Hi there, I'm Celicia, the proud owner of North Country Rustics, and I'm excited to share my story with you!  My journey into the world of Arts & Crafts didn't begin with a grand plan or a clear vision of where I wanted to end up. In fact, it started in the most ordinary of places: my home. As a stay-at-home mom, my days were filled with the beautiful chaos of raising children, managing a household, and trying to find moments of peace amidst the madness. But in the midst of all that, I found myself overwhelmed with the stress of dealing with my child's Epilepsy diagnosis.  It seemed like never ending doctor's appointments, endless hours of researching and constant, constant worry.  

And I wasn't the only one worried.  My husband saw that I was stuck, unable to break the cycle of anxiety, unable to enjoy the healthy happy moments for fear of the bad moments.  So, he often packed us into the truck and took us on day trips to the Adirondacks.  It became our "happy" place.  On one of our trips to Old Forge, NY I spotted a carved screen door for sale and I nearly caused an accident as I hurriedly pulled over to get a closer look!  I stood there, admiring, wishing.  The price tag stood there... laughing.  Not wanting my husband to see my disappointment, I said, "I could make that!"  And he said, "Sure, you could"  I heard his doubt and I doubled down, "I really could!"  I had skills.  I was artsy, a painter, a crafter... even sometimes a writer.  And I had some carving knowledge.  I had carved a couple of rustic signs after we hand built our log cabin (that's a story for another day!)

Apparently, my Husband really believed me.  A few days later he came home with all the material I needed to carve a screen door for our cabin.  I laid out the wood on top of our kitchen bar area and started, drawing, measuring, planning and plotting.  Eventually, I started the cutting, carving and sanding.  For over a week, we juggled dinners and dishes around "Mom's Screen Door" project.

It was during those stolen moments of quiet, usually late at night or early in the morning, that I began to believe in my creative side. Armed with nothing more than a few basic supplies and a whole lot of determination, I started feel a passion to create something that was uniquely mine.  We hung the door on our Cabin and took a photo to commemorate the moment.  This was back in the day when photos still needed to be printed to share with others! LOL  Hubby took our photo to work and came home with 2 orders in just 1 day!

I was back at it again.  Dinners were juggled around "Mom's Next Screen Door Project" and we all got used to sawdust on the floor.  As my skills began to develop and my confidence grew, I started to share my creations with friends and family. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and before I knew it, I found myself taking on custom orders and selling my work at local markets and fairs. What had started as a simple hobby had quickly blossomed into something more.

But the real turning point came when I decided to take the leap and turn my passion into a full-fledged business. It wasn't an easy decision, and there were plenty of moments of doubt along the way. But with the support of my loved ones and a whole lot of grit, I launched North Country Rustics on March 25th, 2011, a small business dedicated to creating handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces of art and home decor.

Running a business is no small feat, especially when you're juggling it alongside the demands of being a wife and mother. But what keeps me going is the knowledge that I'm building something meaningful, something that brings joy to others and allows me to express myself in ways I never thought possible.

Of course, the journey was filled with challenges. I had an injury to my shoulder that made carving nearly impossible and extremely painful.  It took me years to fall in love with a different type of creation.  But I finally found laser engraving!  And now I feel like the possibilities are endless!  There are still challenges to overcome, goals to reach, and dreams to pursue. But as I look back on how far I've come, I'm filled with a sense of pride and gratitude for the path that has led me here.

So to all the stay-at-home moms out there who are dreaming of something more, I want to leave you with this: never underestimate the power of your own creativity and determination. You never know where it might lead you.

Thank you for joining me on this journey, and here's to many more Misadventures to come!