Meet Amy Castle of Created by Castle in Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Castle.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Amy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and I’m fortunate to have been raised in a family that fostered my creativity. It started when I was eight years old, hand-painting sea shells gifted to me by my aunt and operating out of my bedroom as “Amy’s Art” – complete with business cards (designed by eight-year-old yours truly.) Soon after, I was designing flyers in Microsoft word and faxing them to my aunt and uncle with big, bold, “25% off your purchase with the mention of this flyer” lettering prominently featured.

I am an artist in many forms. For a long time, It was expressed in the form of acting, working as a kid on shows like Ally McBeal, Lizzie McGuire, and Passions. I even got to have a freaking dance-off with Bryan Cranston (pre-Heisenberg) on an episode of Malcolm In The Middle. Childhood was a fun time.

I also sang a song when I was three years old that became known worldwide as “The Cuppycake Song” – one of the first viral hits of the internet. My mom wrote the song for me as a Valentine’s Day card in 1994, and I am still to this day amazed by the messages I receive from people all over the world who love this song.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The broken promises, and fickle instability of the acting business were tough lessons to learn. Being recast the same day of a shoot for reasons beyond my control taught me that things can be taken away very easily, and to appreciate them while you have them. In some ways I’m grateful I learned these lessons early on in my life, because it led to creatively thinking of ways to work around my stumbling blocks. In 2005 during a dry spell of booking, I started filming and editing my own short videos, before “creating content” was ever a thing. It was just the outlet and stage I needed to share my teenage creativity. Fast forward 14 years, and I have over 43,000 subscribers to my online food and lifestyle series “What’s Amy Eating?” with over 200 videos I’ve written, edited, and produced.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
In addition to my videos, I’ve been spending time on a new creative endeavor: Laser Engraving. I purchased a Glowforge (https://glowforge.us/r/ACGFRGAN) last June, and after an inspirational solo trip to Tokyo, returned home to begin creating. I wanted to make a gift-giving a more personal experience. “Created by Castle” was born. I offer my photography services in the heart of the Hollywood Hills, in addition to laser engraving and graphic design. I work primarily with wood and leather but have also designed in acrylic, cardstock, and different fabrics. I love the endless possibilities of being able to engrave anything that comes to mind. I can say to myself, “hmm, I wonder what a dinosaur would look like engraved into maple plywood” and minutes later, I have a prototype in my hands. There’s something very inspiring about that.

Created by Castle specializes in creating custom, one of a kind laser engraved pieces. Everything from engraved photos, to magnets, coasters, business cards, keychains, wristbands, and more. I’m extremely proud of the fact that I get to do what I love and make people‘s gift-giving extra special. Currently, I handle all business operations myself, so every piece you order is designed, setup, and engraved on my own. I pride myself in attention to detail and making sure each piece is just right.

This new form of artistic creation is exciting for me. If you asked me 10 years ago what my biggest passion is, the answer would’ve been acting. I wanted to audition to play the role of the person that lives the story. Nowadays, I want to BE the person that lives the story. I’m still creating, now it’s just on my terms. It’s empowering, and through my work, I hope to empower others.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
When I was little, I had this plastic blue toy box that I could fit inside up until the age of about four. My dad and I had this ongoing deal where I’d get in the box, duck down and close my eyes, he’d put the lid on, he’d spin me around the room and place me on top of the dining table, or behind the couch. I remember popping out of the box with a grin as wide as my whole head, eager to find out where I had landed. Sometimes it’s the simplest toys that are the most fun. 🙂

Pricing:

• Engraved wooden coasters – $10 each
• Engraved wooden 8×10 photo with engraved frame- $100
• Engraved wooden business cards – $100 for 25

Contact Info:

• Website: www.createdbycastle.com
• Phone: 323.873.8828
• Email: amy@amycastle.com

Image Credit:
Amy Castle

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