PawsandArrows

I have always dreamed about working from home doing something I loved and being my own boss. However I couldn’t pin point what I would do. Working on a computer all day, having a desk job was Just not my thing. I would always tell my friends and family that it would be so cool to open an etsy shop because I love crafting but I had no idea what I would sell! So I sort of just put in in the back of my mind and moved on.
Fast forward a few years, to the day we brought Our English Golden retriever, Enzo home! Our sweet, gentle, block headed, giant ball of fluff! My husband and I fell in love with him immediately! Everything we do revolves around him. Whether its taking him for walks around the neighborhood, going to the beach, traveling to Lake Tahoe, visiting friends and family, you will always find him with us! He has changed our lives so much and brings us so much joy!
I became obsessed with buying bandanas and dog accessories for him so he could look even more handsome and adorable. I even started having my cats Phoebe and Callie (RIP callie). wearing bandanas! To the point where my husband told me i was spending too much money on bandanas! He kept asking me “why don’t you Just make your own?” I just sort of brushed it off for a while and continued to buy bandanas. I always love supporting small businesses and loved the bandanas and accessories. Although I did make Enzo & the cats bandanas from time to time on my sewing machine.
Fast forward again a few years and I continued purchasing Dog accessories. Well all of that came to an end last year when I was forced to quit my job due to health issues. I was basically unable to function at all for about 7-8 months. Although it has been a very challenging and uncomfortable situation, it also gave me time to re evaluate my life and to not take things in life for granted. It really made me put a lot of things in my life into perspective. I’d spend countless sleepless nights asking myself why this has happened to me. I always believed that everything happens for a reason and that reason is always there to teach us something and to grow from it. I spent months searching for that reason, meditating and trying to focus on healing And purpose and trying to make sense of it. Then one of my cats, Callie got sick and passed away. I was devastated and feeling so worn down with emotions. Questioning again why all this is happening. I am so thankful for my husband and his emotional support andwhile he was at work, Enzo & the cats always gave me comfort ,love and therapy support.
As my healing progressed and I became able to be more independent, I wanted to be able to do more and help my husband and our family out. He had sacrificed so much to help me with my issues, he has been my angel and my rock through all of this . I wanted to find a way to contribute to our life and help us out financially but was still not ready to go back to work. Well..... then the whole pandemic hit and that further derailed plans of eventually being able to go back to work.
My Husband and family kept telling me that now is the perfect time to work on your sewing and open an etsy shop! My husband kept telling me to get my sewing machine out and make some bandanas to pass some time. He said “you can start a business doing and making things you love”. I just wasn't sure I could do it. But it started getting my wheels spinning about how great it would be to work from home in my PJs, creating and making something I love! I would always get compliments on the bandanas I made for the animals and it did make me feel good. I still second guessed myself .
Then I woke up one morning and it hit me!! This was my purpose! This was my passion, something I love to do. I realized going through this illness, that I was so much stronger and had so much more strength and potential than I have ever given myself before. This drove me more and more to pursue this opportunity. I feel like almost a year of my life was taken from me. I am determined to not waste anymore time not just thinking but now doing what I have always dreamed of. To finish the year off on a positive note.
Sometimes bad things happen in life but it only makes us appreciate the good that much more! I look at my illness as growth and try to take it for what it is/was and make the most out of what I can do. That is how Paws and Arrows was born!
I named my shop After Paws because I think paws are the cutest thing ever, and arrows because I feel like it symbolizes strength and being out in nature. Each product is handmade with lots of love and hard work! I truly hope you all enjoy shopping in my shop and thank you for supporting my small business! I hope to be doing this full time soon!
A special thank you to my husband who has always been my biggest cheerleader, supporter and believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. Thank you for helping me out of my comfort zone and for being there for me when I needed you the most. ❤️