Happy International Women's Day! This year, we spoke with one of our previous brand ambassadors - Denise Que. She is also the founder and artist behind craftedbyDQ, a beautiful local business that specialises in creating bespoke wedding designs and keepsake.
Denise shared with us about the light that kept her going through challenging moments and took us on her journey of self-discovery to found craftedbyDQ. We hope that her story of pursuing her love to create will inspire you to take that first step out to your dreams. Happy reading!
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Hello Denise! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hi! My name is Denise. I'm a left-handed artist and photographer behind craftedbyDQ. Growing up, I was surrounded by art and had the utmost curiosity to create things, be it painting or DIY crafts or modern calligraphy. It was almost love at first sight when I tried calligraphy, especially when I saw the finished work.
Photography is my second nature since childhood days as I eagerly seek to capture happiness and warmth in every moment.
At craftedbyDQ, I am committed to deliver and radiate light from within. My intricate works hit close to home with their raw, organic, and intentional style. Everything is crafted thoughtfully to create meaningful pieces that provide the full creative experience to our clients in the form of calligraphy, design, or photography.
What made you decide to venture out and start craftedbyDQ?
Art has always been my passion and sharing it with the world came naturally as my love language. I mostly give my paintings, photographs and even stationeries as gifts to my loved ones. Eventually, more and more people started noticing my works and encouraged me to start my own brand. I mustered enough confidence and started craftedbyDQ, beginning with photography and gifts.
Around the same time, calligraphy has also started gaining prominence in the art industry, so I tried dabbling at it and eventually fell in love with the different letterforms I could create. I started creating personalised wedding stationery using calligraphy. The response turned out much better than I had expected and since then, I pivoted craftedbyDQ to lean more on wedding designs and keepsakes for modern soon-to-wed couples.
How did you keep going when the going gets tough? Could you share a story with us?
There are times when self-doubt and demotivation overwhelm me especially when I I focus on the many wedding stationers out there. During times like this, I would remind myself of the WHY - why did I start craftedbyDQ?
I anchor craftedbyDQ on this quote by Maya Angelou, an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist,
"Nothing can dim the light that shines from within".
I know that my style is unique and people approach my brand and my works for what it portrays, the organic and intentional style.
Faith and perseverance are also what helped me through these seasons.
What does "organising beautifully" mean to you?
My belief is that when creating art, everything's a beautiful mess when you create masterpieces - brushes and paints strewn all over the place. However at the end of the day, I see "organising beautifully" as a sense of fulfillment on how a productive day has transpired. It is how each item in your workspace has a dedicated place; it is like how my brand exudes - the feeling of intentional living.
What do you like about your current Stackers Jewellery Box?
I encountered Stackers while I was searching for organisers to keep my accessories and when I came across this brand, it was a life-saving and literally life-changing moment! I can now give everything I owned a home - from my earrings to watch pieces. The quality of the jewellery box and the vegan leather exterior are what I like best! It also gives a minimalist yet luxe vibe in my space and my self-admitted OCD heart is happy!
From the editor: Denise is using a Mini 2-in-1 Jewellery Box Set in Taupe and a Petite Travel Jewellery Box personalised with her signature calligraphy style.
What are you most proud of in your life?
I am proud of how far I've come throughout the years with God's grace in facing struggles to building strengths. Each chapter in my life is a page turner with my loved ones alongside this journey.
Do you have any female role model that inspires you or you look up to? Why?
I look up to the strong women in my family - my mom, my grandmom and my aunts. I've witnessed the strength, grit, and perseverance they have shown in this challenging world and I am inspired to be like them when I face my own set of challenges.
Lastly, any advice or encouragement for women who are currently facing challenges in their lives?
Know your worth and shine that light from within. As the saying goes, "empowered women empower women", live fiercely and stand up for yourself. You will be surprised on how much support will follow through with many brave women around us. Happy International Women's Day!
