Sitting at home and remaining content with two kids and one dog wasn’t Johana M Liddy’s cup of tea. This homemaker, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and raised in Miami, Florida, USA, had ideas of the artistic kinds.
It was in May 2015 that she decided to open a shop on Instagram and introduced bubble gum jewelry. According to her, she liked what she created, but didn’t love it. Knowing how to draw and paint, she soon hit upon the idea of painting beads instead.
Johana, who currently lives near Philly, Philadelphia, USA, posted her first hand-painted necklace on Instagram in October 2015 and was thrilled to receive her first 100 likes. Previously, she only used to receive 30 likes on average. This was the turning point for her, as she now knew this was the route she had to take. She was able to sell her products mainly through IG/invoicing and craft fairs.
By the year 2018, Johana had become adept at using her trade job skill for her Etsy shop. She decided to add more items to her shop. However, handmade and painted work was not only time-consuming but was burning her out. Thus, was born digital fan art, which allowed her to create non-hand-painted items. This also allowed her to up her production, making all kinds of items with her fan art that include pins, prints, and magnets. She also launched ‘Bubbletees’ that she calls her magic merchandise.
Encouraged by the increasing responsibility for her products, she opened another Etsy shop called shopboombaby.etsy.com with her son. She has kept this shop exclusively for original art. In an email to awesomebyte.com, she says, “This shop is my son’s imagination drawn by me. So, my eight-year-old is my boss and pays me with cuddles! It’s the best job thus far.”
Johana is a complete family woman, who places her family above her business. She considers her family as her number one supporter. Although her husband is hopeful that she’ll hit it rich with her products, she remains grounded, saying, “I don’t want to be rich, I want to be happy. And this makes me happy.”
Johana M Liddy: