In our latest installment of “Sub Spouse Small Business,” check out Glitzy Dragon! Based in Colorado, the small shop specializes in epoxy-free tumblers, custom journals, planners and small gifts. Read on to learn how a pandemic hobby turned into a business!
Name: Lauren
Current Duty Station: Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO
Q: Tell us about your business.
I make epoxy-free tumblers and other styles of cups. I also make custom journals and notebooks and planners. And small gift items like pens and keychains and zip pouches and passport covers.
Q: What made you choose this type of business?
I have always loved having expressive cups and mugs and a few years ago, I was always the one making a beeline for “the cup lady” at craft fairs. I bought cups for me and loved to give them as gifts to basically everyone. Then I started having so many of my own ideas for cups that I really just had to start down the rabbit hole crafting them for myself. I started slowly and made lots of free stuff for family and friends and made lots of mistakes. Now more than a year later, I know what I’m good at and I take my pieces to craft shows so now I’m the cup lady.
Q: What motivated you to start your business?
It started as my pandemic hobby really. Then we moved to a new duty station and I mentioned my craft to someone and she turned out to be the manager of a little handmade craft consignment shop on the local army base and she said I should sell my work there.
Q: How do you manage the work/life balance as a submarine spouse?
First of all, I make mostly “ready to ship” items—things that don’t require deadlines. If I can’t get to it for a bit, nothing suffers. But crafting fun cups is basically art therapy for me. I never realized how much I needed a creative outlet in my life until I started this. I do take custom orders, but I try to limit it to what I know I can handle. Also, my husband is on a shore tour here, so I feel like that has helped give me a fair bit of support, especially with our young daughter.
Q: Favorite thing(s) to do in your current duty station?
Hike Garden of the Gods. I know it’s touristy but you could probably hike a new trail probably every week for a year.
Q: Where can we support and learn more about your business?
I’m on Facebook @GlitzyDragonCreates and Instagram @GlitzyDragon, email me at glitzydragoncreates@gmail.com.