π "Joining the HBSA was, hand on heart, the best thing I've done" HBSA student Pash π
Nov 05, 2024π§ Listen to this blog post as a Podcast instead #15 "Joining the HBSA was, hand on heart, the best thing I've done" Live with Handmade Bosses student Pash
π I loved recording this episode with Pash.
β‘οΈ Join me as I interview Pash about her transition from a highly regulated scientific marine biology career to running her own handmade ocean-themed glass art business, 'Ocean Fusions' on Etsy. π¬ Pash discusses her nearly 30-year career, her experience with breast cancer and how it led her to discover glass fusing. As well as discovering a new species of fish π
π She shares her passion for the ocean, the creative process of glass fusing, the challenges she faced, and the role of the Handmade Business Support Academy (HBSA) in helping her focus and grow her business.
π Links to Ocean Fusions
π Etsy https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/OceanFusions
π Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ocean.fusions/?hl=en
Discovering a Passion for Glass Fusing After a Health Scare
When life hands you lemons, sometimes the best thing to do is make lemonade. That's exactly what Pash Baker did when she was faced with a breast cancer diagnosis and a series of difficult surgeries. Instead of letting the challenges bring her down, Pash found solace and inspiration in an unexpected medium - glass fusing.
Pash's journey into the world of glass art began about 8 years ago, after one particularly difficult surgery. "I was off work and she [my friend] asked me if I wanted to do a glass fusing taster course and I thought, 'well why not?'" Pash recalls. "We really enjoyed it and the bug just took over us both."
What started as a hobby quickly blossomed into a true passion for Pash. She was captivated by the transformative nature of glass and the ability to create unique, ocean-themed pieces that reflected her lifelong love of the sea. As Pash explains, "I have to say that's where my inspiration comes from - the ocean. Most of it is ocean themed, I do all sorts of weird and wonderful glass themed ocean stuff."
Turning a Hobby into a Full-Time Business
After years of balancing her day job in a highly regulated scientific industry with her glass fusing passion, Pash made the bold decision to quit her job and pursue her creative endeavours full-time. "I quit my job just over a year ago - it was initially going to be like a little sabbatical," she says. "I had just had the best year, I travelled the world and I free-dived with humpback whales and I photographed ocean wildlife, and I just lived my best life last year."
With the financial freedom to explore her creativity, Pash launched her Etsy shop, Ocean Fusions, and began selling her stunning glass creations to the world. However, the transition from hobby to full-time business wasn't without its challenges. Pash admits, "This year I thought, 'right, well I've either got to go back to work or I need to be a bit kinder to myself and actually knuckle down and get going on this business.'"
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Discovering the Power of Community and Accountability
That's when Pash discovered the Handmade Business Success Academy (HBSA), a comprehensive online program designed to help creative handmade business owners like herself build and grow their businesses to get consistent 4 and 5 figure months on Etsy and their own website.. As Pash explains, "I'd seen a video on the conversion rate, your free training, and I thought, 'oh wow, this woman actually knows what she's talking about.' And I got the book and I started reading it, and then the Postathon came on and I thought, 'brilliant, I'm going to do that.'"
- "Joining the HBSA was, hand on heart, the best thing I've done"
- Pash found the HBSA's structured approach and supportive community to be exactly what she needed to get her business on track.
- "Joining HBSA and actually having kind of a focus and right, 'well this is what I'm doing this week, today' has really helped," she says.
- The program's phases and lessons provided Pash with a clear roadmap, while the accountability and camaraderie of the group motivated her to stay on track.
One of the biggest takeaways for Pash has been the Etsy Evidence section, which helped her realise that while her sales may not be where she'd like them to be, her products are resonating with customers. "It actually pointed out to me that I'm not doing too badly," she says. "I get really good reviews, I'm not selling mega, but what I do sell people love. So I know I'm doing the right things, it's just now I need to get it in front of more eyes."
Embracing the Challenges and Celebrating the Wins
As Pash continues to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, she's learned to be kinder to herself and not get bogged down by the comparison trap that so many creatives fall into. "I'm my biggest critic," she admits. "I compare myself all the time to other people doing better than me, and I should stop doing it."
Instead, Pash is focusing on celebrating her wins, no matter how small. She's proud of the progress she's made in the last year, from growing her Etsy shop to over 50 listings to revamping her branding and photography. And with the support of the HBSA community, she's feeling more focused and motivated than ever to take her business to the next level.
Looking ahead, Pash's dream is for her glass fusing business to become her full-time, sustainable income. "If I can start making a few more sales, start getting a few more items in the shop, and just really kind of make a success of it, that would be great," she says. "Because it means I can start playing with other designs as well and going a bit wacky, and you know, that's what I love doing."
Discovering a New Species of Fish - A Serendipitous Surprise
As if Pash's journey wasn't already inspiring enough, she also has a fascinating story to share about her time as an underwater photographer. While on a photo workshop in the Red Sea, Pash made an incredible discovery - a new species of fish.
"I was in this little lagoon and I saw something very, very, very tiny, maybe a millimetre or two millimetres inside a hole in a rock," Pash recounts. "I put my camera up and I thought, 'oh, there's a little fish in there.' I took a photo and showed it to the marine biologist I was with, and he said, 'I don't know what that is, I've never seen one before.'"
After posting the photo online, some Saudi scientists identified the tiny creature as a new species of goby. "It's got a very scientific name which I can't remember or pronounce," Pash says with a laugh. "But for a while, the underwater photo community was calling it the 'Pash Blenny' because we all thought it was a blenny, not a goby."
While Pash didn't receive any official credit for the discovery, it's a testament to her keen eye and passion for the ocean. "I got no credit for it as well, oh boo-hoo, patriarchy" she jokes. "But it's a good story, and I love that I was the one who found it."
Embracing the Journey and Inspiring Others
Pash's story is a testament to the power of resilience, creativity, and community. From overcoming a health scare to discovering a new species of fish, she has faced challenges head-on and emerged with a renewed sense of purpose and passion.
As Pash continues to grow her glass fusing business, Ocean Fusions, she hopes to inspire others who are navigating their own entrepreneurial journeys. "If I can make this a success and have it as my main income, that would really be the dream," she says.
So, if you're in the market for some truly unique and stunning glass art, be sure to check out Pash's Etsy shop, Ocean Fusions. And who knows, you might just discover your own hidden talent or serendipitous surprise along the way.
Love Steph xox
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