Meet Rena Hobbs | Stay at home Mom, crafter and photographer.

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

Hi Rena, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I am both a photographer and custom tumbler maker. I focus more on the tumblers right now but have the occasional photo gig. I opened my photography business in 2012 and then a few weeks later found out I was pregnant so I kinda put it to the side. I offer affordable event photography with a focus on offering a more budget friendly option for weddings because I want as many people to have special photos of their wedding. While My pictures are not at all high end like so many of the other amazing talent out there, I love helping people out who would otherwise not have someone to take pictures for them.

So anyway I am off and on doing photography, and then almost 5 years ago in 2018, I was scrolling online one day and I saw a gorgeous glitter tumbler. And I LOVE LOVE glitter. But they were charging $65 for it. And I was like “Well I bet I can do that myself.” I am literally the epitome of the meme that says “Why buy it for $7 when you can spend $92 in crafts supplies and do it yourself?” It has been my most fun and satisfying craft that I have ever done. I also now do bling items because something about placing each stone totally satisfies me.

All that to say I have these hobby businesses to give me my own identity outside of mom and wife. And as my kids get older I have something that is just me and gives me a small shred of sanity in these crazy times.

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.
Right now I deal mainly with blinging and resin arts. I have been doing this for the past 4 years. I got into making custom tumblers because one day I saw a glitter tumbler and it was being sold for $65. I was like I can do that myself. HAHA. Ya know the meme that says why buy it for $7 when you can spend $92 and make it yourself? That is SOOOOOO me. Many years and lots of money later I have quite the stash of all the supplies. But I love it and the creativity really flows from that. I enjoy filling needs no matter how silly and frivolous it seems to others. . There are so many that make custom cups and are super talented. I just do what I do. I do marble dips, all sorts of glitter designs. The possibilities are really endless (except copyright… I stay away from stuff that isn’t my own or that I don’t have the commercial rights to use) I think what sets me apart is my willingness to do just about anything once. And that most of my stuff that I make is one of a kind and can’t be duplicated. I am really proud that I have stuck with this craft for so long. While I still dabble in crochet, knit, photography and sewing, I didn’t stick with those as my main creative outlets for very long. though I still revisit them from time to time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
HMMMM…. I would take them to Roots Southern Table in Farmers Branch for a really GREAT dinner one day. I would also take them to Dallas World Aquarium (I would go here weekly if I could). They would also need to see the view from Reunion tower. And then I would have to fit in, Cedar Creek Brewery in Farmers Branch, 3 nations Brewery in Carrollton, Ft Worth Stock yards, The state fair if they are here during that season, both the Dallas and Ft Worth zoos, and during the summer the Texas Pool.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There is so much to say here.

First, is God, I am thankful to Him for blessing me with the desire and talent He has given me. My husband is next. He has been very supportive in that he just lets me do my thing. He will let me know when he sees an opportunity for me. I am also very thankful to my friends who are also customers. And to anyone who has ever bought something from me, thank you. It makes me so happy to see when someone who buys something from me that they just love.

I am SO thankful for the online crafting community (mostly on facebook groups). While oddly there can be some major drama over glitter in these groups, I am very much super glad to have the encouragement from the majority of people in those groups. Locally I have been super blessed to be able to do events with the city of Farmers Branch. When they had their summer markets, Sandy Carter was and still is an awesome encouragement. Even though the summer markets are no more, because of that connection formed I am continuously given amazing opportunities. And I am very grateful for that as well.

Website: https://linktr.ee/81crafts

Instagram: instagram.com/eightyonecraftsv

Facebook: www.facebook.com/81crafts