“Guess How I Found Your Store? …ChatGPT!”

As a small business owner, there are moments that remind you exactly why you do what you do.

This was one of those moments.

A few days ago, I received a message from a mother of the bride named Rebecca. She was searching for someone who could help personalize a wedding shadow box for her daughter with custom gold acrylic details.

But it wasn’t just any project.

She wanted it ready in time for a very special dinner with her daughter and her future mother-in-law. It was something meaningful, something thoughtful, and something she hoped her daughter would treasure for years to come.

Then she said something that completely surprised me:

“Guess how I found your store??? (ChatGPT) 🤯….”

I honestly had to read it twice.

You spend so much time wondering if people can find your work online. Hearing that someone discovered our little business through ChatGPT felt surreal — and incredibly encouraging.

But even more special than how she found us was why she reached out.

This wasn’t just another order. This was a keepsake meant to celebrate her daughter entering a new chapter of life. A piece that would hold memories from her wedding day and, hopefully, one day be passed down to her own children.

The moment I heard her story, I was all in.

I quickly got to work ordering the gold acrylic and preparing the special details needed to make sure everything came together in time. Every cut, every engraved piece, and every little detail mattered because I knew this gift carried so much love behind it.

And if you’re a maker or small business owner, you know this feeling well:

Once a project leaves your hands, you just hope the customer loves it as much as you loved working on it.

But this story didn’t stop there.

After Rebecca received the shadow box, she sent the sweetest messages, photos, and even a video of her daughter opening the gift. She shared how much her daughter loved the personalized shadow box and the small custom gift tag I made to go with it.

One message especially stayed with me:

“My daughter is so special and I love the fact that you have spent so much time today with me as well getting this perfect for her. A keepsake she will display and have to hand down to her kids…”

Cue the tears. 🥹

We sometimes underestimate how meaningful handmade and personalized pieces can become in someone’s life story. What may look like a small detail to the outside world can become part of a treasured family memory.

A personalized keepsake made with love, and a small handmade tag that became part of the memory.

From custom gold acrylic details to a small personalized gift tag, every piece of this project was created with love and care for such a special moment.

That’s the beautiful part of this work.

There is a quiet joy in creating something with your hands for another person — especially when it is rooted in love, family, and celebration. It reminds me of the kind of joy that comes from giving wholeheartedly and serving others with care.

And Rebecca, if you’re reading this: Thank you!

Thank you for trusting me with something so meaningful.

Thank you for your kindness.

Thank you for reminding me that the heart behind a small business matters just as much as the product itself.

And also… shoutout to ChatGPT for somehow helping connect us. 🤍

~Lissette