Mompreneur Jennelyn Faiwas of Chubby Toes Ceramic Impressions

When Zeeka was 17 months old, I had a ceramic impression of her little hands and feet made by this very talented lady. You can check out my review here: http://mommyginger.com/2014/10/chubby-toes-ceramic-impressions.html Today, I’m happy to share with you the mompreneur story of the Jennelyn Faiwas, the owner of Chubby Toes Ceramic Impressions.

Who is Jen?

I am a licensed financial advisor, a breastfeeding peer counselor and a full time mompreneur. My strong advocacy is for breastfeeding. I believe that it is every mothers’ and babies’ right to breastfeed. Mothers should be given all the information about it and the dangers of artificial feeding. While the system protects , promotes and supports this right. I also love to babywear, cloth diaper and co-sleep with my son.

My son is 2 years old. I’m a single mom. And that is why my world revolves around my son. Before I got pregnant, I’m contented with my life as an employee in an IT company. But things really will change when you have other priorities.
Well, my dream is to be a bearer of financial independence to more people, to be a gentle birth doula, a very successful entrepreneur and a good homeschooler. A tall order eh? 🙂

My interview with Mompreneur Jennelyn Faiwas of Chubby Toes Ceramic Impressions:

Ginger: Hi Jen! Can you tell us more about your business?

Jen: Chubby Toes Ceramic Impressions specializes in creating a unique keepsakes of our loved ones, especially the very cute babies. Newborn babies are my specialty. Because they just grow so fast. They start to be this teeny weeny creatures with tiny hands and feet then it feels like in an instant they will become this running, talking small people.

So Chubby Toes captures this moment on clay and transform it to ceramics. I do children of any age as well, since they will just grow and grow but we can still capture their little hands and feet sizes now. I also do any member of the family, including pets! I started last year and it started growing. I have an FB account dedicated solely for my business. Recently, I also set-up a website that showcases my work since I started in 2014.

Ginger: Interesting and such a unique idea. Who do you plan to tap?
Jen: The primary market for my business is families with children or pets. Now, I have a vision of expanding my business as notable and special keepsakes. I am experimenting on my impressions so they can be used on occasions like weddings, debuts, birthdays, wedding, baptism etc.

Ginger: How did you come up with this idea and what made you decide to start this kind of business?
Jen: Since giving birth to my son, I was always looking for ways to capture milestones and memories of his “littleness”. I have a monthly photo of him. I (tried to) journal his every milestone. So this included getting his hand and foot prints regularly. I have used ink and those DIY salt dough and plaster of paris. I used to be so crazy about it.

Anyway, I used to always encounter this ceramic impressions thing during my search for ways to capture (and display) my son’s keepsakes. I know that it’s not available here in the Philippines, but I so wanted it! I salivate just looking at all those beautiful ceramic plates, but all out of reach for me. So after months of constantly coming across it, I just thought why not start it here? How awesome would that be!
So I started to ask around and research about it some more. Then I met my mentor/trainer and things started rolling. I purchased a complete set of training materials, ordered my kiln. And so Chubby Toes is born.

I started practicing with my son’s impressions, then I asked friends and neighbors if I can borrow their babies and have their impression taken. Most of the time people can’t really understand what I want to do, or what my product is. But when they see the finished product in person, they are ecstatic that I have made this special keepsake for them. So I’m happy. 🙂

Ginger: Were there any obstacles that you faced when you decided to pursue becoming a Mompreneur? What are these?

Jen: Yes, I used to be an employee with a decent enough income. When I took the leap, I have to adjust to the fact that it won’t be the same as when I hold a regular job, at least financially. Also I have to get out of my comfort zone. It entails meeting more people, marketing my product, etc. My usual routine before was to work then go home, that’s it. But now I have to constantly socialize and be out there, which really is a new experience and enlightening for me 🙂

Ginger: What are three traits that you think a Mompreneur should have when starting their own business?

Jen: It has been said before, but you really need to find a business that you are passionate about. We can all start a business, but sustaining it is another thing. And I think that’s what our passion does, it fuels us to continue and breeze through whatever we may encounter along the way. I sincerely believe that, love what you’re doing and success will follow.

I think another thing that made many Mompreneurs successful, is their motivation to always be there for their families. Being at home is a constant reminder of that.

Ginger: Any unforgettable moments or lessons that you learned as a Mompreneur?

Jen: Things won’t always go as smoothly as we plan. I have my day clearly planned, but no, my son won’t allow me to do my things. He needs to feed, he needs me to change his diaper, I’m the one he needs to read him the book he wants. It’s crazy really. But I think it’s part of all the fun and challenges as a Mompreneur. And I love every bit of it! 🙂

I clearly remember my first customer, she contacted me through my facebook page. With full faith she asked to have her son’s impressions taken. Ok, with what I do, sometimes clients can’t really appreciate my beautiful product, at least on that first meeting because they will only see the plain-looking gray clay I use for taking their baby’s impressions.
So with this customer, I handed her her son’s impression plate after it was completed. And she was so happy and said “Maganda nga pala talaga!”. And so it made me happy too, to have had a chance to preserve a special keepsake for them that they can forever cherish. 🙂

Ginger: What advice can you give to other Mompreneurs?

Jen: Find that something that will light your inner fire. It is sometimes easy to jump on the bandwagon but always ask yourself if this is really what you want to do. You have to have a clear vision of why you do what you do. And if the going gets tough, you will only have that fire to hold on to.

Ginger: Thank you Jen for such inspiring words. For those who want to contact Jen, the information of her company is seen below. Thank you again for reading this inspiring mompreneur story!

Contact information on Chubby Toes: