Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Martinez.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always been crafty but I never found what I was passionate about, I played with makeup for a while and was good at it but I never wanted to pursue it, then I started doing graphic makeup and got really good at that, but after Halloween was over I wasn’t inspired to do anything with it. It wasn’t until I got engaged in 2015, that I really started doing invitations and getting into crafts. Once I started doing my invitations, I could never make up my mind on what I wanted because I had so many ideas I wanted to create! After a while, my friends would ask me to do their invitations so I would, because I found it soothing and loved creating different patterns and putting pictures together and coming up with quirky sayings or the right wording. I soon realized, I LOVED creating invitations. After that, I knew I wanted to keep doing this even after my wedding, so I created Rocket Creations!
Has it been a smooth road?
I wouldn’t say a smooth road but I also wouldn’t say it was easy. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my work. So, if something isn’t up to the quality I like, I won’t put it out for the world to see. I always say, if I wouldn’t do it for myself, no one will want it. It’s taken me 26 years to find what I’m passionate about, so I would tell other women not to give up. I’m a strong believer in “if it’s meant for you, it will find you” and that’s exactly what Rocket Creations did for me. People will always have something to say, positive or negative, sometimes both, but all that matters is if you’re proud of it and it makes you happy, who cares what others think? Be proud of your work and never give up on trying to make yourself happy!
We’d love to hear more about Rocket Creations.
I create a lot of different things. I’ve done centerpieces, crafts for holidays, business cards, invitations for birthdays, weddings and corporate events, table numbers, ceremony programs, etc. I mostly have known for my invitations, whether it be for weddings, corporate events or birthdays.
I’m most proud of the fact that I do this in my spare time. I work a normal part-time job as an Executive Administrative Assistant. I purposely work only part-time to have time to do my paper crafts. I am working on doing this full time, but as of now, I gotta keep on pushing through!
I think the fact that I do everything in-house (literally) is what sets me apart. Every design, every idea, every paper I cut, print and fold I do from the comfort of my home. I don’t order things to get printed or cut, I do EVERYTHING myself! I’m very proud of that. It’s a trial and error kind of thing, but that’s what makes it so fun!
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Yeah, a little. I grew up in a middle-class family. It was my mom and dad, myself (being the oldest) and three younger brothers. We were never without anything but we did have to get creative about things at times. I remember my mom taking us to the thrift store when we needed new clothing, because… well, c’mon, there was 4 of us! I remember I’d hated going because everyone always had the newest clothes or the newest shoes but I left the store with clothing I absolutely LOVED! It was even more satisfying when the other kids at school would be like “hey! cool outfit, where’d you get it from?” and I’d always reply “at the thrift store” with the biggest grin on my face because I was happy I had something they couldn’t find anywhere in the stores. Or, when we had certain projects or things we needed to buy, my mom was always the crafty one. I guess I get my creativity from her!
Contact Info:
- Email: rocketcreations@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @rocket_creations_by_ashley_mtz
Image Credit:
Rocket Creations by Ashley Martinez
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
