Hi! My name is Christina and was born and raised in Bulgaria (Eastern Europe). I moved to Calgary, AB, Canada a month after graduating high school and it's been home ever since. I am now married, have 2 daughters (9 and 11) and trying to keep up with our crazy lives.
When I was 13, I had a dream of having my own store and workshop, where I sell one of a kind things that I can help people design. I was going to call it "One".
Throughout the years, I had learned how to sew and crochet at an early age, and I took some art classes and sculpture in university. Photography has always been a passion. Whenever I craft or do arts, I lose track of time and just get lost. I love that feeling. When I felt overwhelmed, during the first months of 2020, I realized that doing a craft made me feel grounded and happy, so I kept trying new things.
OAK creations was born in Oct, 2020 after a series of circumstances inspired me to believe I can launch a side business on Instagram and Marketplace. I had some powerful inspirations around me and thought "I don't have to quit my job to start this, I'll just do it in the evenings after work".
OAK stands for One of a Kind and there's lots of symbolism throughout different cultures that associate the oak tree with wisdom, gathering, story telling and connection.
Right around Christmas of 2020, I started making handsewn gnomes and sold 110 gnomes in 3 weeks! It was so amazing to see and hear the joy they brought to people in those hard times for all of us.
Then I experimented with wooden signs, wreaths and started doing custom designs on shirts.
In Oct 2023, I launched my first in person gnome workshop at a local restaurant, surrounded by friends (the test subjects). It was amazing! There's so much magic in human connection. I love the feeling of helping someone learn a new skill and gain confidence they didn't have before.
So, I decided my guiding principles are the following -
OAK creations boosts
- joy
- love
- confidence
- mental health
- human connection
If something I'm creating or hosting aligns with those guidelines, then it's meaningful and serves a good purpose.
I believe we're all unique and different things make us feel cozy, loved, appreciated or entertained and I love helping create those meaningful gifts or workshops for others. At the end of the day, connecting with others and the feeling of joy, love and belonging is all we want and l sincerely enjoy helping people feel more of those feelings.
Whether it's a tiny thoughtful gift or an experience, let's make magic together!
With care,
Christina