Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheila Penn.
Sheila, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My oldest son Kwame was murdered in 2022; following his death, I retired early. I left a 33-year career in the beauty industry a few years earlier than I anticipated but I was at peace with the decision. Not to mention, I was an emotional wreck.
Very soon after, I learned I needed an outlet. My therapist encouraged me to stay busy.
I had always enjoyed seeing other creatives work with polymer clay and felt this was the perfect time to immerse myself in this artistic medium as a form of therapy. Creating and working with my hands came naturally to me, so I knew I would grasp it quickly, and I did.
I fell in love with it and accumulated an inventory of products that I decided was nice enough to market and sale.
And Flourishing with Grace was birthed!
The name came out of my prayer time with God, asking Him, “How do I manage this grief journey?” He answered, “With grace. You will grieve, and as you grieve, you will flourish with God’s grace.”
At Flourishing with Grace, I create small batches of one-of-a-kind jewelry by hand using polymer clay and offer affirmative gift items perfectly curated for self-love and grief care.
My goal is to offer Emotional Support Subscription Boxes that can be purchased for personal self-care or as a gift to others who may be experiencing grief or loss.
My story is one for the books. Over the past 5 years, not only have I lost my son, I’ve buried my stepson as well as adopted a newborn son who is now almost 5 years old.
Life is full of twists and turns, and rather we’re ready or not it’s going to happen.
Despite it all, I’m blessed and grateful that I was chosen for this journey.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a new career after the age of 50 is always daunting. Finding your target audience can be somewhat intimidating. But with a little trial and error, it will all start coming together. Obviously, for me, grieving the loss of family and raising a toddler at the same time is challenging but not impossible. I’ve just had to learn a new time management system as well as creative ways to find balance. Self-care has become more important now than it has ever been.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Flourishing with Grace, I create handmade jewelry, mostly earrings, from polymer clay. Polymer clay is a man-made material from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) base. Its uses are numerous by artists and hobbyists ranging from children to professional artists and movie makers.
The process from clay to earrings is relaxing and calming. It’s something about taking a block of clay and turning it into a beautiful work of art for your ears.
I share my creative process on my social media platforms, and I’m known for my quick “tutorials” that show the journey from beginning to end
I believe that what sets me apart from the many other polymer clay earring makers is what sets them apart as well; the originality of each pair. What do I mean by that? It is almost impossible to mix colors and cut out your art, in this case earrings, in the exact same way each time. So, we are all unique, and no two-earring maker is the same.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Not only am I a retired hairstylist, a jewelry maker, mom, grandmother, and wife, but I’m also an Author, licensed Minister, and Interior Decorator, and recently I added UGC/Content Creating to my resume’.
After the death of my son, I honestly thought I would crawl in the bed and never get out. But God saw different for me, and I’m excited about the doors that are opening.
Pricing:
- $20 and up
Contact Info:
- Website: www.flourishingwithgrace.com
- Instagram: flourishingwithgrace1
- Facebook: flourishingwithgrace1
- Youtube: flourishingwithgrace
