Today we’d like to introduce you to Luciana Shiokawa.
Hi Luciana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am Luciana. I am a mother, a wife, an attorney and a designer of memories! I am a dreamer who left Brazil in 2007 and came to America as an international student to learn English and have my first international experience. It was a challenge to leave my country, mainly because I had a great career as an attorney and was an independent woman. It was scary, too, to go back, leaving as a broken student. After being in America for a couple of years, I met my husband. We have been married for 12 years and have two amazing boys.
After I became a mom, I decided that I would no longer pursue to become an attorney in the USA because it would take a lot of time which I didn’t have. Since then, I started looking for some way to make money from home and at the same time take care of my kids. When I started my business, Sweet n’ Flowers, it was a mix of passion and opportunity. I really enjoy what I do. Besides giving me purpose and the feeling of accomplishment, it allows me to work from my home studio and stay close to my kids. A while ago, I started hand-making paper flowers to encase sweets for friends and family members. It was a fun hobby. They were beautiful and added a special touch to my friends’ events. It was 2017 when I traveled to Brazil to visit my family. At that time, I was introduced to these adorable flowers made out of fabric! I loved the idea, I thought they were elegant and I wanted to learn how to make them too. So I did. I went to an Art School and when I traveled back to the USA, I was carrying 100 pounds of tools, fabric and molds, I had everything I needed to make these flowers. Crazy? Nope! I just love beautiful and unique things. Don’t you?
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all! It’s been very challenging. Mainly because I am introducing a new concept in the party favor and party decoration. People need to be introduced to my product, understand the concept and then they will be open to this new idea.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We design and create our fabric flower sweet holders here in the USA and can customize them to match any event colors. Sweet N’ Flowers is unique when it comes to designing truffle holders! Our flowers are classy and elegant. They will surely catch the eye of everyone at your party. We are always looking for new fabrics, textures, colors and styles. We believe our mission is to offer to our client’s products of high quality and great taste. We really feel thrilled to help you to make your celebration memorable and unforgettable.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I am passionate for what I do. I truly believe I offer a product that is unique and every day I try to make it better and better. I am always trying to improve my product. We started making flowers, then we added napkin rings, then a variety of personalized party favors.
Contact Info:
- Email: lucianashiokawa@sweetnflowers.com
- Website: https://sweetnflowers.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweet_n_flowers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweet_n_flowers-309195356674798
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOVV5shmNo0ARNk54D1QqNQ
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SWEETNFLOWERS
