Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Crawford.
Hi Taylor, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I worked in public schools for a while, and I’ve always loved teaching and art. Through my time in schools and after becoming a mom, I noticed a real need for more art enrichment opportunities for toddlers and elementary-aged kids. I also found myself and my friends wanting a space and opportunity for more creative outlets.
Two Suns was a pretty natural culmination of everything I love. I’m a lifelong creative and hobbyist, and I realized I could bring together my creativity, educational background, and love for working with kids in one space. I found a space, filled it with art supplies and ideas, and figured out how to make it work! It’s grown and evolved along the way, but it’s really just a reflection of all the things I love 🙂
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been far from a smooth road, but definitely a learning experience! Being a small business owner is a constant learning curve, and I’ve learned SO much in the last year and a half. The creative side of building Two Suns comes naturally to me, but learning the business side has been a whole different story. Marketing, finances, payroll, hiring, systems, scheduling, you name it. I’ve had to learn so many things on the fly, often by making mistakes and figuring out how to do it better the next time.
I’m also a mom of two little boys, so balancing motherhood and running a business has been its own adventure. There are a lot of days when I’m switching between a million different roles, and it can be hard to find the time and mental space to do the creative work that got me into this in the first place.
One of the hardest parts is that something can look great on paper but still be really difficult to make financially sustainable. You can have a beautiful space, great programming, and a community that loves what you do…but making all the pieces work together so you can support your staff and avoid burning yourself out is a whole different challenge!
That said, I’m genuinely grateful for the experience, even the hardest parts. I’ve learned so much about myself, business, and my community. The community support has been the biggest reminder of why I started Two Suns in the first place. Seeing people show up and rally around the work we do makes the hard days feel worth it. I’m still figuring things out, but I feel really lucky to be building something that means something to people, and I’m excited to keep learning and see where it goes!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Two Suns Art Studio + Makerspace?
Two Suns is a space for messy, fun art! We offer art classes, camps, sewing, workshops, and unique creative experiences for kids and adults. I love coming up with out-of-the-box projects and offering that get people trying new materials and exploring their creativity.
I think what makes Two Suns special is that we genuinely love what we do, and I think that shows in what we offer. There’s always something happening, and I want people to feel like they can walk through our doors, try something new, make a mess, and just have fun. You don’t need to be an artist or have any experience to feel like you belong here.
More than anything, Two Suns has become a real community space, and that’s something I’m really proud of. We have a little free art library and art exchange out front, and people in the community are constantly bringing in donations or asking how they can help. It’s been really cool to see people take ownership of the space and want to be part of what we’re doing. It feels like so much more than a place to take art classes now, and I love that.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memories are from the little neighborhood street I grew up on. At one point, there were 15 kids living on our block, so there was always someone to play with. We spent our days walking to and from school, riding bikes to the corner store, having sleepovers, and playing kick the can on warm summer nights. If you were bored, you just walked down the street and knocked on someone’s door. Looking back, I feel really lucky to have grown up that way, with so much freedom and all your favorite people right there. My best friend lived three houses down, and we really haven’t been much farther apart than that since!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.twosunsartstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two.suns.art_bend/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Two-Suns-Art-Studio-61575673941483/
