“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated”… Maya Angelou
When Girl Noticed asked Tiffany Battel what mural she would want painted in her neighborhood, this Maya Angelou quote was what she chose… “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated”
Tiffany, who has lived in the Fort Lauderdale area since she was a kid, is now raising her two children there as well. “As if it wasn’t hard enough raising kids, I have 4 dogs too! To say my house is crazy is an understatement!” With an “I can do it all” attitude, Tiffany is always adding more to her plate. “About 3 years ago, I created a small ceramic studio in my garage where I can be found at my wheel making mugs, plates, bowls, etc. Creating ceramics is truly such a big passion of mine and a big part of who I am. Each piece I create represents a little piece of who I am!“
Girl Noticed asks…
Who is someone who influenced you greatly in life and why?
I don’t have a particular person. For me, it’s the community of artists locally that have inspired me over the years. Since 2003, I’ve regularly taken art classes at Broward College and FAU. The students are incredibly inspiring. I’ve always been intrigued by how each student has their own process of creating and their interpretations of their art. Not only has it been college students, but artists locally that I’ve seen over the years build up their own art studios and etsy shops. It’s amazing to be a part of a flourishing art community and that’s where my inspiration truly derives from.
What is the most daring thing you have ever done?
I took a leap of faith when I got laid off from my job during the recession in 2008 during my maternity leave with a 6-week old baby. I knew I needed to make money and couldn’t afford a babysitter, so I had to figure something else out. I decided to create and sell little polymer clay jewelry creations that I used to make when I was a kid. I had a $20 bill in my wallet, went to Michaels and bought some polymer clay, created kid style charm necklaces, and listed it for sale on etsy. Low and behold, my work started to sell very well! I was able to make an income without having to find a “real” job all while being home with my newborn. I did this for 11 years and only at the beginning of 2020 decided to switch gears and focus more on my ceramic arts and sell those instead of the polymer clay jewelry.
When were you told you couldn’t or shouldn’t and proved everyone wrong?
Well, I’m sure nobody thought I would ever finish my college degree since it took me 17 years, but I did it all while raising 2 kids, which my youngest daughter has cerebral palsy, which makes things much more challenging, but not impossible!
What are you most grateful for?
I am grateful for my family. I have 2 daughters and a wonderful husband that has supported me and my art wholeheartedly. Aside from my family, I’m grateful for the ability to go back to school and achieve my dream of receiving a BFA in Ceramics and the people who supported me along the way all these years.
You can purchase Tiffany’s pottery or inquire about classes by visiting:
Insta-TLBattel/Pumpkin_Pye_BoutiqueArtist
Website- https://tbattel.wixsite.com/pumpkinpyeboutique
Etsy- www.pumpkinpyeboutique.com
