Amanda Niwa loves making custom creations
By Joan Janzen
What would you do if you had some free time on your hands? Amanda Niwa from Oyen decided to start a home-based business.
“Last year, we went on a split shift for work,” Amanda said. Not only does Amanda work full time, but she also pulled off part-time evening shifts at the local bar. When the bar closed because of restrictions, “I ended up with so much free time, so I thought I should branch out.” Her friends encouraged her to turn her hobby into a business, so Amanda started Custom Creations by amandapaige.
“It keeps me really busy,” Amanda said. “I’ve been working on my books for the tax season; I made over 430 things last year. It was a lot more than I thought.” Those “things” include personalized ornaments, t-shirts, portraits, door planks, signs, coffee cups, door hangers, stocking hangers, name puzzles and mobiles.
“Mobiles were very out of my comfort zone, but I tried. Sewing isn’t something I had done for a long time,” Amanda said. When asked to design a mobile, Amanda was given some pictures, came up with a couple of different concepts, and started cutting and sewing.
“It was very different from any of my orders, but I’m so glad I was given a chance to learn some new skills and develop some others I haven’t had much chance to. It actually turned out amazing, but it was a lot of trial and error. I have very diverse skills,” Amanda said. She claims she gets her creativity from her mom and credits her dad with her ability to use power tools. Most of those power tools belong to her dad.
“I use my dad’s shop because he has a nice set up at the farm, and I have a craft room set up at home for my smaller things,” she explained. However, Amanda is also acquiring some of her own equipment.
“I have added a new machine; I’m still learning it. It’s a laser engraver. I think I’m really going to be able to expand products that way,” she said. Her newly acquired addition is a router, laser engraver, cutter and 3D printer, all in one. “It can make some amazing things!” Amanda, the multi-tasked, has been watching videos on how to run the software while she works on orders.
One of Amanda’s customers wanted to let everyone know there was an escape artist in her household. She sent Amanda a picture of her dog. “I converted it into a line drawing to try something new, and she ended up loving it,” Amanda explained, describing another of her creations.
She also realized it would be more practical to have reversible door planks and two-sided signs that show whether a pet is inside or outside. When customers ask her to make something, Amanda generously sends them 4-8 designs to choose from.
“One of my favourite things was a wood portrait done for a Christmas present. I could not believe that I did it!” Amanda exclaimed. “I used the original pictures and drew the basic shapes. I then glued those down on to 1/4 inch plywood and cut the shapes out with my scroll saw. I then hand-painted the pieces and glued them down.”
Although Amanda never expected to be as busy as she has been, by mid-November, she needed to stop taking Christmas orders. Orders were coming in much faster than she could get them out. Some of those orders came in while she was showcasing her home business at the local markets in Oyen, Youngstown and Buffalo. Amanda loves supporting other home businesses and claims she spends as much as she makes at the markets.
“I am so grateful for the support I’ve received from this amazing community. I cannot tell you how much it means to me,” she concluded.
When she’s not working at her day job, Amanda is making one of her custom creations. Either way, she said, “I love what I do!”
Amanda Niwa holds one of her favourite creations, a wood portrait. She used drew the basic shapes from the original photo, glued them on to 1/4 inch plywood and cut the shapes out with a scroll saw.
Amanda tried something new - converting this dog’s photo into a line drawing.