Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Atwaters.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
From an early appreciation of art, I was able to develop a successful career utilizing my God-given gift to share my passion with many. As a bride, I took on several DIY projects and blogged tutorials along the way. After building a following, I began receiving requests to have items created for other brides. I soon decided to open my first online shop. Although this started as a hobby in the beginning years, I reached a point when I realized my potential, and Ten23 Designs was born. Thus began my path to creating my empire.
Once I connected with my brand identity, I knew I wanted to produce unique elements for my custom event décor clients.
Allowing my creativity to lead me, I set a standard in custom event décor. My work has been recognized in print publications such as B Collective, Inside Weddings, Munaluchi Bride, The Celebration Society formally known as Occasions, Oh Brides Magazine, Women’s Day, The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, and other industry magazines as well as online publications including Hostess with the Mostess, Essence, People, Style Me Pretty, Disney blog and countless others having been published well over 400 times.
I was blessed to be able to make myself known within the celebrity world making custom event decor for some of our generation’s biggest names such as Missy, Janet Jackson, JayZ, Cardi B, Bruno Mars, John Legend, DJ Khaled, and countless others. Recently, I opened an event loft to host clients’ celebrations… in the style of course! I renovated a warehouse/office space into a delightful blank canvas event loft which has also opened the door for me to do more event styling, which I love.
I believe it is important that my products stand out as a representation of my brand, just as I believe that my clients’ events should be a unique representation of their brand. I do not identify myself as a product maker or manufacturer. I am an artist that produces custom pieces that create emotions and memories.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There is an old African Proverb, “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” – This can sum up the journey I have been on… and I am okay with that… in fact, I embrace it! The larger the challenge I face, the stronger I seem to come out.
My best advice would be to embrace the struggles and always remember they are only lessons.
A good read: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/smooth-seas-good-sailors.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am blessed to make custom event details for my client’s special occasions. From weddings to baby showers, birthdays, and launch parties, I am given the mission of coming up with branding decor elements to help enhance the events. It is truly an honor to be a part of so many peoples’ special moments.
Have you ever seen a movie where someone is sleeping and then suddenly wakes up abruptly and jumps out of bed to execute an idea? Well, that is pretty close to my reality, except I have learned to just keep a notebook on my nightstand to write down the ideas instead of always running downstairs to try to create it right then. I dream of design.
It’s been such a wonderful feeling to be recognized in the event industry for my creativity and commitment to helping others and positivity. I never set out for any of it… I just stayed true to who I am.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I am blessed with some pretty awesome people in my life. My twelve-year-old daughter happens to be one of them.
Just like I am, she can be very shy. In the past, I had allowed my shyness to hold me back in so many situations of possible opportunity, from sticking up for myself and not allowing someone to run over me, to asking questions to be more informed about something… my shyness was often crippling.
When my (now) 12-year-old daughter was entering school, I was so worried that she may be bullied or pushed around because she was so shy. To my surprise, when it came to sticking up for herself or doing what she wants to do, she had/has a very powerful voice. Not rude or sassy… not with fear. Pure confidence in who she is and what she wants.
Watching her interact with others and hearing reports from her teachers, not only made me reassured and proud but also inspired me to start doing the same.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@ten23designs.com
- Website: www.ten23designs.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ten23designs
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ten23designs
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ten23designs
