
Steadfast Brush
Brand · Retailer · Stationery shop
Ever since I was little, I have always had a pencil or brush in my hand. Art and creating have always been my favorite pastimes, and now, here we are today, with my very own art business!
Praise God!
I thank Him every day for this little corner of the world He’s placed me in.
Back in 2016, I asked my mom if I could start an Etsy shop. After a lot of thought and plenty of encouragement from my parents, they helped me open my first online store. It was my little secret. Like, seriously, I didn’t want to tell anyone! You have to remember, I was only 15, and we all know the emotions of a 15-year-old freshman starting high school, right!?
Eventually, my confidence grew, and little by little, I started getting orders. It was the best feeling ever! Like, people actually wanted to buy my art! At the time, my shop was super simple—I only had craft paper magnet bookmarks, silhouette cutouts glued onto book pages framed, and book page paper cones for wedding rice throwers. That’s it! Not even watercolor!
Around the same time, I started teaching myself how to watercolor. I knew the basics, but my goal was to create greeting cards for special occasions. The first card I made was a watercolor cupcake. Then I painted birthday candles, then a dog, then a bouquet. Then I put my paintings on those magnetic bookmarks and cards. Pretty soon, I had my own little collection of stationery.
Oh, and I almost forgot an important detail: my business name! Back then, it was called Yo Kreye, which means “to create” in Haitian Creole. At the time, my grandparents were missionaries in Haiti, and my family was involved in mission trips and supporting their work. Haiti was such a big part of my life, and I wanted my art to reflect that.