I remember when it was almost time for me to graduate from college, it was like 4 days until the ceremony and I was determined to make myself a lei to wear because I remembered all of the cool creative lei people wore in high school and there was no way that I could afford to have someone make me one. I watched countless YouTube videos and I went ahead and made myself a lei with 25 dollars, white and pink paper, and lace within the next few days. My mom thought that I was crazy but I was determined and the night before graduation I finished and was so proud to wear something that I myself created.
The next year I made a money lei for my little cousins promotion from 6th grade, I was still a little slow but it was clearly easier the second time around. So later in that year when I had my graduation for earning my minor degree making my graduation lei was a breeze and it got even more looks and compliments than the first 2.
Years following I always joked about how I would make and sale leis and graduations but I never acted on it. I always just made a handful of leis for family members to gift them at graduations as a token of my love and congratulations for their educational success'.
Who would have known that one easy YouTube video would show me that I can make bigger and better leis. I have since then learned new tricks and techniques to make leis and add unique creative flairs.
I then went on to make candy leis and ribbon leis too, both equally unique and cute. 4 years ago I finally decided to start promoting leis via social media and during graduations business booms!
Of course now days tons of people sale leis at graduation time so I make sure to make all leis open to customization and provide them at a reasonable price because I always remember looking for leis during high school and college graduation and the extremely high price tags that they had. I want to be able to make them available to everyone.
Making leis are a huge excitement for me because it is art therapy and if you know me, you know I get excited to see the final product each time. At first I found examples of leis that I could make on pintrest then I started getting orders from people that would be open to designs and I would just freestyle. Each year it seemed like I had more and more examples and options for people to purchase.
I started off making 12 leis my first year to last year making 32 and I am so saddened that this year it doesn't look like I will be making any with this whole pandemic. They come out so well that I have a bunch of return customers and referrals.
Some of the coolest leis that I made were for last minute orders, of course there is always a rush fee but the adrenaline of having a tight timeline might push me to make amazing work.
The coolest story I have from a lei sale is that I was meeting up with an old high school friend in a shopping center parking lot to give her the lei and the lady that I parked next to seen and approached me to see the lei and took my information, she then went on to buy 7 leis from me. Its all just about divine timing.
The funniest story I have from making leis is that if I have worked on leis any and everywhere. At work on breaks, in my car, at the mall while my cousin got her makeup done for prom, at the nail shop, just any and everywhere because when there is money to be made why not. I usually get more customers when I'm doing it in public and other times I just get great conversation and compliments.
I am so looking forward to making more leis in the near future. If you or anyone that you know is interested in a lei purchase please reach out via the comment section or by email:: Bnatashap@gmail.com
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