When a hobby becomes a business

When I first had the idea for Bigfoot Books, I never thought of partnering with ARTISTS!! But here we are. Madison is an amazing human I have met through Instagram and not only is she the most supportive friend, she is a do-er. She is talented and keeps pushing to see what she can do next in her small business. You will be seeing her jewelry at our popups over summer, but let's all get to know her!

Kayla: Thank you so much Madison for taking the time to chat with me! Before we get into all the questions, can you introduce yourself?

Madison: Hello, I am Madison Smith, She/her, I am a 28-year-old adult. A handful of mental illnesses, as well as learning disabilities, and a disability. I also have my own small art business. where I always try to give back to my community by donating money back to a specific organization to support a specific item. I always want my art business for people to see themselves in and to feel wanted, love and feel seen.

Kayla: I love that, your passion is so clear. How did you get started with making jewelry?

A Bigfoot Books X Madtown Treasure Collab!

Madison: So when I was in college ( I went to Edgewood college), they had a jewelry-making club for adults with disabilities. I was in that club, I learned how to make keychains. Then I gave one of my keychains as a gift to one of my best friends, who is also a small business owner. She encouraged me to make a business, and I did. My name I pick for my art business is my nickname in college was MadTown. I love sound of that nickname, treasure I thought my items people buy are little treasures they find and bring them joy. I knew one day I wanted to make more then just keychains, so I went with a name that allowed me to have umbella of things in my art bussiness. Keychains were the only thing I made for 2 years. Then, when it was a huge success, my buyers was request I make other things. My 2nd item I made was greeting cards, with photos I took on my walks, then I make them into cards. Then each year I keep adding new things. Now 7+ items in my art business! I have been my small art business owner for 8+ years.

Kayla: Being able to listen to your clients is so important, plus such a great way to build community. Are there any other creative outlets you are interested in?

Madison: For fun, I am involved with two art groups for adults with disabilities, i do it just for fun, I really love them both. I am also an athlete in Special Olympics i do 5 sports.

Other earrings rom Madison's small business!

Kayla: I love that you made a hobby of yours into your small business. That really is the dream! Where can people buy your jewelry?

Madison: In person, I do shows and this summer for the first time ever I be selling my art at farmer's markets! Online I have Etsy store (currently not taking orders, message on social media for orders), but I highly suggest to follow me on Facebook and Instagram. I update more on my socials.

Kayla: Great! I will link all of your pages. I also see you are a dog person! Tell me about your dogs!

Madison: I am a dog person, I love dogs soo much!! Dogs help me a lot through my anxiety and make me feel safe and happy. My parents have two, one is named Bandit, he's a Pie bald dashund, and he's my baby and my soulmate dog. Our souls connected, and he fills the hole in my heart. He likes to “help” me when I make my art or coloring. My  other dog is Major, he's only 14 weeks old! But he's already 30 pounds! He's a bernsie mountain dog! I grew up with Bernese Mountain Dogs and a dachshund. Major right now is a bit wild, and he's very vocal lol. But he is also very sweet and loves to be in my lap, although he's not lap dog I let him, I don't have the heart to tell him no. I also walk my parents' neighbor's dogs for fun. Their dogs are named Bunker and Scout. Bunker and Scout are Australian Shepherd dogs! Bunker is my buddy, we go on long walks, we go 2-4 miles walk! Scout likes to cuddle more!

Kayla: Wow! So many dogs and so much love! I have one dog and I feel like you would love each other haha next question, what is your favorite book of all time?

Madison: That's a very hard question, I love to read! But my favorite its series and a movie! Its called “Out of my Mind”- the book is about 11 year  girl named Melody. She have cerebral palsy. She can’t physically speak, so she use ACL device and a speech board to speak. But she wants to be seen and heard just like her peers. But the majority of people don't take the time for her to speak or understand her. They just look at her and judge her negatively. They don't believe she's smart ,thought of answers, they misunderstand what she can do because she can't physically speak.

That book really speaks volumes to me because I personally did not had supportive or kind school hood. I also have trouble speaking and pronouncing words often when I speak even to this day, people misunderstand what I can do and make fun of how I speak. Very often, people say to me, “Where are you from? Go back where you're from, you not welcome here. Why you sound like that?! You don't sound normal. I don't like your voice. I can't understand you. Call back when you learn to speak better. Even I don't have cerebral palsy. I see myself in Melody, we're both smart people! But rarely do people see our strengths; they just focus on our weaknesses instead and are unkind to us. For once in my life, I felt so seen and felt so less alone in my struggles!

Postcards from Madtown

Kayla: I absolutely love that book series! I highly recommend everyone to read it. What is something you wish people understood about the disabled community?

Madison: lol so many things!! I have a few I will share! One of the biggest things is just because someone have “trouble” or doesn't talk like others do doesn't mean we aren’t smart or don't have anything to say! Often we have a lot to say! But might say in a different way or take longer to say it. In the disabled community, we just wanted to feel included and have friends and feel wanted just like everybody else does. Also, just because our brains or bodies work different then average person doesn't mean we aren't smart or not capable. Of course, sometimes people with disabilities can't do something because our disabilities will limit us, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't ask or just assume we can't do something just because we have disabilities.

Also, please don’t say these comments ( all comments I am about to share is all have been to said to me many times and very often and even to this day) -

“But you don’t look disabled, you are pretty” - That is SO OFFENSIVE!!! You just said that comment just hurt my community that I am part of and love. Plus, you are saying people who have disabilities aren’t pretty. That is not the case, people wouldn't say to an average person, but people think ok to say to disabled people, but it isn’t. I know people say its “nice” comment, but it's not. Lots of disabilities, including mine, are visible; many don’t have a “look,” but even if you can’t see it doesn’t mean it's not there. A lot of people in the disabled community, including myself, mask our feelings or our challenges for safety for being judged or bullied if we can. I face a lot of physical and mental challenges on a daily basic and many times during the day, by looking at me, you wouldn't know.

Also, don't ask or question why people need to use mobility aid or tool. I have to wear knee braces and use walking sticks on uneven surfaces. I get a lot of rude looks or some people straight up ask me, “Why do you think you need that, you don’t, you're young.” ( I look younger than I am). I don't have or shouldn't have to explain why I use my moblity adis or tools but I often do anyway. I say well, I have disabilities and my doctor demanded me to use braces to help my knee and legs because I have low mucle tone as well as nerve injury in my left knee must wear braces to help reduce the pain and if my legs give out, which they do sometimes, my injury knee will be more protected. And because of my braces, I can go a lot longer walks than without them and less pain too.

People wouldn't ask an average person why they need something, but with people with disabilities, they question us, like we don't know what we are doing or think we are just faking it or something. Everything I listed is very rude and hurtful to ask because all of our VAILD needs are brushed off and dimisss it just because we are disabled. They shouldn't be such disconnected with people with disabilities and average people without disabilities, we're all just trying to live our lives just like everybody else. When you question us or judge, or make fun of us for us for just existing as best we can. It makes us one have a ton of anxiety to leave our homes and isolate ourselves and make our lives a lot harder then it already is.

Kayla: What great advice, I hope everyone takes the time to really read and reflect on what you shared here. We all need to work together and understand each other. I appreciate your vulnerability and your support as we continue to grow. Thank you for being you!!

Are you a part of a small business or community in the PNW and want to be featured on our blog? Message us at bigfootbooksproject@gmail.com

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