Page 25 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2021

3D Easter Bunny Gift Tag
Having received a degree in marketing and then a master’s in business administration, Bociga admits she was always “crafty and artistic,” but worked in the corporate world
for years. Standing at what she calls a “crossroads” during COVID-19, she decided that she’d o cially launch Grace & Grain. “Finally I took the plunge, and I told my husband, ‘This is it. This is destiny calling out to me. I need to dive right in and start my own business,’” she said.
Using Etsy as her main sales platform, she sells a variety of items, including ever-popular 3D custom wooden name tags, used for gift baskets, organizing and labeling. Do-it-yourself wooden paint kits are available for children, teens and even adults to express their creative side. She’s sold Mardi Gras masks and is now o ering paint it yourself Easter eggs. She also o ers local sales via her Facebook page.
Grace & Grain also sells wooden tic-tac-toe boards, and these were especially popular for Valentine’s Day, Easter baskets and as birthday party favors. She can customize any order to meet customer needs.
Fitting her new business into her family life takes work, a
great deal of time management and support from her family. “My husband works in the construction industry,” says Bociga. “His schedule requires six-day work weeks and very long days, sometimes leaving out of town for a week at a time.” She is home with her four children, Beckett (age 6), Nali (age 5) and one-year old twins, August and Elliott. “I’m running kids to school from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. My twins run the show, and my schedule really operates o of theirs for now.” She works during their nap time and when her husband returns home.
24” Floral Nursery Name Round
Her husband helps build the custom frames and larger wood canvases, and her children assist with packaging and shipping orders. “They always look forward to helping,” she adds.
Bociga’s goal is to open a storefront one day, and she’s making the sacri ces needed to achieve that goal now. “Being a one- woman operation, I am responsible for the art and design, production, processing and shipping, advertising, social media, photography, graphic design and customer service!” she says. “My family is amazing with everything though. They are so supportive.”
Lately, she is busy preparing for upcoming spring and summer craft fairs. Although her products to this point have been personalized and custom-made, she is preparing her inventory for more “grab-and-go” options by the 2021 holiday season.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
April 2021 | 25
Grace & Grain
Facebook @graceandgrainstudio Etsy @GraceAndGrainStudio
Personalized Mother’s Day Tag