We had the good fortune of connecting with Casandra Newman and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Casandra, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
This business sort of started as an accident. I started making pieces for friends and family as gifts and fell in love with the craft. As my son got a little bit older, I was able to focus on it more. Being a stay at home mom, I started to realize if I make the jump, that I could potentially make an income doing what I love and still being home with him. It has also allowed me to navigate my schedule around his activities, and still be at as much as I can.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My business mainly focuses on metal stamping. It is my passion, as I love being able to create something personal. My favorite part of my art/job is being able to create something for someone that no one else has. Metal stamping consists of hammering in letters and designs one by one. Because of the process, even if two pieces are made with the same design set, they will still be different. There’s no cut and paste. This started out as gifts for friends and family as new babies were born, graduations were happening, etc. and then I realized that it was something I could also be doing in my community.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Arlington, WA. We moved here a few years ago and I have fallen in love with this town. It is very much a small town community. Our favorite diner is the Blue Bird Cafe, where my son loves to order his own Mickey Mouse shaped pancake. If you’re looking for burgers and shakes, Nutty’s Junkyard Grill is fantastic. There are multiple parks around to visit, but our favorite is Haller Park, which has a playground, a splash pad, river access, and is the start of the centennial trail which goes all through Arlington, Lake Stevens, and Snohomish. If you’re there for the weekend in the summer, the farmers market on Saturday Mornings is wonderful, and there is usually live music on the stage as well.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This business would be nothing without the support of my family. My whole family has been extremely supportive of this venture. My husband is my biggest supporter, always going along with my crazy dreams, and my mom, who not only supports me, but has been instrumental in helping take care of our son while both my husband and I work. Alongside them, the PNW vendor group is wildly supportive of each other. We all recognize that there is room for everyone in the industry, and the success of one small business depends on the success of the businesses as a whole.
Website: Www.Etsy.com/shop/cnsunshinedesigns
Instagram: Instagram.com/cnsunshinedesigns
Facebook: Facebook.com/cnsunshinedesigns