Meet Vanessa Perea | Actor and Etsy Shop Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vanessa Perea and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I had initially began painting my own lighters for fun, I was looking for another creative outlet to spend some time on and that’s what came up for me. After painting two lighters I realized how much I enjoyed it, and decided it would be a good idea to open up an Etsy shop. As a full time student, finding a part time job can be incredibly stressful, so being able to start my own business has been incredibly rewarding.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I hand paint lighters and incense holders, which has been a wonderful experience for me and my customers. The excitement of turning an ordinary item into something beautiful is really fulfilling for everyone involved. Art and fashion have become very important within society, and my products bring a lot of options to enhance someones style. We have designs that range from cow print, to spiderwebs, and even Harry Styles merchandise (for all my fangirls out there). Creating this business has been difficult, experimenting with different looks to get the perfect design has been challenging, but I’ve come a long way in my artistic progress. The biggest lesson I’ve learned since starting my shop is that experimentation is key. I never really noticed how much progress I made since my first design until I began to look back at old pictures. The more I take risks with my art, the better the product turns out.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This spot may be a little bit of a drive, but it’s worth it. Blowing Rocks Preserve in Jupiter is a beach that is lined with huge rocks at the shore, similar to caves. It also has a hiking trail that travels down the beach. For a meal, I would probably take them to Lazeez Asian Cuisine. I’m a. huge fan of Indian food, and this small business never disappoints.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my parents, brother and boyfriend. They have all been incredibly supportive of my artistic dreams and encourage me to think outside the box and do what feels right for myself. I wouldn’t have gotten so far with my business if it weren’t for their advice and kind words, I can always count on them to support me and guide me in the right direction.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SparkShopDesigns?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Instagram: @_vanessaperea_

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3fWW1zIqccJC1_3WApUBKw

Other: tik tok: @sparkshopdesigns