Florisa “Polleng” Marquez, 31, handles financial accounts on a daily basis. But when she’s not dealing with money and investments, she’s encouraging others to develop a new craft to get through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Marquez, a single mother, finds therapeutic value in doing arts and crafts. When she realized she would have to raise her daughter by herself, she decided to paint her way through her sadness. It didn’t occur to her until much later that her inclination towards the arts would eventually help her boost her finances.

She opened her online store “Art ni Polleng” in 2018 to inspire art-based interventions as a means for coping with stress and dealing with trauma of abuse.

“Gusto ko po ma-inspire din yung mga katulad kong solo parent na mag-put up din sila ng sarili nilang pagkakakitaan para huwag silang magse-self pity dahil kulang sila or mag-isa lang sila (I wanted to inspire solo parents like me to put up their own business so they won’t engage in self-pity because they feel lacking or because they’re alone),” she said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.

This, she said, is especially true at a time when pandemic-related lockdowns have brought an increase in abuses against women by their partners.

“Dun nag-start yung mga babaeng sinasaktan physically kasi di sila makahiwalay dahil wala silang sariling income (That’s when women start to experience physical abuse because they’re scared to leave their husbands since they don’t have any source of income),” she added.

Her shop offers all sorts of crafting items guaranteed to elicit feelings of calm and happiness among her clients including ready-to-paint plaster letters and figures and do-it-yourself casting kits with prices ranging from PHP150 to PHP300.

“Puwede mo ipagawa ang name mo tapos ipapadala namin siya sayo ng walang color. May kasama siya na paint at paint brush. Ikaw na yung bahala mag design at color. After nila makulayan ‘yun puwede mo na i-display (You can also have your name made and we’ll send you the letters without color. The set includes paint and a paint brush. It’s up to you to paint them. After you paint them, you can also display them),” she said.

Last month, she also introduced combs and hand-held mirrors made of resin with dried flowers or beads that are pretty enough to be given as gifts or to keep for yourself. The prices range from PHP130 to PHP180 depending on the size and design.

Clients can also avail of resin name plates with dried flowers or beads. Each nameplate comes with a stand and fairy lights to make anyone’s home twinkle with charm.

Calendars and calling cards

Long before she jumped into the arts and crafts business, Marquez started selling personalized calendars and calling cards. From designing the layout to printing, Marquez does everything by herself.

Currently, she can print 50 to 100 calendars a day using an Epson printer. She dreams of putting up her own printing shop one day.

“Gusto ko magkaroon ng printing press na mas malaki. Kapag mas malaki yung machine mo, mas marami kang mapo-produce na orders (I want to open up a big printing press. If you have bigger machines, you’ll be able to produce more orders),” she said.

Marquez makes it a point to offer new layout designs to stimulate sales growth and explore new markets.

She also emphasized the importance of always making room for improvement and listening to her customers’ feedback.

“Halimbawa may customer na nag-suggest na ‘Ay hindi masyadong maganda yung ganitong part’, puwede mo pag-aralan kung anong ma-i-improve mo sa product para mas gumanda pa (For example, a customer says ‘This part doesn’t look too good’, you can study and find ways to improve it so it becomes a better product),” she said.

Art therapy

Marquez believes that one doesn’t necessarily need to have special talents to reap the therapeutic benefits of arts and crafts.

“Sobrang therapy po ang arts (Art is very therapeutic),” she said.

She is proud to say that her business not only allows her to make traditional crafts, but helps her pass her skills on to the next generation to keep her art and craft alive.

Marquez said that she’s happy to share her love for arts and crafts with her 11-year-old daughter Shainne Llorize.

While admitting she doesn’t get to sketch and paint as often as before, selling craft items continue to give her a sense of fulfilment.

“Dun ka sa gusto mo para kahit napapagod ka, masaya ka pa rin. Para palaging maganda ang output ng mga products mo (Follow your passion so that even when you get tired, you’re still happy. It’s going to help you make sure that you offer the best products),” she said. (PNA)