Meet Rachel Aurora Hudgens of Twenty6 Designs in Central Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Aurora Hudgens.

Rachel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. Surrounded by art, signs, professional sports gear, murals, graffiti, advertising…. the alphabet is what stood out to me and drew my eye.

My spot in the back of our oversized 1971 white Chevy Caprice was on the right side in the back seat. Although I had an obsession with gadgets and accessories… a seat belt was never part of my attire. Looking out the window… I’d take it all in and typically request, “Eye of the Tiger” be rewound and replayed. I loved that song.

I was a chubby tomboy. Going to the dumps with my dad where there were hundreds of seagulls squawking was exciting. Building forts with his leftover lumber in the backyard were typical. Painting Hotwheels the colors I thought they should be with my leftover Paint-By-Number paints passed the time on rainy days. When it came to school… I was a daydreamer and focused on anything except the recited lessons that seemed so dull.
This is where I can remember starting to doodle. My #2 yellow pencil with bite marks would loop round and round and round on my smudged, ditto copied paper, with purple ink.

Writing was always a part of my life. I had an oversized chalkboard that hung in my room that dad salvaged across the bay in Mountain View. I’d write on cards for moms girlfriends for a buck, made my own bedroom posters, wrote on birthday cakes and even gave temporary tattoos to classmates.

Riding BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) was always fun, as I admired the graffitied walls behind the tracks.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think life is ever really smooth. Plan B constantly happens and I find myself constantly having to adjust.
When I moved to Arizona in 2006, it was just before the economic crash. I was a stay at home creative mom of 4 children, content with being domestic and taking care of everybody. I was good at that and knew my role in life.
My husband was laid off in 2008 like many… and could not find work. It was time to put my thinking cap on. Was I good at anything besides being a mom? Would anybody hire me? So many reasons to hide crossed my mind… I had to turn all those negative thoughts around and trust God. I prayed He would provide the perfect job for me.

I took a part-time job at Trader Joe’s as a lettering artist and did that for about 6 years. I loved painting all those signs… “This Strawberry Walked into a bar” box of bars, “A Real Crowd Cheeser” cheese tray, “This is Not a Tub of Cream Cheese” Vegan spread. Writing funny things in a variety of fonts was fun and I made money doing it.

As technology became more of a thing, it was suggested by one of my young coworkers to get a smartphone. I was old school and remember him telling me it would change my life. (I’m laughing right now) I began to upload photos of my hand-lettered grocery signs on social media. This opened the door of opportunity and I began to paint on the side for local restaurants and businesses while still holding my job at Trader Joe’s. This is where I discovered what I was made of and I never stopped praying for God to show me the way.

I never realized during this time, that my business was actually being built. I couldn’t see the forest for the trees. Anytime someone asked me to paint the answer was yes. Writing for Trader Joe’s, painting custom signs, lettering menus for restaurants was adding up to 80 hours a week. I was becoming exhausted. This went on for 2 years. God was giving me the strength and answering my prayers.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Twenty6 Designs story. Tell us more about the business.
Twenty6 Designs was born in 2015. I had made myself a Phoenix T-Shirt featuring my very own hand-lettered design, due to the Super Bowl coming to town. I never imagined that this would change my career. Friends started wanting one and I was given an opportunity to sell some at a table downtown where the Super Bowl festivities were taking place.

I had money set aside for all the painting I’d done and bought about 50 T-Shirts. I took my little drawing to a local printer who thought I was nuts, but he agreed to print the image. I made my own business cards from recycled wine dividers from boxes of wine at Trader Joe’s… to hand out with each shirt. (YES!!! I was still working there, painting on the side, selling painted goods at markets and now adding apparel to my plate!)

The Phoenix tees were a success and local shops began to sell them. At this time I had only my Instagram name, Handwritten Phoenix. No official business name, no tax ID, no legit business cards, no website… it was unforeseen that I would need such things.

I’m no longer employed with Trader Joe’s but happily shop there. I’m a proud business owner and CEO of my very own homegrown company, Twenty6 Designs which stands for the alphabet. My company consists of hats, T-shirts, loungewear, sweatshirts, totes, pet apparel, baby clothes, stickers and more that feature my very own collection of handwritten designs. They can be found on my website, local shops and Phoenix Sky Harbor Int. Airport.

All designs are sentimental, inspired by my surroundings and drawn with a pen and paper. My initial dream was just to be able to provide for my family a little. I’ve learned that God has bigger dreams for us, that even we can’t imagine.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not sure about luck… but what I am sure about is that God has a plan for everybody. I believe He equips each and every one of us with a special talent. Mine happens to be Handwriting. I believe when we tune in… this will be revealed to us.

Contact Info:

• Website: Twenty6designs.com
• Email: twenty6designs@gmail.com

 

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