Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Parent
Hi Ashley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started creating and crafting at a young age. I stopped during college for the most part but crafted where I could when I could. In 2021, I lived with my sister and she brought home resin and gave it to me as a gift. I instantly got hooked and wanted to learn everything I could about it. Once I actually got things to cure and such, my sister and I started a business together. I was the brain behind the operation and eventually my sister did not want to be a part of it with me anymore and left the company. I then began to start going to craft shows a little in 2022, and then nearly as a full time job by end of 2023. I left some jobs and started new ones and by February of 2024, I was a part time Health teach and part time business owner. I would craft at night to get inventory ready for events. I began doing shows nearly every weekend both day by March of 2023.
In April of 2023, I began to host workshops, where people can come and enjoy a thc beverage and create polymer clay jewelry. This workshop has shifted with and without thc beverages and offers a space to be creative. I worked with places like Cannajoy and transfaboulous in order to really get the workshops started and going. We are still in the early stages of workshops. In February I have two workshops coming up. One at Wandering Leaf Brewing on the 8th, and one with CannaBabe on the 23rd.
In June of 2023 I reached out to some venues and by September I started hosting markets as well. After hosting nearly 10 events in the last quarter of the year, I made many new friends, connections and made space in the market world not just as a vendor but also as organizer of events.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road for the most part. At first when I was doing events I had to bring someone with me, as a vendor with a wheelchair, I cannot unload and load my car and bring in a table and everything to vend with to a space from my car on my own. It was one day that WSCO said they would help me when my helper was sick. They told me never be afraid to ask for help and that’s what community is all about. And in that moment I knew I could make my community in the makers space.
Later on when I wanted to release pins, I ran a successful kickstarter. Soon after we were able to release the butterfly pride pins that I get recognized for.
There was a large learning curve when I started stickers and technical issues. Learning what machine to buy, what paper and even some printer failures.
As a vendor in 2024 I ran into A LOT of ablism from spaces not wanting to allow me in the space because they did not want to help even when they had capacity, or they did not have an accessible vendor. I still persisted in the makers space.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I do a little of a lot of different styles and mediums of products. I like to work with what Im feeling at the time and let my adhd drive what projects I do and when I do them. I also have friends come over and we do art together. I am known for my butterfly pins and my book weights. I love making book weights they are the most fun thing to bring to shows, show how they work and then see people fall in love with a product they didn’t even know about right before. What sets me apart from others, is I really do it all. I don’t limit myself to a set of things I make, I make what I want when I want.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can collaborate with me by dming me on instagram or emailing me at my market email. To support my buisness, follow my instagram, go to my website, and find me at shows and purchase. I love to work with people so much, I just have a lot going on so if i forget about something its really not personal
Pricing:
- stickers $3
- pins $10
- dishes 15-25$
Contact Info:
- Website: https://artbyashleyparent.squarespace.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art_by_ashley_parent/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/ashesmarkets/
