Christmas is still a few months away, but the lone elf at Oddish, in Barataria, is excited about starting production on orders from her customers. Ashley Delzin-Percival has been operating the online craft store on a part-time basis from her home since November 2019, and is looking forward to seeing what requests the Yuletide season will bring.
“I do handmade items out of resin, both for everyday use and decorative purposes. I do things like coasters, trays, pen holders, domino sets. Resin is a very versatile material so there are a lot of ideas that can come out of it,” 34-year-old Delzin-Percival told WMN. Her customers have the options of pick-up or delivery.
A graphic designer by profession, she said she has always been artistic and her work with resin is just an extension of her love affair with art.
“I’ve always loved art and craft, it’s part of what keeps me grounded. I saw something made out of resin online one day and I found it very interesting. I told myself ‘hey, I can do this.’ I watched tutorials, got supplies and got started.”
[caption id="attachment_911154" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Ashley Delzin-Percival says, ‘I’ve always loved art and craft, it’s part of what keeps me grounded.’ -[/caption]
She scoured the online community for inspiration and with a little trial and error here and there, she said she began creating useful and everyday items that people can actually use.
“At first it was just a hobby and the items I made were just for myself and family, but one day my mother-in-law suggested that I start selling them. I always had great support from my family and friends so I started with them as my base, and right there and then my hobby started paying for itself.”
She said a girlfriend encouraged her to set up an Instagram page, and by Christmas that year she began selling her hand-painted resin Christmas ornaments and wall hangings online. Eventually, she said, she added other items to her inventory and people outside of her usual circle began placing orders, with many of them requesting customised items.
“I added some new items like candle holders, cupcake stands, key chains because people like to customise their keychains. Letter keychains are very popular now. I also do wine glasses. I add resin to the base, whatever colour the customers wants, and I sometimes add hand-painted elements to the actual bowl of the glass. I also do a decorative ‘Home’ sign that can come with or without lights, to hang or put standing. That’s one of my most popular items. I also did a limited edition of storage containers.” She also does gift baskets for special occasions such as Valentine’s Day.
[caption id="attachment_911155" align="alignnone" width="1024"] ‘I saw something made out of resin online one day and I found it very interesting. I told myself ‘hey, I can do this,’ says Ashley Delzin-Percival. -[/caption]
Delzin-Percival said before she began working with resin, she did mainly drawing and mixed media artwork. With the
