We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christine Anderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Christine, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
Short answer Trial and Error!
I’m a single mother of two (now adult) children, from South Los Angeles. When my kids were younger, my optimism came from me trying to encourage them. Telling them how strong they are and how they can do anything they desire. Always trying to make sure they didn’t get swallowed up with “being Black in America”. I was their support and cover when they were kids.
When my son was a teenager, I found that the false optimism only made me depressed and physically ill. Trying to smile and stay positive is difficult when your world is crumbling from the inside out. I would drop them off at school and just start ugly face crying…while driving to work. I would get to work and have to get myself together, putting water on my face, taking deep breaths, and drinking lots of coffee, before going in.
In 2013, it all crumbled and I couldn’t hold it in or hide it anymore. I started having anxiety panic attacks. I went to my then minister all while crying and not being able to catch my breath. He calmed me down and just let me talk for however long I needed. That was the beginning.
Around that same time, I met Tabatha, who would become an instant sister. We were able to confide in one another. I was able to discuss things I didn’t know were even going on in my life. She encouraged me to start journaling. I wrote and cried like a crazy person. I had to get it all out. As I wrote, I felt every feeling that I had ignored in my past. I felt them as if they were happening at that moment. It was scary, but I couldn’t stop writing. If I was awake, I was writing.
After about a month, I stopped crying and started talking about the truth of my life. I like my job, but it wasn’t for me. I was meant for more. I had to find out what I liked doing, what I liked eating when my kids weren’t around. I had to figure out what I liked to read and why. I was becoming a whole person, not defined by my kids, but also not separate from the love I felt for them. This was about me!
I was like a kid learning to walk and experience life. Before I went on this journey, I thought my kids and work, and people and everything external was the problem. It was me and my perception of myself being played out in my life.
I faced myself and was able to actually see me, and be excited about it! I started experiencing pure joy just from experiencing life in it’s truth. I still experienced and experience trials, but I know they are not meant to destroy me. It’s life with all it’s ups and downs. I have real conversations with my kids. They literally know everything about me. They are able to come to me with ANYTHING and we talk about it or laugh about it or cry about it if we need to. Our household is honest and open and I haven’t experienced unmanaged depression since 2015.
In 2013 I went back to school, 2018, for Interior Architecture, where I gained knowledge and respect for the Psychology of Color. I started Black Butterfly Designs, which was meant to be an Event Design Company. When it was all shutdown in 2020, my daughter and I took the opportunity to learn the art of resin. I was amazed by the fluid and organic nature of resin. How the colors blend. how expressive it can be. I could get lost for hours working with resin. Naturally, I started blending the psychology of color with the art of resin and I had a new direction for the business.
Black Butterfly Decor was formed and has been going since 2020. I have recently expanded into two locations. The Shops at Mission Viejo, SoCalEtsy store and The Urban Market in Westminster Mall.
Of course, I still have down days, but they no longer define me. I also find that exercising daily (just walking or running), helps me burn off excess energy and helps me think clearly.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I create home decor accent pieces influenced by nature and the psychology of color. My mediums range from acrylic paint to wood…and I stay open to adapting other mediums to bring the art to life. I invested in a laser printer this year, which has allowed me to take my business to the next level. We are now in two locations, and look to open a brick and mortar in 2024, where we can have classes, host workshops that deal with mental wellness and intentional interior decorating.
This will be our first year offering holiday/seasonal decor, since we were able to invest a large amount of money to support the growth of the business. We will be donating ornaments to volunteers for an amazing local non-profit that we have worked with before. And I am proud to say that I have been able to actually plan out what I want the next couple of seasons to look like. I am ahead for the first time and even though I have some anxiety about the upcoming holiday season…I’m excited and prepared for it all!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The first thing that made this possible, was being honest with myself about who I was, what I wanted, what I wanted to do. I had to first know who I was, because business can take a sudden turn and if you know who you are, switching gears is a lot easier.
The second would be to keep learning no matter what you are doing or are good at doing. When the events couldn’t happen, I was sewing (even though I knew I didn’t want to do that again), and my daughter and I tried out resin. I think it was easy to pick up because we were trying out different creative mediums anyway.
I think the third thing would be to believe in yourself and keep going even when you don’t see it working as fast as you would like. There are moments (lots of moments) when I think I might need to try or do something else. I stop myself and remind myself that I was given this ability and strength to connect with people. Sometimes people will cheer you on and other times they will question you and what you are doing. Being confident in what you are doing will keep you believing in your journey. When you do, you will be introduced to people who will help you take your business and/or life to the next level.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
At some of the pop-ups I used to hear people say “oh I can’t spend that much on myself”, or “is that really the price”. And then I see people drawn in to particular pieces, hold it and eventually buy it. Saying that it made them think of a person or situation. Some like that it’s functional and it fits their need. Others will point out how they appreciate my use of color and how they were drawn to a tray or tumbler because of the colors alone. I understand I am not for everyone. My art is for those who have a respect of art and handcrafted work. Everything I make is functional. I get so excited when I get images from clients showing me how they are showing off their new tray or coasters. It encourages me to keep doing what I am called to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blackbutterflyhomedecor.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/blackbutterfly_home
- Youtube: @blackbutterflyhomedecor
