items like tumblers, journals, cutting boards, and hopefully, there will be more items added soon. Thanks to the tools I’ve been blessed to have acquired throughout this time, I am able to offer a lot of my items in different mediums. I use resin, wood, acrylic, as well as sublimation to create the things in my shop.
I have always heard that one should find one’s niche and perfect it. However, I focus on the creating aspect. Sometimes I get requests for products I have never made, but rather than turn them away, I welcome the opportunity to learn and push myself. With some great help along the way, I also now offer some promotional items and hope to expand more on that. In the end, not only do I express myself through my products, but I am also able to express my customer’s style and creativity. A splash of color and some extra details can transform and elevate anything.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
That I quite enjoy the research part of all of this. I consider myself a lifelong learner in all aspects of life so I welcome every opportunity to grow. Those who know me will most likely say that I am a planner. I make lists and take notes for almost everything. This has always been my strength but what they don’t see is that this can quickly shift and take me off course. I spend a lot of time gathering information before trying things out, I catch myself researching things I see out of curiosity just to learn the process. I am the perfect example for going down the rabbit hole of online instructional videos. I might start my day doing research on which wood stain is better to use on certain products, only to then have my notebook filled with not one, but three different ways to build my own canoe in just one sitting.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@mixnthings.com
- Website: www.mixnthings.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixnthings__/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MixNThingsLLC/
- Other: tiktok.com/@mixnthings
