You're staring at the high tech workshop of Mod Mom Furniture. In between miter cuts, I can even do laundry. Ok, I avoid laundry like the plague but you get the idea.
If you've found this very hidden, tucked-away blog, it's because you've seen my furniture. I'm the mod mom of Mod Mom Furniture. It's great to be able to document life as a mom, carpenter, and small business owner. This thing will probably be my therapy in many ways.
Mod Mom Furniture came about out of necessity for the additional income and an old woodworking hobby that I developed back in my high school days with my Dad. I left an integrated marketing job with A&E and The History Channel back in 2003 to spend more time with my kids, then 4 and 5 months. In 2004, we moved out to LA for my husband's job. LA is well, LA, so our somewhat cushy one-income lifestyle of the midwest died when we set up home in The Valley. I contemplated going back to work full-time in my old profession to help make ends meet but I knew I didn't want the hours I used to keep. I had just gotten adjusted to being a stay-at-home mom and I didn't want to miss out if I could help it. So I committed to doing whatever I could do to contribute but still stay at home. For two years, I took random marketing freelance jobs and babysat other's kids to bring in extra income.
The kids grew and before I knew it, were 3 and 7. This was about the time started really missing the creative part of my old life. I knew I had a problem when I'd design garage sale signs that looked like an ad agency cranked them out for The Gap. I was clearly missing a creative outlet.
I "retired" from babysitting and realized, after throwing a luau party for my husband complete with handmade stage, tiki bar, and tiki tables, that I really missed working with wood. I started slowly by building toy bins for our kids. We couldn't afford anything other than the cost of materials, so it was a perfect fit. As long as I didn't cut anything off with the saw.
As for the mod part of the mod mom, it's been an evolutionary thing. My husband has always been a big Rat Pack fan and a modern design addict. I, however, had to be eased into it. I've always loved the organic, natural look but wasn't so keen on the coldness that sometimes comes with modern decor. I truly do love the mod look now but I can definitely say I'm not a modern design junkie. I'm also a little bit embarrassed to say that i don't know most of the modern design icons names but I'm learning! While I love the design aspect, I really love the building equally.
The business has been such a great thing for me and my family... and at times, a really humbling, swallow-your-pride kind of thing. I'll share the ride with you -- the ups and downs.
So now you know a little bit of how it all started. Next up, some of the good, the bad, and the ugly of starting a business on the net...oh, and nearly cutting off my finger.
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