Meet Lillian Abbs-Marquez of East Valley Region

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lillian Abbs-Marquez.

Hi Lillian, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I started Coronitas Creations, I had just quit Speech and Debate and softball because of COVID. I was certain that as soon as the pandemic was “over,” I would return to my extracurriculars. In the meantime, I was searching for two things: a hobby and a way to connect with my culture. Growing up in my household, we didn’t practice a lot of Mexican traditions or speak Spanish, but I knew that it was never too late to reconnect. My mom and I found the Latino small business community in Phoenix, and we would attend as many events and pop-ups as possible. It encouraged us to strengthen our Spanish skills and partake in cultural events and traditions. I was inspired by the community’s solidity and work ethic- I knew I wanted to pursue a similar path. During this time, I rediscovered my passion for clay and soon realized I could turn my creations into earrings. I began making earrings that had little animal figures on the ends. Before starting my business, I was commissioned to make unique sets of earrings for people. So I created an Instagram account to post the results and dedicated so much of my time to creating things with enthusiasm that I didn’t look back to return to my clubs. I have gotten to make acquaintance with a lot of interesting, diverse, and beautiful people! I love that I can create virtually anything and have a community to share it with. I am immensely grateful to have the platform I do and supporters of my art!

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. A lot goes on behind the scenes, like getting certain licenses to sell, keeping up with orders, budgeting, etc. Once, I went to a pop-up, paid a $55 vendor fee, and made $15 that day. Things like that and the stress of posting and keeping up with trends and algorithms can be very discouraging and stressful. I think it is a thousand percent worth it, though. I love the privilege of sharing my artwork with others and seeing people wear or get excited when they see my products. I think to be able to do this is incredible and immensely rewarding.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I started with clay earrings, but I create just about anything with felt, resin, painting, etc. Essentially, I will transform it into a product if I can paint on it! I sell gnomes, earrings, keychains, dolls, statues, rings, bowls, cups, and more! I am mostly known for my earrings; they tend to be bright colored and will surely make you stand out. What makes my earrings special is that there are never two pairs that look alike. I use unique colors and designs them to make them distinctive. They also tend to be quite large. I make them as loud and expressive as possible. Another thing I am known for is a peculiar art style. On some of my products, you might notice unconventional faces that I strive to make as confusing to look at as possible!

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
An essential quality important to my success is staying true to what I like to craft. I notice that if you keep fulfilling orders or requests that aren’t true to you, you get burnout quickly! It’s important to find the crowd to fit your style rather than changing it for a certain crowd.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Coronitas_Creations
• Youtube: Coronets Creations

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