Hi everyone! Welcome to my very first blog post. I’m excited about this for many reasons, the main one being it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a decade. I’m a person who is constantly thinking, always in my own head, always have a million thoughts swirling at all times. I always want to share these thoughts on social media, but we live in a time where people want info NOW and they want it QUICKLY.
As we come up on the 10 year anniversary of Stud Muffin (I officially launched my Etsy page May 9, 2013), change is something that’s been on my mind. For the past two years, I’ve felt as though I’ve been going through the motions of running this business with not nearly enough passion and excitement behind it. I thought, “maybe this is just how it is, the passion and excitement come and go; but consistency and perseverance will bring it back.” Fast forward two years and I was struggling with the same issue.
A couple of months ago, while cooking dinner, a vision of a new logo popped in my head. What’s funny is, this is exactly how the name ‘Stud Muffin’ came to be. I was cooking dinner one night in early 2013 and I literally heard the words ‘Stud Muffin’ out of the blue. I knew instantly that was it! That’s what the name of my business was going to be.I never once second guessed it, it was just one of those things that clicked. This is exactly what happened recently when the vision of the logo popped in my head. I wasn’t even thinking about changing my logo, which is the weirdest part. Anyway, a nice clean image of the name Stud Muffin in a fun, but clean font made a serious impression on me. The craziest part: there was NO EYE IN THE IMAGE. If you’ve been here for a while, you know eyes are a big part of what I do. I live for intuition and spirituality. I’m certified in Reiki and the third eye is something I really, truly believe in. So, for me to drop the eye is a huge deal.
This new logo represents a lot for me personally and professionally. Personally, it represents pivoting. If something isn’t working, pivot. Old Al would just wallow in self pity that whatever it was, wasn’t working. I’d think oh they don’t like me, they don’t like what I’m making etc. The new me is taking everything as a learning experience. If it’s not working, figure out a way to make it work. Switch things up!
Professionally this new logo represents everything I love and everything that inspires me. the 60’s + 70’s have been an obsession of mine since I was little. I LIVE for the Beatles and got to see Paul McCartney live (for the second time) summer of 2022 and I think about it every single day and cry. Their music does something to my soul and makes me so happy. I feel the same way about Woodstock (I honestly think I was there in another life) and anything retro, even if it’s just a picture. The feelings anything from this time period evoke from me are the same feelings I want my products to evoke from you.
Back to the beginning of Stud Muffin…I started this business as a way to just make extra money in hopes I could leave my corporate job (that I DESPISED) and focus solely on my business. With the support of my husband, I was able to do just that in a couple of years and live my life long dream of being a stay at home Mom who has her own business (because working for someone else is just not something I’m capable of doing- I have too much attitude LOL). Stud Muffin slowly evolved into an energy-protection brand. Between the different gemstone’s healing properties, me infusing reiki in bracelets, selling sage + palo Santo etc - protecting our energy was (and still is) my #1 goal. Unfortunately over the last couple of years I felt like things took a turn and this brand was going in a direction that didn’t truly represent who we are. I was trying to fit into this pretty little superficial Instagram box that lacked SERIOUS authenticity.
This new logo is bringing it back BABY. My vision has never been clearer, but the mission will remain the same. We were, are + will always be here to protect your energy + spread light. Now that we have a logo that represents who we truly are, the sky is the limit. So, we’d like to introduce you to the NEW Stud Muffin. Who is she? A sister duo that is your very own cheering squad! We are here to cheer you up + cheer you on through all of life’s peaks + valleys. Thank you guys for being here and taking the time to read this. It felt so good to get it all written out….even if it’s 340957439587329874598437 pages long.
So much love,
Al xo