The Story of a Lifetime Dream!
I am a woman of faith and convictions, a mother of four (three boys and a girl), a wife, and a mother-in-law to three. I am a musician, playing both piano and guitar; a gardener with a special love for flowers; a passionate paper lover and a soap-maker. In my 40s, I came to fully embrace and define myself as an artist, a realization that has brought new meaning to how I see myself.
I strive to live each day with passion and intention, embracing life fully with a caring heart and a positive spirit that guides me through every challenge and joy.
How It All Started...
While the whole world was shutting down in the spring of 2020, a brand new world opened up for me, the world of junk journals! I was instantly captivated. Unlike traditional scrapbooking, which I had enjoyed for many years, junk journaling allowed me to explore new dimensions, adding lace, texture, and 3D elements that added both interaction and a kind of beauty that speaks deeply to me.
In November 2020, I created a tiny, adorable junk journal. It was so cute, I thought, Maybe someone would want to buy this? That simple idea sparked something big. I opened my Etsy shop quietly — no announcements, no social media posts — and listed just that one little journal. To my surprise, it sold within five hours ... and I was hooked!
This is the first junk journal that I listed on Etsy.
I kept creating and listing more journals, selling them one by one. But I realized the Etsy photos didn’t quite capture the magic and details of each journal. That’s when the idea came: Why not show them on YouTube? Videos could reveal all the little touches and textures in a way photos never could. And just like that, my YouTube channel was born! A place to share my junk journals with the world! I still remember when I reached 10 subscribers… I was so happy! Slowly but surely, more people discovered my channel, and little by little, the views and subscribers began to grow.
I have always dreamed of playing with digital tools like Photoshop back in my scrapbooking days — to create collages, add cursive text, or share digital pages online, on Facebook. But I never had the time, patience, or focus to learn. So it’s no surprise that when I discovered digital design in the spring of 2021, I was instantly drawn to it. I began experimenting with my tablet and the Procreate app... and once again, I was hooked!
In 2022, I made a big decision: I left my job! A career in IT that spanned over 20 years, providing technical support, to dedicate all my time and energy to building my dream business. I’ve never worked harder in my life! I’ve spent hundreds of hours learning every aspect of running a business: administration (so much paperwork!), marketing, creation and production, video content and editing, inventory management, and technology.
Sometimes, it feels like I’ve had enough of learning ... but I remind myself to keep going!
The dream? It’s simple, yet powerful: to have the freedom to create every single day. To wake up with inspiration instead of obligation. To follow the rhythm of my creativity, rather than the noise of an alarm clock calling me to a job that no longer feels aligned with who I am.
After years of working in a structured 9-to-5 environment, constantly racing against time and trying to balance work and family life, I found there was little room left for artistic expression. What I truly longed for was the freedom to pour both my creativity and entrepreneurial drive into something that felt like mine. A space where I could dream, design, and grow — building not just beautiful things, but a meaningful, purpose-driven business from the ground up.
Building this creative business isn’t just about leaving behind the routine of a traditional job. It’s about building a new life where I can fully embrace who I am: an artist, a maker, a teacher and a storyteller. It’s about living on my own terms, doing work that brings me joy, and hopefully inspiring others to follow their creative path too.
No more rushing out the door in the morning. No more sacrificing my energy to things that don’t light me up. Just the deep satisfaction of waking up each day knowing that I get to do what I love.
My husband and I moved to the country, started a little homestead on a farm, and with the launch of Odulcina, everything about our lifestyle changed — slower days, simpler living, and a creative business inspired by everything I’m passionate about.
