Periodyc Design

Today on Mama Finds we feature Sandra, owner and designer of Periodyc Design. Her shop creates unique chemistry inspired gifts for adults, kids and babies. And like most great chemistry experiments, Periodyc Designs was started as an accident! Sandra was looking for unique gifts for her engineering friends, and began writing funny phrases using the periodic elements. She continued to design new phrases and products and Periodyc Designs was born!

“I was looking for a unique baby shower gift for a dear friend; we went to engineering school together at Lafayette College. Then my colleague, a PhD student in chemistry, came into my office one day and was bragging he could write anything in periodic elements. I daylight as a manager and faculty member and the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. It was a eureka moment when we came up with Baby Genius and Future engineer. From there it expanded to our current mission: to create gifts and apparel that encourages the next generation of engineers and scientists.” -Sandra, Periodyc Design

“STEM education is important for all our children, especially for little girls. My background is in civil engineering and I teach innovation and entrepreneurship to our freshman and senior engineering students. It bothers me that women are still a minority in these classes. When asked how many woman is enough on the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsberg answered 9; I agree. I want to see more women than men in my classes. I have a 6 month old daughter and I don’t want her to grow up thinking science and math is nerdy or uncool, or to be popular she has to be dumb. We want kids at a very young age to think science and math is cool and then go on to solve problems worth solving and change the world.”-Sandra, Periodyc Design

Future Engineer

This future engineer design looks great on the shirts for babies, toddlers and youth sizes. It sends a clear message and and promotes STEM.

Chemistry Teacher

“I love our chemistry teacher and science teacher designs because to have engaged students means we need awesome teachers that can bring science to life. I’m uplifted when these products are ordered knowing they have inspired some stem focused kiddos this school year.” -Sandra, Periodyc Design

Custom Orders

“One thing that I like about our etsy shop is our custom orders. We can literally write anything in elements. So at Christmas we did a design for design for a t shirt for a step dad, ‘I am Steppy’ and a coffee mug for a science teacher ‘Mrs. Dalton.’ I feel nothing says I thought of you more than a customized gift.”-Sandra, Periodyc Design

To order go to www.etsy.com/shop/PeriodycDesign and use code MAMAFINDS to get 20% off.

And follow them on Instagram to see new products and promotions: @periodycdesign

Borboleta Bag

Today on Mama Finds we feature Veronica, owner and designer of Borboleta Bag. Since both of her parents are entrepreneurs, Veronica knew that one day she’d start her own business. Her love of making things was just part of the reason she decided to start a handbag company… let’s learn more about the inspiration behind Borboleta Bag…

“I love to travel and I always struggled find the right bag that would meet all my travel needs. Like many women out there, I want bags that are lightweight with a lot of pockets to organize my things. I couldn’t find that in the market. All of my belongings would lump together and it’d take me forever to find what I needed. The worst was digging for my keys. It was embarrassing! And like many women I know, I love to carry a lot of things around. Most bags are heavy to begin with, and things only go downhill from there. I didn’t want my bag to limit how much I could carry.” – Veronica, Borboleta Bag
“So I started experimenting on my own to solve my problems. I had studied fashion design, so I already knew about pattern-making and sewing. I experimented with lots of pockets and zippers so I could quickly access every compartment and each of my things. More pockets usually mean more weight, but with a little creativity and lots of experimentation I finally had some lightweight designs that I loved.” – Veronica, Borboleta Bag

“My other inspiration is also personal, but in a very different way. I’m a 2004 Tsunami survivor and I volunteered on the scene for one week. It was a difficult experience and I still have trouble talking about it. But it inspired me to work in the nonprofit sector. After a stint in a DC-area nonprofit, I began the Ocean of Wisdom Foundation to help underprivileged students with education and school breakfasts, all with zero overhead costs. I launched Borboleta in 2012. For every bag I sell, a portion goes toward feeding those hungry bellies and minds.” – Veronica, Borboleta Bag

“I know a lot of brands say they donate to charities, but for me, the foundation projects are the core of my brand. I started my foundation way before I started the brand. It’s how I combine my two passions – charity and design.” – Veronica, Borboleta Bag

“I love hearing my customers say that my bags changed their lives. Not in a big way, of course, but that my designs make their lives more efficient. I also do custom orders, so I’ve bonded with my customers and many have become my friends. I get to meet my customers around the world, from the USA to Thailand and Australia, and I am so grateful that my designs connect me to so many wonderful people. Of course, the other thing that drives me are the kids at the Ocean of Wisdom Foundation. The opportunities to improve both customers’ and these children’s lives are what drive me.” – Veronica, Borboleta Bag

All of Borboleta bags are customizable. Customers can choose their own canvas colors and prints (more than 20 options!) and they can also choose lining and strap colors as well. So each bag should be as unique as it’s owner!

Lunette bag

One of my favorites is the Lunette bag. I designed this bag to be very functional – a bag that can hold so much and yet stay so light. And it has a zipper at the back for easy access when you need to grab a few things quickly and securely.

Ivy tote

“My Ivy Tote, which is one of the best sellers, is also a design I’m proud of. It has a total of 8 pockets, including a key holder, which makes it super easy to organize and retrieve things. It’s made from durable, lightweight fabric” – Veronica, Borboleta Bag

Treasure Box bag

The Treasure Box bag, was inspired by a doctor’s bag, has had some of the best feedback. I love the classic, yet fun twist to it. And it opens all the way so it’s easy for you to find and organize your things.

“We have a direct-to-consumer business model so there is no middleman. This way we can offer our bags at lower price points while keeping the best quality. My makers have great salary, and my customers get to pay less because we sell directly to them through our own e-commerce store.” – Veronica, Borboleta Bag

To order go to  www.borboletabag.com and use code MAMAFINDS to get 15% off. And follow Borboleta on social media to see new products and promotions:
Instagram: @borboletabag
Facebook: www.facebook.com/borboletabag