Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Anderson
Hi Christine, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Wow!, brief…I”ll try. The more I am asked questions about how it all started, the more stories and situations come to mind. There are so many important factors, but I think I’ll start with this one…I wasn’t aware that I was suffering from depression until about 2012. Up to that time, I just thought I was a “cry baby” or “over-emotional” because of my “cycle.” I didn’t know there was anything else going on, I mean I was in my late 30s. While working at a church, through conversations with one of the ministers, I discovered I was suffering from depression, and that there were actions I could take to help myself and my family. Tabatha (my overnight bestfriend), advised me to journal. I had a diary, but it was all surface writing so she encouraged me to dig deeper and to keep writing until I was done. I wrote and cried for a month. The emotions were overwhelming, but the sense of relief was powerful. I felt light and free. It was on now, I was unstoppable.
I enrolled in a class on Color Psychology while in Art school, I learned how much we are affected by our environments. The relationship between mental wellness and our surroundings was beyond me. We are positively and negatively impacted by the colors we choose and where we place them, the communities we live, our job, schools, etc. as well as the cleanliness of the neighborhood (street cleaning, local stores, etc. All of these things impact our mental health and by extension our physical health.
We can’t always change our circumstances, but giving our homes a little boost is definitely within reach. Coping with depression and understanding the energy of color, taught me to be intentional with how I decorate my home. The colors I choose are based on the function of the room, and the decor has to “speak” to me. Choosing accents and paint colors because they are pretty, inexpensive, or trendy is fine, but who is it speaking to? My home is an extension of who I am and who I want to be…it is my sacred space.
I looked around my house, room by room and didn’t see myself at all. I saw the sofa I purchased because it was cheap and fit the space. There was little to no color and few pillows or any of the little things that would make it a home. Even the fridge had food my kids liked, but very little of what I liked. In short, I created an environment that didn’t represent me and therefore couldn’t speak to me. It happens, I was busy trying to survive. When you know better, you do better, right? So I did. I started small. I decorated one table with a vase and artificial flowers, a coaster and scented candle from Target. Don’t trip—that was 10 years ago, my candles are non-toxic and from local businesses…clean burning and of course I make my own accents.
I digress. From there, I began meditating with purpose. I wanted to feel whole, but I still didn’t know what that meant yet. I kept doing everything I had been doing, but as I felt better, I was led to the next thing that made me feel even better. I can’t explain it, it’s a process you have to go through to know. I began to understand how my home was affecting me and kept making changes. Adding pillows, even changing the dishes, made me smile.
Becoming aware of my level of depression and adapting processes and tools to cope, heal, and truly enjoy life is why Black Butterfly Decor (BBD) is so important. BBD was always meant to be a multi-level company serving many different needs. It’s about creating spaces that encourage mental wellness through intentional use of color and designs inspired by nature, creating intentional and positive spaces.
The black butterfly is known to represent the death of something and the rebirth of something else. If you think about it, butterflies emerge after a process called metamorphosis, from caterpillar to cocoon, struggling to exit the tiny cocoon with all the growth from the transformation. That’s us!. We struggle, we feel like it will be the end of us, and then something happens and we miraculously emerge into this “new” person. We have joy in our successes, we mourn our pasts and we live. It has always been about change and growth, and that is one thing that will always exist in our mission and vision.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not! The initial response to the coasters and bowls were great. Pop-ups, social media, Etsy posts were all doing good. I was vending 3-4 pop-ups per week, but then a noticeable shift happened mid 2022. Pop-ups began to dwindle and I had to do more to gain interest on social media. The post and go method was not a long term goal, but I took it for granted and did not come up with an actual strategy until it was too late. I’m good at a lot of things, marketing is not one of them. Understanding analytics and how to plan is a constant work in progress. For a while, not having enough capital was also preventing me from adding variety to our product line. In 2023, I purchased a Glowforge Pro Laser printer, which allows me to engrave and/or cut wood and acrylic. I’ve been able to expand our product line and add more value to our customers. Creating more custom and personalized items is always a plus for customers looking for the unique, exclusive pieces.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
So Black Butterfly Decor, is a handcrafted home decor and personalized gifts company, focused on creating accents to enhance mental wellness through intentional use of color and inspired by nature. Our specialty has definitely been our use of color and unique design styles. Best sellers are still the resin coasters in almost any shape. We love hearing our customers’ excitement as they choose their new accents.
There are several ways we serve:
Custom Orders – Our customers tell us what shape, color and style they want for their accents and we design it. We’ve been grateful to have customers who trust in our ability to design a beautiful, one-of-a-kind piece for them.
Ready-to-Ship Designs – This process is a little different of course. I decide the shape and consider the energy I want the piece to project. I choose one or two focal colors, one contrast and one or two accents (gold, silver, copper). I use this structure for most items unless I’m moved to add more or less. How the resin is poured, depends on what I hope to achieve and learned experience for best results.
Laser Engraved and Cut Items – In the beginning, I purchased designs to modify and sell. It was easier starting out and gave me time to learn new software. It never felt right. First, if I could buy the file, so could many others and I like the uniqueness of our designs and so do our customers. It was reflected in the lack of sales too. Now that I have more experience, all of our designs are original pieces created in our workshop.
From initially creating coasters to expanding our range with cutting boards, napkin rings, trays, bowls, candle boards, wall art, etc. I’m proud of what I have been able to accomplish in a short time and know that I have not even touched the surface. There are many more homes to brighten.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I listen to a lot of books on Audible, so I can stay on the go. My go-to books are:
– I just started “You Are a Badass”, by Jen Sincero
– “One Little Spark!”, by Marty Sklar
– “The Alchemist”, by Paulo Coelho
– “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck”, by Mark Manson
I’ve learned a lot on YouTube, but I don’t have a particular channel that I listen to.
Pricing:
- Resin Coasters $15-25
- Flower Preservation $45-up
- Engraved Candle Boards $12-30
- Custom Event Decor $5-50
- Charcuterie Boards $50-150
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blackbutterflyhomedecor.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbutterfly_home
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BlackButterflyHomeDecor
- Other: https://co.pinterest.com/blackbutterflydecor
