Today we’d like to introduce you to Faliesha Ewing.
Faliesha, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 2019, I was working as a vet tech, I had always been an artist, drawing photos as a young child to AP art classes, drawing portraits of peoples loved ones that had passed on, and 2019 was no different, but I had picked up acrylic pouring so I spent most of my down time creating art pieces. One day, I found someone online using epoxy resin to coat their paintings, so I had to give it a go myself.
The day, I started I was immediately addicted to epoxies effects it had on my paintings, so I dove in deeper with tons of research on epoxy resin. That’s when I found out about epoxy ocean art. The moment I tried it was the moment I was drawn in. In July 2019, I started my epoxy ocean art adventure. Soon, I started selling them online, creating memorial pieces with people’s loved ones’ ashes mixed in the sand. 2020 came and that’s when COVID hit. I am a single mom who raises two kids completely on my own, my son has higher support needs so I needed to be home since they were taken out of school. I used my stimulus checks to turn my once hobby into a way to generate an income and became a registered business.
In 2021, I attended my first pop-up, and I again found something I was now passionate about. As my ocean art grew, I started making my molds, and towards the end of 2021, more and more people started asking me to make them the same molds that I used for my art. So that’s when my ocean art started to fade out as I started to add more and more molds to my shop.
I am now up to 400 molds, I moved from California to Logan Utah to be closer to my best friend, and I run an online blog where I talk about my personal life as a neurodivergent, single parent, business owner, as well as host several different groups where I tell hidden secrets to all the different types of art and craft I love to do, from crocheting to mold making, ocean art, how to start attending pop-ups and events, and how to start your own business all on my website!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. In 2011, my then-husband took our two kids and me to my cousins for a week getaway. At the end of the week, I called him to see when he was going to be picking us up, and that is when he informed me that he was having an affair and was not coming back for us. I was a photographer then, and I had to sell all my equipment to survive.
We couch-surfed for a year before I started renting a home from my half-brother’s dad. While I was extremely grateful to have a roof over our heads, it was a decrepit home. We had bug and rodent issues. black mold, constant leaks, and pipe issues. I did what I needed to keep things together, but it started affecting my work.
We didn’t have air conditioning, and being in the desert of California where the temperatures would rise to 120*f, it was difficult to live let alone work. I spent many days questioning myself, and my abilities. I cried a lot and almost gave up more times than I could count. But I didn’t. I chose to push through, eventually saving up enough to leave our toxic living environment and come to beautiful Logan Utah.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I currently mostly sell silicone molds that can be used for epoxy resin, clay, concrete, and even chocolate or low temp alloys. I also create 3D prints and acrylic cut-out designs. I specialize in customs and holographic molds, and I am known for my love and dedication to the ocean by teaching resin safety, and how to create art pieces with recycled plastics.
I am most proud of my ocean art pieces, although I don’t get to do them as often as I once did, they are the pieces I am most proud of. What sets me apart is the way I connect with my customers. While most businesses prefer to keep communications business casual, I prefer to connect with my customers on a deeper level. All of us have a story, yet businesses tend to try to keep things streamlined.
Keep up the social media façade that their business is booming and their mental health is golden, while I like to approach things more raw. Since my customer base is mostly business owners, I publicly share my story with them and let them know I see them, they’re not alone and they have a safe space with me.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I have learned a lot of lessons through the Covid-19 crisis. The most important one is how strong I am.
My willpower and emotional strength were tested beyond measure and yet I am still here and still unwilling to give up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.enchantingtides.com
- Instagram: @enchantingtides
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/page/swishyfishydesign
