When 15-year-old Amor Lopez attended an herbal aromatherapy class with her friend several years ago, little did she know it would be the start of her artistic entrepreneurial journey. She created animal patterns out of fabric and filled them with lavender flowers and sold them under the business name “Aromapets.” That project led into more ideas, such as making wands, spell books, and magical companions under the name “Witch and Wizard Emporium.” Then she added elf dolls, fairies, puppets, and hand-made paper, which inspired her most recent business name to incorporate the artistic journey she’s followed: “The Quest of Art.”
Edge: How long have you been sewing by hand?
Lopez: I started sewing by hand around age 10 and then learned how to use a sewing machine later. Most of my sewing is still by hand though.
Edge: How do you come up with your ideas?
Lopez: I get my ideas from reading. My favorite books are Harry Potter, Eragon, and The Hunger Games. The wands and aromatherapy owls were inspired by Harry Potter, and the dragon necklaces I make are from Eragon.
Edge: Where do you get your materials from?
Lopez: I have different fabrics for larger projects. For smaller projects sometimes, I take small items I find and come up with ideas for how to use them. For example, I have a ping pong ball and a stick, and I’m going to make it into a staff for one of my elf dolls. I like to upcycle things that would otherwise be difficult to find uses for.
Edge: How do you make your hand-made paper?
Lopez: I use paper we don’t need, such as junk mail, and I rip it up, mix it with water, and pour it into a strainer to make a thin pulp. I like to add glitter and sparkles to it, and then place it on a window to dry. Different papers make different textures.
Edge: It must be a popular item.
Lopez: My mom and I first made it as Christmas gifts, and then I started selling it. All of the profits for the paper and 5% of my profits from everything else I sell goes to the charity Embracing the World, which has projects to help people all over the world.
Edge: Where do you sell your items?
Lopez: I’ve done a lot of craft fairs—six through Acton Academy—and won two awards including “Best Presentation/Creativity.”
Edge: What are your goals with The Quest of Art?
Lopez: I want to expand my Etsy shop, but it’s difficult to take photos of everything with just a phone. But right now, I’m more successful when I can sell in person, so I want to find more craft fairs to go to. I went to a robotics fair at the SAC Museum, and I was really successful there.
Edge: What else do you enjoy?
Lopez: I play flute, read, hang out with my friends, and bake sweets. I want to learn how to make vegan frosting.
Edge: What do you hope to do in the future?
Lopez: I don’t know yet what I want to do in the future. Right now, being in the moment is part of the quest.
