Life is easy. Tondues are hard.

I was a classically trained dancer. I spent my life training for a career, that never came to fruition. I graduated in 2009, at the height of the recession. Every performing artist I knew, was not working in the field at that time. As artists, we all had a back up plan. I went to grad school to pursue something else I cared about, and figured out how to keep art in my life. I entered education and have spent more than a decade helping people collaborate, building leadership through teams, and working to create mutually beneficial relationships and positive social change. And I learned a lot about events, marketing, and some tech stuff.

My art was a side hustle while I work in higher education. I taught dance/yoga/movement, I served on arts committees, I did arts outreach, I performed regionally. I could never make a living salary from the thing that I cared so deeply about. It was always just my hobby.

I turned to making during the pandemic, because I can no longer dance. Between my hip issues and carrying 2 babies, I had to rehab for long time just to walk up the stairs without pain. Without movement I needed to find something else. So making concrete candles became my happy place. And I was awarded an artist grant that launched me into Tura Lura Co.

And y’all - I have big plans.

I want to build a company that I want to buy from. I want to support people locally, source products because they are good not cheap, I want to make choices that are better for the environment and not contributing a mess my children will have to clean up. I want to pay people fair wages, create an environment where people feel heard and seen, donate money and speak out about causes that support human rights. I want to make a company that puts people above profits. And also makes some beautiful and affordable items that bring joy to the consumers.

I’ve been through the artist journey twice now. Engrained in me from ballet is to work my ass off, make a mistake, get feedback, and try again. I am conditioned to do my art because I love it, not because there is money in it. I feel more prepared now by life experiences I’ve had to see if I can make a difference. Builders + Backers is really challenging me to look at the problem of how to help makers in a new way, while also using the strengths I hold.

Local + Good is my initial effort. I believe that I can help makers and artisans make more profits effectively, through connections to whole sale options locally. I believe it can fill a gap for both sides of the relationship, making it easier to source unique and local items wholesale while building trusting relationships that can endure. It was through the years of building teams and projects in education, that I feel confident in pursuing this path. And I know this path isn’t going to be easy. This path is going to be hard - but I have grit.

As my favorite ballet teacher use to say “Life is easy - Tondues are hard”.

I’ll figure this out.