Meet Audrey Hardeman | Artist

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

Hi Audrey, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
My grandkids! I was a young mother and I remember not being able to give my kids nice birthday parties but I did the best I could. One day I was on social media and saw where someone was charging $750 to decorate a kid party. I said to myself, “I know how the mom’s feel who can’t afford that.” I instantly started ordering supplies, Within a month I was ready. I rolled it out and I’ve never had a set price for it. I wanted to make sure that every kid could have a party and I targeted low income families. I’ve done parties for as low as $30. I asked what the budget was and I worked accordingly. I’ve even done free parties and also donated my services to an elementary school. It was easy at first because I love helping people but then the NOT SO GOOD people came in and tried to use me. I got scammed a few times but it didn’t detour me from what I feel like God wanted me to do so I kept it moving. I had surgery on my thumb in 2018 and it prevented me from being able to twist balloons so in my recovery time, I thought of other things I could possibly do and that’s when I started making personalized items and I’ve been on go ever since. I still do a lot of donating and get this, no one has ever known about it bc I’ve always kept that part quiet. Everything I do is from the heart. Sorry for the long answer but I get excited lol.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I REALLY enjoy making a difference in the lives of others. I don’t know a person who don’t like personalized gifts. I’m a very compassionate person. I wasn’t going to mention this but I can see a family who’s lost a loved one on social media and I’ll make up some items and donate them. It won’t bring them back but it let them know that someone out there cares. Although there are people out here in the world who will still try to milk me, I’ll never change. I’ve learned to remove myself from environments that makes me feel uncomfortable. I’ve done a lot of hard work to get to where I am. I can be asleep and ideas will wake me up sometimes. I drag myself out of bed and write them down on my board so I won’t risk forgetting. I’m still trying to find an easier way to get .my items out there because by me doing mostly personalized items, It’s hard to advertise them. I’ve learned that everyone don’t have good intentions but I still handle them accordingly. You know the saying, “you can’t be nice to everyone” well I disagree because I know some people who means me no good but I’m still nice to them but I learned to keep them away from Moon Makes Me LLC because this is my baby and I must protect it and grow it and hopefully i can pass it on to my grand kids one day.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Uh oh lol. I’m a real homebody. All I do is work and then come home and work on Moon Makes Me LLC. I would probably take my friend to a craft store and get her input on some things that might look good for me to make. But seriously, I haven’t been to the aquarium or ferris wheel in Atlanta yet but it’s on my to do list so we would go there lol. Oh my, that’s only 2 things. Let me see, uhhhh I don’t drink or anything but I love coffee so maybe we will find a nice coffee shop or something and just view the city because I love Atlanta.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My pastor, Anthony Williams. It’s so funny because we will be in church sometimes and he’ll throw subliminal messages. I know when he’s talking to me but I keep my cool. So one day I think he had enough and was talking to the whole congregation and saying how we shouldn’t keep sitting on our talents and to get busy with our businesses. He went on to say, “Get that website!” ok that one was for me and I knew it. So we all went around to shake his hand and he grabbed mine and asked, “Did you get that website yet?” I told him yes but it needed updating and he told me to get it done. Ever since I’ve been going to United In Faith Christian Ministries, I leave there with something that’s beneficial for me to grow my business. I work a lot on my 9 to 5 and often be tired but I’ve been pushing because I have that fire under me and I really appreciate him for being such a positive influence in my life.

Instagram: moonmakesmellc

Image Credits
Tyeisha Philpot