We had the good fortune of connecting with Naomi Torres and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Naomi, why did you pursue a creative career?
Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career.
I’ve done many things throughout my career-life including cleaning, landscaping, teaching, retail, coffee, road striping, running data cable and owning several small businesses but found that although they satisfied some aspects of my need to pay the bills my want to help people, they didn’t actually fulfill the entire list of requirements for a truly rewarding artistic/creative career.
I imagined myself making my ten thousandth espresso shot and wiping my hands on a gritty, brown stained apron as the idea of my perfect career hit me like a sack of hammers. That scenario never happened but I did find myself in the employment of a comfortable, generous job where I was at least fulfilling one of my passions, helping people.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Several components of passion were missing from my career-life and I wanted to assist people in a bigger capacity than smiles and thank you’s and selling groceries. My journey to provide helpful and artistic/creative elements for home and garden began in the Summer 2021. It was time to take the leap of faith and tackle my passions.
I’m no saint when it comes to Earth friendly practices but I get better every year, isn’t growth one of the important things in life?
After my second gardening season here in this wonderful, sometimes harsh climate I decided I was done with the sight of white plastic tags peeping out of my beautiful garden and indoor plants. Not to mention the fact that ink in the Colorado sun fades in three months time; in less than a season all of my hard work at labeling my plants was gone. Besides, being an adult means I can not only eat cake for breakfast but I can have nice things to look at in my garden. Enough! It was time to come up with a solution. Designer Garden Tags were born From my own need but I knew other plant enthusiasts were tired of seeing unsightly plastic in their own yards and homes too.
Eureka! The tags consist of two layers of decoratively, cut (recyclable) aluminum held together by two tiny brads. Instead of writing on them with a marker, the user presses the name of the plant into the surface of the tag with a pencil, thus creating a more permanent option for labeling.
In creating these tags I felt fulfilled in making a more Earth friendly product, however it didn’t stop there. My wife and I enjoy doing projects around the house which eventually ends up creating a good amount of scrap wood. I stood there in our garage one day staring at the growing pile of waste we were creating, the idea that I was yet again adding to the ever amassing landfill, tugged hard on the sleeve of my conscience. I wanted to create something, repurpose the pieces, instead of adding to the landfill. By cutting and sanding those pieces with care into different shapes and adding various artistic elements to some, I created Wood Wall Art but even then my search for fulfillment didn’t feel entirely satiated.
I wanted to delve further still in assisting my fellow human beings. The basic parameters began to form in my mind. How can I combine my creativity to make art with intention? How can I use products of the natural world paired with the deeper, spiritual meaning of rocks and minerals to help people?
Manifestation Charms, duhh. What is a Manifestation Charm? It’s all of the above mentioned elements with the added intent of the maker.
The process begins with an assortment of tools, rocks, copper wire and wood rings and ends with love and intent. Each charm is intended for an individual and nothing that I have ever created makes me feel more fulfilled than seeing a person pick one, read the back of the card (which has the stone’s meanings on it) and see the realization in their eyes and smile knowing that they found the one that was meant for them. It is truly what embodies the purpose I set out to accomplish. I have even had the opportunity to make custom orders in which a customer requests certain elements to go into the charm for a friend they want to help. What better gift than a gift that keeps on giving?
Through these Manifestaion Charms, I have finally checked off my entire list of requirements for a truly rewarding career.
I truly got to where I am today because of the love and support of my family, friends and customers who believed in me and my ideas. The road was not easy, paved with insecurities and self-doubt but the foundation of a truly supportive partner in life and people that believed in me and my concepts was everything that made this entire journey possible.
I have learned so much about trusting my intuition and leaning on the people that love me, letting go of the feeling that I am a burden to them for asking for the help that I give so freely. I’ve learned to stand firmly behind what I believe in while being open minded and confident that I am cared for, loved and worthy of the success that I seek for myself.
We all have a purpose in this gift called the present, for the short time we are here it is my belief that we should do what we are capable of to help each other grow in life. I devote my efforts, in this gift called the present to leaving this world better than I found it.
My goal is to assist people in bettering their lives, one piece of intentional art at a time. I create for life, for lesson, for aesthetic, but most of all, for progress.
We each are individuals with our own ideas and concepts, our own interpretation of the important things in life. Given this truth I move forward with compassion, gratitude, and the hope that in some small way, I will have made a difference through my works.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Restaurants: Humbolt-oysters and happy hour, El Five-dinner, drinks and epic views, Steubens-hangover food, Root down-brunch and dinner, Smok-dinner, The Corner Beet-lunch, Sunny’s-breakfast, Mimosas-breakfast, Tokio for some epic ramen, Uchi for excellent service and Sushi, Linger-apps and cocktails, Fire on the Art hotel for some cocktails and a view, dinner at our house with the neighbors
Entertainment: Red rocks for a concert, Frisco for some kayaking, a drive through Guanella pass ending in Georgetown for a stroll around the lake and some ice cream, Washington park for a morning walk, A stroll around Rino to graffiti art-gaze and have some cocktails, South Broadway for antique shopping and tea at Capital T, Beaver Brook Trail for a beautiful hike, Clear creek trail-hike along the river, the Bulle Theatre for a show, Nocturne for some really great jazz and food, Estes park for some elk watching, shopping on the strip and a burger at the Stanley Hotel, a drive up to golden to peruse shops and have some gf beer at Holidaily brewery, the botanic gardens for beautiful scenery and a wine picnic, dinner at our house with the neighbors because we love to cook and our neighbors are awesome!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My wife and biggest fan, Karina Torres My friends Arron McCauley of Keller Williams Realty Urban Elite
My publisher Thomas Wurm
“You are a Badass” by Jen Sincero
Website: https://www.intentionallycrafted.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intentionallycrafted/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trk=404_page
Twitter: https://twitter.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naomitorres.author
Other: other Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naomitorres.author/
Image Credits
Tim Gillies