Meet the Maker

   

Hi Friend!

Welcome to Illumination Custom Designs! My name is Anna, the owner and designer, and I’m glad you’re here in our corner of the internet. I'm inspired by my positivity evident in our kiddos (Isla, Henry, & Hawk), husband (Walker), dog (Macallan), extended family, and you! 

Our woodshop, currently stationed in our basement, is where our signs first take physical shape. With the help of my husband, Walker, I've learned a bit about woodworking and am thankful he pushes me to put pride and passion into each piece we make. We are excited at the chance to create, inspire, and be inspired by you. 

Here’s a little bit more about me and our family business:

Fun Fact #1:

We are named Illumination Custom Designs after Ephesians 1:18 which says: "I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling—that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones!" To me, I find there to be so much substance behind the word “illuminate.” I’ve found that when I stretch myself to let God's light shine on what’s truly going on in my mind and heart, I’m able to work wholeheartedly in the inspiration God has provided.

Fun Fact #2:

I quit a perfectly good job as an office manager at a dental office near our home to come do this full-time. I will say, there’s nothing more exhilarating (and terrifying) then telling your husband you think God’s urging you to stop making a steady income with benefits. With the potential of working more hours while limiting my income, his first thoughts weren’t, “That’s a great idea, Anna!” But with some more prayer and a lot of discussion, we came to the conclusion that it’s what I’m meant to try in this season of my life. I’m pretty sure I’ll never regret spending as much time as I can with our kids while they’re little. I cherish every hand-hold and smile I get in public now because I know babies don’t keep. Soon they won’t get excited at the thought of eating popcorn and watching Cake Wars on the couch with their mom. So, working outside the home is taking a backseat for the time being while we see where God takes this business.

Fun Fact #3:

As a wife, momma, believer, and designer, I wear a lot of hats. The hat I've always loved is my creative one. In school, I used my creativity by taking data and creatively presenting it in my accounting classes. I also stretched my creative wings through music starting at age 5 but it took me 6 years, 3 jobs, and 2 kids later before I realized I was meant to use my creativity for something more. 

Fun Fact #4:

In 2018, with the amazing support of my husband, Walker, we started making any and all signs using wood, a little job-site table saw, paint, and a Cricut machine. Walker believed in my dream far before I did...or rather, he was just tired of hearing me say, "I could do that!" as I scrolled through Pinterest. So, he surprised me a Cricut machine for Valentine's Day with the Amazon points he had been saving. That's how our tiny little business was born.

This company has now been my creative outlet, my side hustle, my side job to staying home with my kiddos, and now my dream job for 5 years in counting.

With a lot of prayer and a village of people to help me along, I'm excited to get to expand my business by launching a new Homeowner Gift Guide product line and continue to learn how to listen to God in where He wants me.

Cheers to you, my friend!

Anna