Today we’d like to introduce you to Maxine Huntington.
Hi Maxine, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I don’t have a creative or business background, so I kind of got here in a roundabout way. I’m actually a school psychologist and in 2013, I ended up getting sick with a rare autoimmune disease. And because of it, I’ve had a few of major surgeries and have been in several clinical trials, and so on. I continued to work while being ill, so there’s been a lot of ups and downs, big gaps of time when I had to be off.
In 2019, I had another pretty big setback. I was in a lot of pain and couldn’t walk without an assistive device and so I had to leave work for the 4th time. It seemed pretty bad, and I was unsure if I would be able to return to my job. So I was at home trying to get better and bored looking for a creative outlet to help with my mental health. I was in the YouTube rabbit hole and just stumbled on videos of someone making concrete pots. It looked interesting so I tried it out and literally couldn’t stop. They just started multiplying! It became an obsession. I had something to help me forget about my situation and completely get lost in.
I had so many pots in my house that they were (and still are) invading my living space. I shared them with my friends and some offered to buy them. By 2021, my health started to improve and in an effort to get my living room back, I started my business in May. It’s been a pretty crazy ride since. I’ve met so many new and wonderful people!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There’s been some bumps in the road. It can be pretty scary to make something that you love and then share it with strangers. Will they like it? Will they hate it? It feels very vulnerable to put yourself out there and wait for others to judge. Sometimes that mental block can get in the way of new opportunities. Forcing myself to push past the fear has been one of my personal challenges.
Not having a business background can make it feel like a guessing game. When starting a small business it seems like there’s too much information and not enough at the same time. Sometimes, I just wish someone would tell me, “Do this, now do that…”
I’m still learning. I’m always working on perfecting my craft. I spend a lot of time thinking and researching ways to build my business. There’s always something to do. It seems like a hill that you’re trying to climb and just make it to the top, all while hoping you climbed the right hill.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I make home goods from concrete. Pots are the most popular, but I also make coasters, trays, trivets, ashtrays, soap dishes, and candles. I’m proud of how much I’ve taught myself. To get started, I did do a lot of research and watched videos. But it really came down to trial and error, finding high-quality materials, trying new techniques, and practicing different color combinations. Practicing a lot! I have so many fails, just a big box in my garage of fails. I shouldn’t say fails, but a big box of “Now I know how to do it better.”
I wouldn’t call myself a perfectionist, but sometimes I get hung up on details when things aren’t just right. I love that concrete is messy and imperfect but still looks beautiful. I love when pieces have a little bit of texture and the color mixes just right; it’s like its own little signature. Concrete is such a fun medium to play with. Someone once asked me if I make more neutrals or crazy colors. I told her that it all depends on my mood. Most of the time when I create, I don’t have a plan. I just get in there and start mixing colors.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love when people offer me advice or try to hook me up with other small businesses. Just sharing my work with someone else makes me so happy. Liking an IG pic and sharing a post is the easiest way to show support.
I do have to say my family and friends have been amazing! They drive out to shows just to help me with selling, packing up or just making sure I can take a small break. They’re awesome!
Pricing:
- Trays $20-$55
- Pots $5-45
Contact Info:
- Email: batobatoshop@gmail.com
- Website: www.batobatoshop.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/batobatoshop
