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When I was 14, I really really really wanted Copic markers. I had researched all the different marker brands and decided that I liked Copics the best. That year, Copic had a table at the A-kon anime convention in the artist alley, and I finally had the opportunity to see for myself just how awesome they were. (They were AWESOME.)

I asked my mom if she would buy the two most expensive big 72 marker sets for me, and she countered with, "Well how will you pay me back?" (+1 for mom)

The only idea my 14-year-old brain could think of was, "I can do commissions at the anime conventions!" (...not realizing at the time that getting a table in the artist alley also costs money...)

Despite the many reasons to not buy me the marker sets, my mom decided to support me and bought the two sets, which came out to around $700 combined (ouch). She also bought my first table at Animefest, and the supplies I would need to do the badge commissions I was wanting to do.

I sold my little custom chibi badges for $5 and made a decent amount that first convention. In my free time, I ran around the artist alley collecting all the little 1 inch buttons I could find, because I love buttons. At one of the tables, the artists brought characters printed on circle papers and pressed the buttons on the spot, instead of having them pre-pressed... And that's when I realized that buttons were made with paper underneath a plastic layer...which meant I could draw on that paper.

Thus, Your Face on a Button was born! (...after yet another costly investment by my wonderful mother for the button maker and 1000 button materials...)

Fast forward 11 years--my business has grown to include acrylic charms, stickers, and magnets. Up until last year, I only sold my art at anime conventions, but recently I've been wanting to expand my inventory and focus on online and storefront (through consignment) sales too. Unfortunately, expansion comes with even more costs...

TL;DR
Mom bought little me art stuffs and now big me want to do more art stuffs. Pls help c:



***I have long since paid her back and now pay for all of my own things