BloomWorksStudios

BloomWorksStudios was my first real attempt at turning design skills into a product. An Etsy shop selling mugs and cups with original artwork — cute animals, clever puns, and designs that actually made people smile.

How It Started

The original idea was simple: offer custom mugs where customers could send in their own designs. When that didn't gain traction, I pivoted — I started creating the designs myself. That's when things got interesting.

I combined Photoshop skills with Midjourney and Stable Diffusion to develop a workflow for producing high-quality, print-ready mug designs at scale. Cute cats in glasses, pun-based typography pieces like "I Can't Espresso How Much You Mean" and "Bee-ing Here", kawaii-style animal illustrations — each one designed to feel like something you'd actually want on your desk.

The Brand

One thing I'm genuinely proud of is the branding. The cherry blossom logo, the dark shop banner, the consistent visual language across every listing — BloomWorksStudios looked like a real brand, not a random Etsy side hustle. I put a lot of thought into how it presented itself, from the product mockups to the shop layout.

What I Made

• Cat lover mugs — illustrated cats with personality, glasses, and attitude
• Pun & wordplay designs — "If I Fits Then I Sits", "Count on Me", "Bootiful"
• Thank you & gift mugs — thoughtful designs for everyday gifting
• Custom design service — the original offering that kicked everything off

Two Sales and a Lot Learned

Let's be real — the shop made two sales. It didn't take off the way I hoped. But getting that first order notification? That was a moment. Someone out there looked at something I made and thought "I want that." That's a feeling that stays with you.

The experience taught me the full loop: ideation, design, production, branding, listing optimization, and dealing with the reality that great products don't sell themselves. I came away with sharper design skills, a better understanding of e-commerce, and the confidence that I can build a brand from scratch.

Maybe I'll come back to it someday. The brand is still there, and I still think the designs hold up.