A LIVELY, PECULIAR, AND ANIMATED BRAIN THAT IS FILLED WITH PURE ELATION… HMM, LET’S SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD!
It was a late spring day and my husband suddenly had an idea to start a side business. He was content with his full-time job but knew I was not and could see that I was struggling. He approached me (rather fanatically) with the thought and said the words, “We can finally use your brain for something.”
Now that sentence would offend many, but not me. I took it as a genuine compliment. We have been together since 2002 and he knows everything that goes on in my brain is extremely unconventional and doesn’t know how to shut off. My whole life I non-stop think of sketches that could be on SNL and would often share these fake scenarios with him, so he told me to create a spreadsheet of ideas.
I responded (also fanatically), cracked my knuckles, put on a sweatband and gangsta rap music, and went to town typing out hundreds of ideas by the end of that night and decided to start with none other than greeting cards. This escapade gave birth to the eccentric world of MadeWellDone in May 2023.
At first, we thought to start off listing digital download prints on Etsy, but soon realized that was moving too slowly and decided to print. I applied on a whim to be a vendor at The Markets at Viking Lakes: Summer Series. Lo and behold, the amazing brand curator Mich Berthiaume took a chance on this brand-new business with no social media following and accepted MadeWellDone’s application.
We completed the series of eight vendor markets there and it was a heartwarming and gratifying experience. I say this because it introduced us to a new world, newly formed friendships with fellow hardworking makers, and being accepted exactly as I am in this close-knit local entrepreneurship community full of creativity in Minnesota.
Now, we are continuing to have loads of fun at every vendor event and every store we get the opportunity to be in. Big shoutout to Lacey Nolan at Beloved Makers & Co., the first store we got in. The minute I met you, I knew I could completely be myself. What a nice feeling.
This journey would have failed without the help of our support system. Picture us navigating the circus of running this business while juggling full-time jobs and a lively family life with young kids.
To those who have helped us by entertaining our kids and dogs while we are away, being our first customers, and helping at vendor markets, you’re the real MVPs. To say how grateful we are to you is an understatement.
Speaking of our kids, we hope they don’t feel too slighted right now and see the bigger picture of their dad rooting for their mom to finally be her authentic self doing something creative and something she actually enjoys. The business itself is inspired by the names of said darling kids, Madeleine and Maxwell.
And to our customers who laugh so hard and hit their friends while reading the content from my brain, you’ll never fully know just how much the sound of your wheezing means to me. For someone who has felt like an outsider most of my life, it brings me pure genuine joy to feel understood by you. When you are snorting, just know that a single tear is sliding down my cheek and a piece of your heart has left your body and absorbed itself into my heart. And I’m going to keep it forever.
If you’re still reading this, thank you. Thank you for your business, for being part of this journey, and for supporting a small business. You positively and directly impact my family.
ooxxooXoXXx
hug hug, kiss kiss, hug hug, big kiss, little hug, kiss kiss, little kiss,
Loan