We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nevaeh Newnham a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nevaeh , we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I have struggled with my mental health for a long time. Just recently through the motivation and persistence of my close friends and family have I decided to do something about it. I can’t say I’ve overcome the mental health challenges and issues but working through them is definitely difficult. You want to feel good creating your work but that can be hard when you feel like things are falling apart around you. I definitely lean on my creative outlets to help me through rough patches.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My brand is called WhimsyFaeCreations! When I came up with this name and created my Facebook page I had no clue what it was going to be. I’ve always been a creative, loved creating, and was eager to share my creations with a community! This has been a long time dream in the making and while things are still small, I’m very hopeful for the future. I crochet a lot but I also do other things like sew, leather crafting, jewelry, and some stained glass work. When I’m not creating for my small business I work full time as a cake decorator and I am a college student! I love this little community that has been created with my business and I’m so grateful for the people I’ve been able to meet along the way!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say the three most important skills, areas of knowledge, or qualities would be communication, business strategies, and confidence. Communication is such a big one. Most of the things I learned were from other vendors at my first event I vended at. I learned so much from other vendors by watching and asking a lot of questions! With the degree that I am pursuing I’ve learned some business strategies that have definitely guided me when creating new things and what I should try making. Confidence has also done wonders for me. I was very shy at first at my first event but quickly I warmed up when I realized I belonged there too! Some advice that I would give might be cliche but honestly just be yourself! But also find your crowd! There is always a crowd for you and you will know it when you find it. It is such a great feeling when you feel that you belong and deserve to take up space in the environment that you are at! Experience also is something that helps you learn. I’ve only been to two events but they have helped me learn a lot! Talk to other vendors and ask questions!
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I would say my close friends, family, and a lot of support from my partner. Having a good support group means everything when working through periods of burnout, feeling like you’re not good enough, and low self esteem/confidence. I don’t know what I would do without my partner always reassuring me and being supportive. When I fall down a mental hole that I feel like I can’t get out of, he does a great job of pulling me out and reassuring me that I am doing just fine.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whimsyfaecreations?igsh=a29hbTJuZHJ4YjN0&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14GUCpzaxnW/?mibextid=wwXIfr
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
