Shop Small :: CoconuTacha

Thank you, CoconuTacha, for sponsoring this post, part of the 2017 Shop Small Spring series. I was selected for this opportunity by CoconuTacha; the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

If you don't by now, we are a Disney family! We love Disney around here and have officially started counting down to our next trip at the end of the month! The moment I saw these prints, I knew they would be perfect to help complete decorating the walls of Ollie's playroom. They were fun, added a bit of color, and allowed me to have a bit of subtle-Disney in our home.

I'm not an over-Disney person when it comes to decor. I love it, but I don't want a Mickey-fied house either. I try and keep my sprinkles of pixie dust to a minimal where really, only a true Disney fan would know what was going on here. One day I'll show you all of my pixie dust throughout the house, but for now let's just love on these prints!

Owner, Natasha, thinks of her shop as a product of my life so far. She draws. She paints. She honestly is creating something everyday. Since the age of 3 when she received her first paint set for Christmas, she has been drawn to what can be produced on such materials. Inspired by fiction books, sci-fi films, magic and nature, she has always found something to draw, paint or make in 3D. I love how many Disney-inspired pieces she has in her shop, but she does so much more too. From wedding invitations to cards to prints, her shop is full of great things for your walls or a friends'.

And something else? Natacha has offer you 30% off any of her products in her shop with the code "BAHORICHABODE"! The coupon expires soon so don't wait!

Also, great news! We are now hosting a giveaway for one of these signs for your house over on Instagram!! Hop on over to the my account to learn more about how you can enter through April 16th!

Here is a little bit more about Natacha, the owner of CoconuTacha:

How did you get your shop started?
When I was 16, my boyfriend persuaded me to start a blog to showcase my work - I didn't think much of it but I thought 'why not?'. So I set up a small blog on Tumblr. After a year or so, I realized that I was getting a lot of interest; people were even asking if they could purchase my artwork! And so I opened my Etsy shop, www.coconutacha.com when I was studying Graphic Design in the University of South Wales.

What is the hardest part of owning a shop?
The hardest part of owning a shop (and I guess perhaps any business!) is that you have to have many different job titles. As well as being the artist/designer, you are also the Customer Service Representative, Sales Advisor, Graphic Designer, Marketer, Post Person and the list goes on.... I used to think that owning my own business would mean that I would be drawing and painting all day - that is so far from reality!

What is one thing unique about you?
I would say my style is the thing that is most unique about me and my shop. I love painting in a splashy (almost messy) watercolour style, but still keeping it simple, minimal and subtle.

What is the best part of owning a shop?
The best part of owning a shop for me is definitely the feeling that I get when someone purchases a piece of my artwork! I still get a little shocked and surprised, and I am eternally grateful to everyone that has ever bought something from me. There are also perks such as getting to choose my own working hours. Also there's no travelling or commuting involved! I used to spend 3 hours a day (sometimes longer) travelling to and from my office job - it was a nightmare!

How did you get your shop name?
Haha, it was more of an 'under pressure' thing.. When I first set up my shop on Etsy, I didn't think of a shop name at all until it asked me! It was a spur of the moment combination of my name and favourite fruit (Natacha and Coconut); and so CoconuTacha was born! I also didn't want anything too specific, such as 'Natacha's Watercolours', in case I wanted to branch out in the future - which I did! I now sell a range of stationery, from wedding invitations to planners and calendars.

What is one way that you keep organized?
I sell my own weekly planner in my shop which I even use myself to keep on top of my weekly tasks. I write lists and keep a diary of important events and projects coming up. I don't think I would manage without doing any of these things!

How do you balance family life and work life?
I work from home so I am always surrounded by my friends and family. I tend to schedule my working hours to when everyone else is working as well - and try to stick to it! I also try not to work weekends, but it's a bit of an unrealistic goal when owning your own business - it's not a 9-5 thing. But I always make sure I take time to switch off and relax with friends and family - that's one of the main reasons that I quit my full time office job in the first place.