Loana Hernandez shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Loana, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, what’s been bringing me the most joy outside of work is painting sacred art and offering those pieces as donations to parishes. I didn’t go into it thinking about what I might gain—it was simply an act of service and prayer. But in the process, I’ve found something so meaningful: it brought me back to art in its purest form. It’s helped me reconnect with my true self and embrace my identity as an artist again. Knowing that these paintings can touch others spiritually while also grounding me has been a beautiful gift.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m the founder of LH Design Studio, now celebrating its third year, and more recently I started Sacred Keepsakes, a project born out of a very personal journey of returning to God during a difficult season of my life. With the help of the Virgin Mary, I rediscovered prayer and my love for creating art, which led me to build a brand rooted in spirituality, memory, and creativity.
Sacred Keepsakes is made up of four areas: Faith Keepsakes, offering meaningful reminders of prayer, hope, and beauty for daily life; Nature Keepsakes, reminding us to care for the beauty of God’s creation that surrounds us; Nostalgia Keepsakes, inspired by the immigrant experience and the memories we carry, expressed through unique handcrafted jewelry; and Art Keepsakes, a personal favorite where I create pieces that celebrate wearing and living with art.
At its heart, Sacred Keepsakes is about holding on to what truly matters—faith, beauty, and the memories that shape us—while sharing them in a contemporary way that connects with people today
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that I’ve been learning to release is the perfectionist within me. For so long I wanted everything to go exactly as planned, but life taught me differently. I’ve learned to humbly pray for patience and even to appreciate mistakes, the ‘no’s’ as answers, and the closed doors along my career path. At the end of the day, I trust that God knows what’s best for me. Rebuilding my faith has taught me to let go and let God, and that shift has brought me a much deeper peace
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. After the pandemic, I went through a deep depression—something I know many people can relate to. The hardest part was reaching that place where I truly felt I couldn’t continue. It was one of the darkest moments of my life. But it was also there that I learned to recognize the love my family has for me, and it’s where I reconnected with my faith. My journey of being reborn started at the very moment I was ready to give up
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. I’m the same person in public and in private — I have trouble lying, and I prefer to live honestly. Being authentic feels truer to my faith and who I want to be.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely — this is the motto of my life. I truly enjoy serving with my talents. In the past, I used to hold back because I thought I was wasting my time instead of working. But I’ve learned that when you serve, especially when you give your very best, the real reward is the joy of seeing something meaningful happen for a community, a parish, or even just one person who needed help. In the end, I always receive so much more than I give. That is the peace of God
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sacredkeepsakes.shop
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacred.keepsakes/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loanahernandez/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loana.hernandez
