MY STORY

 

 

 ARTIST - DESIGNER - STORYTELLER

Hey Friend I'm Nicole, and I’m here to share a bit of my journey with you. My hope is that by telling my story, I can inspire you to keep chasing your dreams and putting yourself first, no matter what life throws at you.

My love for creativity sparked at a young age, thanks to my grandmother who taught me how to sew. By high school, I was designing and making all my dresses for dances. My passion for fashion led me to the bustling streets of New York City, where I studied Fashion Design and interned relentlessly to gain real-world experience.

After graduation, I made the bold decision to bring fashion back to my small town in Delaware. By 21, I had started my own business, building my dream one stitch at a time. That same year, life threw me a curveball—I found out I was going to be a mom. Faced with the tough choice of getting a “real job” or continuing to build my business, I chose to follow my dreams. I wanted to set an example for my daughter, to show her that dreams are worth chasing.

On her first birthday, I launched my online boutique. Over the next decade, I built a successful women’s clothing boutique with two retail locations, a warehouse, and a fantastic team of about 15 local girls.

Then, COVID-19 hit. Our doors closed, and I had to pivot quickly. Returning to the basics of what had always worked for my business—sharing my story and showing up for my community—was key. Luckily, our strong online presence helped us not just survive, but thrive during those challenging times.

However, as things began to normalize, I found that my heart wasn’t in the grind anymore. Like many, my priorities had shifted. I wanted to slow down and just be a mom. I made the difficult decision to close my boutique, a choice that shocked my community and family. But, as always, I shared my heart and the reasons behind my decision.

After closing the shop, I had time to reflect on my journey and all that I had accomplished. I am genuinely proud of the business I built and know that 21-year-old me would be proud too.

Now, I spend more time with my husband and our kids and have rediscovered my love for art and painting. Picking up a paintbrush again has been therapeutic for me. It allows me to reflect on my journey and the lessons life continues to teach me every day.

Sharing my art has been the most vulnerable thing I’ve ever done, but it’s my hope that both my artwork and my story will inspire you. Remember, it’s okay to start over. No matter what life throws your way, always prioritize your happiness. Doing what’s best for YOU and your family is not just okay—it’s essential. Even when things feel tough, trust me, you will be okay. You WILL be okay.