Interview with the Maker: My Happy Nest Decor

Artisan:  Erica Parra, My Happy Nest Decor

1. What is your name and how did you decide on your business name?

  Hi, my name is Erica Parra with My Happy Nest Decor. For as long as I can remember I've loved refurbishing/re-purposing items. As items began filling my home, friends began requesting personalized items for their homes too. There's something about personalized or custom pieces that bring a sense of comfort to a space. Back in 2005 my son had a bone marrow transplant which required him to be hospitalized for 30 days. I made it my mission to decorate his hospital room to eliminate that cold feeling and provide a sense of home. During that month, the hospital room became his temporary home, much like a nest. Nests are everywhere; in trees, on light poles, in abandoned buildings. We are no different. We can make any space feel like home, whether it's a hospital room, a dorm room, a work space, etc. I get so much fulfillment bringing a touch of happiness to people's homes.

2. What inspired you to create your product?

  I'm infatuated with texture, especially wood. With a little elbow grease and creativity, pieces can be transformed from a dirty & weathered pallet, to a beautiful & inspirational piece of art. I receive the most feedback from these really simple signs which honestly are the most fun to make. It just happened organically!

3. Which of your products most inspires other people?

  I'm finding that people love my inspirational or funny quotes on wooden signs. My customers love to share where they're putting their signs, "Oh this is perfect for my office!" or "I'm hanging this in my bedroom so it's the first thing I see when I wake up." Overall, people want to be inspired and I think my designs bring a touch of motivation or happiness to their space.

4. How do you find time to balance your craft with other areas of your life?

  Organization and sticking to a schedule is crucial! With 2 kids under the age of 11, it's important to me to not compromise quality time with them, therefore I schedule my week out so I'm only working 1-3 hours a day. For example, Monday I'll dedicate to cutting and sanding. Tuesday I'll paint. Wednesday I'll take product photos. My kids enjoy working with me as well, so sometimes working together still feels like quality time.  

5. Name one tool or product that is most helpful to you as a small business owner.

Hands down my sander. I use it for all surfaces and it gives the most impactful transformation. With the right sandpaper I can take virtually any material and make it look completely different. I'd be lost without it!

6. Where do you see your business going in 2020?

My goal is to focus on branding and develop a following. Most of my sales are word of mouth or from craft shows. I'm hoping to spread the word through my website and social media. Besides generating sales, it's thrilling to read complimenting comments or to be followed by complete strangers from across the country. 

7. What is something you hope to get out of the Marketspace platform this year? 

Networking and brand awareness. I don't know what I don't know, and Marketspace seems to be the right vehicle to get me in front of the right events and consumers. I'm excited to see how well we grow together this year.

8. Anything new we can do for or offer you?

I think you guys are fantastic and if I think of anything I'll be sure to let you know!

It’s always a pleasure working with you, Erica! It’s exciting watching businesses like yours grow and thrive. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for My Happy Nest Designs this year (and happy we have an inside look). We chose our personal favorite product to feature as this blog’s photo!