Joy and sunshine
Stay-at-home mum and fibre artist, Joy, welcomes us into her home in Canada.
After leaving her job in January this year for maternity leave with her third child, Joy discovered macramé and started her own Etsy store, With Joy and Sunshine.
Having always had some creativity inside her, she says it still wasn’t always easy finding something she was also passionate about. “I have tried many crafts including gift baskets, but I didn't stick with it.”
But macramé was a different story. “I was surprised how much I enjoy it, it’s a great creative outlet,” says Joy. “I’m now a mummy by day and macramé maker at night. It took me a whole night trying to figure out my first knot – now I can’t stop!”
Since making that first knot, Joy has been lucky enough to send her creations off to customers in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. She’s also managed to weave some of her heritage into her pieces.
“I’m Filipino and grew up in the Philippines. I name my macramé creations with Tagalog words. It’s just a way for me to connect my passion and ethnicity. My most popular piece is ‘Sinta’, which means ‘my love’.”
We asked Joy some questions about her home.
Describe your home to us.
Our home is our first ever home we bought – just enough space for my family. I try not to buy too many items I don’t really need, but I do like to fill the house with plants! I try to style the space with mid-century furniture and boho inspired pieces, but it’s not always looking so great when I have toys and baby items laying around the house, it’s not easy keeping things neat and organised.
What is your favourite space in your home?
My most favourite place in the house is definitely the wall where I hang all my creations and the shelf in our dining area that’s full of plants.
What is your creative space like?
We don’t have an extra room in the house. My creative space is just a corner area in our upper floor. I have a rack where I store my orders and a wall where I hang my creations. Oh how I dream to have a room where I can create uninterrupted and a space just for me – a future goal.
How does it feel to know your macramé creations are on display in your customers’ homes?
It’s unbelievable! I only started this business in February this year and I am super grateful to have people love and appreciate my pieces. I still have so much more to learn and discover with this little business and I can’t wait to make more pieces for my beautiful supporters.
Follow along with Joy on Instagram – @withjoyandsunshine
Location: Ontario, Canada
