Hi there!

My name is Andrea and I am so glad you are here!

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It all started with a small business I named Pax + Co...

 

I've always had a passion for creating, whether that be in the form of a website or a greeting card. As a young child, I was always creative and finding ways to make new things or make things my own. I even remember once making myself a dollhouse entirely from paper, tape, and a pencil. That same creative and dreamer mindset is something that has stayed with me to this day.

 

Back in October of 2018, I walked around a small business market with my partner and was so inspired. I've always loved "doodling" but always struggled with being confident in my art and creations. However, after conversations with close friends and family about my dream, I decided to face my fears and go for it. And man, I am so glad I did! For that reason, Pax + Co, a small business dedicated to my first nephew, was born. I designed greeting cards at first, and then stickers, and then art prints, and then t-shirts...you get the picture. I attended my first small business market, learned how to coordinate shipping, taxes, and inventory, and all sorts of new knowledge. I have loved getting to create for others, and Pax + Co will always be a legacy of that.

 

However, as a lover of learning, I am always seeking out new passions and finding different ways to grow. Through collaborating and meeting so many beautiful people in the small business community, I ended up sharing more about my life through my platform. I shared my passion for family. I shared my passion for books. I shared my passion for coffee. I shared my passion for plants. And though Pax + Co started as a small business, it grew into so much more. I began to realize that although I love creating, it was the people that made it so much more. Art brings people together. Books bring people together. All these things I was sharing about bring people together. This community got me through some truly difficult times in my life and I will forever be grateful for every single person I've gotten to meet (and will meet!) through this journey. The internet can be weird in the fact that you feel so connected and supported by people you have never even met. 

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As life continues to grow and I continue to grow, I have found that I have fallen in love with sharing my passions with others, while still creating art on the side. This is why Mapua Made was created. I've decided to still make stickers and bookmarks, but this time for fun and for random giveaways on my Insta! However, I will mostly be spending my time sharing bookish things (such as my reading journey and casual book reviews), coffee shop visits, and my travels on this website and my Instagram. I will also be using this website to promote and share other small businesses, as that is something that has stayed with me throughout this journey.

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So, whether you're a stranger here, a close friend, or someone I've met through the small business / bookstagram community...I am so glad you are here :)