Meet Christine Cabanilla | College Student & Up and coming Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Cabanilla and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started making flowers from pipecleaners after seeing it in a video. I had made them to gift to my boyfriend and my family and his thought that they were great and I should sell them. For the some time, I just took the compliment and thought nothing of it, not until I saw videos of people starting their own business or making money from their art. This ultimately inspired me to do the same and also thanks to the continuous compliments I got from making flowers or some sort of artsy stuff lol. A factor was also me not having a job and me needing money to support myself going to college here in America coming from the Philippines and from my parents and the rest of my family that raised me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Making art for me was always kept just for my enjoyment. I’m too critical of myself to let others view what I would make, I feel like that’s too personal and that I couldn’t let anyone see how my mind worked. Ultimately due to school art projects and such I was able to display my artsiness😂. It was recognized but something in me just thinks I’m a fraud. Although I kept going because I love what I was doing, I love creating, i love building something and having it realized in front of me. I’m proud that I took a step into sharing what I make to other people for them to see and enjoy and to share that joy with the people around them. I hope to share more personal art pieces outside of what I make now because I don’t want to limit myself to one thing when I know I could do more. As a college student, it’s hard to be doing more work outside of your academics and personal responsibilities but I manage. I don’t think that what I do now is as hard as how other people or students have it, I think I have a pretty manageable work-school balance. The challenges I faced was more about myself. Cause I think I’m ultimately the one that is holding me back from so much more, but I’m surrounded by people who encourage me and help me to see beyond what I see. So I have learned and am still learning, to do my best today and tomorrow will repay my hard work for today. I want them to know that you can and should always try, make ways, build opportunities, and create your future.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think I am the last person for this question lol. I’ve only been here in San Diego for 2 years and I am HUGE homebody, but based on the more adventurous people in my life I would say eat at Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles in Anaheim, drinks at Tastea at MiraMesa, visit Knott’s Berry Farm on halloween, and hang out at Torrey Pines beach.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
my family in the Philippines for keeping me humble and grateful no matter what especially my mama lola.

my family here in San Diego that took me in not knowing anything about me but treated me like i’ve always been part of the family and that also includes my boyfriend and his family.

my parents and siblings that would always magnify my accomplishments.

Website: https://chriscraftcove.etsy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriscraftcove/profilecard/?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==

Facebook: Chris’ Craft Cove

Other: Pinterest: Chris’ Craft Cove
Tiktok: chriscraftcove

Image Credits
all picture are taken by me:)