Growing Your Influence Through Authenticity with Mindy DaPrato (Minderella Creations) – S3 : E5
Is your audience drawn to you for more than just your art? Maybe you have cultivated a community through more than just your knowledge of epoxy. In this episode, Mindy DaPrato or Minderella Creations shares how her bloopers and life struggles have helped her connect with her audience and lean on them during difficult times. If you are ready to become an influence for more than your pure talent, this episode is for you!
Top reasons to listen to the entire episode:
- Be inspired by Mindy’s authenticity that created a community that supported her in a time of need.
- Find out how Mindy used bloopers and blemishes to maximize her influence in the tumbler space.
- Discover how you can use your platform to influence others.
Sarah Brown
Hi, friends, welcome to this season’s final episode. I’m sure you’re all hustling to get ready for Christmas, either making gifts, finishing orders or shopping, parties and all the fun stuff that comes with this time of year. Today I have a really special guest. Our friend Mindy DaPrato of Minderella Creations was one of the first viral tumbler makers and her YouTube videos played a huge part in launching the Tumblr community into what it is today. Mindy is here to share her story from getting started in tumbler making to building her YouTube channel. And of how one year ago while the rest of the world was making preparations for a joyous holiday, she experienced an unthinkable tragedy. I know you’re going to be touched by Mindy’s faith, resilience and optimism, as she has continued to move forward through her grief and use her platform to inspire and encourage others. We sat down on the one year anniversary of her husband’s passing to chat about all of it. Here’s our interview. Well, hi, Mindy, welcome to the show.
Mindy DaPrato
Hello.
Sarah Brown
We are so happy to have you here.
Mindy DaPrato
I am happy to be here.
Sarah Brown
Well, and you are a longtime friend of CCDIY and for anybody who isn’t familiar with you, why don’t you just introduce yourself and tell us about where you fit into the Tumblr community?
Mindy DaPrato
Sure. I have been part of the Tumblr community for approximately seven years, I think now. I got into tumblers because I was wanting a glitter cup. And at the time, there was not very many people that were actually making them. And so I had tried to get one on Etsy and the person that made them was Aaron Griese from Big Brother and her store, she would sell out super fast every time she would open it up. So I realized that I was probably not going to be able to get one from her. So I ended up just going out and YouTubing stuff and there really wasn’t much out there at the time of like YouTube tutorials or anything. There was like two, I think that I found and so I just, I just started researching, you know, what could be used and all the things about, about anything glitter and tumblers. And I ended up going to I think Walmart and Michaels and I picked up some, some starter supplies and I rigged up a, a cup where I could turn my, turn my, my cup for the resin to actually level and that was how I got started in it. I started with Walmart glitter and I think Alumalite epoxy was what I use from, from Michaels so . . .
Sarah Brown
Yep.
Mindy DaPrato
It’s been a long, long road, since then, definitely taken many turns. I you know, went from hand turning, I was one of the OG hand turner’s and back in, back in the day when the we didn’t have the cool rotisseries that they have now or cuptissories as they call them. But yeah, that that was how I got started as I wanted to make myself a cup. And I think the first time I, my very first cup, I used ModPodge and applied it and I realized afterwards that the epoxy actually was put on a little too soon. And so my Mod Podge and everything just kind of shrink and shrivelled. It was hilarious. Yes. So that, that first, that first tumbler I ended up stripping and redoing it, but I made, I made my mom and my mother in law cups to begin with and my niece so those are my first like, cups that I made were gifts to other people. So that was really fun. That . . .
Sarah Brown
I think that’s how so many people have started out, it was like well, I wanted one for myself so I made one and then it turned into gifts.
Mindy DaPrato
Oh yeah.
Sarah Brown
And then it turned into a business and . . .
Mindy DaPrato
Yeah, I mean, it’s like that thing that you see the meme where you you can buy it or you can make yourself for like $5,000 basically because it’s way more expensive when you get into it and make it yourself. But it’s more fun.
Sarah Brown
Yes, yeah. Why buy it for $7?
Mindy DaPrato
Exactly.
Sarah Brown
50 hours and $500?
Mindy DaPrato
Yep.
Sarah Brown
Well, and you have been such an inspiration to so many people, you’re so well known in the community from your YouTube and teaching others and showing others because you were one of the OGs. And like you said, when you started, you had like two videos to search from.
Mindy DaPrato
Yeah. There was not much out there.
Sarah Brown
So tell us what, like, inspired you to start that and how that went?
Mindy DaPrato
I was in, I believe it was a Silhouette Cameo Facebook group to begin with. And so there was, you know, several people in there that were sharing different things with glitter tumblers, and just a few things that they were glittering. And then it became like, there was just so many people that were, that were doing it that they, they were like, Why don’t you take your stuff elsewhere? And so at the time, that’s when a new group called Glitter For Days was born. And so that was where we all shared, like, you know, the Tumblr community kind of got started. And everybody started sharing all their glitter things with tumblers and how to do them. And I had posted quite a few things. And everybody was asking, Well, how did you do that? How did you do that? And so instead of like writing the thing out, you know, 5000 times, I was like, Well, let me just do a video and I’ll you know, throw it on my Youtube, that way you guys can, you know, have it so you can refer to it later. Which I didn’t realize at the time but I actually have gone back and referred to my own videos, because I forget how to do things.
Sarah Brown
So it’s like a diary.
Mindy DaPrato
It is, it is. It’s kind of like a tutorial for myself, too. So, so yeah, that’s how I got started, I had made a few videos to just show the process and show you know, kind of how to do it with each of the different steps. I did the you know, glittering, I did some striped cups and showed how to, how I taped it off and how to do that. And then somebody had mentioned they wanted a video of the whole process. And so that’s kind of where I got started with where it kind of blew up on YouTube was, I had made a YouTube for, From Glitter To Epoxy and is what it was called. And then I just showed the whole entire process of each step and how it was done. And the video just kind of went viral, I guess. And it had a lot of views. And so it just, it grew from there. I started posting more videos as I could. And you know, at the time, I still, I was a full time worker, I worked at a health care software company and had just had a baby like, literally a month before I started doing that, which she’s almost seven now. So it’s been, you know, a crazy adventure in that, in that amount of time.
Sarah Brown
Yeah, and the Tumblr world has just come so far. And . . .
Mindy DaPrato
Yes, it has.
Sarah Brown
. . .the techniques and the artwork people come up with . . .
Mindy DaPrato
Oh my gosh, yes.
Sarah Brown
. . . is just amazing.
Mindy DaPrato
It really is.
Sarah Brown
From those days of just a simple, glittered cup with a black vinyl name on it, you know, and everyone thought those were amazing.
Mindy DaPrato
Those were so cool.
Sarah Brown
Yeah.
Mindy DaPrato
And now they have all these different things that they do. It’s amazing. I mean, there are so many techniques out there. And granted, you know, most of the techniques are probably from another medium, you know, coming from, you know, nail designs or painting and just, there’s so many different, different ways you can design them. But it’s just, it’s really grown. And I’ve really, I’ve really enjoyed just seeing how it took off and seeing how, you know, my videos inspired other people to create videos too, and just kind of share their, their processes. And now there’s like, you know, people that have a whole businesses off of, you know, just doing YouTubes and sharing and teaching and I just, I love it. I love it.
Sarah Brown
Yeah, I do too. I am so in awe when I see how people really do, they make a business out of teaching others. And I think that’s the best way to grow a business anyway is to share and I just love it.
Mindy DaPrato
So wonderfu.
Sarah Brown
Yeah, it is such a neat community, very unique, I think because other art mediums aren’t as generous with information and knowledge like the tumbler and resin art community.
Mindy DaPrato
Yeah. And it can be cutthroat too, but that’s where you know, I know you guys have probably experienced it and you know I’ve experienced that, but you just, I just try to stay positive and keep my Outlook as far as just helping other people and to just be a cheerleader for everybody else. Because in the end, that’s what’s the best thing to do.
Sarah Brown
Yes. And I think the people who take that outlook are the more successful people. I think the people who are more cutthroat, I think that just comes from their personality, they’re probably that way in every aspect of their life. But people who do have that kind of toxic or negative side, they don’t typically tend to be the ones that grow and they definitely aren’t firing a lot of people, you know?
Mindy DaPrato
Yeah. Yeah.
Sarah Brown
Why don’t we just kind of get into what the last couple years of your life have been like? You alluded to that, you know, the tumbler making has kind of taken a back seat, and people who follow you on social media and stuff probably know your story, but why don’t you just kind of start from the beginning of that. And, just share your story.
Mindy DaPrato
Sure. So I have been doing tumblers, like I said, for like, about seven years, almost. My, my first few years was pretty good. I just did it as I could. I made tutorials, you know, shared supplies, worked with, you know, companies, because as I was learning how to do it, and how everybody else in the community was learning how to do it, there was a lot of people that were tumbler makers that became you know, suppliers of glitter, of vinyl, of, you know, all the things that you can possibly need for a tumbler. So it was really fun to see the community grow, but to also see those artists to kind of find their niche and find where they thought that tumbler makers needed suppliers. So that was always fun. But I always just like to share, like to teach. That was kind of my thing. So, so I did that for quite a while. And then, you know, life kind of got a little crazy a few years back, my mom was in the hospital for, for a bit. And right about that same time, I ended up losing my job, I got laid off. And so it was, it was a really hard time, I guess. At the time, you know, I, it was hard to, at the time, I thought well, I’m going to focus on tumblers, you know, because I have the time now. Well, when you’re going through something hard like that, it’s really hard to like, focus on being creative. And focus on the positives when I felt like just applying for jobs. And you know, relearning everything and trying to get up on the latest technologies and all of that stuff was, it was really a full time job in itself. So I really found it quite difficult at the time. And I was about three or four months, I think without a job. And then I found a job. And it was a wonderful job. I really enjoyed it. I was working in a company that was health software as well. And it was artificial intelligence stuff. And I was doing requirements writing and, and that kind of thing. So it was, it was really fun. About a month into that I think, my whole family got COVID, which was crazy, you know, we had avoided it for quite a while. And over a year, because it was in November, right before Thanksgiving. And so it kind of went downhill from there. My husband had it for about a week. And he was showing, you know, just signs of coughing and he had coughing fits and just oxygen dropping and stuff like that. The rest of us didn’t get it as bad as he did. The kids pretty much got over it in a few days. And they were on their way. I still had lingering cough and a little bit of the chest congestion and stuff like that, but it didn’t. It wasn’t as affected like what he had. So it was about a week, and his oxygen had dropped super low at home. And so he ended up going into the ER, and he got admitted. And that was gosh, November 29th, I believe, of 2021. And over the next two weeks, we really had a lot of ups and downs and just seeing him struggle. He was vented after two days in the hospital. And he actually passed away exactly one year ago today on December 13th, 2021. So it was, it was a really rough time. I luckily had a good support system during the whole entire time that he was in the hospital. I think having the Tumblr community was amazing because I had so many people that were praying for us, so many people that were reaching out to me making sure I’m okay, making sure if we needed anything, the kids needed anything. It was just, it was amazing. So thank you to everybody that was, you know, involved during that time, because it was really a rough time. And I really felt loved by the community. And I really felt like, the reason why this journey even started, could have been because God placed me in a community of people that was so loving and supportive that, you know, it got me through, so try not to cry. It was just, it really makes you feel like God thinks about you. And, and just He hears your, your heart, and He knows what you need, even before you do. So. I definitely felt that during that time. And so yeah, that kind of started off the end of the year, last year was pretty rough. My Christmas was pretty rough. I just, I shared my journey through my Facebook, and through my social media, I think it’s good to share, it was kind of therapeutic for me, I think, to share as well. And I just wanted people that may be going through something similar, or may have faced something similar to just know that there’s hope, outside of what we can do. And there’s even if things don’t go okay, and they don’t turn out how we would like them to, to know that there’s hope still, in that. My husband was saved, and I’m saved. And I know that we will see each other again, someday. And I, I really, I really felt God’s presence throughout that entire, that entire time for us. So just, you know, it’s the little things that are such big things, when you look back at them, the job that he had placed me in, the people that he surrounded me with, the Tumblr community that he had placed me with, I mean, even my, even my insurance agent, because we had had a roof leak, and I, they weren’t going to fix it. And so I was, you know, just frustrated because I didn’t know what, you know what to do. And we were worried that, you know, the water was going to continue to leak into the roof and the kindness of, of a, of my insurance agent, just she felt the pressing of the Lord on her heart to enter us into a competition for a Christian radio station in Kansas City. And we ended up winning. And so we got Christian Brothers roofing, they, they gave us a free roof, they put all new gutters, all new faucets, everything in our house, and it’s just been such a blessing. You know, it’s like, God shows up. You know, he just really does. And so that’s kind of the, the first part of my year. And then the last year, I guess, and then the kind of just, you know, we were on autopilot, mainly, I guess is what you’d say for, for the last, gosh, six months, I think. And, you know, my kids were in sports and doing things. So we just we were, you know, stayed active, we tried to do all the normal things. We, you know, kept pushing forward. My kids, my son’s baseball team was just amazing through it, you know, they came and put up lights for us at Christmas last year and provided us with so much, just love and support. My work did as well. And just the family and friends and the Tumblr community too. I mean, everybody was just amazing. And just, just definitely reassured me that, that God cares for us. And as we went into, you know, this year, it was another, another hard year in August, I ended up losing my job that I had, again, so in the week before that I, my dog died, which I mean, you know, it’s like you feel sometimes like you’re just a country song, because or like a really bad Hallmark movie. Because whatever could go wrong, it’s felt like it was but you know, the things that I’ve seen, God’s really just placed everything perfectly. And you know, I, the timing, we always try to rush God or rush what’s going on in our lives and speed through things and you really just, just have to trust and have faith that God is going to pull us through. God is going to move the things that need to be moved. He’s gonna put you where you need to be. And he’s surely done that for us over this last year and a half. One of the things I just want to touch back on is even when I got laid off from my original job, back the June before, was when my mom had gone into the hospital. And so it gave me the time to be home with my kids full time at that point, you know, because they, my parents cared for my kids while I worked during the summer. And so it really gave me that time to bond with them too, before Justin passed, so just having that relationship, you know, and being able to build that relationship with, with them, during that time really gave us time to bond and grow stronger. And I’m very thankful for that. So even in the midst of chaos, and, you know, the crazy, there’s purpose, it definitely, and then this, I’ve ended up getting a new job, and I am really loving it. So that’s kind of been my last crazy year.
Sarah Brown
Well, I think you make such a beautiful point about how we want to rush things. And in the moment, when you’re neck deep in something you can’t, you can’t see the bigger purpose. But just like you had that time with your kids to grow closer to them, you have really had to rely on each other.
Mindy DaPrato
We really have.
Sarah Brown
As young as your children are, they’ve had to grow up very quickly.
Mindy DaPrato
They have. Yep, my son is 11. And my daughter is, will be seven in December. And both of them have really just showed so much maturity through this whole thing. And my son, I really, I didn’t know how much he knew. Until, you know, he had to know. So it’s been, it’s been eye opening to just kind of let him you know, lead what he can lead and, and let him do you know, but also kind of put him in his place sometimes because he’s not, not the parent. So I kind of have to remind him that sometimes, but well, the girl my my daughter, she reminds him too Don’t tell me what to do.
Sarah Brown
She probably takes some joy in reminding him and putting him in his place.
Mindy DaPrato
Oh yeah. She surely does.
Sarah Brown
Well, and I have, I don’t know if enjoy is the right word. But I have been touched by how open you have been through your journey and sharing the struggles, the highs and the lows. You know, you’ve gone through something that’s unimaginable for most of us. And you have done it with such grace and poise. And maybe it didn’t feel like that in your darker moments. But to those of us who were praying for you and had you in our hearts, the, just the grace that you have had through this. And I think the, the thing that always stands out to me, and you’ve said it several times is today we did the next thing. And tomorrow we’ll do the next thing.
Mindy DaPrato
Yeah. Yeah. We’ll do the next thing. Yep. And that’s all you can do is just keep doing the next thing. And that’s what we’ve done for the last year and a half, is just put one foot in front of the other and just you know, if you can’t, if you can’t do you know, the laundry and the dishes and everything today, just get up. I you know, like getting up and just being present with your kids. That’s what, some days, that’s all I could do, you know, is just be present. And I definitely have, like I said, my sharing my journey has been something that I’ve really enjoyed I guess, I’m not really sure if it’s enjoyed, but it’s just I like to put into words how I’m feeling and because it was very therapeutic for me to do that. And also, I just, I felt like it was God pressing on me to share it. Because I’ve been given a platform, you know, and I’ve been given a, a bunch of people to talk to so I felt like I should, I should share that. And I definitely share the good, the bad and the ugly. I’ve always said that, you know, my Facebook, my Instagram, everything is not, it’s not a highlight reel, like I’m gonna share the messy, I’m going to share, you know, the crazy, I’m going to share the sad. But I’m also going to share the love and the hope that that I have because that’s what has carried me through.
Sarah Brown
Well, by being given that platform, you really have used your circumstance to inspire and uplift so many people and it, it is kind of neat to see the progression. You gained that platform through teaching tumblers. And then certainly you would have never anticipated how your life would turn out over the last year or so. But, you were given a large community that could be touched by your story. And so it is neat to see how God works. And who would have thought seven years ago that that that’s where it would lead.
Mindy DaPrato
Oh I know. Yeah. And it’s not like, like, I didn’t monetize my youtube channel until after I hit 100,000 subscribers, which I know is pretty crazy. Because everybody was like, why don’t you monetize? And I loved sharing Christian music, and uplifting music in my videos. And that was kind of my thing. So just, I got so many comments of people saying, you know, well, I love your music. And thank you for just, you know, I forgot I was even watching a video because I was just jamming to the tunes that you had. But I, you know, I just really felt that, that I wanted to continue to share that kind of music, which YouTube has made it really hard to do, because they keep you know, they keep making you not have certain songs. And so it’s hard to find songs. And I know, I’ve dealt with that in the last few that I’ve posted. But you know, it’s just, it’s really been good to get that feedback. And you’re gonna have haters, I mean, there’s going to be people that just, they don’t like you, for whatever reason, you’re wearing a dumb shirt, your hair’s weird, your eye blinks funny, I mean, there’s just always gonna be somebody that doesn’t like something about you. And I’ve really just, you know, I’ve really learned to have a tougher skin, and just kind of, you know, just be authentically me. It’s, I’m imperfect. And that’s just how I am and I don’t really care, I’m going to, I’m going to be goofy, I’m going to be silly. I’m going to share all the weird things that I do, and, and everything. It’s just who I am. So I really think it was able, I was able to kind of bring my personality into my videos as well and just share what I liked.
Sarah Brown
Well, and I know for me, I appreciate that about somebody, I don’t need somebody with, you know, face tune, and you know . . .
Mindy DaPrato
Yeah, exactly.
Sarah Brown
. . . that’s, everything’s perfect. I would love to see if someone makes a mistake or struggles to do something because Heaven knows that’s how I am when I’m sitting at my craft table, so, I mean, love to see . . .
Mindy DaPrato
Some of my videos were basically just how to fix the screw up. Because, you know, Oh, I did this. Well, let’s figure out how to fix this. Because, you know, there’s always going to be things that go wrong every time you do anything specially crafting, because there’s just so many things that can go wrong.
Sarah Brown
Well, and I think that is even maybe more helpful to people than a video that just shows a process start to finish without the blemishes and the screw ups and the failures. Because I think some people get into tumblers, they see these beautiful tumblers, they see someone post this reel of, you know, 30 seconds start to finish, here’s this beautiful tumbler and they think, wow, that looks so easy.
Mindy DaPrato
Exactly.
Sarah Brown
I’m gonna spend $600 on all these supplies, and then they try to make one and it’s an epic failure.
Mindy DaPrato
Oh, yes.
Sarah Brown
Falls off the turner or, you know, they get fish eyes, or whatever.
Mindy DaPrato
Oh, yes. And I have definitely answered, you know, my fair share of questions about that, because there are so many people that would go and then they would come in and comment. What in the world did you do? How did you get this to work? Or why is this doing? Or my epoxy is running off? I’m like, Yeah, that’s what it does. You have to turn it. I’m like, it doesn’t just stay on there. So you know, there’s and there’s a lot of people can take offense to just people asking questions. And you know, I never really did, I just, I answered, if they contacted me through my Minderalla Creations Facebook page, or through my YouTube or whatever, in the groups I was in, I didn’t mind answering questions. And I always tried to reply to everybody at some, you know, at some point to some level, or at least point ’em to one of my YouTubes or point them to a group that could help them and just, just make it you know, easier for other people, because I know that not everybody is met with such grace and such help these days. So I just always tried to, how would I want somebody to respond to me if I was asking a question? And definitely, I would want them to be, you know, receptive to it. So I tried to do that.
Sarah Brown
I think you do that really well. And I think that’s why you have such a good reputation in the community and why your influence grew so much, and why so many people are endeared to you, because you do show your authentic self and you treat people the way they would want to be treated.
Mindy DaPrato
Yes. When I went to Culture Con, you know, this past March, I was just amazed by just the people that will come up to me and say stuff like that and say, you know, I watched your videos, I was so glad to, to learn from you. And I never like, I didn’t think of myself as very, a very cool person. So I was like, how do you know me?
Sarah Brown
You’re kind of a celebrity Mindy.
Mindy DaPrato
I didn’t think that at all. And so when I had people come up to me, it kind of it gave me more like, made me more aware and just humbled me to know that, you know, I did have an impact on people. And I didn’t even realize that. So.
Sarah Brown
You absolutely have and I remember at Culture Con, when you walked in, I heard some people kind of nearby me say, Ohhh, that’s Minderella. You know, it was like, you know, Angelina Jolie had walked in or something.
Mindy DaPrato
And I was like, it’s just me. Well, and then they, you know, they then they start talking to me, they’re like, Oh, you’re just normal, I thought you’d be like, different. I’m like, No, this is it. This is me. Yeah.
Sarah Brown
Well, and I was so glad, I was so thrilled that you got to come to Culture Con and take that time for yourself, because that was just so shortly after everything had happened.
Mindy DaPrato
It was wonderful.
Sarah Brown
And you were wading through your grief and everything. And it was such an, a neat experience I think for most of the people who came so having you there was just icing on the cake.
Mindy DaPrato
Well, it was for me, too. Like, I didn’t realize how much I needed those hugs and how much I needed just to be surrounded by you know, like minded people, and to learn from others and just be able to enjoy it and spend time with people. So that was, it was really good. I really enjoyed it.
Sarah Brown
And you, it may have occurred to you, but some of those people that were teaching those classes are people who originally learned from you.
Mindy DaPrato
I know, they’re, I think I was in Holly’s class, and she’s like, and everybody welcome Mindy. She’s the one that I learned from and she’s the original. So I was like, oh, gosh, hiding my face. I’m like, I just didn’t realize that. So I mean, you know, you just don’t think about it, and then you just kind of be you.
Sarah Brown
Well, it has definitely worked for you. Because you do have such a sweet soul. And your love for teaching and sharing with others has come through from the very beginning, I think. So it really shows that that community that you built with yourself by sharing and loving on people, when you needed it most, they were there for you too. You created that.
Mindy DaPrato
Oh, yes, they were.
Sarah Brown
So that was good.
Mindy DaPrato
So many people, Feather Bear and Glamour Tribe. There’s so many I can’t even name them all of how many people that were OGs with me. And you know, we all just kind of found our little niche and found our way. But, you know, it was just so great being right there at the beginning and just being able to really see it go from such a basic thing to just how it is now. I mean, heck, even when you know I started talking with CC DIY originally, you guys were just doing other things, hardly even Tumblr stuff. And I was like, well, I need this MSD sheet and I need, I remember asking for all the things because you know, the people, the people, the tumblers will, tumbler people will want to make sure that things are compliant. And I remember, I think it was Theresa, I think Theresa is the one who I talked with at that point. And oh, gosh, it was so funny. She was so sweet. But I, you know, I was like, I’m sorry, I’m asking so many questions. But I just want to make sure you know this and this and so I you know, you guys have just really grown since you know, first so like, oh my goodness, it was like you had a few colorants and dyes and you know the epoxy, and now it’s like complete, you guys have done so much and it’s just awesome. I’m so happy to see you guys have grown so much.
Sarah Brown
It has been a really incredible journey too and how our business has evolved. Sometimes people ask us well, when did you start your business and it’s hard to even tell people, I don’t really even know because it just kind of evolved out of Barry starting with concrete countertops, epoxy countertops and flooring and then he became like an instructor, and he sold epoxy, the epoxys that he was using. And then he started seeing that artists, acrylic coin artists was really where he focused at first that they were using epoxy. And then I remember I started seeing tumblers in the cricut groups that I was in.
Mindy DaPrato
Yeah.
Sarah Brown
And I thought I could probably do this with Barry’s epoxy because I saw that what’s they were using. And right within that same week, Teresa, who’s my sister-in-law, called Barry. And she said, You’re not going to believe this. But people are using epoxy on cups. And he was like on cups? What are they doing to these cups?
Mindy DaPrato
That is like, so funny.
Sarah Brown
Let me show you some videos. And . . . . . . holy moly. From there it was like zero to sixty.
Mindy DaPrato
Oh my goodness. Exactly. His mind was a-going.
Sarah Brown
Yeah.
Mindy DaPrato
Well, that’s awesome. I’m so glad to have been a part of you know that early on, and just seeing you guys grow, because it’s definitely been, been fun to watch you grow.
Sarah Brown
It has, and it’s just been fun to see the community at large grow.
Mindy DaPrato
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Sarah Brown
And go from something very niche. You know, there was a few dozen people doing this.
Mindy DaPrato
I know!
Sarah Brown
10s of 1000s, maybe hundreds of 1000s of Tumblr artists and how they just piggyback off of each other with the designs and a you’re definitely a part of that. So it is really a neat art form. And I think it definitely deserves to be called an art form. These tumblers that we see are absolutely works of art.
Mindy DaPrato
Oh, yeah, I, you know, I, I used to not think of myself as an artist when I was starting, you know, doing these, but I’m like, You know what? I actually, now I kind of agree that some, some of it is art. Like, I feel like I am kind of an artist when it comes to certain things. I can’t draw to save my life. But so I was like, Well, I can’t be an artist if I can’t draw, but you know, I can throw some glitter on on a cup and have some fun with it. So I really, I really did, you know, understand just also the time that it takes because you understand kind of where artists come from, because, you know, one of the things that people would always say is, why are cups so expensive, you know, if I just can give you the supplies, and then you can make it and then it’ll be less expensive. And I’m like, That’s not gonna work, because you know, there’s hours of time that we put into learning and perfecting the techniques. And there’s just there’s and that’s with any craft, you know, whether you’re crocheting or painting or whatever. I mean, there’s so many hours and so many failures that it takes to get to when you actually have a good thing and a good product. So I just you know, it gave me a new, a new love for just art in general, I think and then a new appreciation for the time it takes to do those kinds of things.
Sarah Brown
Absolutely. Yeah, I guess my answer to someone if they said, Well, why don’t I give you the supplies? I would say okay, and I’ll just charge you a minimum wage for my time.
Mindy DaPrato
Exactly.
Sarah Brown
It’s gonna be like a $90 cup instead of a $40 cap.
Mindy DaPrato
Yes, I there was one day where somebody asked me well, Can, can you just do like one color? I think it was like a checkered cup I was working on but they asked if they could do it. And I’m like, well you do realize if I’m doing multiple glitters, I’m gonna have multiple waste, I’m gonna, you know, there’s like, a lot that goes into it. And I think I counted like how many hours just to see and it was like 20 hours of my time that I put into from start to finish with one cup.
Sarah Brown
Yeah and then you . . .
Mindy DaPrato
It was crazy.
Sarah Brown
Yeah, and you’re expected to sell it for $40 or $45.
Mindy DaPrato
I know. I was like oh gosh, yeah, I’m like just, just know that you know us cup makers are not ripping you off like you’re actually getting a bargain.
Sarah Brown
Yeah, definitely. Definitely. And it is, it’s an art form and yeah, the hours and the pain that goes into it when you have to fix things or something doesn’t go right.
Mindy DaPrato
The loss of clothes when you get epoxy on them.
Sarah Brown
Oh girl I know all about that.
Mindy DaPrato
You have to factor in buying new clothes, you have your epoxy jeans and your epoxy shirts.
Sarah Brown
Yes, and you have to trim the epoxy out of your hair. I’ve had to do that a few times, scrape it off the floor.
Mindy DaPrato
I just, I have literally in my kitchen or dining room now I have a rug over an area that I was trying to fill one of my little jars, all over, it ran down the side. It’s still in my carpet like I can’t get it out. So yeah.
Sarah Brown
I’m pretty sure epoxy just does not come out of carpet.
Mindy DaPrato
It’ll be there until I get it replaced.
Sarah Brown
Yeah, when we moved into the house we’re in now we debated on which bedroom to make my craft room and, the room that I’m actually in right now was the one I really wanted to be my craft room but it’s carpeted.
Mindy DaPrato
Yeah.
Sarah Brown
And Barry was like, Okay, put it in the carpeted room. I was like you don’t understand man, one weekend and that carpet is trash.
Mindy DaPrato
Oh, yeah. Oh, yes.
Sarah Brown
So we went with the one that had hardwoods. And that’s good, because I’ve scraped a lot of epoxy off the floor.
Mindy DaPrato
Oh, yes.
Sarah Brown
It’s okay.
Mindy DaPrato
That’s funny. Yep, I hear you.
Sarah Brown
Well, Mindy, what kind of final thoughts would you like to share with everybody who’s listening as we kind of wrap up for the day?
Mindy DaPrato
I would like to say, to just enjoy every day that you’re given, be present, you know, life is short. It’s so short in comparison, you know, like, with your kids, with your spouse’s, with your friends, just be present. And don’t lose hope. I know that, through this past year and a half, there’s been times where my you know, I felt that I didn’t have much hope. And I always tried to just turn it around, look up, focus my eyes back on Jesus, and just grab his hand and pull me up out of that. It’s not easy. You’re gonna have hard days. And I think you know, you don’t know what other people are going through. Because sometimes what we see is just the smile on Facebook, you know, in a profile picture, the smile in the picture, but what’s behind that? There’s so many people that are hurting, and so many people that are going through things that you just don’t know. So just have grace for people. Don’t lose hope, and just put one, one foot in front of the other and do the next thing.
Sarah Brown
Well, thank you so much, Mindy, for sharing your story. And for laughing with me today. I’m so glad that you came on the show. And all of your info will be in the show notes for anyone who doesn’t already follow you, so that they can follow you in your artistic journey and your journey with your kids. And doing that next thing every day that you’re so good about sharing. So, everybody, this is our final episode of this season. And we’re hoping that everybody has a really wonderful Christmas and make sure that you’re following Mindy at Minderella Creations, and we will see everybody on the next season of A Culture of Inspiration.
Mindy DaPrato
Thank you, Sarah.
A Culture of Inspiration
Friends, that’s a wrap on season three of A Culture of Inspiration. If you haven’t already, please make sure to follow us on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a positive review. All three seasons are available to listen and I know you’ll find content to help inspire you in your art. Don’t forget to follow us on all the socials at Counter Culture DIY and join our Facebook group Counter Culture DIY Artists Support to connect with us be in the know about future podcast episodes and stay up to date about all the cool things we’ve got going on at CC DIY. I hope you all have a fantastic holiday season. And until we talk again, keep creating.
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