When Patricia Werner Becker‘s son arrived almost two weeks early on New Year’s Day, he gave her a story to treasure and, a few years later, the inspiration for a business. Wanting to see the details of his arrival on display, rather than stored on her phone, she created her first personalised birth poster. That design became the starting point for Creative Essence, her Etsy shop offering birth posters and printable keepsakes for families. Today, Patricia fits designing and running the business around motherhood and a full-time job, gradually expanding her range and learning as she goes. With support from her family and plans for editable templates, milestone cards and more, she hopes Creative Essence will help other parents celebrate the moments that mean the most. Here, she talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind her business, the challenges she has overcome, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
I’ve always loved creating, and the real spark for Creative Essence came a few years after William was born – it was a way to hold on to how he arrived, in properly dramatic fashion. I was 38 weeks pregnant, certain I had two more weeks until his due date on the 13th of January, and I left a New Year’s Eve party in tears, convinced nothing was happening yet. He arrived the next morning at 7:04am, on the 1st of January, twelve days early.
It wasn’t until he was around three that the idea properly took hold. I found myself wanting all those early details – the morning he arrived, his name, his weight, the exact time – somewhere we’d actually see them, not filed away on my phone. That’s what became the first birth poster, and it’s still what the business comes back to: taking a handful of details that mean everything to one family and turning them into something they’ll actually put on a wall. That’s how Creative Essence started – a small business made with love, delivered straight to your inbox.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
I started quietly, designing personalised birth posters from home. I set up the Etsy shop two and a half years ago, then paused it, as the timing wasn’t right. A few months ago, I picked it back up, and relearning how to run a shop, market it and understand what parents are actually looking for has been its own challenge. I started with a handful of designs and have built the range up slowly. It’s been a lot of trial and error and late nights, but every new listing and every updated mockup has felt like a step forward.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
My biggest breakthrough has been realising I don’t have to do everything from scratch, order by order. Moving into instant downloads changed how I work. I can design something once and it keeps selling, with no extra effort per sale. I’m also working on editable Canva templates so customers can personalise their own prints. That’s made a real difference – it’s given me more time for the part I actually love: designing, and hearing from the people buying from me.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Honestly, it’s not always easy. I’m a mum first, and William is at the heart of everything I do. I work around him – when he’s at school, in quiet moments, whenever I can find the time. Some days are more productive than others, and I’ve learned to be okay with that. Running a business alongside motherhood and a full-time job is a constant balancing act, but it’s also what makes it worth doing.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
The biggest challenge has been putting myself out there – wondering if anyone would connect with what I make and learning to trust my own instincts. Getting the shop seen has been just as hard: SEO, Pinterest, social media and offline marketing, on top of a full-time job and being a mum. There have been plenty of moments of doubt. But consistency matters more than perfection – every flyer, every pin, every listing update adds up. And doubt doesn’t have to be a stop sign. Sometimes it’s just a sign you care about what you’re building.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The pros are that I get to make things families actually keep, on my own terms, and connect with other parents who get what it’s like to welcome a new baby and all the chaos that comes with it. I’ve had a lot of support from my family, especially my husband, which has made it easier to keep going on the harder days.
As for cons, it can be lonely – there’s no one else to handle the marketing, the admin, the design and the customer service. And the financial uncertainty is real, especially when you’re putting in time without seeing results right away. But the pros outweigh the cons for me, and I’m proud of what I’m building.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I’m planning to expand the range with more first birthday posters, milestone cards, baby announcement designs and Canva templates customers can personalise themselves. Longer term, I’d like this to genuinely support my family and bring a bit of joy to families across New Zealand and beyond.
Find Creative Essence on Etsy, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
