In what was surely a nod to the long and torrid love affair that my dear college roommate and I had always had with coffee, I zeroed in on the Kuerig when scouring her bridal shower registry. It was the obvious choice, but I wanted to personalize the gift just a little. I figured "Mr" and "Mrs" mugs would be a nice touch and went on a little mission to find the perfect pair. This was 2011 and the cyber selection for such a gift was weaker than you might have expected. Everything I found was overpriced and underwhelming. My husband made an innocent suggestion that would ultimately chart a new course for my career (and his sanity). "Could you make her a set?"
I remember googling "DIY coffee mugs" and finding tutorials on how to use various mediums to create the mug of your dreams, only to have your hour of artwork wash off if it was so much as set down on the same counter as a bottle of dish soap. More trial, more error, and I ultimately ended up with some sweet and shower-worthy mugs for my beloved bride to be. "You made these? You could totally sell them!" she said while gushing about her gift. "Throw them up on Etsy!"
Fast forward a few years and here I am, typing this bio from the couch in my home office, a space that has been aptly named "The Mug Lair". I was even able to quit my day job as a pediatric clinician a couple of years ago and make Baby Cake Lane my full time career. My approach to designing and producing mugs has drastically evolved over time, incorporating some hard-won understanding of graphic design with a refinement of my own artistic strengths and weaknesses. I pair these practices with a commitment to quality and durability of merchandise, and a hyper-focus on assessing a completed final product before declaring it 'ready to ship'. I literally go through the mental motions of opening every order I pack from the eyes of a buyer, and nothing goes out the door that I wouldn't be happy to receive myself.
My desks are decorated with packing tape and I could definitely fashion a padded room from bulk bubble wrap. (During the holiday rush this might actually be a wise endeavor). I CONSTANTLY lose my actual coffee in the sea of mugs, and once during a particularly busy spell I actually flipped the mug I was currently drinking from onto my stack of packing paper thinking that it was the next order. I'd mindlessly set it down in the front of the lineup after the previous sip. It was hot, I was loud and colorful about the whole ordeal, and I'm now required by people who love me to use a travel mug if I find myself in need of coffee while packing.
Long story medium: I really, really love what I do, and I work very hard to reflect that dedication into the experience I try and create for buyers. Thank you for taking an interest in my little piece of Etsy - and don't hesitate to get in touch!