Meet Phaedra Loftis | Creative Professional and Defense Analyst

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

Hi Phaedra, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process behind starting my own business was that I am passionate about creating objects and ideas, and I love to share them. I make soy candles, stickers, and objects on my laser. Most of my work has themes of the fantastic or inside references to nerd culture. I love finding an audience of people who enjoy similar things to me, and creating things that make their day a little better. I have a degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and my career has largely been supporting the US government Defense Department as a contractor. While that has been very fulfilling, having Shieldmaiden Creative as an outlet has allowed me to really express myself and use my design skills in ways that I typically can’t in my career positions.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started working as a contractor on a Marine Corps project to teach pilots, aircrew, and maintainers how to operate and maintain the KC-130J aircraft in 2006. After that position, I entered the world of Defense and Intelligence, and have been lucky to have a variety of positions entailing anything from analysis, to software development, to creative design. Each position allowed me to improve and learn new things, and each one has left me with a friendship that I’ve maintained.

If I were to choose a moment that makes me proudest, I believe it would be working as a Flight Test Photographer on the F-35 Test Project at NAS Patuxent River. I’ve always been fascinated by aircraft and aviation, and I’ve read many books about the development of historically significant airplanes like the F-117 and SR-71. In that position, I was able to witness history being made with a brand new fighter jet; I also had to fly in the backseat of F-18s in order to photograph and video the test flights, so I got the chance to break the sound barrier myself. I will always cherish the excitement of that position.

At Shieldmaiden Creative, I get to use the skills I’ve acquired during my career for freelance clients. I also get the chance to share my unique view with the world in a fun way, and I get an outlet to put my artistic skills to work. I love being able to put that on display for the world, and find new clients and relationships along the way.

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?
I currently live in Oak Ridge, North Carolina. We moved here during the pandemic to get away from the congestion and bustle of the DC area, and it’s been a great change. If someone were to visit me here, I would love to take them to the beach at Emerald Isle for a couple days to enjoy the gorgeous water and look for shells. Then I’d bring them back to our house just outside of Greensboro, and I would take them to eat at the Printworks Bistro; it’s a lovely employee owned restaurant with fantastic food and a great ambiance. We could also go to Hops, a burger bar that is delicious. There are plenty of great places around here to go antiquing, and the Civil Rights Museum in downtown Greensboro is moving and an important part of history. We could also check out the Old Mill right here in Oak Ridge, which is a flour mill and general store that has been operating since the early 1800s. I’d finish the tour with a night or two in Asheville, a beautiful town in the mountains with lots of galleries and a vibrant art culture.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family has always been my biggest inspiration, and my biggest supporters. My husband Chris is always there for me to bounce ideas off of, and helps make sure the household continues to move forward when I’m swamped with Shieldmaiden Creative initiatives. My children love that I create things, and pitch in when possible. My brother Ian and sister Bianca are always supportive of my ideas and try to help promote me. Finally, many of my former coworkers and friends have been here for me throughout this journey. No one builds a business alone, and I certainly owe my successes to so many people that have supported me through the years.

Website: https://www.shieldmaidencreative.com

Instagram: @shieldmaidencandleworks

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/phaedra-l-71199516

Image Credits
Phaedra Loftis/Shieldmaiden Creative LLC