Noah it's quiet here even though we exceeded 400 members!!! Welcome everyone!!! This group is expanding every day and what a crazy amount of talent we have here! I might be biased but this group is my favourite.
I will use my about page as intro and hope people will follow. My about page covers most about me and why I'm here.
I have been doing graphic design for almost 10 years now. I used to do mostly full 3d modelling for quite a few years of those. It was something I continued to do while chasing my dream of becoming a pilot. Design was a crazy big hobby of mine and something I could carry with me wherever I travelled.
One thing besides flying I always wanted to do was teach. So after finishing my education I went and became a flight instructor for a few years before I would start looking at bigger companies to fly for. While being a flight instructor I got my first baby. Only 1,5 years later twins arrived as well.
My partner in crime and dad to my babies is Wouter. He started a company a few years ago doing digital design, webdesign etc. as well. He also happens to be a pilot. When I was pregnant I helped him out starting his Etsy shop besides his more graphics-only orientated marketplaces, and he actually enjoyed it! He was also able to use a lot of my drawn designs for digitizing, while I did some social media for him and helped him out during my maternity leave. That store grew over his head. Being a fulltime pilot he never realised there was such a market for graphics on Etsy.
When the twins were born, the company I used to work for, and had a chance to return to, went out of business. The only other jobs available are mostly without a contract or way overseas. Don't get me wrong I love to travel, but moving a family of 5 to the other side of the world didn't sound very attractive to me. Besides that, Wouter still has quite a nice job as a pilot which we shouldn't give up. So I got a little stuck. My flying licenses need updating, but for what cause? I would have done that with my previous company to work there as a freelancer again maybe, but that company is gone (a company I have known for 10 years now and deeply loved).
I was facing unemployment and didn't like that one bit. I love being a mother, but I love working as well!
I decided to start my own business, or actually multiple businesses it turned out. This way I could be hired as a pilot or for other aviation related activities.
The other business idea came up when Wouter decided his Etsy shop was getting too busy (I know, first world problem right). I could continue that on my own! But since it was his company and I wanted to start making my own money and use my own name I had to go a new route. I spent the first few months after the babies were born making a business plan and eventually took the plunge and registered my name.
That is how 'By Lef' was born.
The business plan involved a lot more than creating clipart and digital papers and other designer resources, but those new things are planned for the new year. So stay tuned if you are curious.
I appreciate every single one of my customers more than I could put down in words probably. I love to engage with you all on social media, so if you like that you can find the links to those pages in my shop.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story.
Love,
Manon
My person in tags: coffee, (older) rock music, high heels, pyjamas, travelling, reading, online classes, red wine, tawny port, christmas, nerdy games, sushi, date nights (rare!), dancing, nail polish, big rings, airports, notebooks, flowers, always busy!
